Email from Peter Lawrence

[Yossarian 1,820]

19 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

I am a little weirded-out by the affronted reactions to receiving an unsolicited email in 2024. 

Mate, how would you like it if someone you didn't know responded to you on an internet forum?

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

5 minutes ago, Yossarian said:

Mate, how would you like it if someone you didn't know responded to you on an internet forum?

I can handle that if I must, but do not dare to invade the sacred space between my gymnasium and the company I bought some adhesive patches from seven years ago. 

[Kent 2,909]

8 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

"Highly successful"? You're having a laugh. We were successful in 2021, since then it's been underachievement before finishing 5th last this year.

Exactly Dr!!!!

[Moonshadow 17,676]

I didn't get the email. I'm quite offended now after reading this thread. How very dare they!

Edited August 29 by Moonshadow

[george_on_the_outer 7,591]

13 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Did we?

1- play finals each year 2020-23 and win a flag. We didn't play finals in 2020, we did win a flag. I'd give it a pass but technically a fail.

2- $4m profit over 4 years - did we achieve this? Eliminate debt. $30m+ of income producing assets. I'm not sure about any of this so not sure if it's a pass or fail.

3- have a culture that inspires excellence and attracts new talent. Pretty wishy washy though you can argue our culture has gone backwards and have struggled to attract new talent since the flag. I give this a fail though it is subjective.

4- 75k+ members, 50k+ average home crowds. Fail.

5- home base. Fail.

That's at least 3 fails out of 5 for me and possibly fails on all 5 (again not sure on point 2).

Point 2 was only achieved after revaluing the Bentleigh club and Leighoak after holding (hiding) it on the books for a number of years without revaluation.  It was an accounting profit only, and only as a result of Joe Gutnick getting them for us 20 years ago. 

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

The club we love is a raging tire fire at the moment, and yes a lot of that has to do with media sensationalism but that in itself is a major failure of the club over the last 2-3 years. 

Our communication has and is diabolical. We gain zero control of any narratives. When our leaders speak only Max takes ownership and conveys confidence that he knows we need to do better and convinces me that he'll actually try. 

Goodwin tries to do this but blathers about learnings, but with him I have sympathy because he needs to remain trusted by the playing group and I feel like he is working extremely hard. 

Pert has clearly failed on many fronts:

• way too many leaks to the media  
• unable to control a narrative 
• fails to ensure adequate communication witht the playing group
• still no home base 

Roffey has been largely unseen and made it clear yesterday that at best she is an absent and vaguely interested leader who is available if someone needs her...PLEASE! 

Sadly, after a lot of hard work and an amazing outcome in 2021 we pretty much started sliding down hill abou 4 months later. Some unfortunate events have conspired against us but the slide has picked up enough speed to reach the bottom of the hill and burst into flames. 

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

19 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

What issues with the board, there is only two  Lawrence, which was held in a public court. The other we can't talk about but they bleat to the press not the Club

The doctor talked to the press not the Club.

Which players did we miss out on?

Rumours about Goodwin, correct rumours

The membership numbers are in the same ball park, according to you they have dropped, wrong.

 

They are not a powerful voice, it is the media, click baiters extroadinaire.

The media's treatment of us is but one of the biggest problems the club has failed to fix. In fact, I'd suggest whatever they have tried to do (outside of Max's efforts) has only made things worse. 

[pitmaster 3,552]

52 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Point 2 was only achieved after revaluing the Bentleigh club and Leighoak after holding (hiding) it on the books for a number of years without revaluation.  It was an accounting profit only, and only as a result of Joe Gutnick getting them for us 20 years ago. 

The Bentleigh Club was certainly Joe's doing but Leighoak I think was from the Ridley-Mann administration. I remember it was sort of a consolation prize after we tried to open a club in Fawkner but were refused permission by the gaming authority. Part of the problem was that we could not demonstrate how we would use the Fawkner site for club functions. It was a big setback at the time.

But Bentleigh, that's down to Joe and that's proved our big asset base.

[Satyriconhome 10,878]

10 hours ago, pitmaster said:

I say this meaning no disrespect, you have no clue.

Your opinion, which I respect, but I have the same opinion of a lot of posters on this topic also.

If Kane Cornes or Tom Morris pass wind, we have posters on here saying, "can you smell something"

[Dr. Gonzo 24,216]

10 hours ago, layzie said:

One thing I did not agree with in the Roffey interview was not considering an independent review.

I am leaning towards voting yes for this. 

I replied via email to say I supported an independent review but did not want to click a link in an unsolicited email. I got a response back saying they completely understood and would add my name to the "yes" vote.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,216]

20 minutes ago, Dee*ceiving said:

The club we love is a raging tire fire at the moment, and yes a lot of that has to do with media sensationalism but that in itself is a major failure of the club over the last 2-3 years. 

Our communication has and is diabolical. We gain zero control of any narratives. When our leaders speak only Max takes ownership and conveys confidence that he knows we need to do better and convinces me that he'll actually try. 

Goodwin tries to do this but blathers about learnings, but with him I have sympathy because he needs to remain trusted by the playing group and I feel like he is working extremely hard. 

Pert has clearly failed on many fronts:

• way too many leaks to the media  
• unable to control a narrative 
• fails to ensure adequate communication witht the playing group
• still no home base 

Roffey has been largely unseen and made it clear yesterday that at best she is an absent and vaguely interested leader who is available if someone needs her...PLEASE! 

Sadly, after a lot of hard work and an amazing outcome in 2021 we pretty much started sliding down hill abou 4 months later. Some unfortunate events have conspired against us but the slide has picked up enough speed to reach the bottom of the hill and burst into flames. 

I seriously can't believe we are back here again. It feels like the Schwab days all over again.

[Dante 2,739]

17 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Your opinion, which I respect, but I have the same opinion of a lot of posters on this topic also.

If Kane Cornes or Tom Morris pass wind, we have posters on here saying, "can you smell something"

That is probably the most puerile post I've read on here.

Can't you just accept that the board and in particular the President have dropped the ball on this issue?

I'm beginning to think you are blind to any problems that the club and in particular the President has.

We need a review of the club and Alan Jackson would be the ideal man to do it. For one thing we need to stop the process of the Board making it impossible for anyone other than their mates getting on to the Board.

I understand that Peter Lawrence won't be the man to break the cycle but he's the one who's shown us that we need it.

Edited August 30 by Dante

[BDA 22,755]

20 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

I have the experience, it is like drawing teeth, it is not completed in weeks or maybe months

in your experience, does it normally take 10 years?

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

43 minutes ago, Dante said:

That is probably the most puerile post I've read on here.

Can't you just accept that the board and in particular the President have dropped the ball on this issue?

I'm beginning to think you are blind to any problems that the club and in particular the President has.

We need a review of the club and Alan Jackson would be the ideal man to do it. For one thing we need to stop the process of the Board making it impossible for anyone other than their mates getting on to the Board.

I understand that Peter Lawrence won't be the man to break the cycle but he's the one who's shown us that we need it.

Not just this issue Dante, several (I am sad to say). The camel's back is broken, we can't look away any longer

[Ollie fan 3,408]

What a waste of space this thread is!

[layzie 33,805]

One thing I've learned about the many different administations we've had is that they're only as good as their last day in charge. No matter how good they seemed in the past, you can lose trust extremely quickly. 

Incredibly difficult to get back. 

 

Edited August 30 by layzie

[Grr-owl 1,220]

14 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

"Highly successful"? You're having a laugh. We were successful in 2021, since then it's been underachievement before finishing 5th last this year.

I'm rolling around on the floor. Top 4 finishes are a good thing, mate. 

[BangBnagBang 694]

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Point 2 was only achieved after revaluing the Bentleigh club and Leighoak after holding (hiding) it on the books for a number of years without revaluation.  It was an accounting profit only, and only as a result of Joe Gutnick getting them for us 20 years ago. 

Thanks for clearing that up Peter

[Grr-owl 1,220]

5 hours ago, Kent said:

Exactly Dr!!!!

Wake up, Kenty. Nearly every other club has finished below us recently. We're doing great.

[Kent 2,909]

41 minutes ago, Grr-owl said:

Wake up, Kenty. Nearly every other club has finished below us recently. We're doing great.

Yesterdays performance didn't last issues not addressed the whole year

Went out far to easily no wonder players looked disenchanted with issues not resolved

[Grr-owl 1,220]

16 minutes ago, Kent said:

Yesterdays performance didn't last issues not addressed the whole year

Went out far to easily no wonder players looked disenchanted with issues not resolved

A transitional year in a successful period. If we come together and show a bit of resilience, we'll be back... 

[Farmer 883]

On 28/08/2024 at 19:22, Satyriconhome said:

Sorry I thought it was a draw in the judgement and any successful litigant always pursues costs.

It was only “ a draw” after the Club acceded to many of PL’s claims, literally while the case was proceeding in court. Not, as the President suggests in her email , earlier after there had been a consultation with ( a few ) members .True, Lawrence lost on two remaining issues, but he achieved a hell of a lot

On 28/08/2024 at 20:37, Cranky Franky said:

Go Peter Lawrence 

 

[hardtack 10,537]

3 hours ago, Grr-owl said:

I'm rolling around on the floor. Top 4 finishes are a good thing, mate. 

Not if they’re wasted by going out in straight sets.

[Grr-owl 1,220]

4 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Not if they’re wasted by going out in straight sets.

Every year there are 17 losers. We have been consistently finished higher among the losers than most. Look n the bright side: our problems aren't as bad as most teams these past years..... 

[hardtack 10,537]

Just now, Grr-owl said:

Every year there are 17 losers. We have been consistently finished higher among the losers than most. Look n the bright side: our problems aren't as bad as most teams these past years..... 

The problem was that the finish to our 2023 season was the beginning of our woes… the media pundits were looking for something to get their teeth stuck into, and what better than a premiership team going out in straight sets, two years on the trot. Then almost immediately, they got to feast on the Joel Smith issue, Clarrie’s off off-season, Brayshaw’s forced retirement…and that was just for starters. 
 

I’m not sure that too many of the 17 other clubs had problems that outstripped those at our club.