A CLUB IN CRISIS ... THE AFL MUST STEP IN

[The heart beats true 18,123]

RR, you still haven't answered what the AFL will actually do when they take over? Bake sale? Handball drills?

We are only a mess on the field. The AFL doesn't have a gun midfield training at a secret location waiting for a club to be bad enough to warrant them. But please, enlighten me with what the league will do?

[stuie 7,374]

the filming of the pre game address has Schwab written all over it i reckon. another hair brained scheme

FFS.... I don't mind the logical cracks at Schwab, but this is pathetic.

[stuie 7,374]

If they ask to be traded, let them go.

They are useless if they don't want to play for the jumper.

We need to MAKE them want to play for the jumper. No one wants to at the moment.

[rjay 24,924]

RR, you still haven't answered what the AFL will actually do when they take over? Bake sale? Handball drills?

We are only a mess on the field. The AFL doesn't have a gun midfield training at a secret location waiting for a club to be bad enough to warrant them. But please, enlighten me with what the league will do?

I think I am the first one to talk about the AFL stepping in which is something I brought up last year so let me give you my answer. Firstly the board and CEO need to be sacked and an AFL administrator needs to be appointed. The first thing he needs to do is build a bridge between the administration and playing group whilst at the same time ensuring the key stakeholders, members, AFL, media, sponsors etc are on board.

He needs to assess whether we have the right coach and or coaching structure and make changes if need be, set up a sustainable business and once that is on track he needs to put in a process to get the club back in the hands of members. The last one may take some time to achieve but it needs to be part of the plan.

Edited April 7, 2013 by rjay

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

Rjay what do you mean "to get the Club back in the hands of the members". Do you think that Collingwood supporters have a say in how their Board and CEO operate. The only tangible link between a Board/CEO is when the members vote in that Board who appoint the CEO. I know you have an agenda to get rid of the Board/CEO but shouldn't that be at the end of the year or you risk fracturing a Club that is already under so much internal and external pressure. Your vitriol suggests that you would like to see the possibility of the Club failing and then tell us all "I told you so".

[Sir Why You Little 37,035]

Rjay what do you mean "to get the Club back in the hands of the members". Do you think that Collingwood supporters have a say in how their Board and CEO operate. The only tangible link between a Board/CEO is when the members vote in that Board who appoint the CEO. I know you have an agenda to get rid of the Board/CEO but shouldn't that be at the end of the year or you risk fracturing a Club that is already under so much internal and external pressure. Your vitriol suggests that you would like to see the possibility of the Club failing and then tell us all "I told you so".

You are prepared for another 20 weeks of this?

[rjay 24,924]

Rjay what do you mean "to get the Club back in the hands of the members". Do you think that Collingwood supporters have a say in how their Board and CEO operate. The only tangible link between a Board/CEO is when the members vote in that Board who appoint the CEO. I know you have an agenda to get rid of the Board/CEO but shouldn't that be at the end of the year or you risk fracturing a Club that is already under so much internal and external pressure. Your vitriol suggests that you would like to see the possibility of the Club failing and then tell us all "I told you so".

To get the club back in the hands, I mean exactly what you say that we get to vote again.

As for the club failing....

No, not by a long shot but I will be happy to tell you I told you so when there is change at the top and we get back on track. I am really fearful of the next few years on ground performances not the club going out of business. I just can't see us going forward until this admin is gone. I am really worried you will be 'longersuffering' and that means me too.

[The heart beats true 18,123]

He needs to assess whether we have the right coach and or coaching structure and make changes if need be, set up a sustainable business and once that is on track he needs to put in a process to get the club back in the hands of members. The last one may take some time to achieve but it needs to be part of the plan.

This seems delusional. Here's why:

Coaching structure:

Only based on one opinion, and if that opinion is the AFL'a it may be positive and attacking and great to watch, but not sustainable and defensive enough to make us successful long term. Demetriou accused Roos of being ugly and they went on to win the flag.

Sustainable business:

We actually are. The members wiped the debt to get us here which is incredibly frustrating given our pathetic on field efforts. Before the $500k fine we were on track for a profit in 2013.

Member based control:

This is one of those theoretical ones, like arguing about voting in a democratic system. Theoretically we are in a member based system. If we don't feel like we are then the argument is we should get more involved at AGM's.

I like your sentiment and passion mate but the business side of the club is where we are strongest (compared to on field). The only control the AFL has on field for clubs is through the draft and structures (player payments, secondary payments). Can't see them rushing to help us there given our history.

[Blinkybill 276]

I like your sentiment and passion mate but the business side of the club is where we are strongest (compared to on field). The only control the AFL has on field for clubs is through the draft and structures (player payments, secondary payments). Can't see them rushing to help us there given our history.

Spot on. There's no evidence the Board or Management should be sacked and/or controlled by the AFL. It will simply not happen, and anyone who thinks that this a possibility, let alone a benefit, is delusional.

Edited April 7, 2013 by Blinkybill

[rjay 24,924]

This seems delusional. Here's why:

Coaching structure:

Only based on one opinion, and if that opinion is the AFL'a it may be positive and attacking and great to watch, but not sustainable and defensive enough to make us successful long term. Demetriou accused Roos of being ugly and they went on to win the flag.

Sustainable business:

We actually are. The members wiped the debt to get us here which is incredibly frustrating given our pathetic on field efforts. Before the $500k fine we were on track for a profit in 2013.

Member based control:

This is one of those theoretical ones, like arguing about voting in a democratic system. Theoretically we are in a member based system. If we don't feel like we are then the argument is we should get more involved at AGM's.

I like your sentiment and passion mate but the business side of the club is where we are strongest (compared to on field). The only control the AFL has on field for clubs is through the draft and structures (player payments, secondary payments). Can't see them rushing to help us there given our history.

The FD appointments haven't worked to well to date and I wouldn't expect that one person would make the decision without proper input. The current method of inviting Gary to help has not provided proper and expert opinion, he is an entertainer who at the first sense of a problem backs away from his decisions. This is not the way to run a club. The current group will not appoint a senior coach because he will tell them what they don't want to hear. Sheedy, Eade, Williams are too difficult to handle.

The business side...

It's not a sustainable business model and it will be stretched to the max with the results this year, the long term health of the business is reliant on on field success or on selling the dream of on field success. The dream has become a nightmare.

Edited April 7, 2013 by rjay

[Genevieve 3]

Completely agree re Neeld's uninspiring speech. Couldn't understand why he would authorise that to be telecast. Was that supposed to reassure us? It only made me more concerned.

Although I think our problem runs far deeper than Neeld (Mclardy, Schwab etc have got to) he just has to be held responsible. Our players are not under 17s, they are fit elite atheletes. 18 footballers manning up against another 18 with the same skill set. It's not David and Goliath. The difference between two teams should not be 148. Something is terrible wrong. We are not developing our young players and we are making dumb decisions with recruitment.

Neeld says he still doesn't know where Jack Watts belongs. Well f$cking work it out!

There's no way Neeld will go anytime soon. Firstly, it would just disrupt us more right now. Secondly it would blatantly expose the inadequacies of our football managers and the mistake they made shafting Bailey or even rejecting Sheedy 5 years ago.

.

[kallangurdemon 551]

The AFL step in ? The AFL has been part of a problem rather then a solution .We have spent all summer devoting our energies to defending the tanking claim only to be told at the end of it all that the AFL hasn't actually got a rule in regard to tanking and really not sure what the term means .Meanwhile we cop a $500k fine and have a passionate official suspended because his statements were not in the best interests of football and as he is an employee we are liable for his statements .Of Course when Mifsud implied that Neeld was a racist the AFL didn't accept that it was involved as he spoke as an individual not an employee so they did nothing while we dealt with a giant distraction that could not have come at a worst time Then we have the Scully saga .All that angst and effort to try and retain him only to find out that the deal was done ( including dear old dad) 12 months earlier .So much for anti tampering .Imagine if it had carried on like this with a Collingwood or Essendon . Essendon makes Lance Armstrong look like a boy scout and nothing will happen .The AFL step in ?.You must be joking . Were fair game as far as it is concerned .

[Range Rover 1,935]

There's no way Neeld will go anytime soon. Firstly, it would just disrupt us more right now. Secondly it would blatantly expose the inadequacies of our football managers and the mistake they made shafting Bailey or even rejecting Sheedy 5 years ago.

.

How could we possibly be more disrupted than we are now?

How could the inadequacies of the admin be any more exposed?

[stuie 7,374]

How could we possibly be more disrupted than we are now?

How could the inadequacies of the admin be any more exposed?

[The heart beats true 18,123]

How could we possibly be more disrupted than we are now?

How could the inadequacies of the admin be any more exposed?

I'm still waiting for you to enlighten us all on what you want the AFL to actually do?

[Range Rover 1,935]

I'm still waiting for you to enlighten us all on what you want the AFL to actually do?

1. Cut out the cancer.

2. Conduct a thorough review of the debacle (see Dr. Gonzo's compelling 'rap sheet of failure').

3. Appoint interim administrators competent enough to right the ship.

4. Assist the MFC to conduct fresh elections at such time as it feels the club has stabilized.

That's what you do with basket cases. You put them on life support.

[Redleg 40,915]

1. Cut out the cancer.

2. Conduct a thorough review of the debacle (see Dr. Gonzo's compelling 'rap sheet of failure').

3. Appoint interim administrators competent enough to right the ship.

4. Assist the MFC to conduct fresh elections at such time as it feels the club has stabilized.

That's what you do with basket cases. You put them on life support.

Give it a rest.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Its very simple. The afl can step in and tell all clubs to give/swap one good player to the dees, doesnt have to b a marque player but lets say a Nic Nat for say um watts, daisey for bail...that would be 17 new players for us and at hardly any cost to other clubs and ensure a more even competition. Im sure all the clubs would want to help, especially essendon and their supporters.

[stuie 7,374]

1. Cut out the cancer.

2. Conduct a thorough review of the debacle (see Dr. Gonzo's compelling 'rap sheet of failure').

3. Appoint interim administrators competent enough to right the ship.

4. Assist the MFC to conduct fresh elections at such time as it feels the club has stabilized.

That's what you do with basket cases. You put them on life support.

Hahahahaha fire everybody and THEN conduct a review... FMD.

[The heart beats true 18,123]

1. Cut out the cancer.

2. Conduct a thorough review of the debacle (see Dr. Gonzo's compelling 'rap sheet of failure').

3. Appoint interim administrators competent enough to right the ship.

4. Assist the MFC to conduct fresh elections at such time as it feels the club has stabilized.

That's what you do with basket cases. You put them on life support.

Appreciate the answer, and feel like I should add that I wanted Schwab gone 18 months ago and have never changed my opinion on him.

However, there is no proof that the administration isn't actually doing ok on off field issues. The AFL cant give us players and that's the real issue today. That why I don't think they can step in. I think it sets a really strange precedent for them and they might rather operate from the shadows.

IMHO I hope they knife Schwab from the shadows so that the club keeps some integrity in the process and then we get some ironic but needed draft priority picks to use on 3 experienced midfielders.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Appreciate the answer, and feel like I should add that I wanted Schwab gone 18 months ago and have never changed my opinion on him.

However, there is no proof that the administration isn't actually doing ok on off field issues. The AFL cant give us players and that's the real issue today. That why I don't think they can step in. I think it sets a really strange precedent for them and they might rather operate from the shadows.

IMHO I hope they knife Schwab from the shadows so that the club keeps some integrity in the process and then we get some ironic but needed draft priority picks to use on 3 experienced midfielders.

Well, I'd have to disagree with some and agree with other points you've made there.

McLardy has hog-tied himself to Schwab so it's going to be awfully hard to knife one without taking out the other.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Spot on. There's no evidence the Board or Management should be sacked and/or controlled by the AFL. It will simply not happen, and anyone who thinks that this a possibility, let alone a benefit, is delusional.

Delusional is thinking the league bosses are going to stand back and do nothing while one of their children trashes the brand.

[Mono 455]

.....................

He needs to assess whether we have the right coach and or coaching structure and make changes if need be, set up a sustainable business and once that is on track he needs to put in a process to get the club back in the hands of members. The last one may take some time to achieve but it needs to be part of the plan.

Looking for god or his son/daughter are you?

1. Cut out the cancer.

2. Conduct a thorough review of the debacle (see Dr. Gonzo's compelling 'rap sheet of failure').

3. Appoint interim administrators competent enough to right the ship.

4. Assist the MFC to conduct fresh elections at such time as it feels the club has stabilized.

That's what you do with basket cases. You put them on life support.

You're an Abbott clone? His speech writer?

[rjay 24,924]

Looking for god or his son/daughter are you?

You're an Abbott clone? His speech writer?

No just someone that can run a football club would be fine thanks 'Mono'.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Delusional is thinking the league bosses are going to stand back and do nothing while one of their children trashes the brand.

Another absolute rubbish post.

If anything the AFL wouldn't throw us a life line - too many Victorian teams.

Edited April 7, 2013 by PJ_12345