News Gubby joins StKilda

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https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...a/news-story/decc9aaec399cc291067c3660a431b26

ST KILDA is set to benefit from the addition of another experienced football brain when Graeme ‘Gubby’ Allan begins full-time work at the club late next week.
Foxfooty.com.au understands the straight-shooting and often colourful Allan, who has forged a successful career in footy department administration at four clubs, will have a central role in list management strategy at the Saints.

He is well known for delivering Nathan Buckley to Collingwood from the Lions in the mid-1990s, plus Tom Scully, Phil Davis and Callan Ward to GWS at the end of 2011. He is due to start on November 1.

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Allan’s brief at St Kilda, which has undergone mass changes in the off-season, focuses specifically on player acquisition and retention. He will also offer guidance as an experienced head to key members of the football department.

The 64 year-old was used as a consultant by North Melbourne this year as the Kangaroos continued their bold approach to lure players from rival clubs. Although they missed out on Andrew Gaff and Jordan De Goey, they signed Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard and Aaron Hall during a busy trade period.

Allan is renowned for deal-making and acted as a sounding board for Roos coach Brad Scott this year. The two have a close relationship from their time at Brisbane during the club’s halcyon days.

St Kilda is expected to announce the appointment as early as Friday and Allan will add further impetus to a new-look club intent on enacting change across the board following a disappointing 2018.

Experienced assistants Brendon Lade and Brett Ratten have freshened up the coaching panel and will offer further support to Alan Richardson, while Andrew Bassat has already taken over from Peter Summers as president.

The club has also replaced Tony Elshaug with James Gallagher as list manager, while Melbourne Storm great Billy Slater will fulfil a leadership role after retiring from rugby recently. St Kilda has also poached Hawthorn’s footy analyst Darren O’Shaughnessy.

On the playing front, Dan Hannebery was traded to the club in the off-season on a monster four-year deal with triggers for a fifth season, while Dean Kent arrived from Melbourne.

Allan’s part-time role at Arden Street was his first role in football since the end of 2016, when he was suspended by the AFL for 12 months after arranging for Lachie Whitfield to stay at then-GWS welfare manager Craig Lambert’s house. Investigators concluded it was an

attempt to avoid a potential drug test.

Allan was GWS’ footy boss at the time before he ousted Neil Balme to briefly head up Collingwood football program.

The suspension forced him to resign from his role at the Magpies but the AFL has ticked off the appointment at the Saints.

As reported on AFL Tonight in early August, St Kilda also confirmed it would play against Port Adelaide in China next season.

The Saints will be the first club to play for premiership points in three countries following a brief three-year foray into New Zealand in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

They replace Gold Coast, who were not keen to return to Shanghai after two heavy defeats in 2017 and 2018.
 

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st_trav_ofWA

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 17, 2015
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a few months back when the doom and gloom posts were thick and fast around here where it looked like we were about to impload i got a message from a person in the club telling me not to panic everything was being blown out of propotion and things were in place to make a big differance for our club from 2018 ... i think this caps it off .... the club is going to be remarkably differant in 2019 and in spite of the disaster that was 2018 im excited for 2019
 
it's easy to write him off because of his age and the GWS/Coll saga, but its bloody awesome this club has gone from very few experienced football operators to having 2 respected senior figures inside the club.

I have said that the football side would be the lasting legacy of the current board despite the great work ( re: sponsors/Moorabbin). It's great to see that club making the sweeping changes that can only make us better.

Whilst I will keep calling for Richo's head, at least there are people at the club now that can validate his ability or lack of, that actually have the knowledge to make that call.

Well done Saints for a very fruitful off season rebuilding the football dept.
 
Hopefully Josh Kelly is the first thing in his inbox, and his appointment shortens the odds of a 2019 Moorabin Welcome Jelly Parade!
 

austinnn

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It's happened! I thought it was just noise but it actually happened!

Great appointment, shrewd operator that stuffed up with the Whitfield saga but is otherwise good value to his employers.

Really, we've done all we can short of Press gang Clarko or Carracella back to Moorabbin. Hiring a valued Clarkson assistant Ratten, an experienced assistant Lade, a recently retired champion with fresh eyes Billy Slater and now this appointment. You cannot say we've sat on our hands.

Leadership, coaching, development and recruitment were the big knocks on our performance over the last 18 months, we've addressed those aggressively and in a few years our team should be showing the benefit.

Good work St Kilda!
 

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st_trav_ofWA

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 17, 2015
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If only we didn't cripple ourselves on field with the Port/China deal.
its china not war torn Syria.... the players a super fit profesionl atheletes ive done 3 contenents in 5 days once and survived it without any ill effects and im far from the fitness and healthy specimiens the players are ....
China is a smart economical move and also a great opportunity for our young team to bond together on a trip heading into the back end of the season ....
 
Had an interesting phone call last night from the club.....first time ever in my 32 year membership. The call focussed on the club by promoting all the good things that are happening off field and how next year could be okay.
Whilst they cannot say much they were very interested in what I had to say mostly constructive criticism and focus at the grass roots....my points were noted and will be passed up the line.

Maybe 2018 was the year we had to have.....it seemed that our Road to 2020 Premiership Success was all to easy as we were definitely tracking to finals as per the plan.....Surely simply writing it down on paper makes it happen, it just cannot be that simple.... and as we found out it is not.

All successful teams usually require you to get good people around you.

We as supporters cannot criticise the club for the steps and people they have put in place.

12 months ago if we had suggested that we would have Lethlean followed by Ratten Allen Lade and Billy Slater all of whom have tasted premiership success as some of our key people....we would be rightly saying....yeah Destination Club on the verge of finals finally getting quality to take us further to a flag.

Well let's see what some serious professionals can do to get this leaky ship we love so much back steaming up the ladder.

Go SAINTS





On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Noticed how we addressing our weaknesses on and off the field. Adding experience such as Ratten, Lade, Slater, Gubby, Batchelor, that statistic guy and now Gubby also Bassett. And Hanners and Kent with picks 36 and 46 along with 4. Draft night could be the cherry on top.

Good signs
 

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