Haggis McHaggis
Norm Smith Medallist
Veteran
Brisbane Lions - Michael Close Player Sponsor 2014
Brisbane Lions - 2013 Billy Longer Player Sponsor
Brisbane Lions - 2013 Claye Beams Player Sponsor
Brisbane Lions - Tom Rockliff 2012 Player Sponsor
Brisbane Lions - Tom Rockliff 2011 Player Sponsor
Brisbane Lions - Todd Banfield 2010 Player Sponsor
We've had a crap 18-24 months. It's no reason to drop the bundle or allow rank cynicism to take over. The seeds of rebirth have already been planted. What we have seen now is that no one individual is as important as the club, which is as it should be.
Some important points to keep in mind:
1. The logo riled most of us up, and the Bowers/Kelly combo had the vast majority seeing red. That combo is no more, and the people now in place at the head of the club have already made it abundantly clear that they will not be dancing to the same tune as the dearly departed. As it stands, I believe they will reinstate our real emblem for 2012. Thus far they have engaged in genuine dialogue with members, taking ideas on board and making clear that we are the heart & soul of the club. To me, that's a massive step in the right direction. One or two young blokes making ********s of themselves is much less of a worry than an administration dismantling a club from the inside out.
2. Fev, and now Proud, are being dealt with in a consistent manner. Both have had their actions scrutinised by the club, and dealt with in an appropriate manner. Proud has been suspended until the result of the court action is known, and the internal investigation can clearly establish sufficient knowledge to take further action. Fevola brought the media shit we all knew he would. Lessons have been learned, and the treatment, despite every extreme view being put by all & sundry, seems completely appropriate. I don't think there can be any doubt he'll be gone, if he even manages to come back, if he ***** up again.
3. Consistency provides a clear guideline as to what is acceptable, and what is not. Anyone doubting culture need only look at the fact that two individuals that have breached the standards the club expects are both, quite possibly, never going to play at AFL level, at least for us, again. Leadership is living up to those standards ones self, it is asking those that would be part of the bigger picture to join you in doing so. It's offering them guidance if they need it, and making the hard calls to remove them if that is the only option left. Thus far, all of that has occurred. There is nothing wrong with our leadership
4. The same review that lead to the demise of Bowers & Kelly has delivered sweeping changes to the coaching department. Those questioning Voss are doing so on the basis of 2010, without considering his 2009 result, without considering that he has now been given resources he lacked, a better structure to work within, and the remnants of another persons staff moved on. Trying to attach two individuals actions, in their free time and during the off season of all times, to a coach, is patently absurd. He is not the player welfare manager, he is not a babysitter.
5. Many are stressed over the GC17 example, and impending threat of GWS. So be it. We cannot control it, nor can the club. Money talks and bullshit walks. If players do want to be part of our club going forward, fantastic. If they're going to run for cash, so be it. We've had to swallow a bitter pill with Dr. Kerr pulling back the reigns on the ridiculous nature of the back ended contracts we were bogged down by. He forced us to renegotiate in a more astute manner. Better that it has been done, and we can move on. It's put us in a better position to retain the players we've drafted recently.
6. Try pondering how many years both the Roys & Bears suffered back in the day. I remember a time when our supporters weren't nearly so ruffled in the face of adversity. Shit happens. All we can do is deal with it, learn from it, and move on. That process is only hampered by allowing emotion to dominate the facts, on either side of the ledger.
The way I look at it, we're slightly ahead of where we were this time last year. A couple of individuals have failed, but the club has taken big steps forward. We've got a lot of shit in order, and have drafted well. Like I said at the start, the club is, and always will be, more important than the individual. If a couple of people decide they want to provide examples to get that point through to a bunch more, so be it.
Some important points to keep in mind:
1. The logo riled most of us up, and the Bowers/Kelly combo had the vast majority seeing red. That combo is no more, and the people now in place at the head of the club have already made it abundantly clear that they will not be dancing to the same tune as the dearly departed. As it stands, I believe they will reinstate our real emblem for 2012. Thus far they have engaged in genuine dialogue with members, taking ideas on board and making clear that we are the heart & soul of the club. To me, that's a massive step in the right direction. One or two young blokes making ********s of themselves is much less of a worry than an administration dismantling a club from the inside out.
2. Fev, and now Proud, are being dealt with in a consistent manner. Both have had their actions scrutinised by the club, and dealt with in an appropriate manner. Proud has been suspended until the result of the court action is known, and the internal investigation can clearly establish sufficient knowledge to take further action. Fevola brought the media shit we all knew he would. Lessons have been learned, and the treatment, despite every extreme view being put by all & sundry, seems completely appropriate. I don't think there can be any doubt he'll be gone, if he even manages to come back, if he ***** up again.
3. Consistency provides a clear guideline as to what is acceptable, and what is not. Anyone doubting culture need only look at the fact that two individuals that have breached the standards the club expects are both, quite possibly, never going to play at AFL level, at least for us, again. Leadership is living up to those standards ones self, it is asking those that would be part of the bigger picture to join you in doing so. It's offering them guidance if they need it, and making the hard calls to remove them if that is the only option left. Thus far, all of that has occurred. There is nothing wrong with our leadership
4. The same review that lead to the demise of Bowers & Kelly has delivered sweeping changes to the coaching department. Those questioning Voss are doing so on the basis of 2010, without considering his 2009 result, without considering that he has now been given resources he lacked, a better structure to work within, and the remnants of another persons staff moved on. Trying to attach two individuals actions, in their free time and during the off season of all times, to a coach, is patently absurd. He is not the player welfare manager, he is not a babysitter.
5. Many are stressed over the GC17 example, and impending threat of GWS. So be it. We cannot control it, nor can the club. Money talks and bullshit walks. If players do want to be part of our club going forward, fantastic. If they're going to run for cash, so be it. We've had to swallow a bitter pill with Dr. Kerr pulling back the reigns on the ridiculous nature of the back ended contracts we were bogged down by. He forced us to renegotiate in a more astute manner. Better that it has been done, and we can move on. It's put us in a better position to retain the players we've drafted recently.
6. Try pondering how many years both the Roys & Bears suffered back in the day. I remember a time when our supporters weren't nearly so ruffled in the face of adversity. Shit happens. All we can do is deal with it, learn from it, and move on. That process is only hampered by allowing emotion to dominate the facts, on either side of the ledger.
The way I look at it, we're slightly ahead of where we were this time last year. A couple of individuals have failed, but the club has taken big steps forward. We've got a lot of shit in order, and have drafted well. Like I said at the start, the club is, and always will be, more important than the individual. If a couple of people decide they want to provide examples to get that point through to a bunch more, so be it.
) 
