Mega Thread General MFC Discussion Part III

[mrmonkey]

Thanks Mrmonkey and PG, much appreciated. I know it's near impossible to avoid idiots at the footy, I'd just prefer my 10 year old not exposed to constant swearing and aggression.

Yeah, certainly better now then what it was when I was 10. Pretty sure people would smoke on the top level of the Olympic stand back in the 90s, on top of the aggression and drunkenness. I don't remember this but apparently behind the scoreboard at Waverley Park was good fighting grounds.

 

[space_cowboy]

Looks like a bit of a hit job on Goodwin in today's Hun... allegations of drinking, gambling, bullying which required the intervention of the board apparently.

I know the Hun would never have misleading headlines, but if anyone has the details past the paywall, please fill us in.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan described Simon Goodwin

Simon Goodwin

Age

48

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

8.8

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

’s decision to drink and gamble with players as “crazy” in a crisis meeting about the coach’s behaviour.
McLachlan and league commission chairman Richard Goyder were briefed on allegations that Goodwin had some serious issues during an online meeting on the eve of the club’s 2021 premiership season.

Sounds like it was 12 months ago to

 

[fpm84]

Looks like a bit of a hit job on Goodwin in today's Hun... allegations of drinking, gambling, bullying which required the intervention of the board apparently.

I know the Hun would never have misleading headlines, but if anyone has the details past the paywall, please fill us in.

In a nutshell article claims:

• Drinking and gambling with players at Sorrento Hotel which Gill McL criticised in a meeting with your Board
• Former MFC head doctor alleges bullying and filed a claim for unfair dismissal
• MFC sent Alan Richo to accompany Goodwin to an end of season trip to Vegas in 2019 as they were concerned about what he would get up to if alone
• Staff members and some players were aware of Goodwin’s ‘serious lifestyle issues’
• MFC had an emergency Board meeting in December 2020 to discuss whether Goodwin should be stood down and/or issues and allegations reported to the AFL
• Pert confronted Goodwin in Feb 2021 but he denied any problems

 

[00Stinger]

Was a club doctor who accused Goodwin of bullying

The club then sacked him

Crisis meetings held between Bartlett and Gil about removing Goodwin

Club then removed Bartlett and kept Goodwin

Apparently the club sent a chaperone with Goodwin at the end of 19 on a trip to Vegas too

No issues with any other staff member except the sacked doc. No issues with players

Coach likes to drink and gamble, who gives a ****?

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

 

[stEdy]

In a nutshell article claims:

• Drinking and gambling with players at Sorrento Hotel which Gill McL criticised in a meeting with your Board
• Former MFC head doctor alleges bullying and filed a claim for unfair dismissal
• MFC sent Alan Richo to accompany Goodwin to an end of season trip to Vegas in 2019 as they were concerned about what he would get up to if alone
• Staff members and some players were aware of Goodwin’s ‘serious lifestyle issues’
• MFC had an emergency Board meeting in December 2020 to discuss whether Goodwin should be stood down and/or issues and allegations reported to the AFL
• Pert confronted Goodwin in Feb 2021 but he denied any problems

It's called "building connection" and it won us a flag.

All hail Crazy Goody

 

[Dark Avenger]

Looks like a bit of a hit job on Goodwin in today's Hun... allegations of drinking, gambling, bullying which required the intervention of the board apparently.

I know the Hun would never have misleading headlines, but if anyone has the details past the paywall, please fill us in.

From Reddit:

Melbourne’s board was so alarmed over allegations of drinking, gambling and bullying by Simon Goodwin they considered standing down the coach, leaked documents reveal. Michael Warner Exclusive 6 min read February 8, 2022 - 6:00AM News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Melbourne’s board considered standing down coach Simon Goodwin on the eve of the 2021 premiership season as it investigated claims of serious behavioural issues and bullying, explosive documents reveal.
Claims about the coach’s alleged misconduct from 2018 to early 2021 triggered a series of internal crisis talks up until April last year, and a meeting with the AFL.
Demons officials had been so concerned about what Goodwin “might get up to in Las Vegas” – on a trip in late 2019 – a chaperone was sent to keep an eye on him, a club doctor-turned-whistleblower claimed.
Leaked emails, board memos and transcripts of meetings reveal several directors, including then-president Glen Bartlett, were so alarmed about allegations regarding Goodwin’s lifestyle and workplace bullying they discussed standing him down.
“YOU CAN’T BE DOING THAT S***”: GIL’S GOODWIN CONCERN REVEALED
But the two major casualties of the internal turmoil were Bartlett, forced out of the club last April, and head doctor Zeeshan Arain, who had been sacked days after raising concerns about Goodwin’s behaviour and the club culture with chief executive Gary Pert in October 2020.
Documents reveal the board crisis unravelled after Dr Arain hit the club with an unlawful dismissal claim on October 15, 2020, in which the medico said he “encountered unreasonable and repeated behaviour by Mr Goodwin” and the coach used “aggressive language and tone” in relation to the management of injuries involving senior players.
“He (Dr Arain) informed you (Pert) among other matters that the culture within the club was a risk to the health and safety of everyone involved,” a legal letter seen by the Herald Sun said.
“According to Dr Arain, you (Pert) acknowledged similar matters were raised by others.”
The legal claim was the first time Melbourne’s board was aware of alleged workplace bullying by Goodwin, prompting the club to engage law firm Ashurst.
Dr Arain would receive a six-figure payout as part of a settlement in late November 2020 that required him to co-operate with a board investigation into the bullying claims.
Bartlett conducted an interview with Dr Arain on December 11, 2020, when the more serious allegations of worrying behaviour by Goodwin first came to the attention of the board.
Bartlett outlined the findings of his interview with Dr Arain in a memorandum sent to Pert and Demons directors later that day, titled “Complaints regarding Simon Goodwin”. The memo detailed how Dr Arain said he raised concerns with Demons people and culture manager Jim Plunkett and football boss Josh Mahoney during a pre-season camp at Maroochydore in January 2020.
Mahoney had “thanked” him for passing on the information and commented that Alan Richardson, who he described as “a straight down the line family man”, had been sent on a club trip to the US in late 2019 “because he was concerned with what Simon … may get up to in Las Vegas,” Dr Arain claimed.
According to the board memo, Dr Arain told the club “one staff (member) and one player directly spoke to me that they know first hand” Goodwin had serious lifestyle issues.
“Another staff member has mentioned they have heard this also,” the memo stated.
In an email to club chiefs on December 21, 2020, Bartlett described Dr Arain as “in effect a ‘whistleblower’ ”, alleging Goodwin had behavioural problems, adding “some staff knew about this in January 2020”.
Bartlett said in a further email: “I have now formed the view that workplace bullying occurred towards Dr Arain which would amount to misconduct in my view, if not serious misconduct … Do we continue to hold the necessary trust and confidence in the senior coach with regard to his behaviour and performance/capability?”
He added: “These matters are obviously very serious and extremely sensitive. It is imperative that all of us do not discuss any of these matters outside the board meeting with any other person.”
In yet another email, board member David Robb questioned what Plunkett had done about the allegations passed on by the doctor, adding he would like to learn “what he knows/has heard about the behaviour of the senior coach”.
Discussions about standing Goodwin down pending a full investigation – and whether the club was obligated to report his alleged behavioural issues to the AFL integrity department – were held at an emergency board meeting just days before Christmas 2020.
Issues canvassed included Goodwin’s conduct at Sorrento Hotel, workplace bullying, a health episode during a fan forum that month, and gambling in public.
Documents reveal Bartlett and fellow board member Mohan Jesudason also directly raised the club’s concerns about Goodwin’s behaviour with AFL supremos Gillon McLachlan and Richard Goyder in an online meeting on February 2, 2021.
During that meeting, McLachlan detailed his own knowledge of Goodwin’s drinking and gambling at Sorrento Hotel and encouraged Bartlett to remove the coach – and Pert – if required.
Documents show Bartlett, accompanied by Pert, confronted Goodwin at Casey Fields on February 10 about his behaviour, but the coach did not accept there was a problem.
Goodwin kept his job, while Bartlett, a workplace lawyer elected unopposed for another 12-month term in March 2021, was forced out in a board coup just a month later.
Emails further reveal that despite the fact the club signed a non-disparagement agreement with Dr Arain as part of a deal to settle his unlawful dismissal claim in late 2020, Pert lambasted the medico in correspondence with board members.
“In the last few month’s (sic) Zee (Dr Arain) has made many accusations about many people at the club,” Pert wrote in a December 20, 2020 email.
“Firstly, during his legal claim for which he was suing the club for $250k.
“This was a claim full of inaccuracies, misrepresentations and a rewriting of history, which was a frustration to all he was accusing.
“It was designed to get a payout at the club’s expense, which gives you an insight into Zee’s character … he needs to be held to account …
“One of the main reasons I terminated Zee’s contract is that I had lost trust in his honesty and integrity, which is completely unacceptable for a head doctor … when dealing with Zee on issues, he consistently changed his stories when I challenged him on details and his stories rarely matched up to other people involved …
“I raise this so the board has a broader understanding of the dynamics, but again I stress, it should not distract us from the serious accusations that are being made and the fact that we need to establish the facts around these accusations.”
Melbourne players mob premiership coach Simon Goodwin. Picture: Michael Klein Melbourne players mob premiership coach Simon Goodwin. Picture: Michael Klein In a reply to Pert and club directors on December 21, 2020, Bartlett said: “These are serious matters and we all really need to stick to process and the facts.
“In the middle of October 2020, Dr Arain through his lawyers made some allegations against Gary (Pert) and Simon (Goodwin) personally, which potentially could have serious ramifications.
“We engaged (top law firm) Ashurst and settled these claims with Dr Arain and that settlement was recorded in a deed.
“As part of the settlement Dr Arain is required to co-operate with me (or my delegate) regarding matters associated with the workplace bullying allegations he made against the senior coach.
“The deed places, among other things, specific obligations on members of the exec (and directors) not to disparage Dr Arain.
“We don’t want to get into a situation where Dr Arain claims we have breached the deed, terminates the deed and commences litigation …
“Even if we doubted the credibility of our former doctor (with eight-plus years’ service) we still have a duty to investigate and act on information he has provided.
“I should add that while I always treat information from disgruntled ex-employees with caution I have no reason to believe that Dr Arain has fabricated anything to me.
“It doesn’t mean that I believe the allegations – it simply means that I am not prepared to just dismiss them and nor should any board member acting reasonably.”
It is unclear what happened with the club investigation into Goodwin’s behaviour after Bartlett departed.
Goodwin, 45, led the Demons to a flag last September.
Responding to questions from the Herald Sun on Monday night, Bartlett said: “With regard to Dr Arain, I developed a president/club doctor relationship over eight years based on trust and mutual respect.
“I wish him all the very best and have nothing further to add.”
Neither the AFL nor Melbourne responded to detailed questions from the newspaper on Monday.

 

[00Stinger]

Seriously what is the issue with a coach having a drink and a punt in public?

And I'm not surprised that Goodwin was pissed at the doctor who over saw a depleted playing list due to injuries

 

[Bluelegs]

Goodwin's addictive personality is well documented and there have already been articles about his mental health episodes from early last year. I think this is just another aspect of that story. He clearly wasn't in a good place for a while but he seemed to be a lot healthier over the course of last year.

The claims of bullying and unfair dismissal are concerning and the fact that we paid out this doctor a six figure sum validates those claims.

Pert seems like a bit of a campaigner. But fmd it's ironic McLachlan was suggesting the club at terminate him when the AFL forced him on us in the first place.

 

[Max Power 83]

Sorrento Hotel? Isn't that where Mike Sheahan ran into him? When he said we'd win the flag?
Timing is interesting. Could it be someone on the ballot trying to unsettle the current board?

 

[00Stinger]

Sorrento Hotel? Isn't that where Mike Sheahan ran into him? When he said we'd win the flag?
Timing is interesting. Could it be someone on the ballot trying to unsettle the current board?

Yep Sheehan told Goodwin he will be spending a lot of time down in Sorrento when he gets sacked

Goodwin replies with 'We get no injuries and we will win the premiership'

Club doctor gone, club gets no injuries, club wins premiership

 

[space_cowboy]

Sorrento Hotel? Isn't that where Mike Sheahan ran into him? When he said we'd win the flag?
Timing is interesting. Could it be someone on the ballot trying to unsettle the current board?

Given the level of detail, it sounds as though these leaks came from the inside. I'm not sure that any of the existing board members would have had any interest in the information getting out.

 

[stEdy]

Also hilarious Gill having a go at someone for "lifestyle issues"

Like he doesn't get on the bags with the other big wigs in private rooms of well known venues across Melbourne

 

[Bluelegs]

Given the level of detail, it sounds as though these leaks came from the inside. I'm not sure that any of the existing board members would have had any interest in the information getting out.

Doesn't the article label the doctor as the leaker?

a chaperone was sent to keep an eye on him, a club doctor-turned-whistleblower claimed.

 

[space_cowboy]

I couldn't care less about Goodwin's drinking and gambling. We knew the flaws in his personality when we appointed him. He was under enormous pressure, which seems to have taken a toll on his marriage, so it's not surprising that he went off the rails. What matters is that the club appears to have handled it well.

If the details are true, then Bartlett seems to have taken a very professional approach to the situation. The same can't be said of Pert though... (not to mention his poor punctuation).

All of this raises some questions about Bartlett's departure, which has never been fully explained to us.

Doesn't the article label the doctor as the leaker?

It looks like he contributed to it, but unless all those emails were included as evidence in legal proceedings, I'm not sure how he would have had access to them.

 

[Toump Ass]

What a ****ing legend.

Built a Melbourne Demons team that won a grand final by their biggest margin ever while the CEO of the league is holding crisis talks with the president over his lifestyle, just makes me love him even more.

Sign him up for life.

 

[space_cowboy]

If the details are true, then Bartlett seems to have taken a very professional approach to the situation. It doesn't paint Pert in a very good light though... (not to mention his poor punctuation).

All of this raises questions about Bartlett's departure.

 

[Bluelegs]

Also this article makes Bartletts ousting make so much more sense. The prior excuse about him making some public comments about the team when we lost to Port in 2020 never washed.

 

[Bluelegs]

If the details are true, then Bartlett seems to have taken a very professional approach to the situation. It doesn't paint Pert in a very good light though... (not to mention his poor punctuation).

All of this raises questions about Bartlett's departure.

Bartlett is an employment lawyer, so workplace misconduct like that would be giant red flags.

Pert is good for the books but there is a rot about him.

 

[Toump Ass]

The claims of bullying and unfair dismissal are concerning and the fact that we paid out this doctor a six figure sum validates those claims.

Yeah I dunno about that. $250k to avoid a costly and distracting legal drama + the damage to our "brand" from no NDA's in place seems pretty reasonable.

As an aside I heard that the bulling claim relates to Goodwin only referring to Dr. Zena as "4to6".

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

All I hear is that Bevo the master coach got outcoached by an alcoholic gambling addict

 

[stabler]

I couldn't GAF if Goody was Jack the Ripper. He's MFC royalty now

 

[AmericanAFL]

Yeah I dunno about that. $250k to avoid a costly and distracting legal drama + the damage to our "brand" from no NDA's in place seems pretty reasonable.

As an aside I heard that the bulling claim relates to Goodwin only referring to Dr. Zena as "4to6".

As in every injury was 4-6 weeks?

 

[schmuttt]

Pert is good for the books but there is a rot about him.

Can’t be serious lol

Not sure the confusion here, pretty obvious Goody wasn’t in a great spot end of 2020 after the hub, a failed season and his marriage falling apart. I find it hard to buy the bullying claims when the players have spoken highly of him even during 2019.

Monstrous beatup from muck raker Mick Warner. Like seriously who gives a toss? If this story had any credentials it would have come out early 2021.

 

[stEdy]

As in every injury was 4-6 weeks?

Yep, for as long as I've followed the Dees we've had shocking injury problems (except for Burgo).

4-6 was an inside joke as we always seemed to have rolling 4-6 week injuries that would never change week to week. Nick Smith was the original 4-6 I believe Nick Smith (footballer, born 1984) - Wikipedia