Petition/Letter to the Club demanding an external review (now with PDF link in OP)

[TheLeftFist8]

1 - My Son wanted to leave before 3 qtr time as he was completely disinterested in the game style/effort/committment of the side. He is showing less and less interest in wanting to go.
--> replicate this against another 20,000 parents and their children. There is your future supporter base who is already disengaged.

My kids and their mate, who all love playing footy and have happily attended the Crows for years, just chatted and mucked around for most of the game and wanted to leave early.

The club have a smug arrogance on the back of a huge supporter base but it's being eroded quickly. The younger adults range from angry to disenchanted, and the kids are simply disengaged.

 

[Tex200]

When I heard EY did the Tigers review I was somewhat stunned....their name is mud in our house.

I’d imagine they are a fairly ruthless band of soulless suits

 

[hey shorty]

I don't leave games early, just not my style....... but I bolted pretty quick after the siren Saturday.

 

[hey shorty]

I’d imagine they are a fairly ruthless band of soulless suits

Reasonably accurate summary, and I think in a footy club you do need to take some emotion out of the process. Particularly one such as ours who have many vested interests.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I’d imagine they are a fairly ruthless band of soulless suits

ZERO chance the Crows powerbrokers in their untouchable positions would ever allow a real external review to threaten their kingdom.

They only care for themselves and their positions.

 

[SuperBashBros]

What worried me last night was watching AFL360 with Clarko.

Gerald and Robbo were trying to get info out of him about Coniglio but he said the biggest issue this time of year isnt players its club staff.

Clarko said one of his assistants has already been poached and its public knowledge but theres another going too and it will be public knowledge who in the next 10 days. Says Hawthorn are 'scrambling' to find replacements.

So if a great club like Hawks are after 2 good assistants and doing their best now, what chance do you think Crows are when we left our 3 appointments last year until the final minute and signed 2 SANFL coaches and shuffled Ben Hart to FWD line coach.

I hope like hell we have been on the front foot and poached someone of quality or enticed a Sumich to come. Odds say we havent though. Concerned!!

 

[hey shorty]

What worried me last night was watching AFL360 with Clarko.

Gerald and Robbo were trying to get info out of him about Coniglio but he said the biggest issue this time of year isnt players its club staff.

Clarko said one of his assistants has already been poached and its public knowledge but theres another going too and it will be public knowledge who in the next 10 days. Says Hawthorn are 'scrambling' to find replacements.

So if a great club like Hawks are after 2 good assistants and doing their best now, what chance do you think Crows are when we left our 3 appointments last year until the final minute and signed 2 SANFL coaches and shuffled Ben Hart to FWD line coach.

I hope like hell we have been on the front foot and poached someone of quality or enticed a Sumich to come. Odds say we havent though. Concerned!!

The AFL is a very insular industry. If you haven't played the game at the top level chances are you'll never coach at it, and the vast majority of guys aren't the coaching type.

Narrows the field

 

[Tex200]

Reasonably accurate summary, and I think in a footy club you do need to take some emotion out of the process. Particularly one such as ours who have many vested interests.

Oh for sure.

They would be absolutely terrified of an E&Y review

 

[jaytex]

This article was dated 12 Sep 2016 saying the review took 10 weeks. So they must have started it well before seasons end.

The article is an interesting read. Why wouldn’t we just use Ernst and Young as well, given they have specialists in the field

Balme joins Richmond as part of Football re-structure

Neil Balme has been appointed to the role of General Manager – Football, following the completion of a review into the Club’s Football Department.

m.richmondfc.com.au

Great link.

I really, really want to be reading a similar article posted by AFC sometime in October.

Kind of like I really, really want 10 million dollars.

Both are equally as likely by the end of October.

 

[mattymac]

This article was dated 12 Sep 2016 saying the review took 10 weeks. So they must have started it well before seasons end.

The article is an interesting read. Why wouldn’t we just use Ernst and Young as well, given they have specialists in the field

Balme joins Richmond as part of Football re-structure

Neil Balme has been appointed to the role of General Manager – Football, following the completion of a review into the Club’s Football Department.

m.richmondfc.com.au

You just know we will be delaying it until as late as possible so we can act like we were surprised when we didn't make finals and now, gosh darn it, there just isn't time for a review.

Rowe was spitting venom on Saturday night but by yesterday had changed his tune to "well there's still one more round to go so let's wait and see, otherwise, oh otherwise Bicks, top turnbuckle stuff".

Seems like the directive has gone out to the ambassadors to placate the customers and buy some time.

 

[Tex200]

You just know we will be delaying it until as late as possible so we can act like we were surprised when we didn't make finals and now, gosh darn it, there just isn't time for a review.

Rowe was spitting venom on Saturday night but by yesterday had changed his tune to "well there's still one more round to go so let's wait and see, otherwise, oh otherwise Bicks, top turnbuckle stuff".

Seems like the directive has gone out to the ambassadors to placate the customers and buy some time.

Agreed - heard Pyke on radio. Steadfast on the line that while still a chance we have to focus on Dogs

 

[King Elvis]

What was the timing of Richmond's review?

And Geelong's back in the day?

There's no need to sign our assistants early. No one is poaching them. They'll still be there in a couple of months if the review comes back saying they're not the problem.

We'll end up with these duds because no one else will be available by the time we finish our review.

It should've been started after the Port loss, or the Carlton loss, etc.

Actually, should've happened last year.

 

[King Elvis]

I live overseas now - I've watched every game last year and this year, either live (at 5, 6, 9 or 11 AM), or at least the replay...

I even watch the replays where I know we've lost, as I want to know who played well, what were the good signs, where we could improve, etc.

Haven't bothered to watch the Carlton or Pies game, barely paid attention to the Saints game.

This Club keeps doing the same stupid s**t over and over again - I have better things to do with my time than watch this shambles.

Very well said.

Walsh offered us brief hope of change but since the Trigg/Craig era onwards so much has changed for the worst.

I used to vehemently disagree with Port fans assertions we were a corporation because the Crows really were the Pride of South Australia, meant something to this community, and had a rich SA footy tradition as their foundation.

Both SA clubs were generated from amazing tradition (as much as I hate Port), and both have then created new traditions as AFL clubs. The difference is we (actually not 'we' but 'they', the AFC admin who in no way do I identify with as they are ruining my club), do not embrace our tradition and culture in a meaningful way. There is no longer any distinctive pride in the club representing their city, state and supporters. The way they act, it's just a professional sporting corporation who could get easily relocated anywhere and nothing would change about how they operate...almost totally divorced from their origins and fan base.

In no way am I suggested we limit our focus to SA supporters, and I've never been an advocate of only recruiting SA people/players...this isn't about that. It's about having a club with some semblance of soul and passion that those from far and wide can join and embrace, much like an SA kid drafted to a Vic club would embrace their heritage.

Right now we might as well be renamed the Bland Football Club, or Vanilla, or Generic, or Blah.

The 'club' is we can even call it that anymore is insular rather than inclusive.

They make us ashamed rather than proud.

And they have compromised in just about every aspect of elite standards you can mention.

Why would any coach want to come here?
Why would any player want to come here?

It's an utter disgrace what they've done to our club.

A good mate of mine is a mad Crows fan, and has done work with the Crows for quite a few years. Has recently been involved with Port as well, and his feedback reflects the above - Port are a more authentic footy Club than us...

He sent me a photo of his young lad with his new Port guernsey last week

 

[Simmo28]

Signed twice, personal and work email, that’s how much I care.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[King Elvis]

You just know we will be delaying it until as late as possible so we can act like we were surprised when we didn't make finals and now, gosh darn it, there just isn't time for a review.

Rowe was spitting venom on Saturday night but by yesterday had changed his tune to "well there's still one more round to go so let's wait and see, otherwise, oh otherwise Bicks, top turnbuckle stuff".

Seems like the directive has gone out to the ambassadors to placate the customers and buy some time.

Absolutely no reason not to announce immediately that an external review will be taking place - it would actually placate the fan base.

The fact that they haven't, has me worried - they are in siege mode again, and will bunker down until the heat blows over, and likely do nothing.

 

[Big Crow]

Agreed - heard Pyke on radio. Steadfast on the line that while still a chance we have to focus on Dogs

It’s madness isn’t it.

No one is saying throw the dogs game in the bin, but winning this game and considering the longer term aren’t mutually exclusive.

The Hawthorns, Collingwoods and Richmonds of the world seem to manage to walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

[1970crow]

+1 with a 10 year old who always makes us stay to the end....not Saturday, wanted to leave at 3/4 time.

Bloody agitators are getting younger each year. Just tell him/her that they’re not inside the 4 walls so need to appreciate all the hard work done by the best footy dept in the business.

 

[GreyCrow]

Bloody agitators are getting younger each year. Just tell him/her that they’re not inside the 4 walls so need to appreciate all the hard work done by the best footy dept in the business.

Wait till he tells Dad he needs an external review of his pocket money performance

 

[Elite Crow]

So Tredrea just said we’ve made finals 4 times out of last 11 years, that’s not true is it?

 

[1970crow]

You just know we will be delaying it until as late as possible so we can act like we were surprised when we didn't make finals and now, gosh darn it, there just isn't time for a review.

Rowe was spitting venom on Saturday night but by yesterday had changed his tune to "well there's still one more round to go so let's wait and see, otherwise, oh otherwise Bicks, top turnbuckle stuff".

Seems like the directive has gone out to the ambassadors to placate the customers and buy some time.

That’s Rowie every week. Speaks from the heart on game day but gets the ambassador tap on the shoulder prior to Monday’s show.

 

[Scorpus]

So Tredrea just said we’ve made finals 4 times out of last 11 years, that’s not true is it?

Not true. 4 times in the last 10 years is accurate

2019 - Bottom 10
2018 - 12th
2017 - Finals
2016 - Finals
2015 - Finals
2014 - 10th
2013 - 11th
2012 - Finals
2011 - 14th
2010 - 11th
(2009 - Finals)

 

[jackster83]

Not true. 4 times in the last 10 years is accurate

2019 - Bottom 10
2018 - 12th
2017 - Finals
2016 - Finals
2015 - Finals
2014 - 10th
2013 - 11th
2012 - Finals
2011 - 14th
2010 - 11th
(2009 - Finals)

The Rob Chapman reign of excellence.

And we will go into our 30th year staring down the barrel of a bottom four finish.

Now where's that poster who was going on about how we are the envy of other clubs? Even bloody Sturt are giggling at us.

 

[mattymac]

Absolutely no reason not to announce immediately that an external review will be taking place - it would actually placate the fan base.

The fact that they haven't, has me worried - they are in siege mode again, and will bunker down until the heat blows over, and likely do nothing.

That's exactly what they will do. They're living week to week buying time until things blow over

 

[Morning_Fog]

Not sure why anyone is going on about this external review, they won’t hold one. They won’t listen to members, supporters or anyone below the extremely high corperate level.

Heck, I don’t even think they would even listen to David Pemberthy who is married to a board member.

I love the optimism and lengths this PodCast has gone to, but I simply think the arrogance of the club and board will just ignore everything they stand for. Everything will be ok next year!

 

[1970crow]

Absolutely no reason not to announce immediately that an external review will be taking place - it would actually placate the fan base.

The fact that they haven't, has me worried - they are in siege mode again, and will bunker down until the heat blows over, and likely do nothing.

They won’t do nothing. They’ll say something to placate the largest group of non-thinking supporters. “We’ve identified some areas that we think we can improve upon and we’re engaging external consultants to review those areas.” Fagan mentione a couple of years ago that numerous changes had been made to footy dept staff. Obviously, very, very few were overt to those not inside the 4 walls. Nothing will happen to meaningful employees outside of Hart being sacrificed as a line coach but to be employed, but not disclosed, elsewhere in the corporation.