Drake Huggins
Club Legend
- May 2, 2018
- 2,391
- 9,697
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Other Teams
- Stoke City, Southampton.
- Banned
- #1
Having thought about this for most of the year, and posted on SS in March and April that there were serious warning signs as early as late last season that the coach had very little clue and that the end of Roo's career was going to be a fork in the road for our club. As the famous base baller Yogi Berra said, "When you come to the fork in the road, take it." Perhaps he's being channelled by our directionless administration. I was, of course howled down by the usual "blue sky experts" on SS, an ongoing stoush which led to my defection to BF as a delisted FA. Like many players and forumites in my position, what a blessing that has proved. The interesting thing was that I had plenty of support from a number of posters over there, so I was hardly alone in my views. Many also read the signs, but were hoping they weren't right.
Tragically for us, things have turned out worse than we could have imagined. At first I thought we'd probably stagnate, rather than have the expected improvement. The loss of Joey and especially Roo was always going to hurt, as was the nightmare draw we were handed. My main concerns were with the coach, who in his entire tenure had been unable to prevent regular thrashings and blowouts, even in the years we did reasonably well, being 2016 and 2017 (Note: how many clubs would consider 9th and 11th place "successful years"? That going backwards was a sign of success? The truly successful clubs wouldn't have, no matter what preceded them. See Geelong, finished 11th, went out and got Danger, didn't accept the inevitability of a slide and bounced straight back into consecutive finals series).
In the preseason, TMBK came out and posed a bold question to the media. "You don't think we have any A graders? Come back and ask me again at the end of the season as to how many we have then." Well, we still have the same number and several others who are further away from that crucial status than ever before. This indicates several things.
1. He believed the quality of the list was much better than has been proven, as apart from Gresh and maybe Jimmy Webster, no one has improved significantly and certainly not to the extent you would expect talented youngsters to advance. Billings, Acres, Ross, McCartin, Dunstan, Goddard, McKenzie and White should have all been either A grade or consistently good B graders by now. None of them are A grade, nor even consistently good B graders. They've all teased us with glimpses of their ability, but have rarely delivered consistently, with the exception of Ross. All but Ross have had their time in the VFL this year, a shocking indictment on both themselves and the coaching staff.
2. The coach and his merry band of hangers-on are incapable of identifying needs, constructing effective development plans for the individuals, nor are capable of carrying out any plans that are in place, successfully.
3. Taking responsibility. The coach is very good at deflecting responsibility onto others. Among his many failings and unappealing traits, this is perhaps the worst. It started a couple of years ago, when he threw the trout under the bus when serious questions were being raised about Paddy's selection at number 1 and how poorly he was performing. TMBK tried to convince us it was the trout who was responsible, saying the trout had assured him and the club that Paddy was a gun who would guarantee us ten years of top class football. I remember taking note, because in an earlier interview when asked who he would take out of Boyd, Hogan and McCartin, he said "Paddy, Paddy and Paddy again." Clearly he also rated McCartin, except when it came to accepting he was a bust.
This disturbing trend has continued this year in relation to the players. Of course they have to shoulder blame, but not once have I heard TMBK make a definitive public statement about his own appalling performance and what he intends to do about it. It's always a case of the players training and working harder during the week, carrying out the game plan, whatever it is, etc. etc. Week after week we are fed this inane drivel, leaking out of the side of his mouth, framed with his beige, indifferent countenance. Perhaps it is a reflection of the weak administration we also have, which refuses to take responsibility for its howlers.
4. The administration doesn't act when necessary. It is crippled by fear of failure, a behaviour that inevitably brings what you least want. Failure. This is one area this administration has succeeded in spadesful. TMBK's re-signing for 2 extra years. Leaving trout in charge of list management and recruiting when it was clear he was incompetent and hopelessly underqualified. Another example of a good bloke being kept around. They're even trying to find somewhere to hide him on the staff now! You can't make this s**t up! The grovelling apology to Murphy, the instigator of that tawdry episode (which I did say would affect the player's attitude towards the admin. cause resentment but was again accused of psychobabble on SS, even though our form fell away afterwards), the relentless drive to satisfy HQ that we are socially progressive and inclusive, whatever that means. The failure to establish a stand alone VFL team, with Sandringham performing like a busted arse for years and our players not developing in that environment (Note how quickly some improved when promoted even though they weren't carving it up down there, Battle, Phillips, Rice, Austin, McKenzie). The coach, who appears to be safe in his position and acts as though he knows it, is a reflection of stagnation for stability's sake.
5. You'll have noticed by now I haven't mentioned the dreaded "L" word. That is because the day Roo and Joey left, the last remaining traces of leadership left with them. What an indictment on the remaining personnel that the traits of those great champions were not transferred to the next generation. We have an uninspiring, battler for a captain. Another reflection of the coach and admin. elected (laughably) by a playing group that lacks leadership itself and from what has been displayed on field this year, is afraid to assume the responsibility. See? There's that word again. The lack of taking responsibility permeates this club like a cancer. That's why there's no leadership.
6. The constructs of leadership are openness, consideration in decision making, empathy, flexibility, capability, motivation of self and others and altruism. Of course, a healthy dose of controlled passion and a genuine love of your cause also helps (Benny Gale anyone?). How many of you can say you've seen the club display any, or all of these traits or constructs on a consistent or even occasional basis this year? If anything, it's been like the scramble for life boats on the Titanic. Blame others for failure and when all is lost, disguise yourself as a woman or child and push the others out of the way.
In closing, nothing will change until Summers, Finnis and TMBK are gone. Summers is a supposed gun in business. After all, he's at the top of the tree at A.V. Jennings, isn't he? Well he worked his way up from the bottom and has been at the same organisation for thirty years. Mediocrity always rises in large organisations. I've written a paper on why, which, somewhat ironically was commissioned by Westpac. It rises because it doesn't challenge the Status Quo, nor is capable of doing so. It never causes discomfort or conflict with its superiors. It craves safety and security, where greater talents with the capability to improve seek other opportunities. Finally, it has no interest other than its own advancement. It doesn't come to work to do the job, it comes to work to further its own brilliant career. I'm sure you all know the type. They get to the top by attrition, suction and ensuring every action they take advances their cause. You've all worked with, or worked for, someone like that, I'm sure. That's why I was sceptical of Summers from the beginning. Thirty years in one place is nothing to be proud of. It just means you're a survivor. Couple him with an ambitious CEO who has no love or passion for our club and a clueless coaching group, which itself is a product of mediocrity and you have the fabulous dessert I described in the title. We 've endured the entrée (Unappetising rebuild), the main course (A barely satisfactory improvement) and now the dessert, which like in any meal was supposed to leave us satisfied, pleased and positive about the future. Pun intended. Instead we all have a sour taste in our mouths. The classic mash up Eaton Mess has morphed into the unpleasant St.Kilda Mess. The way the traditional St.Kilda meal always ends.
In part 2 I will outline some solutions. They may surprise you. Toodle Pip!
PS. Sack Richo!
Tragically for us, things have turned out worse than we could have imagined. At first I thought we'd probably stagnate, rather than have the expected improvement. The loss of Joey and especially Roo was always going to hurt, as was the nightmare draw we were handed. My main concerns were with the coach, who in his entire tenure had been unable to prevent regular thrashings and blowouts, even in the years we did reasonably well, being 2016 and 2017 (Note: how many clubs would consider 9th and 11th place "successful years"? That going backwards was a sign of success? The truly successful clubs wouldn't have, no matter what preceded them. See Geelong, finished 11th, went out and got Danger, didn't accept the inevitability of a slide and bounced straight back into consecutive finals series).
In the preseason, TMBK came out and posed a bold question to the media. "You don't think we have any A graders? Come back and ask me again at the end of the season as to how many we have then." Well, we still have the same number and several others who are further away from that crucial status than ever before. This indicates several things.
1. He believed the quality of the list was much better than has been proven, as apart from Gresh and maybe Jimmy Webster, no one has improved significantly and certainly not to the extent you would expect talented youngsters to advance. Billings, Acres, Ross, McCartin, Dunstan, Goddard, McKenzie and White should have all been either A grade or consistently good B graders by now. None of them are A grade, nor even consistently good B graders. They've all teased us with glimpses of their ability, but have rarely delivered consistently, with the exception of Ross. All but Ross have had their time in the VFL this year, a shocking indictment on both themselves and the coaching staff.
2. The coach and his merry band of hangers-on are incapable of identifying needs, constructing effective development plans for the individuals, nor are capable of carrying out any plans that are in place, successfully.
3. Taking responsibility. The coach is very good at deflecting responsibility onto others. Among his many failings and unappealing traits, this is perhaps the worst. It started a couple of years ago, when he threw the trout under the bus when serious questions were being raised about Paddy's selection at number 1 and how poorly he was performing. TMBK tried to convince us it was the trout who was responsible, saying the trout had assured him and the club that Paddy was a gun who would guarantee us ten years of top class football. I remember taking note, because in an earlier interview when asked who he would take out of Boyd, Hogan and McCartin, he said "Paddy, Paddy and Paddy again." Clearly he also rated McCartin, except when it came to accepting he was a bust.
This disturbing trend has continued this year in relation to the players. Of course they have to shoulder blame, but not once have I heard TMBK make a definitive public statement about his own appalling performance and what he intends to do about it. It's always a case of the players training and working harder during the week, carrying out the game plan, whatever it is, etc. etc. Week after week we are fed this inane drivel, leaking out of the side of his mouth, framed with his beige, indifferent countenance. Perhaps it is a reflection of the weak administration we also have, which refuses to take responsibility for its howlers.
4. The administration doesn't act when necessary. It is crippled by fear of failure, a behaviour that inevitably brings what you least want. Failure. This is one area this administration has succeeded in spadesful. TMBK's re-signing for 2 extra years. Leaving trout in charge of list management and recruiting when it was clear he was incompetent and hopelessly underqualified. Another example of a good bloke being kept around. They're even trying to find somewhere to hide him on the staff now! You can't make this s**t up! The grovelling apology to Murphy, the instigator of that tawdry episode (which I did say would affect the player's attitude towards the admin. cause resentment but was again accused of psychobabble on SS, even though our form fell away afterwards), the relentless drive to satisfy HQ that we are socially progressive and inclusive, whatever that means. The failure to establish a stand alone VFL team, with Sandringham performing like a busted arse for years and our players not developing in that environment (Note how quickly some improved when promoted even though they weren't carving it up down there, Battle, Phillips, Rice, Austin, McKenzie). The coach, who appears to be safe in his position and acts as though he knows it, is a reflection of stagnation for stability's sake.
5. You'll have noticed by now I haven't mentioned the dreaded "L" word. That is because the day Roo and Joey left, the last remaining traces of leadership left with them. What an indictment on the remaining personnel that the traits of those great champions were not transferred to the next generation. We have an uninspiring, battler for a captain. Another reflection of the coach and admin. elected (laughably) by a playing group that lacks leadership itself and from what has been displayed on field this year, is afraid to assume the responsibility. See? There's that word again. The lack of taking responsibility permeates this club like a cancer. That's why there's no leadership.
6. The constructs of leadership are openness, consideration in decision making, empathy, flexibility, capability, motivation of self and others and altruism. Of course, a healthy dose of controlled passion and a genuine love of your cause also helps (Benny Gale anyone?). How many of you can say you've seen the club display any, or all of these traits or constructs on a consistent or even occasional basis this year? If anything, it's been like the scramble for life boats on the Titanic. Blame others for failure and when all is lost, disguise yourself as a woman or child and push the others out of the way.
In closing, nothing will change until Summers, Finnis and TMBK are gone. Summers is a supposed gun in business. After all, he's at the top of the tree at A.V. Jennings, isn't he? Well he worked his way up from the bottom and has been at the same organisation for thirty years. Mediocrity always rises in large organisations. I've written a paper on why, which, somewhat ironically was commissioned by Westpac. It rises because it doesn't challenge the Status Quo, nor is capable of doing so. It never causes discomfort or conflict with its superiors. It craves safety and security, where greater talents with the capability to improve seek other opportunities. Finally, it has no interest other than its own advancement. It doesn't come to work to do the job, it comes to work to further its own brilliant career. I'm sure you all know the type. They get to the top by attrition, suction and ensuring every action they take advances their cause. You've all worked with, or worked for, someone like that, I'm sure. That's why I was sceptical of Summers from the beginning. Thirty years in one place is nothing to be proud of. It just means you're a survivor. Couple him with an ambitious CEO who has no love or passion for our club and a clueless coaching group, which itself is a product of mediocrity and you have the fabulous dessert I described in the title. We 've endured the entrée (Unappetising rebuild), the main course (A barely satisfactory improvement) and now the dessert, which like in any meal was supposed to leave us satisfied, pleased and positive about the future. Pun intended. Instead we all have a sour taste in our mouths. The classic mash up Eaton Mess has morphed into the unpleasant St.Kilda Mess. The way the traditional St.Kilda meal always ends.
In part 2 I will outline some solutions. They may surprise you. Toodle Pip!
PS. Sack Richo!
