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

 

[Lore]

Two more board appointments, being David Wills and Tim Roberts.

"Roberts will fill the vacant position left by 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

and stand for election in the 2023 AGM, while David Wills will fill the vacant position left by Peter Allen as an appointed position."

Roberts has a business background and "brings loyalty to our board", while Wills is from PwC and takes over the Finance Director role.

David Wills (left) and Tim Roberts (right). (Photo: Essendon FC)

President comments on both appointments:

The Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Roberts and David Wills to the board of directors.

Essendon President David Barham welcomed the appointment of Roberts and Wills.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim and David to the board. They will bring tremendous insight and experience from their industries that will be extremely beneficial for the club,” Barham said.

“They both have an excellent understanding of what it takes to run a successful organisation having led winning teams for the majority of their corporate life.

“Tim brings a wealth of business experience and loyalty to our board. He has been a lifelong supporter and is well known to our supporter groups. He has been instrumental in helping the club build the NEC Hangar and he will have a significant role in our future, in particular what we do at Windy Hill.

“David brings great integrity and the highest level of financial and professional experience to our board. He has an extensive business background and will be a great asset to our organisation for many years to come. Everyone is delighted that he is joining our board and we look forward to working with him as the club resets our strategy and purpose.”

About David Wills:

David Wills brings more than 35 years of professional experience and will undertake the role of Finance Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Integrity Committee.


Wills' most recent role was Managing Partner of PwC’s worldwide private and family business sectors, a global role he held until his retirement from PwC at the end of 2019.

A lifelong Essendon fan, Wills’ professional experience focused on client service excellence and thought leadership through strategy, transformation and execution.

During his career at PwC, Wills was appointed to the Australian Executive Board at which time he established and led PwC’s Private Clients business as a stand-alone practice to deliver services in the areas of audit, tax, consulting, deals, wealth management and family consulting.

Wills said he was thrilled to join the club he grew up supporting.

“My journey with the Bombers started when I was a kid. I had a Bomber guernsey the day I was born. I grew up in the country and came down to see the Bombers on the train before moving to Melbourne to live near Windy Hill,” Wills said.

“I’ve been in professional services for 35 years across several roles working with great people and high-performing teams. I plan to leverage those skills and experiences on the Essendon Board.

“The governance that the board can bring to a footy club is all about protecting, enhancing and polishing the brand which is the Essendon Football Club. It is a critical part of what we want to do as a Board as we move forward.

“I recognise there is a cycle in the economy, as there is a cycle in a footy club. Maintaining that positivity and realising there are better times ahead when you’re feeling low is really important.

“I will have a keen eye on providing the resources that the executives, coaches and players need to be as successful as they can be. I truly hope our members will share in a renewed sense of optimism."

About Tim Roberts:

Tim Roberts joins the Bombers with extensive involvement in the property and construction industry in his role as Executive Director of WT Partnership.


During his three decades at WT Partnership, Roberts has been responsible for the company’s expansion into America, Canada, the Middle East and India while also overseeing large scale infrastructure projects around the globe.

Locally, Roberts was involved in various recreational projects, including the development of Caulfield Racecourse, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Metro Tunnel and the home of the Bombers, the NEC Hangar.

Roberts also has a strong connection to the club through his memberships of various supporter groups.

Roberts said he looked forward to helping the club achieve success.

“A real opportunity to drive the standards and outcomes that came out of the review and the high-performance nature of our footy club, right through from the board room to the locker room,” Roberts said.

“The board has been through a challenging time but having gone through a process with Andrew Muir and meeting the board members, there’s a clear alignment on the strategy moving forward.”

“It will be an absolute honour and privilege to work with the group to drive those standards right through the organisation.

“I love the red and black. It brings a whole group of people together with a common purpose to achieve success. Having seen what success looks like, I want to see more of it, and I want our members and supporters to see more of it,” Roberts said.

Tim Roberts and David Wills join Board

Dons welcome two new Board Directors.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[yodellinhank]

Calthorpe did a Carey on him. Not sure what it has to do with Young joining the board. Was a well respected player.

Whether he left for the $ or because of the incident you mention.

 

[Zach Package]

A cursory google search doesn’t show up any associates hate crimes, which is a good start to their tenure

 

[yodellinhank]

Two more board appointments, being David Wills and Tim Roberts.

"Roberts will fill the vacant position left by Sean Wellman and stand for election in the 2023 AGM, while David Wills will fill the vacant position left by Peter Allen as an appointed position."

Roberts has a business background and "brings loyalty to our board", while Wills is from PwC and takes over the Finance Director role.

President comments on both appointments:


About David Wills:


About Tim Roberts:

Tim Roberts and David Wills join Board

Dons welcome two new Board Directors.

www.essendonfc.com.au

I'm confused; is Roberts supposed to be an inert yes man or the voice of the coteries?

 

[westking]

Another two middle aged white guys fulfilling a passion project. lmfao. Are these dudes friends of Brashers? Full of good intentions no doubt.

Both worth shed loads of money. Success in business and industry and what not. Bloody bravo. Lets all get down on our knees and applaud their superiority.

'loyalty to the board' someone ban me now pls.

nothing has changed.

 

[frodos gardener]

Another two middle aged white guys fulfilling a passion project. lmfao. Are these dudes friends of Brashers? Full of good intentions no doubt.

Both worth shed loads of money. Success in business and industry and what not. Bloody bravo. Lets all get down on our knees and applaud their superiority.

'loyalty to the board' someone ban me now pls.

nothing has changed.

Let’s be real here, they probably have two directives:

1. Handle the coteries
2. Stay out of the way

 

[westking]

Let’s be real here, they probably have two directives:

1. Handle the coteries
2. Stay out of the way

Seriously!!!

 

[westking]

Let’s be real here, they probably have two directives:

1. Handle the coteries
2. Stay out of the way

This is what you think they are there for???

 

[frodos gardener]

This is what you think they are there for???

I reckon that’s what Barham has brought them in for, yeah. They’ll be people who agree with his vision and don’t cause issues. I’m not saying that’s what they should be there for, but it’s a guess as to the thinking.

 

[Bombermania]

Another two middle aged white guys fulfilling a passion project. lmfao. Are these dudes friends of Brashers? Full of good intentions no doubt.

Both worth shed loads of money. Success in business and industry and what not. Bloody bravo. Lets all get down on our knees and applaud their superiority.

'loyalty to the board' someone ban me now pls.

nothing has changed.

Nice ageist, racist and sexist comment when the Essendon board has 1 indigenous person and 3 women on it.

 

[westking]

I reckon that’s what Barham has brought them in for, yeah. They’ll be people who agree with his vision and don’t cause issues. I’m not saying that’s what they should be there for, but it’s a guess as to the thinking.

So what is Sheedy still there for?

 

[westking]

Nice ageist, racist and sexist comment when the Essendon board has 1 indigenous person and 3 women on it.

WTF

 

[Bombermania]

WTF

Didn't you know we had three women on the board and Dean was added this week.

 

[westking]

Nice ageist, racist and sexist comment when the Essendon board has 1 indigenous person and 3 women on it.

You bet it is mate. Its been a major problem of this club for a long time.

Add in a few extra descriptive words... exclusive, incestuious, arrogant

 

[westking]

Didn't you know we had three women on the board and Dean was added this week.

Yeah I did know that.

 

[Bombermania]

You bet it is mate. Its been a major problem of this club for a long time.

Add in a few extra descriptive words... exclusive, incestuious, arrogant

The club has been stale for years living off the glory years in the 1980's and 1990's.

 

[westking]

The club has been stale for years living off the glory years in the 1980's and 1990's.

100% agree with this comment

 

[yodellinhank]

So what is Sheedy still there for?

To disagree with the vision and cause issues. It's called providing balance.

 

[windyhill]

So what is Sheedy still there for?

 

[faible]

Another two middle aged white guys fulfilling a passion project. lmfao. Are these dudes friends of Brashers? Full of good intentions no doubt.

Both worth shed loads of money. Success in business and industry and what not. Bloody bravo. Lets all get down on our knees and applaud their superiority.

'loyalty to the board' someone ban me now pls.

nothing has changed.

Would you prefer young, unsuccessful and poor?

I get you wanted to have a melt about it and have kind of shoehorned it in, but the number of people with actual relevant qualifications for being on a board that aren't wealthy middle aged white guys is very small, and we've managed to find three women and a genuinely qualified Indigenous past player in Rioli to sit on ours.

 

[TheGrizz]

For the board officianados (Lore , The Prosecutor ) what number is our board at now? (Counting Brasher and Co as having left)

 

[Inspecta Gadget]

Would you prefer young, unsuccessful and poor?

I get you wanted to have a melt about it and have kind of shoehorned it in, but the number of people with actual relevant qualifications for being on a board that aren't wealthy middle aged white guys is very small, and we've managed to find three women and a genuinely qualified Indigenous past player in Rioli to sit on ours.

Every position in society needs to be a complete representation of society, regardless of skills and qualifications.

Just positions of power though, you can keep the rest.

 

[Lore]

For the board officianados (Lore , The Prosecutor ) what number is our board at now? (Counting Brasher and Co as having left)

Full

Barham
Muir
Green
Hisgrove
Sheedy
O’Sullivan
Madden -> Welsh
Brasher -> Rioli
Wellman -> Roberts
Allen -> Wills

Roberts and Wills start their term at the conclusion of this year’s AGM, and Muir and Welsh are up for election (the seats those other ex-players are trying to take).

 

[yodellinhank]

Was there any actual recommendations about the make up of the board in the review?

 

[Lore]

Was there any actual recommendations about the make up of the board in the review?

We are told that it was a focus but it hasn’t been disclosed other than that we now have an Indigenous board member. The previous version isn’t that old anyway so it might’ve just been a tweak