AGM report

[NikkiNoo]

Wandered down to listen to the AGM on Tuesday and these are a couple of points that I remembered.

Triggy was an apology as he is still having some issues with his second hip replacement.

Bill was in fine form complaining about the podium from the start. If they get a new one, it should be named the "Bill Sanders Podium". Rod Payze actually addressed the members to thank Bill for his contribution to football in this state. The members, quite rightly gave Bill a standing ovation and he did try to make everyone sit down. Love him or hate him he has helped shape our club to be the professional and respected outfit it is.

After Bill chatted away about various things, which don't really need repeating, there was the usual report on membership. Interestingly there was a drop off in membership of 4% but this was mainly due to less SANFL members. The season tickets and Gold Membership was fully subscribed still. Next year will be a challenge but the retention rates for people to stay members was very pleasing to the club.

Craigy then spoke about the 6 new players that have come into the club. He had to keep reminding himself that it was 6 and not 5. There was vision of each of the players while he spoke. Oh and Neil had no problems with the podium, it just seemed to him that Bill was getting very grumpy in his old age.

Phil Davis
The club has recruited him as a forward. Is a great overhead mark. It was very pleasing to see in the vision that they showed that his tackling ability was very good. He has great leadership abilities for someone that is only 17.

Shaun McKernan
Is sick of being called Corey already. Has told Neil that he looks forward to the day when Corey is called Shaun's brother. Has played as a ruckman in the TAC Cup but the club has recruited him as a forward. He is very quiet and shy but has a very competitive nature.

Rory Sloane
In Neil's own words he will provide great entertainment to us both on and off the field, although hopefully more on the field. He has been recruited with a midfield role in mind. The vision shown of Rory had some great receiving runs from him as well as poise under pressure. Mention was made of his competitive nature.

Thomas Lee
From memory Neil mentioned him more as a utility role. He has a great overhead mark.

William Young
He was mentioned as a backline prospect. Another with really strong hands and a willingness to tackle.

Brian Donnelly
Neil described him as having exceptional ball handling skills and some other skills that aren't so exceptional. There are areas of his game that will need a lot of work, but they had some vision of him playing Gaelic football and he was very impressive. He didn't train last week due to forgetting about the Australian sun and burning his feet....

Neil ending by taking the opportunity to thank those who assist him throughout the year and he said that he knows he is the envy of every AFL coach in respect to our Board and CEO and how they listen and accommodate his requests.

Trevor Jacques then did a presentation on the new facility and it looks sensational. Trevor was told he only had 3 hours for the presentation .
The indoor training facility will become the new "Shed" for pre and after match functions. It will also be the same size as the current shed. There will be a museum, and will house such unique things like every jumper from the first ever AFL match. Trevor did mention that if we have any items that might be applicable to being housed in the museum to contact the club.

I mentioned it in the other thread but a question was asked about Graham Johncock and will he play AFL next year. He is currently doing a lifestyle course (for want of a better term) and he is the happiest that Neil has seen him for a long time. He trains early in the morning so that he can attend the course.

Someone complained about the price rise in Gold Memberships (which did go up by $2) and that they don't care about the scarf etc and just want access to the GF tickets. Phil explained that the price rise was still under CPI and that they do need to provide value for money. I did think it was strange to complain about a $2 price rise as if it was the greatest evil in the world.

Neil was asked about Mark Bickley and Todd Viney and what they have brought to the club in the time that they have been there. Neil ran through all the new coaching positions and he mentioned that Todd has brought considerable IP with him from Hawthorn and that it was mentioned by the playing group already the changes and positiveness that the new coaching appointments have brought.


If I can think of anything more, I will add them.

 

[cmndstab]

Shaun McKernan
Is sick of being called Corey already. Has told Neil that he looks forward to the day when Corey is called Shaun's brother. Has played as a ruckman in the TAC Cup but the club has recruited him as a forward. He is very quiet and shy but has a very competitive nature.

This is awesome

Rory Sloane
In Neil's own words he will provide great entertainment to us both on and off the field, although hopefully more on the field. He has been recruited with a midfield role in mind. The vision shown of Rory had some great receiving runs from him as well as poise under pressure. Mention was made of his competitive nature.

Rory has already provided me with plenty of entertainment Did he give any kind of indication whether Sloane would be ready for a debut next year?


Thanks for this thread NN! Very interesting

 

[WALL-e]

Cheers!

 

[cmndstab]

Neil ran through all the new coaching positions and he mentioned that Todd has brought considerable IP with him from Hawthorn and that it was mentioned by the playing group already the changes and positiveness that the new coaching appointments have brought.

This is also wonderful to hear. IP from the premiership club is invaluable, and it's great they the club is already getting positive feedback from the players about him.

 

[NikkiNoo]

This is awesome

It was very interesting that Neil said this, especially after he had just talked about how quiet Shaun was.

Rory has already provided me with plenty of entertainment Did he give any kind of indication whether Sloane would be ready for a debut next year?


Thanks for this thread NN! Very interesting

From memory, he mentioned Phil, Shaun and Rory as possibly playing games next year.

You are welcome!

 

[cmndstab]

It was very interesting that Neil said this, especially after he had just talked about how quiet Shaun was.

It's actually a really positive sign, since it shows that despite being quiet and shy, Shaun feels confident enough at Adelaide to have a joke with Craigy

 

[Dandy_GO]

Nice one, Nikki! Thanks for that.

Neil ran through all the new coaching positions and he mentioned that Todd has brought considerable IP with him from Hawthorn and that it was mentioned by the playing group already the changes and positiveness that the new coaching appointments have brought.

I'm willing to bet that Neil used that exact word. That's a Craigy word if I ever saw one!

 

[NikkiNoo]

Nice one, Nikki! Thanks for that.


I'm willing to bet that Neil used that exact word. That's a Craigy word if I ever saw one!

It is very much!

Interestingly, Craig is actually a very good orator. Any one at the AGM on Tuesday could attest to this and I got the feeling it was very similar to how he speaks to the players. It is why I have always been impressed with him as a coach, the little insights you get in how he deals with players and imparts his ideas.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Oh and little birdy had a chat with Neil after the AGM and asked specifically about Ricky Henderson. Now the little birdy let me know what the conversation was about and what was said, but I think it best if they tell you and not me....

 

[Geoffa32]

It is very much!

Interestingly, Craig is actually a very good orator. Any one at the AGM on Tuesday could attest to this and I got the feeling it was very similar to how he speaks to the players. It is why I have always been impressed with him as a coach, the little insights you get in how he deals with players and imparts his ideas.

I have heard Craig speak in front of a crowd a few times, as well as had a breif conversation with him at a function, and your correct he is quite good speaker. I think his post match persona has more to do with not wanting to be there rather than a speech impediment.

 

[Chief Crow]

Oh and little birdy had a chat with Neil after the AGM and asked specifically about Ricky Henderson. Now the little birdy let me know what the conversation was about and what was said, but I think it best if they tell you and not me....

Little birdy being me . Out of interest I asked Craigy about the lad. He said that he was spotted playing in country Victoria by our recruiters and that he had only played 5 games of footy. Also that he has a basketball background. Mentioned that he will be looked at with 1 of our 3 rookie draft picks.

Our recruiters must have seen something special from them couple of games to trial him here

 

[macca23]

We are dead set spoilt for info on this site!!

Thanks for that Nikki - great work.

 

[cmndstab]

Little birdy being me . Out of interest I asked Craigy about the lad. He said that he was spotted playing in country Victoria by our recruiters and that he had only played 5 games of footy. Also that he has a basketball background. Mentioned that he will be looked at with 1 of our 3 rookie draft picks.

Our recruiters must have seen something special from them couple of games to trial him here

Sounds like something they'd want to keep quiet... surprising Craigy was willing to spill the beans!

Craig is an exceptional talker. Even in his on-air and radio personality, you can hear what a good talker he is. He can think of his feet, and contrary to popular opinion doesn't give throwaway answers. Every answer he gives has meaning and is clear.

Reportedly away from the cameras he keeps this up but adds in a wicked sense of humour. I had to laugh at the story I heard where at a training session the footies somehow weren't there so Craig asks "Where are the footies?" and then points at one of the more overweight trainers and asks "how many did you hide under your shirt?"

 

[Campbell's Chunky]

Neil is very personable.

I did work experience at the SANFL with a mate of mine, who's the son of a prominent footballing identity in this state and Neil walked into the office and walked up to my mate and said 'So you're such and such's son!!!' and proceeded to grab him and give him a noogy, and then introduced himself to me and talked to me in a very informal and casual way. My mate is a port supporter, but still reminds me every time he sees me of how bigger legend Neil Craig is and how different he is from what you see on TV.

As one of the players once said (on radio I think), Neil's the kind of guy you are likely to find at the back of the bus.

Interesting.

 

[Symesy15]

Sounds like something they'd want to keep quiet... surprising Craigy was willing to spill the beans!

Craig is an exceptional talker. Even in his on-air and radio personality, you can hear what a good talker he is. He can think of his feet, and contrary to popular opinion doesn't give throwaway answers. Every answer he gives has meaning and is clear.

Reportedly away from the cameras he keeps this up but adds in a wicked sense of humour. I had to laugh at the story I heard where at a training session the footies somehow weren't there so Craig asks "Where are the footies?" and then points at one of the more overweight trainers and asks "how many did you hide under your shirt?"

Craigy is amazing when he's not in front of the camera. One of the training sessions I went to during the season, he was out on the ground talking to one of the trainers before the players came out and there was a little girl crying so Craigy went over to her and asked who she supported and the girl's mother said the Crows of course! and Craigy said then why are you crying? and asked if she wanted to come out onto the ground which, of course, she did! (because seriously, who'd say no?? haha) So he lifted her over the fence, along with her older brother and took them out to the middle of the ground and kicked the footy with them for awhile. The rest of us were all in awe of him and asked him if we cried, would he do the same with us.

 

[cmndstab]

Craigy is amazing when he's not in front of the camera. One of the training sessions I went to during the season, he was out on the ground talking to one of the trainers before the players came out and there was a little girl crying so Craigy went over to her and asked who she supported and the girl's mother said the Crows of course! and Craigy said then why are you crying? and asked if she wanted to come out onto the ground which, of course, she did! (because seriously, who'd say no?? haha) So he lifted her over the fence, along with her older brother and took them out to the middle of the ground and kicked the footy with them for awhile. The rest of us were all in awe of him and asked him if we cried, would he do the same with us.

I was at training today and he came and talked to every fan there individually. Little personal touches like that really make you warm to the club.