Behind the Scenes - Matthews / Pert Interview

[76woodenspooners]

Interesting interview of Gary Pert by Leigh Matthews on afl.com.au

http://www.afl.com.au/Video/tabid/76/contentid/381987/invoke/Default.aspx

He talks about how a lot of the success we enjoy as a footy club is driven from the board level down

 

[Quicky]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

That was probably the best interview on footy that I have seen for the year. I don't think this thread will get many responses, it isn't scandalous, but this is the sort of thing I really enjoy watching. I probably wouldn't have caught it if you hadn't posted it so cheers.

There were a few things to take out of that.

Biggest thing. The club fully understands the role that Mick Malthouse will undertake next season. It hasn't been explained because there is nothing to be gained from having the role picked apart by the media. This gives me even more confidence in the fact Malthouse is going nowhere next season. He's signed on to a well defined role. I doubt he would have if he weren't comfortable with it.

Our corporate structure. It's developed to withstand the loss of its parts. If we lose an individual, even a talented one, our structure is designed to allow us absorb that. A working example of this was the loss of Simon Lloyd last year. He was a big part of our development system. We lost him to Freo. There were questions over how we would feel the loss. It seems on appearances it has been seamless. This isn't belittling Lloyds contribution and influence but a credit to the structure of our organisation.

The importance of out VFL team. We are our own colours, we can develop players to step straight into senior roles, and having new players with this confidence is a big thing for a club. Looking at the two teams that have gone down this path, Geelong first and then us, the results of the last few seasons speaks volumes.

I was also appreciative of Perts comments on the difference of a footy club and a publically listed company. Our cornerstones are the players and the supporters. Our business model is there to support both of these groups through footy department spending and supporter services. We may have complaints about these at times (particularly supporter services) but atleast we know that the clubs philosophy and thought process is right.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

That was probably the best interview on footy that I have seen for the year. I don't think this thread will get many responses, it isn't scandalous, but this is the sort of thing I really enjoy watching. I probably wouldn't have caught it if you hadn't posted it so cheers.

There were a few things to take out of that.
...

I was also appreciative of Perts comments on the difference of a footy club and a publically listed company. Our cornerstones are the players and the supporters. Our business model is there to support both of these groups through footy department spending and supporter services. We may have complaints about these at times (particularly supporter services) but atleast we know that the clubs philosophy and thought process is right.

Agreed. I hadn't thought much about it, but I guess if Collingwood did have an operating profit of 10 million bucks, they'd probably have a dilemna of what to do with it? Ultimately the money has to either go back into the football department or the membership services, it's merely a question of whether that happens now or sometime in the future.

Another thing I found interesting was what he mentioned about the business side of things that are hidden from view. I guess there's a good reason why they keep a lot of that hidden from view, but it's a shame. I'm very interested in understanding where that kernel of winning games and premierships originates from. Sure, Daisy marking or Leon leading out of defence might seem turning points in games of football. But what strategies and tactics in the coaches box and recruiters office and fitness gym led to that? And most interestingly for me, whats the framework at the club that leads to excellence and innovation in those areas? The Pert interview gives a small nugget of insight into that.

The interview is a long one, but I'd be interested in more. What are the plans for the community centre and Victoria Park? All the other teams are catching up or have caught up with the quality of the training facilities - what are the plans for staying ahead of the pack? Where does the club see the next innovations to come from? What else is part of the clubs 5 year plan (that they're 2 years into)? Of course much of this would be classified as 'intellectual property', but it'd be fascinating stuff.

 

[stupidbigfootysh]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

Interesting interview of Gary Pert by Leigh Matthews on afl.com.au

http://www.afl.com.au/Video/tabid/76/contentid/381987/invoke/Default.aspx

He talks about how a lot of the success we enjoy as a footy club is driven from the board level down

Thanks for the link really good, worth the watch

 

[vjknight]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

mods - can we sticky this interview.

for those who havent seen it, it goes for 30 mins, but is the most enlightening, most informative piece ive ever seen on the inner workings of a footy club - our footy club.

talks about the roles of eddie, and down all the ranks, and how they have interacted and grown into what we have at present.

year 2 of a five year plan, and the 1st year gave us a flag, year 2 we are odds on again, and with the lack of opportunities of other clubs to expand their lists short term, that dynasty we all pray for is a real possibility.

 

[Wooljay]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

The importance of out VFL team. We are our own colours, we can develop players to step straight into senior roles, and having new players with this confidence is a big thing for a club. Looking at the two teams that have gone down this path, Geelong first and then us, the results of the last few seasons speaks volumes.

I don't think the importance of this can be stressed enough. It allows for a far more effective and controlled youth development program that is in the best interest of the club, as opposed to having to deal with the VFL's own interests as well as our own. Just look at the youth that we've been able to bring in and develop during this period, and the control over how they've been managed, where they've been played, and how often they've played.

I seriously think this point, above anything else, is why we're as successful as we are right now.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

Of course the main stream media will barely report any of this because it doesn't involve "splits" between Eddie and Mick or the "scandal" of overly zealous supporters at the MCG.

Pert is a consummate performer and talks absolute sense.
Is it any wonder we are where we are?

 

[Bay Pie]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

Quality interview and thanks for the link. I missed this on the AFL site.

Couple of things I got from the interview:

Comparing AFL to EPL: Leigh Matthews has been driving this agenda for sometime. The cynic in me thinks it's because he knows we can achieve or better whatt he salary cap assisted Lions achieved, without those same salary cap concessions. It really seems hypocritical to me to hear this from Leigh Matthews. The EPL has no salary cap and the wealthiest clubs spend those extra dollars on buying the best and most expensive players. The wealthiest clubs would spend many times the number of the poorer clubs to buy players. We cannot do that. The Brisbane Lions kept their team together and recruited more players (Blake Caracella) from a close rival (Essendon) due to the additional salary cap that they had. The benefit to us with having all this coin is better facilities/opportunities to develop our players and the ability to employ enough staff to talent scout around the globe. Perhaps the main point in this is, 6 premiership players were off the rookie list. Perhaps the extra coin we generate allows us to identify and develop these late/rookie picks better then any other club.

The current 5 year plan (MM to Bucks handover): What the media fails to recognise is we are in the 2nd year of a 5 year plan. We've won a flag in our 1st year and up to our nuts with a chance to win another this year. The plan is working and damn fine. It couldn't have worked any better to this point as far as on-field success goes. The media prefer to focus on the negatives in that we'll lose a premiership coach. Yes, we will as a senior coach, but whose to say we'd have won a comp last year without the plan. Taking nothing away from MM of course. If we win it again this year and then we don't win another for the next 3 years, the 5 year plan still worked. It would have netted us 2 flags. Perhaps the one flag is enough to say the 5 year plan worked. But no, the media will focus on, MM won 2 flags and you punted him and Bucks couldn't add to the tally.

 

[Knightmare]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

As a student of Business found this very interesting. Very good find!

We are very much innovators of the competition and the club have it right. Spend and continue to look for competitive advantages to give the players and coaches the greatest opportunity for success.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Re: Why Collingwood Are The Best

The current 5 year plan (MM to Bucks handover): What the media fails to recognise is we are in the 2nd year of a 5 year plan. We've won a flag in our 1st year and up to our nuts with a chance to win another this year. The plan is working and damn fine. It couldn't have worked any better to this point as far as on-field success goes. The media prefer to focus on the negatives in that we'll lose a premiership coach. Yes, we will as a senior coach, but whose to say we'd have won a comp last year without the plan. Taking nothing away from MM of course. If we win it again this year and then we don't win another for the next 3 years, the 5 year plan still worked. It would have netted us 2 flags. Perhaps the one flag is enough to say the 5 year plan worked. But no, the media will focus on, MM won 2 flags and you punted him and Bucks couldn't add to the tally.

That's a good point. Pert implies that you wouldn't be able to simply put Malthouse (or anyone else for that matter) into another club and expect the same results that Collingwood have achieved. Our success is due to the whole football program which is greater than any one person.

That's something that's been lost by the media (and others) suggesting that getting Mick to Bulldogs / Melbourne / where-ever would address the onfield woes of that club.