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

 

[The Donners]

This really looks like he's going to North

If that’s the case, we are going to look like an even bigger basket case than before.

We should change our name to Effington!

 

[Lads2023]

Heppellfreak are you still confident we land Clarko?

 

[Bombermania]

The plot thickens, people on the Blitz are now saying there were mass resignations in the VFLW program due to the toxic culture. I'm starting to think this is less about Rutten and more about the culture.

 

[citizen-erased]

we seem to be following the same path the Blues did last year
Being spurned by Clarkson really all that's left.

i don't want to imagine which ex-senior coach who last coached the club he was a favourite son at is on our list to come in

 

[citizen-erased]

The plot thickens, people on the Blitz are now saying there were mass resignations in the VFLW program due to the toxic culture. I'm starting to think this is less about Rutten and more about the culture.

Campbell does appear to be an issue.

 

[tandino]

**** it's a tragic situation we find ourselves in. Going for one last messiah fix before we start our responsible diet of proper external review and due process in the morning.

That we would need someone like Clarkson is the biggest indictment of the people that are actually still holding the levers of power at the club. It's an admission that they haven't been good enough, and instead of looking inwards and having a bit of self-reflection, they've reached for the dice for one last throw.

None of this is new or particularly insightful. We've never done the full national competition thing very well. We were found out after the flag and haven't recovered since. The club has spent 15 years in a shambles of their own making. We should be drawing the lines in the sand. No mass exodus, ****ing fantastic but what for? Everyone else was getting on with life and we've been throwing effort backwards for years trying to fix mistakes of the past.

Truck was set up to fail, that's the sad truth. I do fear that we are going to end up with Hird or some cadre of glory days Bombers just because. Head coach is just an employee. Go out and pick the best one. If it's Clarkson, fine. If it isn't, then ****ing find one.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Whichever way this goes it just speaks to bullshit, utter incompetence, or both.

If they’re going with Clarkson then obviously the whole “external review” thing is a sham.

If they really are doing an “external review” then it’ll take time, and they’ve inconceivably waited until the end of the season to do it, when it should’ve happened months ago.

All the while publicly flogging 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

in a hideous manner.

Our board really is full of snakes and donkeys, it would appear. Brasher is perhaps the only one with any dignity.

And I’ve said it a number of times but how on earth Kevin ****ing Sheedy is guiding the strategy of this club is just gobsmacking. He was sacked 15 years ago for being shit at his job and way behind the times. Now he’s one of the key decision makers. It boggles the mind.

 

[Nicholas61]

The plot thickens, people on the Blitz are now saying there were mass resignations in the VFLW program due to the toxic culture. I'm starting to think this is less about Rutten and more about the culture.

In light of all coming out would be surprised if Clarkson came to us.

 

[JayJ20]

This really looks like he's going to North

Good. Let’s hope so.

 

[Doss]

What an absolute ****ing shitshow.

Clarko, don’t touch us with a ten-foot barge pole. We’ll torch you just like we’ve torched so many others. Take your blank canvas at North.

 

[windyhill]

hird ? I’d have to stop 50 years of continuous membership. Could not go on.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

Yeah, he is off to North.

 

[Bombermania]

In light of all coming out would be surprised if Clarkson came to us.

The club could be using Clarko as a stalking horse to bring in wider cultural change.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

I’m actually starting to believe that Rutten and co will be staying on for next year. A lot is going to come out by the sounds of it. External review FTW.

 

[Engimal v3]

Whichever way this goes it just speaks to bullshit, utter incompetence, or both.

If they’re going with Clarkson then obviously the whole “external review” thing is a sham.

If they really are doing an “external review” then it’ll take time, and they’ve inconceivably waited until the end of the season to do it, when it should’ve happened months ago.

All the while publicly flogging Ben Rutten in a hideous manner.

Our board really is full of snakes and donkeys, it would appear. Brasher is perhaps the only one with any dignity.

And I’ve said it a number of times but how on earth Kevin ******* Sheedy is guiding the strategy of this club is just gobsmacking. He was sacked 15 years ago for being s**t at his job and way behind the times. Now he’s one of the key decision makers. It boggles the mind.

While you'd know a lot more than me, I feel like Essendon's been a bit hard done by here too.

Everyone's having a go at Essendon for being unkind to Rutten, and yet almost all of the Rutten commentary is external from the media. AFAIK, the only comment Essendon has made has been backing him.

 

[84859300]

What an absolute ******* shitshow.

Clarko, don’t touch us with a ten-foot barge pole. We’ll torch you just like we’ve torched so many others. Take your blank canvas at North.

Fatherhood has changed you man

I remember when you were happy go lucky. Foot loose and fancy free. Nothing like this would phase you before.

It's the nappy changes, isn't it?

 

[Schnitzengruben]

If we get Clarko, great.

If we don't, hopefully that leads to Xavier/Brasher/Rutten sackings and is the turning point we need as a club.

Win win imo.

 

[citizen-erased]

While you'd know a lot more than me, I feel like Essendon's been a bit hard done by here too.

Everyone's having a go at Essendon for being unkind to Rutten, and yet almost all of the Rutten commentary is external from the media. AFAIK, the only comment Essendon has made has been backing him.

Barham could have come out by now and backed Rutten. even if lip service.
And commit to a review
or comment on the Clarkson rumours.
Or talk to the members.

we've not handled this well.

 

[Vander18]

Whichever way this goes it just speaks to bullshit, utter incompetence, or both.

If they’re going with Clarkson then obviously the whole “external review” thing is a sham.

If they really are doing an “external review” then it’ll take time, and they’ve inconceivably waited until the end of the season to do it, when it should’ve happened months ago.

All the while publicly flogging Ben Rutten in a hideous manner.

Our board really is full of snakes and donkeys, it would appear. Brasher is perhaps the only one with any dignity.

And I’ve said it a number of times but how on earth Kevin ******* Sheedy is guiding the strategy of this club is just gobsmacking. He was sacked 15 years ago for being s**t at his job and way behind the times. Now he’s one of the key decision makers. It boggles the mind.

If it wasn’t so terrifying given the stakes right now, it’d be hilarious.

It just beggars belief.

 

[Doss]

While you'd know a lot more than me, I feel like Essendon's been a bit hard done by here too.

Everyone's having a go at Essendon for being unkind to Rutten, and yet almost all of the Rutten commentary is external from the media. AFAIK, the only comment Essendon has made has been backing him.

They haven’t backed him though.

The club statement the other day following the board change was very conspicuous in not saying a thing about Rutten even though his future was the elephant in the room.

Not even a cursory, token backing. Just pretended it didn’t exist, which in reality is suspiciously tantamount to no support offered at all.

 

[Engimal v3]

Barham could have come out by now and backed Rutten. even if lip service.
And commit to a review
or comment on the Clarkson rumours.
Or talk to the members.

we've not handled this well.

Yeah, the lack of comms to the fans has been a bit odd.

 

[carnthedons]

Whichever way this goes it just speaks to bullshit, utter incompetence, or both.

If they’re going with Clarkson then obviously the whole “external review” thing is a sham.

If they really are doing an “external review” then it’ll take time, and they’ve inconceivably waited until the end of the season to do it, when it should’ve happened months ago.

All the while publicly flogging Ben Rutten in a hideous manner.

Our board really is full of snakes and donkeys, it would appear. Brasher is perhaps the only one with any dignity.

And I’ve said it a number of times but how on earth Kevin ******* Sheedy is guiding the strategy of this club is just gobsmacking. He was sacked 15 years ago for being s**t at his job and way behind the times. Now he’s one of the key decision makers. It boggles the mind.

Institutionalised hubris is what it is. Arrogance borne of a time gone by.

 

[Bombermania]

Katie Lio now says she didn't say they resigned due to a toxic culture.

 

[Doss]

Fatherhood has changed you man

I remember when you were happy go lucky. Foot loose and fancy free. Nothing like this would phase you before.

It's the nappy changes, isn't it?

My ten week old son’s nappies stink less than our performance of recent times.

 

[F_therest]

Campbell does appear to be an issue.

Leadership and culture is literally one of the KPIs of any CEO in an organisation.

I read he's pretty good at the commercial stuff, but so what if he's terrible at everything else including key football department appointments.

Similar to Liddle for us last year. Seemed like a bit of a snake oil salesman...good talker, did well for us commercially but there were conflicts and culture issues. Probably had an ego and was more about himself than improving others...Campbell gives off the same vibe.

He's been the one leadership constant for a long period of time...