Vote #1 Smart

[Stiffy_18]

Smart in board bid
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
09nov04

HERALDED Crows player Nigel Smart's absence from AFL football may be very short with the premiership defender in line for two critical off-field roles next season.

The former Crows vice-captain, who retired mid-season, has nominated to sit on the Adelaide board of directors - a role he seems certain to fill.
Smart also has been nominated by former AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson to be part of a new-look AFL tribunal - a role that would be denied to him if he becomes an Adelaide board member.

Jackson's submission to the AFL, which has charged football operations chief Adrian Anderson with reviewing the tribunal, suggests Smart be one of two former AFL players who sit on the league's judiciary in whatever form it takes next season.

Smart, who returns from his holiday in southern France in the New Year, is one of six nominations seeking election for a three-year term on the Adelaide board next month.

Nominations with the Crows closed last week and none is expected through the SANFL's channels.

An original Crow from the club's 1991 start in the AFL, Smart's popularity among the Adelaide supporter base would seem to assure him winning the vote from the Crows' 9000 club members. They must choose their candidate by December 3.

The other five contenders are former candidates Lindsay Blight and Trevor Holst, Noel Kennedy, Steven Nolis and Brett Slade.

The members' choice will be confirmed at Adelaide's general meeting on December 7 and put before the SA Football Commission which will ratify the new Crows board soon after.

This year there are three seats to fill on the Adelaide board. Former chairman Bob Campbell has resigned, effective December 7. Current chairman Bill Sanders and Alan Sheppard have had their terms expire and are seeking re-election for another three years. Both are certain to be retained by the SA Football Commission.

Smart's election seems just as certain. He is the high-profile candidate and the most appealing.

He would be the third former Adelaide player - following former board member David Marshall and current board member Andrew Payze - to start his administrative path through AFL football by sitting on the Adelaide board.

Beyond his football insight from a club record 278 AFL games in his 14 seasons as a Crow, Smart has business experience from his two years with carmaker Toyota and five years with the SA Brewing Company. He also has his own business interests which he has nurtured.

While Adelaide's 9000 voting members do not get to directly vote a candidate onto the board - only the SA Football Commission can do this - their choice is not lost if SANFL president Rod Payze and his commission do not endorse it.

Adelaide asks its members' candidate to sit on the club's membership executive, a role taken up in the past by Blight and Holst.

PORT ADELAIDE has two board members - former player Max James and Frank Hayter - seeking re-election.

The duo seem assured of being returned for three-year terms when the Power members vote at their annual meeting on December 13.

 

[Alex99]

It would be a smart move for the crows to appoint Nigel to the board

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

He's got my vote.

 

[Mong]

We need bumper stickers.

Vote Smart!

 

[Mad Dog]

Good news........I'll be voting for Smarty.....He certainly wouldn't sit on his hands - and he certainly wouldn't be there just to make up the numbers. Good to see he is highly thought of with his nomination to the Tribunal Review - but I'd prefer to see him on our Board
Go the Dome !

 

[dA Crow]

It would be excellent to see Smart there, someone that says exactly what he thinks and doesnt hold back for fear of reprisals is pretty much what the Crows need; and probably have done for a fair amount of time now.

 

[Stiffy_18]

From our perspective he would be a great addition to the board BUT would all those from the "boys club" be comfortable in having outspoken Nigel Smart on the board. Lets face it Smart would hardly bring out the cliches and toe the party line.

As I said from our perspective he would be excellent but what about those already on the board.

 

[Mad Dog]

From our perspective he would be a great addition to the board BUT would all those from the "boys club" be comfortable in having outspoken Nigel Smart on the board. Lets face it Smart would hardly bring out the cliches and toe the party line.

As I said from our perspective he would be excellent but what about those already on the board.

thats the thing isn't it....that thought went through my mind as I was reading the article. At least Campbell is retiring - that's one automatic alternative opinion gone.. ....at least Payze is still there - and I reckon Nige would probably get on with "The Colonel" ok.
Bottom line - with the support of the members he would be a pretty strong candidate, and with a public profile like his, any Board member who tried to undermine him might not be that popular.
You never know - this might encourage other like minded people to nominate in coming years.....Jammo..Rehnny....(don't larf)...Anthony Ingerson

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It's the only Smart choice.

 

[NikkiNoo]

I would love to have smarty on our board, but I don't think he will be too popular a choice with some of the people that are currently there. I think for the good of the game I would prefer to see him on that Tribunal panel. That to me is a more worrying aspect of the game and we might actually not have so many gripes about the tribunal and penalties.

 

[macca23]

I would love to have smarty on our board, but I don't think he will be too popular a choice with some of the people that are currently there. I think for the good of the game I would prefer to see him on that Tribunal panel. That to me is a more worrying aspect of the game and we might actually not have so many gripes about the tribunal and penalties.

Not a bad thought process at all. As a thinking very newly ex-player, he'd have 10 times more idea what's really going on in the field rather than those absolute morons that seem to pull both the verdict and suspension out of a hat or somewhere even worse and darker.

He could genuinely make a good contribution to footy overall this way.

I have no doubt that he would make a good contribution to the AFC board if appointed to that role, but wouldn't have the same impact IMO, as the AFC is already well run, if conservatively, and any radical idea he may have would be outvoted every time.

 

[Lefty]

From our perspective he would be a great addition to the board BUT would all those from the "boys club" be comfortable in having outspoken Nigel Smart on the board. Lets face it Smart would hardly bring out the cliches and toe the party line.

As I said from our perspective he would be excellent but what about those already on the board.

I'm all for Nigel to be on the Board but I think the conservative(s) that are already in place wouldn't welcome him with open arms.

I'm sure they would see him as a "loose cannon" and my prediction is that he won't win a seat on the Board.

This decision won't be based on his intelligence or ability, moreso his outspoken nature & views which, as we all know, doesn't exactly fit in with the current Board Members.

I think it will be between Lindsay Blight and Trevor Holst as to who fills the post IMHO which is unfortunate to say the least.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

From our perspective he would be a great addition to the board BUT would all those from the "boys club" be comfortable in having outspoken Nigel Smart on the board. Lets face it Smart would hardly bring out the cliches and toe the party line.

As I said from our perspective he would be excellent but what about those already on the board.

I agree with you in the aspect that "the boys club" will not like it, but I think he will have too much support to be snubbed by the board. IMO there would be a huge supporter backlash if he doesnt get a seat and people will ask some questions that cant be ignored.
They may not want to give him a seat on the board but with his popularity he will force them to do it, they will be between a rock and a hard place...I hope!

 

[Stiffy_18]

I'm all for Nigel to be on the Board but I think the conservative(s) that are already in place wouldn't welcome him with open arms.

I'm sure they would see him as a "loose cannon" and my prediction is that he won't win a seat on the Board.

This decision won't be based on his intelligence or ability, moreso his outspoken nature & views which, as we all know, doesn't exactly fit in with the current Board Members.

I think it will be between Lindsay Blight and Trevor Holst as to who fills the post IMHO which is unfortunate to say the least.

OH, I think Smarty will get the member's vote but I don't think he will be there for a long time.

 

[Paralowiepower]

Can he still do the pre-showdown press confrences ? plllleeeeeeaaassssseeeeeeee!

 

[- PC -]

GET SMART

I think he would be better off to start on the Adelaide board and then see if he wishes to join the AFL Tribunal board at a later date.

Who cares if he clashes with people? Sometimes a different lateral voice is sometimes needed.

GET SMART

 

[Turtleman3]

I hope you don't mind an outsider posting on your board. I hope/d Nigel Smart would get in the media as I think someone like him who speaks his mind would be refreshing after the bland commentary that mostly makes up the media. He looks at things from a different perspective which is a positive.

Him being on the television coverage of games would be excellent. I remember him not holding back about Laurence Angwin. He was also on the Footy Show when James Hird bagged the umpires and he told Hirdy that he had overstepped the mark. A lot of people would have tipped toed around James as not to upset him or would have joined in the bagging or said nothing but I thought Smart's rebuked was great and says a lot about him.

So while I can see why you people want him on your board as he would be a breath of fresh air (I assume as i don't know the make up of your current board).

Anyway what ever he decides I am sure he will do very well.

 

[silky-smooth]

It would be a smart move for the crows to appoint Nigel to the board

Indeed

 

[Mad Dog]

I hope you don't mind an outsider posting on your board. I hope/d Nigel Smart would get in the media as I think someone like him who speaks his mind would be refreshing after the bland commentary that mostly makes up the media. He looks at things from a different perspective which is a positive.

Him being on the television coverage of games would be excellent. I remember him not holding back about Laurence Angwin. He was also on the Footy Show when James Hird bagged the umpires and he told Hirdy that he had overstepped the mark. A lot of people would have tipped toed around James as not to upset him or would have joined in the bagging or said nothing but I thought Smart's rebuked was great and says a lot about him.

So while I can see why you people want him on your board as he would be a breath of fresh air (I assume as i don't know the make up of your current board).

Anyway what ever he decides I am sure he will do very well.

post away turtleman !!
I think you're right about Smart's contribution to the media....it would be fantastic to hear some straight talking for a change......but I just think that he would be wasted on tv. Nigel really does have a lot to offer - he will probably end up in politics someday....but for now I think he would be wasted on tv. I'd like to see him either on our Board or sorting out the Tribunal.

 

[Jars458]

The problem is that it doesn't matter if Smart wins the vote by a landslide as the top three vote getters are given to the Commission for them to decide at their absolute discretion who if any is given a spot on the board.

They alsow ill not release the outcome of the vote other than to say who the top three vote getters are

Ie

Smart 8900
Blight 99
Holst 1

Holst could still get the berth, that's the absurdity of it.

WHoever wins in my view nees to be a GENUINE members rep and actually try and seek the views of the members rather than just push their own bandwagon

Sanders has been a disgraceful members rep on the board. He was only ever on it in my view ot become chariman and pursue his own agenda.

I await with interest to see the outcome.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I hope you don't mind an outsider posting on your board. I hope/d Nigel Smart would get in the media as I think someone like him who speaks his mind would be refreshing after the bland commentary that mostly makes up the media. He looks at things from a different perspective which is a positive.

Him being on the television coverage of games would be excellent. I remember him not holding back about Laurence Angwin. He was also on the Footy Show when James Hird bagged the umpires and he told Hirdy that he had overstepped the mark. A lot of people would have tipped toed around James as not to upset him or would have joined in the bagging or said nothing but I thought Smart's rebuked was great and says a lot about him.

So while I can see why you people want him on your board as he would be a breath of fresh air (I assume as i don't know the make up of your current board).

Anyway what ever he decides I am sure he will do very well.

well said...any outside contribution is always welcome

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

post away turtleman !!
I think you're right about Smart's contribution to the media....it would be fantastic to hear some straight talking for a change......but I just think that he would be wasted on tv. Nigel really does have a lot to offer - he will probably end up in politics someday....but for now I think he would be wasted on tv. I'd like to see him either on our Board or sorting out the Tribunal.

also well said!