Tension at the top?

[rjay 24,917]

How old is Brian Coook now?

59

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

59

Thanks. Thought he was a few years older

Still waiting for the club to clarify this story...

[Pennant St Dee 13,172]

Thanks. Thought he was a few years older

Still waiting for the club to clarify this story...

Why it will die a death if we don't add fuel to the fire

I would put faith in the clubs proven record over the last 18 months not leaking, seems to have served us well as opposed to the previous admins policy of getting on the front foot only to did a bigger hole

[Redleg 40,899]

This should not be forgotten.

"MELBOURNE chief executive Peter Jackson has announced his immediate resignation from his role as AFL Victoria chairman.

Jackson's energies have been increasingly dedicated to the Demons and he recently extended his contract with the club until the end of next season.

Although he was at AFL Victoria in an advisory role, Jackson felt he could no longer continue in his adjoining capacities."

[chook fowler 19,458]

The best way to hose down the rumours is to announce a contract extension immediately

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Why it will die a death if we don't add fuel to the fire

I would put faith in the clubs proven record over the last 18 months not leaking, seems to have served us well as opposed to the previous admins policy of getting on the front foot only to did a bigger hole

Exactly right, reason I haven't posted any input

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

Why it will die a death if we don't add fuel to the fire

I would put faith in the clubs proven record over the last 18 months not leaking, seems to have served us well as opposed to the previous admins policy of getting on the front foot only to did a bigger hole

If it is untrue it will die yes....But if some truth is found to be in it then i think supporters and members deserve to be told given the record of the last CEO

If Jackson wants to stay and finish a job i want him there

[Pates 9,660]

I'm not totally sure what Jackson's long term plans are but I was under the impression that when he joined us he would be looking in assist getting a long term option over the next few years. I think he doing doing a brilliant job and I'd love to see him hang around for while but not sure where he stands long term.

[Pennant St Dee 13,172]

If it is untrue it will die yes....But if some truth is found to be in it then i think supporters and members deserve to be told given the record of the last CEO

If Jackson wants to stay and finish a job i want him there

The last CEO says it all

The new board doesn't react to media rumours and doesn't leak

enough said

[dee-luded 2,959]

I didn't.

I basically said that at his current capacity, he's still good, but his lofty reputation isn't warranted.

Not now at least.

I'm an advocate of not making rash decisions based on reputations forged long ago, ignoring more recent events.

The cats have issues and he has been asleep at the wheel in recent seasons, undoing some of his good work.

They've managed to hide it somewhat, but the Cats aren't traveling that great and haven't capitalised on their recent onfield successes.

talent is, inability isn't...

he has runs because he is.

Maybe he has just been in the one spot for too long, & needs a fresh challenge?

Edited February 15, 2015 by dee-luded

[Slartibartfast 17,257]

The last CEO says it all

The new board doesn't react to media rumours and doesn't leak

enough said

Where did the leak come from? Unless you know you can't say it wasn't from our Board.

I'd feel so much more comfortable if all the Board members from the last Board were gone.

[Whispering_Jack 30,036]

Where did the leak come from? Unless you know you can't say it wasn't from our Board.

I'd feel so much more comfortable if all the Board members from the last Board were gone.

As I understand it, the only member of the last Board remaining on the current Board is Dr. David Thurin with who I have had a few discussions from time to time about the club and have noted that he went to great lengths explaining that he couldn't speak on certain matters because they were confidential within the club. I know from another source that he is so secretive on the issue of club matters that he even refused to discuss a player's injury with a colleague in the medical fraternity. That being the case, I believe your comment is completely out of order.

[rjay 24,917]

Where did the leak come from? Unless you know you can't say it wasn't from our Board.

I'd feel so much more comfortable if all the Board members from the last Board were gone.

3AW's Sam McClure said well-respected Geelong CEO Brian Cook was shaping as a possible target for the Demons at season's end, and was a major factor in Bartlett offering Jackson just the single year.

"Bartlett has allegedly claimed he believes he has a very good chance of landing Brian Cook and has elected to keep his options open at season's end," McClure said on Sports Today.

"Given that Jackson's contract is in the region of $600,000 and is not far short of 50 per cent less than what it would take to move Cook, it's regarded as a bold prediction by the club President and a costly one for a club that receives significant funding from the AFL.

"Not all were happy with the state of play and it's believed it played a significant role in the resignation of two recently retired board members.

"Their view was that Jackson's performance and relationship with the AFL has been more than worthy of an extension and that Bartlett risks losing Jackson unless he relents and offers him a longer term deal by mid-season."

According to this it seems it was from the recent past board members 'Bob'.

[sue 9,102]

Where did the leak come from? Unless you know you can't say it wasn't from our Board.

I'd feel so much more comfortable if all the Board members from the last Board were gone.

You are assuming of course that it was a leak from somewhere and not an invention somewhere along the line with a lot of detail added to make it look plausible. A fairly common trick. Add journos desperate for some copy and away we go.

[Machsy 2,858]

From what I know, I'd say Brian Cook will not ever choose to be the CEO of another AFL club anyway.

[hoopla 418]

3AW's Sam McClure said well-respected Geelong CEO Brian Cook was shaping as a possible target for the Demons at season's end, and was a major factor in Bartlett offering Jackson just the single year.

"Bartlett has allegedly claimed he believes he has a very good chance of landing Brian Cook and has elected to keep his options open at season's end," McClure said on Sports Today.

"Given that Jackson's contract is in the region of $600,000 and is not far short of 50 per cent less than what it would take to move Cook, it's regarded as a bold prediction by the club President and a costly one for a club that receives significant funding from the AFL.

"Not all were happy with the state of play and it's believed it played a significant role in the resignation of two recently retired board members.

"Their view was that Jackson's performance and relationship with the AFL has been more than worthy of an extension and that Bartlett risks losing Jackson unless he relents and offers him a longer term deal by mid-season."

According to this it seems it was from the recent past board members 'Bob'.

I have no knowledge of this whatsoever - but make two observations

1. Given the critical importance of having a strong consistent CEO in place over the next 3-5 years - to stabilize the organisation through the Roos- Goodwin transition - any Chairman worth his salt would be looking hard at his options right now.

2. Where there's smoke there's fire!

Just hope that any fire is only a controlled burn off - which you need from time to time.

[Ted Lasso 19,512]

From a club that has made a point of not leaking anything I don't think they would let something this major out.

Or be stupid enough to try it in the first place.

[Slartibartfast 17,257]

As I understand it, the only member of the last Board remaining on the current Board is Dr. David Thurin with who I have had a few discussions from time to time about the club and have noted that he went to great lengths explaining that he couldn't speak on certain matters because they were confidential within the club. I know from another source that he is so secretive on the issue of club matters that he even refused to discuss a player's injury with a colleague in the medical fraternity. That being the case, I believe your comment is completely out of order.

I didn't mean my comments to be read as "the leak was from a Board member" and I was in no way suggesting it was from David Thurin.

My comment was to Pennant who said the current Board don't leak. We can't say that unless we know where this leak came from. I then started a new paragraph to state my desire to see all of the past Board gone from this Board for reasons that are obvious and not worth repeating but don't relate to this leak. But I can see how you could misinterpret the post the way you did. Your comments about Thurin are correct but unnecessary and your assertion that my comments are completely out of order incorrect if read in the correct context. But as I say, I understand how you could misinterpret my previous post the way you did and thank you for the opportunity to clarify.

And yes Sue, I do think this is more than "made up". It might have been blown out of all proportion but something has happened in my view.

You can call me paranoid if you like but this Club has a habit of working its way out of trouble and seeming to be on the up and then getting overconfident and right royally stuffing it up. Every Board from Gutnick on has this history other than Szondy who has nothing to hang his hat on. I just shudder every time I see something like this and just wish that all past Board members in this sort of history were gone. It's nothing personal against Thurin. Our last couple of years have been full of hope and this corresponds to a period where we have effectively been under AFL management. Personally I'd be happy for that to continue indefinitely but I know others would find this model very confronting.

And yes, I have more confidence this time that in the past which is why this sort of situation sends a shudder down my spine.

[Whispering_Jack 30,036]

I didn't mean my comments to be read as "the leak was from a Board member" and I was in no way suggesting it was from David Thurin.

My comment was to Pennant who said the current Board don't leak. We can't say that unless we know where this leak came from. I then started a new paragraph to state my desire to see all of the past Board gone from this Board for reasons that are obvious and not worth repeating but don't relate to this leak. But I can see how you could misinterpret the post the way you did. Your comments about Thurin are correct but unnecessary and your assertion that my comments are completely out of order incorrect if read in the correct context. But as I say, I understand how you could misinterpret my previous post the way you did and thank you for the opportunity to clarify.

And yes Sue, I do think this is more than "made up". It might have been blown out of all proportion but something has happened in my view.

You can call me paranoid if you like but this Club has a habit of working its way out of trouble and seeming to be on the up and then getting overconfident and right royally stuffing it up. Every Board from Gutnick on has this history other than Szondy who has nothing to hang his hat on. I just shudder every time I see something like this and just wish that all past Board members in this sort of history were gone. It's nothing personal against Thurin. Our last couple of years have been full of hope and this corresponds to a period where we have effectively been under AFL management. Personally I'd be happy for that to continue indefinitely but I know others would find this model very confronting.

And yes, I have more confidence this time that in the past which is why this sort of situation sends a shudder down my spine.

Bob, I don't quite get what you're saying but I'll accept what you say in that you weren't suggesting that David is behind the possible leaking of this information.

I think it's become clear from the Essendon doping saga that various parties in the football world including committees and boards leak information to the media. The Bombers have been masters at it over the past two years, mainly because they have no shortage of useful media idiots willing to push their cause. Much the same has happened at Melbourne over the years - you don't have to be "Blind Freddie" to know that various groups at the club including Boards going back in time to well before Gutnick were able to get certain messages across thanks to friends in the media. In the case of all clubs the practice can sometimes be justified as being "in the interests of the club" (and often this depends on which side you're on).

I can see that it's finally dawning on you that the club has a propensity to shoot itself in the foot just when things are looking to be on the up and up. Unfortunately, it's a phenomenon that's been around for half a century - some call it the Norm Smith curse. I just don't see that your paranoia would be assuaged by David Thurin leaving - I personally believe he’s been a competent board member who worked hard and made a major contribution over the past seven years (not just monetarily - he put in a significant amount of work towards making the debt demolition a success, without which we probably wouldn’t be discussing anything about the club).

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Roos and Jackson are only at the MFC to fix the club, they have come out and said a number of times that they are only here for a short tender.

The media are just trying to find a story out of something that isn't there.

We all know PJ is going to leave eventually so why is this such a shock thet we are looking at another CEO?

Edited February 15, 2015 by ILLDieADemon

[Yossarian 1,820]

Have receieved a response from the club about this and am happy enough that the rumour is rubbish. An unfortunate product of our past that we're so quick to reach for the pitchforks against Bartlett.

[old dee 23,787]

Have receieved a response from the club about this and am happy enough that the rumour is rubbish. An unfortunate product of our past that we're so quick to reach for the pitchforks against Bartlett.

And for the next decade.

It is going to take a long time to heal the wounds Yossarian.

[Pates 9,660]

From what I know, I'd say Brian Cook will not ever choose to be the CEO of another AFL club anyway.

This is what I'd imagine. He's had his time as a club CEO and seen Geelong go from being a mid-range club with good assets to a powerhouse, he has set himself up for life in property I just can't see why he would jump back into this high pressure world.

I get the feeling a lot of Demon fans are nervous and haven't warmed to Bartlett. We've accepted Roos and Jackson because they have the runs on the board and we can see tangible improvement in their respective areas. Bartlett on the other hand we haven't really heard much about and when he opened up about his visions for the club it's felt similar to what we got from past presidents.

For that reason it's easy to get those old pitchforks ready. I really hope that Bartlett is making PJ feel comfortable in his position, as I said earlier I'm not sure about where he stands long term with the club but if he's wanting to make a longer commitment then it should be something considered.

[Alotta 88]

Bob, I don't quite get what you're saying but I'll accept what you say in that you weren't suggesting that David is behind the possible leaking of this information.

I think it's become clear from the Essendon doping saga that various parties in the football world including committees and boards leak information to the media. The Bombers have been masters at it over the past two years, mainly because they have no shortage of useful media idiots willing to push their cause. Much the same has happened at Melbourne over the years - you don't have to be "Blind Freddie" to know that various groups at the club including Boards going back in time to well before Gutnick were able to get certain messages across thanks to friends in the media. In the case of all clubs the practice can sometimes be justified as being "in the interests of the club" (and often this depends on which side you're on).

I can see that it's finally dawning on you that the club has a propensity to shoot itself in the foot just when things are looking to be on the up and up. Unfortunately, it's a phenomenon that's been around for half a century - some call it the Norm Smith curse. I just don't see that your paranoia would be assuaged by David Thurin leaving - I personally believe he’s been a competent board member who worked hard and made a major contribution over the past seven years (not just monetarily - he put in a significant amount of work towards making the debt demolition a success, without which we probably wouldn’t be discussing anything about the club).

In the period 2008-2013 Dr Thurin was a member of a Board which presided over and was accountable for the greatest clusterflick in the 156 year history of our Club. That alone makes his position untenable if we are toput this behind us. Good bloke, competent etc etc - irrelevant.

[KLV 1,765]

"Not all were happy with the state of play and it's believed it played a significant role in the resignation of two recently retired board members."

I am 100% satisfied from my information, that there is NO truth in this.