Opinion After Eddie...

[76woodenspooners]

It's worth thinking about what the role of the President is, before thinking about who would be a suitable candidate.

Fundamentally the President represents the interests of the (voting) members of the Collingwood Football club.

This is something that Eddie reminds us of when he starts any phrase with the words "On behalf of the members of the Collingwood Football club, I ..."

In the interests of egalitarianism, he'll usually add "supporters" to that, and won't make any distinction between voting / non-voting members.

And so the President is a political role where their job is to deliver to the fan base what they want.

And what do the fan base want?

Well, to win Premierships of course ...

... but that's only one part of it. There is something even more fundamental than winning Premierships, that is this:

"The role of President is to ensure that the Collingwood Football Club is a footy club that its fans can be proud of"

Eddie does a fantastic job of that. He makes us all walk tall when he waxes lyrical about "the biggest club in the country" and "the best facilities in the AFL", etc, etc ...

You see those things quoted with pride in this forum and elsewhere. How much of that stuff is true or matters? - who cares? - it's not as if Eddie's constuents are going to question it.

Sure, there are some folks who couldn't give a stuff about any of that, they just want to win Premierships every year. But they'll be balanced out by those folks who only care about flogging Carlton every year. The bottom line is about fans and pride.

Think about that scene a few weeks ago of Eddie and Camplin standing on the boundary line at the end of the Essendon game, their faces as dark as storm clouds. They made you feel like somebody was going to be in deep trouble - exactly what the fans wanted to see from their leaders after a performance like that.

Who gives a stuff if the President is a shrewd businessman, or a pillar of society, or had been a fine athlete - if they had been seen with a glass of Moët in hand, laughing with their buddies while their footy team gets flogged ... well, that would be a President who has forgotten why they were elected and what their role was.

The President is a political role, and the way they handle the politics is critical to their (and their club's) success.

 

[loki04]

So the man who committed the greatest crime in the history of Collingwood by sacking Malthouse is untouchable. I am staggered!

I believe clubs like all organisations need to continually regenerate or they go backwards. Malthouse had been here long enough and I think Eddie is approaching that point. If Eddie is consistent he (the Board) should be looking to identify a high quality successor and groom them over a number of years to take over. Dare I say it, 'a succession plan'. It is how good organisations plan for the future.

Like most I suspect I admire what Eddie has done for the club, but different set of eyes over time is a good thing.

You need someone who is influential and willing to give up their time for FREE, remember it is a non paid role.

 

[76woodenspooners]

I believe clubs like all organisations need to continually regenerate or they go backwards. Malthouse had been here long enough and I think Eddie is approaching that point. If Eddie is consistent he (the Board) should be looking to identify a high quality successor and groom them over a number of years to take over. Dare I say it, 'a succession plan'. It is how good organisations plan for the future.

The President role is elected, so it's up to the membership who the successor is.

Not sure what happens if the President resigns mid-term? Are they able appoint a successor, or does there need to be an election? I'd assume it'd be the former.

 

[ClaytonM]

It's worth thinking about what the role of the President is, before thinking about who would be a suitable candidate.

Fundamentally the President represents the interests of the (voting) members of the Collingwood Football club.

This is something that Eddie reminds us of when he starts any phrase with the words "On behalf of the members of the Collingwood Football club, I ..."

In the interests of egalitarianism, he'll usually add "supporters" to that, and won't make any distinction between voting / non-voting members.

And so the President is a political role where their job is to deliver to the fan base what they want.

And what do the fan base want?

Well, to win Premierships of course ...

... but that's only one part of it. There is something even more fundamental than winning Premierships, that is this:

"The role of President is to ensure that the Collingwood Football Club is a footy club that its fans can be proud of"

Eddie does a fantastic job of that. He makes us all walk tall when he waxes lyrical about "the biggest club in the country" and "the best facilities in the AFL", etc, etc ...

You see those things quoted with pride in this forum and elsewhere. How much of that stuff is true or matters? - who cares? - it's not as if Eddie's constuents are going to question it.

Sure, there are some folks who couldn't give a stuff about any of that, they just want to win Premierships every year. But they'll be balanced out by those folks who only care about flogging Carlton every year. The bottom line is about fans and pride.

Think about that scene a few weeks ago of Eddie and Camplin standing on the boundary line at the end of the Essendon game, their faces as dark as storm clouds. They made you feel like somebody was going to be in deep trouble - exactly what the fans wanted to see from their leaders after a performance like that.

Who gives a stuff if the President is a shrewd businessman, or a pillar of society, or had been a fine athlete - if they had been seen with a glass of Moët in hand, laughing with their buddies while their footy team gets flogged ... well, that would be a President who has forgotten why they were elected and what their role was.

The President is a political role, and the way they handle the politics is critical to their (and their club's) success.

It is more than a political role. The President and the Board oversee the management of the Club including key appointments and setting the strategic direction for the club. The best resourced club didn't just happen, it was the result of great work by a number of people over a long time.

I believe the most important role of the President and Board is to ensure the ongoing financial security of the club, including the ongoing development of the facilities. Then it is about winning premierships by getting the right people to use use those resources to maximum effect.

 

[Iskender Time]

Succession plan with Eddy to a newly created director of presidency role.

 

[jmac70]

How would that make her different to Eddie at the time he took over in 1998?

Nobody could possibly suggest that Camplin's credentials would be less than Eddie's were at the time he took over.

It pretty obvious why TG doesn't want HER to become president.

 

[76woodenspooners]

It pretty obvious why TG doesn't want HER to become president.

Harsh

 

[Scodog10]

Harsh

I feel likewise. Love him or loathe him TG explained their opinion and though I don't agree with it I get where it comes from.

Edit: it's also worth noting that the darkest period in our clubs history was presided over by someone involved with the club since day dot.

 

[jmac70]

Harsh

I read TG's explanation and I think he is making assumptions based on sex. If he wants to elaborate on why he thinks that Camplin hasn't watched the Pies since "day dot" then I look forward to reading it.

 

[76woodenspooners]

It is more than a political role. The President and the Board oversee the management of the Club ...

If by "oversee" you mean "hold to account" then I agree. Otherwise I disagree.

...including key appointments ...

Depends what you mean by "key appointments"? Yes, they would manage the appointment of the CEO.

They may also vet / ratify other executive appointments (I'm not sure what the club has, I'd have to take a look at the staff list on the website)

The Senior Coach would be an interesting one. Yes, the President (and board) would want to vet candidates. But Eddie's deep involvement in Mick's appointment (in 1999) and Buck's appointment (in 2009) would be highly unusual.

I doubt Kochy over at Port Adelaide said "Hey, Let's get that Ken Hinkley bloke". It's likely Koch would have reviewed the process for appointing a Senior Coach, let the qualified people do their work, and then done the final interview (which would have been non technical and all about checking out Hinkley's suitability as an ambassador for the club)

...and setting the strategic direction for the club....

I'd describe it more as policy direction (we want to win Premierships, we want to be financially stable, we want to provide good service to the members, etc). It's also about setting priorities, and holding the executive accountable.

It's typically the executive team's job lead by the CEO to figure out how to strategically achieve the policy direction.

I get the impression that Eddie was a lot more involved in the strategic side of things in the early days than he is today. These days he just seems to let Pert get on with it.

Although from time to time he does seem to stick his nose in (as the representative of the members) to make sure things are tickety boo. For example, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he attended team review of the Essendon game.

The best resourced club didn't just happen, it was the result of great work by a number of people over a long time.

Absolutely - but it's not the role of the Board of Directors to roll up the sleeves and implement stuff. They probably shouldn't have their judgement clouded by issues like that. They need to have maintain a high level perspective on things.

I believe the most important role of the President and Board is to ensure the ongoing financial security of the club, including the ongoing development of the facilities.

That's very fair. And if that's the case then you wouldn't think highly of the current board because they almost sent the club bust over the pubs debacle.

But I'd suggest that being sustainable (including, but not limited to financial sustainability) is part of making the fans proud of their club. We can't win Premierships every year, but when we don't, being mega rich isn't a bad consolation.

Fitzroy fans' pride in their club is pretty hollow.

Then it is about winning premierships by getting the right people to use use those resources to maximum effect.

Agree with the "Winning Premierships" bit, but again, I'd suggest the other part is more the role of the executive team lead by the CEO.

 

[Captivating]

I'd rather have our president as someone that's been involved with our game since day dot and someone that's watched us since day dot. Eddie is going no where. Stupid thread. I wouldn't want her as our president and I wouldn't be alone in that.

While it might be true that the President should be involved since the very start - works for Walmart, Shell and Exxon - the worlds three biggest companies, I think for us, it would be good to have a respected and recognised and well liked President when Eddie is ready to cede control.

The worst thing we can do is bring in an Eddie clone. Alisa would be the perfect next President.

 

[THATSGOLD]

I read TG's explanation and I think he is making assumptions based on sex. If he wants to elaborate on why he thinks that Camplin hasn't watched the Pies since "day dot" then I look forward to reading it.

Pretty big assumption JMac. Got to love when someone makes an assumption like that next you will be labelling me a racist.

 

[THATSGOLD]

How would that make her different to Eddie at the time he took over in 1998?

Nobody could possibly suggest that Camplin's credentials would be less than Eddie's were at the time he took over.

Eddie displayed passion for Collingwood to the supporters long before 1998. He told stories that will stick with me forever.

 

[jmac70]

Pretty big assumption JMac. Got to love when someone makes an assumption like that next you will be labelling me a racist.

It's just my interpretation of your post TG. As an author you need to understand that people will read meaning into your posts that you may or may not intend. I thought that your use of pronouns was telling but then again I may be mistaken.

 

[THATSGOLD]

It's just my interpretation of your post TG. As an author you need to understand that people will read meaning into your posts that you may or may not intend. I thought that your use of pronouns was telling but then again I may be mistaken.

Ok. You're boring me.

Tell us more why you want The Skier as the Prez.

 

[jmac70]

Ok. You're boring me.

Tell us more why you want The Skier as the Prez.

Camplin has both the sporting and business credentials to be considered as a possible candidate. She is not the only person I would consider should Eddie decide to hang up the boots.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Camplin has both the sporting and business credentials to be considered as a possible candidate. She is not the only person I would consider should Eddie decide to hang up the boots.

Any reason you think Eddie should hang up the boots?

 

[doodles98]

Jmac and ThatsGold... you two have a real closet cyber bromance thing going on don't you.... Just kiss already!!!.. you know you want to!

 

[Vicky Park]

The day she becomes our president is the day we all just give it all away and find other things out of life.

Why?

 

[Vicky Park]

I'd rather have our president as someone that's been involved with our game since day dot and someone that's watched us since day dot. Eddie is going no where. Stupid thread. I wouldn't want her as our president and I wouldn't be alone in that.

I ask again - why? When was Eddie 'involved with our game since day dot', whatever that means; and who is to know she hasn't 'watched us since day dot'?

I am not pushing Camplin for President, BTW. I just see no justiification in your posts for why she wouldn't or shouldn't be considered.

And your last (highlighted) justification - no-one on BF is ever alone in an opinion, as far as I can see, although often in a minority of 2 or 3. I am OK with minority opinions. Its just that this doesnt stand up as a justification TG.

 

[THATSGOLD]

I ask again - why? When was Eddie 'involved with our game since day dot', whatever that means; and who is to know she hasn't 'watched us since day dot'?

I am not pushing Camplin for President, BTW. I just see no justiification in your posts for why she wouldn't or shouldn't be considered.

And your last (highlighted) justification - no-one on BF is ever alone in an opinion, as far as I can see, although often in a minority of 2 or 3. I am OK with minority opinions. Its just that this doesnt stand up as a justification TG.

I associate Collingwood and Eddie more than her. I'm not alone in that.

 

[ClaytonM]

I associate Collingwood and Eddie more than her. I'm not alone in that.

You really need a better argument. Your current is basically a child's argument of 'cause I said so'

 

[THATSGOLD]

You really need a better argument. Your current is basically a child's argument of 'cause I said so'

Cause I said so.

 

[Piestration]

The bloke has overseen our transition from being bent over a barrel with no Vaseline to being a juggernaut of the competition. We should tell the AFL to get f*+ked if they want our $ to prop up the incompetence of others and instead invest it in cryogenically freezing Eddie so we can defrost him if we ever hit the skids again.

Yeah Baby Yeah

 

[jmac70]

Any reason you think Eddie should hang up the boots?

I don't think he should hang up the boots. Just think that he will.