Jeff Kennett

[hoddo]

Just heard Jeff Kennett speaking with Neil Mitchell on 3AW. He claims to have been approached by an unnamed group of 5 MFC members who have asked him to join them in replacing the current board, with Jeff as club president. He claimed to be extremely keen to do it as he saw it as an irresistible business challenge and was calling on Melbourne supporters to rise up and demand change.

Now I have to say that on a personal level I don't like Jeff Kennett, but there's no denying that he has a record of achieving whatever he sets out to do. Don McLardy was thrust, almost unwillingly, into the job and I believe he's always seen himself as a stop gap president until someone better could be found. I really don't think we could do better than Kennett whose hands on determined methods could really turn things around, not just in the short term, but with lasting effect.

What do others think? Please try to balance the anti Kennett vitriol with reasoned debate

 

[Praetorian]

Wonna would have a heart attack.

Kennett was good at hawthorn but he is also a pretty divisive figure and not great for general club harmony (called for clarko's head etc). Maybe he would shake the place up a bit and it might be beneficial, not sure though. I do agree that Mclardy doesn't want the role any longer than he has to

 

[Viney]

He'd sell us off at the first opportunity

No thanks

 

[Bluelegs]

This is a guy who supported the Hawthorn + Melbourne merge, tried to push North to move to Queensland and claimed last year that North and Melbourne should merge. This guy would move us or merge us at the first oppurtunity. Do not want.

 

[suedehead]

How do you like travelling? He's very, very much in favour of the concept of relocation.

 

[Bluelegs]

How do you like travelling? He's very, very much in favour of the concept of relocation.

We already play one game in Darwin, I expect that will go up without Kennett over the next few years. With Kennett we would probably play half our home games in Darwin.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

This is a guy who supported the Hawthorn + Melbourne merge, tried to push North to move to Queensland and claimed last year that North and Melbourne should merge. This guy would move us or merge us at the first oppurtunity. Do not want.

Would he have the power to make such a decision if it was opposed by the rest of the board and the CEO?

 

[Max Power 83]

Was Neil Mitchell one of those 5 members?

 

[syl]

If it happened, I would burn down the MCG!

 

[CWaffles]

YUCK!

 

[Meds]

I love big Jeff. He gets stuff done, is passionate and won't accept mediocrity. Sure he can be a little divisive, and is not adverse to selling games, but I'd much prefer to have to watch an extra game or two on TV rather than watch a whole other team for the rest of my life.
He has the relationships at the top end of town, as well as in government, a big presence that is befitting of the MFC and the type of mentality to really turn the club around. We need a transformational leader to reinvigorate the entire club. Jim was that type of guy, unfortunately Don is not.

 

[Crimson Azure]

A president that has no emotional connection with the club, can anyone think of a president that doesn't support the club they preside over?

 

[syl]

A president that has no emotional connection with the club, can anyone think of a president that doesn't support the club they preside over?

No. Because no one's stupid enough to vote one in.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

No. Because no one's stupid enough to vote one in.

Sydney.

 

[Viney]

A president that has no emotional connection with the club, can anyone think of a president that doesn't support the club they preside over?

My bigger issue is that not only does he have no emotional connection with the club, he has a passionate dislike for the club

THAT is reason enough for him to never set foot near the board room

 

[d33my]

If his penchant for relocation is true, then keep him away.

Shame though, because although I think he says some stupid things I think he'd probably achieve results. But surely there's someone who can do that without being a total idiot and seeking headlines every five minutes.

 

[Tulip]

Wouldn't be against it.

Took Hawthorn from basket case to Top 4, so there is some upside.

 

[Tulip]

My bigger issue is that not only does he have no emotional connection with the club, he has a passionate dislike for the club

THAT is reason enough for him to never set foot near the board room

Who says he does? Why would he be at all keen if he did...?

 

[Viney]

Who says he does? Why would he be at all keen if he did...?

Probably to relocate us

 

[wowlace]

This is what rock bottom feels like.

 

[d33my]

Yeah, I'd say he can see $$ potential in us - just not in our current operating model.

 

[tasmanlvr]

Now I have to say that on a personal level I don't like Jeff Kennett, but there's no denying that he has a record of achieving whatever he sets out to do.

No doubt he gets things done but it still concerns me that he's wanted us to relocate for years. That sticks in the back of my mind.

 

[fushy]

Sydney.

Sydney is a afl francise not a club.

 

[Tulip]

Sydney is a afl francise not a club.

Yep, created by Demetriou all the way back in 1874.

And a far finer football club than ours to boot.

 

[booshboy]

I think he would actually be pretty good for us. I wouldn't be totally opposed. However I hate him too much for him to ever get my full support. Absoloute Idiot.