Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Dave Barham - Statement from Barham addressing Merrett etc - 12/9

[Lore]

Spoiler: Timeline of events

• 15/8: President, Paul Brasher resigns, replaced by Dave Barham who foreshadows external review
  • Votes for Brasher: Peter Allen, Simon Madden, Sean Wellman
    Sean Wellman

    Age

    51

    Ht

    193cm

    Wt

    90kg

    Pos.

    Def

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    14.1

    4star

    K

    9.7

    4star

    HB

    4.5

    3star

    M

    4.5

    4star

    T

    1.0

    3star

    No current season stats available

    D

    8.0

    2star

    K

    4.4

    2star

    HB

    3.6

    3star

    M

    2.6

    3star

    T

    0.8

    3star

  • Votes for Barham: Andrew Muir, Dorothy Hisgrove, Melissa Green, Kate O’Sullivan, Kevin Sheedy
• 21/8: Senior Coach, Ben Rutten
  Ben Rutten

  Age

  42

  Ht

  190cm

  Wt

  98kg

  Pos.

  Def

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  13.4

  3star

  K

  6.3

  2star

  HB

  7.0

  4star

  M

  5.3

  5star

  T

  1.3

  3star

  No current season stats available

  D

  10.6

  3star

  K

  6.2

  3star

  HB

  4.4

  4star

  M

  3.6

  4star

  T

  1.0

  3star

  sacked
• 24/8: CEO, Xavier Campbell resigns
• 24/8: Directors to resign
  • Paul Brasher, immediately
  • Simon Madden, immediately
  • Sean Wellman, after new football director is appointed
  • Peter Allen, after AGM & finance portfolio handover in December
• 26/8: Details of coaching selection committee appointment
  • Sub-committee of 6: Josh Mahoney
    Josh Mahoney

    Age

    48

    Ht

    180cm

    Wt

    83kg

    Pos.

    Fwd

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    11.3

    3star

    K

    6.8

    3star

    HB

    4.5

    3star

    M

    3.5

    4star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.9

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    9.2

    3star

    K

    5.4

    2star

    HB

    3.8

    3star

    M

    2.2

    3star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.4

    3star

    (Chair, GM-Footy), Robert Walls, Jordan Lewis
    Jordan Lewis

    Age

    39

    Ht

    186cm

    Wt

    86kg

    Pos.

    D/M

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    23.5

    5star

    K

    12.1

    4star

    HB

    11.5

    5star

    M

    5.5

    5star

    T

    2.7

    4star

    MG

    310.5

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    15.0

    4star

    K

    6.8

    3star

    HB

    8.2

    5star

    M

    4.8

    5star

    T

    2.8

    5star

    , Simone McKinnis OAM, Andrew Thorburn and Dorothy Hisgrove (board member).
• 26/8: Details of external review process
  • Ernst & Young to coordinate with support from Andrew Thorburn, working closely with Nick Ryan (Acting CEO) & Dorothy Hisgrove (board member)
  • Focusing on four areas: (1) Board effectiveness & composition, (2) a review of leadership, operations and culture including the footy department, (3) the senior coach appointment and (4) the new CEO appointment.
• 26/9: Andrew Welsh appointed to the board of directors, replacing Simon Madden
• 29/9: Brad Scott appointed as Senior Coach
• 30/9: Kevin Sheedy claims decision to appoint Brad Scott was 6-1 against him
• 3/10: Andrew Thorburn appointed as CEO - alternative link
• 3/10: “External review to be handed to the board next week”: Andrew Thorburn, Crichton Medal Address
• 4/10: Andrew Thorburn resigns as CEO
• 11/10: External review preliminary findings
• 24/10: External review preliminary findings II
• 2/11: Dan McPherson appointed as General Manager of Performance & Cam Roberts as Head of Development
• 11/11: Dean Rioli appointed to the board of directors, replacing Paul Brasher
• 14/11: Tim Roberts & David Wills appointed to the board of directors, replacing Sean Wellman and Paul Allen respectively
• 28/11: Dorothy Hisgrove announced as first female vice-president (at the Essendon Women's Best and Fairest night)
• 1/12: Craig Vozzo appointed as CEO
• 13/12: Board director election results: Andrew Welsh and Andrew Muir elected
• 15/5: The club's First Nations Advisory Council established, to be led by Dean Rioli (chair, Indigenous board member), and including: Leanne Brooke (EFC EGM – Community & The Long Walk. Essendon FC), Dorothy Hisgrove (EFC VP and National Manager Partner KPMG), Kane Ellis (CEO of Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service), John Evans (Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement at Swinburne) and Che Cockatoo-Collins (EM, Indigenous Affairs NBN, EFC Past Player)
• 16/5: Board of Directors declare support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament, after consultation with the new First Nations Advisory Council
• 28/8: EGM - Football, Josh Mahoney has accepted a role as GM Football Operations at the AFL
• 10/10: GM - Performance Daniel McPherson, and Head of AFLW/AFL Operations Manager Aysha Ward have been elevated to the club executive as joint leaders of the club's football department, as GM-AFL and GM-AFLW respectively

 

[astrowizzle]

Only experience coach I would accept is Brad Scott, did well with a very ordinary Norf list.

Pass purely coz him and his brother are arrogant w***ers

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I've just felt a rush of anger towards all these campaigners.

Treading water for 5 years now. Wasted a good chance of a total rebuild by going the Vanilla approach with Worsfold. Absolute disaster.

Worsfold was exactly the right choice. 2016 and 2017 he was fantastic.

After that he should’ve gone for a young coach. We did finally do that though, a couple of years late.

Now he’s gone. You cant seriously suggest we “should have gone a full rebuild”. We have just tried to do that and less than two years in the president has been rolled, the coach has been sacked and we’re a mess.

 

[eth-dog]

The meltdown over Hinkley potentially being poached is quite amusing.

His tactical nous is pretty average but he's exactly the guy that we need. He took over Port and they went from a mediocre side that was conceding over 100 points a game for 5 years and then got them conceding approximately 80 ppg.

He also drives standards and is pretty much what we need right now. Need a tactically strong senior assistant to go with it but seriously.

 

[boncer34]

The meltdown over Hinkley potentially being poached is quite amusing.

His tactical nous is pretty average but he's exactly the guy that we need. He took over Port and they went from a mediocre side that was conceding over 100 points a game for 5 years and then got them conceding approximately 80 ppg.

He also drives standards and is pretty much what we need right now. Need a tactically strong senior assistant to go with it but seriously.

That doesn't work.

 

[eth-dog]

That doesn't work.

It does in our situation

 

[boncer34]

It does in our situation

Nope.

We need an all-round coach. Truck couldn't sell the players on running defensively, why can Hinkley?

Whilst the current group remains we need someone with tactical nous to cover the playing groups inadequacies.

 

[eth-dog]

Nope.

We need an all-round coach. Truck couldn't sell the players on running defensively, why can Hinkley?

Whilst the current group remains we need someone with tactical nous to cover the playing groups inadequacies.

Those coaches are incredibly rare. If we can find one, great, but if not I want someone who can drive the standards home.

 

[boncer34]

Those coaches are incredibly rare. If we can find one, great, but if not I want someone who can drive the standards home.

Tactical nous for mine is our most important requirement.

 

[Zach Package]

Nope.

We need an all-round coach. Truck couldn't sell the players on running defensively, why can Hinkley?

Whilst the current group remains we need someone with tactical nous to cover the playing groups inadequacies.

Hinkley has a group that can run like the absolute clappers courtesy of Darren Burgess.

Dude would have a heart attack half way through the first pre season session if he was asked to coach our group.

 

[eth-dog]

Tactical nous for mine is our most important requirement.

If we aren't fit enough or disciplined enough then it won't matter how good you are tactically, we'll continue to be the same mediocre club that fights for an elimination final loss.

I get what you're saying but we need the base first.

 

[Lore]

If we aren't fit enough or disciplined enough then it won't matter how good you are tactically, we'll continue to be the same mediocre club that fights for an elimination final loss.

I get what you're saying but we need the base first.

And if they're not a tactical genius capable of making finals in their first year and building on it from there with a list that isn't fit or disciplined enough, they'll be out on their ear in 12-24 months.

I mean assuming this President isn't out on his ear in less time

 

[Lore]

Dodoro’s relationship with Mahoney has become strained, “in part over comments Mahoney made to the board about the club’s list management, believed to have circled back to Dodoro”.

Just going to point out how actually terrible this is.

No respect for the hierarchy or Mahoney's position (the one they put him in by asking him to review his own department), and to leak it back to the guy concerned... like bloody hell, what were you expecting would happen by doing that, except to create friction unnecessarily between people that we all collectively need to be working well together? And that "ensuring the club is working well together" is in your job description as a board member?

 

[ghostdog]

And just like that, I tip my hat. Good lookin' out Woosha. Still delivering learnings in 22. That's 2 coaches in a row departing with the same message. Do you get it Barham?

 

[yodellinhank]

And just like that, I tip my hat. Good lookin' out Woosha. Still delivering learnings in 22. That's 2 coaches in a row departing with the same message. Do you get it Barham?

The message being "keep paying me several hundred thousand dollars."

 

[ghostdog]

So how can we get the club to reset? Any ideas on what we have to do? Feels as though it's met a critical mass and nothing has happened.
The boys club even know that the football public is onto them now.

It seems to me there needs to be a constitutional change that limits coterie group representation perhaps to one member for all of those groups. As well, the number of board members, I think, should be halved to 5.

I don't know how to achieve changes like that within the mechanisms available to us.

 

[Lore]

The message being "keep paying me several hundred thousand dollars."

Yes, "your club is ****ed and here is why" is really a plea for continuation of employment.

Cynicism is one thing but you're pushing it a bit far if you're not even going to read the article

 

[ghostdog]

The message being "keep paying me several hundred thousand dollars."

Nope. You missed it again.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Yeah, Nah.

His selections were safe. His gameplan was safe. How many years did he want? Failed to rebuild at the exact point we needed to.

Had to cull one of Hurley and Hooker and trade. Had to move on Zaka.

Myers, Smack, Brown, Baguley, DEa, Johs, Green, Goddard.. got shown up over and over again but kept on banging the middle of the road hammer, until it all crumbled.

 

[Lore]

It seems to me there needs to be a constitutional change that limits coterie group representation perhaps to one member for all of those groups. As well, the number of board members, I think, should be halved to 5.

I don't know how to achieve changes like that within the mechanisms available to us.

There is no formal representation of factions/coteries on the board, the board itself is more about changeable loyalties, influence, and strategically pushing out and appointing allies and club immortals to vacant spots to try and shore up your influence.

Coteries are a double edged sword, they donate tons of money to the club, they can provide opportunities to players such as internships and networking through their business contacts, and that helps us to bring in players that we want via trade etc. They also help bail us out of debt from the saga and covid. It also most likely helps us politically, in the sense of being able to lobby governments to tip even bigger money into developing our new training facilities, for instance.

These Mr Money Bags types are likewise quite capable of offering incentives to members of the board and administration as individuals, such as business opportunities and investments that enrich them personally without a direct connection to the club itself.

And occasionally they roll up their sleeves and try to get themselves appointed/elected to the board as well.

On the other hand, their ability to put that kind of money in can come with some strings attached, e.g., if I give you money I want you to change the name of the 'True Value Solar Centre' to 'The Hangar' with no sponsorship name. The club also does private events for people with certain high level membership or player sponsorship etc, and members of the club hierarchy also attend coterie events.

And I mean, are you really going to fire the guy you're in business with? Or the guy who the guy you're in business with is really close to?

It's extremely incestuous but it's as beneficial as it is a detraction, depending on what you want from it.

 

[Lore]

Yeah, Nah.

His selections were safe. His gameplan was safe. How many years did he want? Failed to rebuild at the exact point we needed to.

Had to cull one of Hurley and Hooker and trade. Had to move on Zaka.

Myers, Smack, Brown, Baguley, DEa, Johs, Green, Goddard.. got shown up over and over again but kept on banging the middle of the road hammer, until it all crumbled.

Doesn't sound like you read the article either

 

[Proper Gander]

Do they feel sorry for us, or feel sorry for Rutten and dislike us even more because of that?

Sorry for you, mate. It’s no fun to watch your team lose their heart on the field, or feel as though you have been sinking money into your club to support your passion while the exec managers take the piss. Supporters don’t ask for that or want it. But yeah - it’s not a comfortable feeling to have people sort of grimace at you in sympathy when you wander out to get a paper wearing a club polo or whatever

 

[threeleggedgoat]

e.g., if I give you money I want you to change the name of the 'True Value Solar Centre' to 'The Hangar' with no sponsorship name.

Is this what happened? Any idea why?

 

[ghostdog]

There is no formal representation of factions/coteries on the board, the board itself is more about changeable loyalties, influence, and strategically pushing out and appointing allies and club immortals to vacant spots to try and shore up your influence.

Coteries are a double edged sword, they donate tons of money to the club, they can provide opportunities to players such as internships and networking through their business contacts, and that helps us to bring in players that we want via trade etc. They also help bail us out of debt from the saga and covid. It also most likely helps us politically, in the sense of being able to lobby governments to tip even bigger money into developing our new training facilities, for instance.

These Mr Money Bags types are likewise quite capable of offering incentives to members of the board and administration as individuals, such as business opportunities and investments that enrich them personally without a direct connection to the club itself.

And occasionally they roll up their sleeves and try to get themselves appointed/elected to the board as well.

On the other hand, their ability to put that kind of money in can come with some strings attached, e.g., if I give you money I want you to change the name of the 'True Value Solar Centre' to 'The Hangar' with no sponsorship name. The club also does private events for people with certain high level membership or player sponsorship etc, and members of the club hierarchy also attend coterie events.

And I mean, are you really going to fire the guy you're in business with? Or the guy who the guy you're in business with is really close to?

It's extremely incestuous but it's as beneficial as it is a detraction, depending on what you want from it.

It sounds like some kind of patron-client system but the club can't allow itself to be the client in that relationship.

Is it accurate to say coterie group people are attracted to the club as a way of enhancing their own perceived power and prestige?

 

[jmoo wan]

Is this what happened? Any idea why?

the CEO of Aussie Solar Panels is a mate of Brasher’s and was pissed off.

 

[Lore]

It sounds like some kind of patron-client system but the club can't allow itself to be the client in that relationship.

Is it accurate to say coterie group people are attracted to the club as a way of enhancing their own perceived power and prestige?

I mean I don't know but I assume so - that and a love of the club. At the end of the day they're just fans with means.