Steven Smith back on MFC Board?

[Skuit 10,027]

48 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Another topic, another round of media-lity (invented word for my purpose; like trivia-lity), Fresh from 4 weeks of 'that' other topic, and before I jump in to thinking this article is true, complete and meaningful,

What are Big Footy's credentials?

What do 'has emerged', 'leading', 'candidate' and 'potential' mean?

What is the 'strong support' and who are 'AFL circles'?

Apart from being in adjacent paragraphs, what connects the claims about Smith with the observations about Roffey?

What do 'significant' and 'pressure' mean? From whom?

'Any changes to Melbourne’s board would occur before the end of the year at the annual general meeting.' Drama? Not.

'Melbourne was contacted for comment.' Implies they didn't. However...?

Accompanying out-of-context pic of Roffey looking worried. See invented word above.

 

This is why I don't feel comfortable telling people that I'm employed as a journalist. 

The below is not what anyone could rightly consider news.

"Steven Smith has emerged as a leading candidate to join the Demons’ board and potentially become their next president. Smith has strong support within AFL circles to nominate for a board position." 

There may be a wider story brewing and the article is just poorly written, but under the headline 'Board shake-up? Former Dees great emerges to fill seat', there is nothing to indicate that this is anything other than Jay Clark asking his colleagues - people within AFL circles - who they think would make a good MFC president. Someone suggests Steven Smith. Others agree. Okay, let's punch out 300 words. 

 

[BoBo 2,940]

6 minutes ago, deejammin' said:

I think it’s implying she’s under pressure from the same members of the media and ex board members who have been attacking her for the past 3 years.
Good boards don’t leak, we’re in way more trouble if this has come from our board. 

Yeah ok I see. It’s a very vague statement in that article which is strange. 

[BoBo 2,940]

5 minutes ago, Brownie said:

After one interview?

I get the feeling it's just more media drama white anting the club.

Yeah I thought that was odd too!
 

I think I’m going the other way on this (if we disagree on this, we disagree and that’s fine!), I’m wondering if this is a part of Traccs issues with the club beginning to be being addressed. 
 

Obvs I don’t know, but the timing is pretty interesting. A couple days after he returns, this move happens. 
 

🤷‍♂️ 

[Monbon 1,840]

46 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

 

Matthews got away with it as well. 

[titan_uranus 24,959]

@Demonland this thread title is misleading IMO. Should at least have a "?" at the end of it. Seems like a rumour at best, speculation at worst.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,016]

4 minutes ago, Skuit said:

This is why I don't feel comfortable telling people that I'm employed as a journalist. 

The below is not what anyone could rightly consider news.

"Steven Smith has emerged as a leading candidate to join the Demons’ board and potentially become their next president. Smith has strong support within AFL circles to nominate for a board position." 

There may be a wider story brewing and the article is just poorly written, but under the headline 'Board shake-up? Former Dees great emerges to fill seat', there is nothing to indicate that this is anything other than Jay Clark asking his colleagues - people within AFL circles - who they think would make a good MFC president. Someone suggests Steven Smith. Others agree. Okay, let's punch out 300 words. 

 

You should continue to be proud to be a journalist and proclaim it. At its best - indeed, at its normal - it is a valuable and honourable profession.

If you're 'in the football media', however, keep that under your hat, perhaps...

[John Crow Batty 8,852]

8 minutes ago, Monbon said:

Matthews got away with it as well. 

In those days behind the play hits were hard to catch unless an umpire, usually a goal umpire saw something. There were fewer TV cameras to cover the ground as well and they mostly followed the action. Matthew’s was like a shark lurking in dark waters. 

Edited September 1 by John Crow Batty

[layzie 33,714]

1 hour ago, BLWNBA said:

For what it’s worth, my understanding is that there were several ex-players approached for a potential board challenge, with their sights set on the presidency. 
 

We may find that Pert also moves on if there are sweeping changes, with another ex-player being sought to fill that role. 

Big Al come on down!

[Redlegged 81]

1 hour ago, Older demon said:

I have known Steven Smith since under 16 cricket and let me tell you he was a fearsome fast bowler being so tall at such a young age. A brilliant footballer at Ormond who started his then VFL career at a very young age but was in the early years continually troubled with hamstring problems.

A highly respected legal eagle and leader. You do not get to be MCC president unless you have some decent skills and I certainly haven't seen any drop in MCC standards under his watch.

He has the credentials to preside over a major sporting organisation.  He doesn't need to be an ex-footballer to be president. I want to see the board run by experts in finance, business management, legal expertise, government contacts and project management, communication and an appreciation of the vaguaries of being a member of the AFL. 

The board has to oversee AFL, VFL & AFLW teams hopefully through a canny CEO and well managed departments who run the football operations for each section

I have read a lot about about what people think Pert hasn't done. The board must be satisfied with his performance so far. He has increased revenue, significantly increased the number of sponsors and overseen a club that has missed the final once in the last 4 years.

If Kate is to step down I would expect a successor to be an existing board member groomed for the post as part of a succession plan. Board coups often fail, disrupt a club through a lack of cohesion or continuity and can lead to financial difficulty.

There isn't a lot wrong with our club but there is certainly room for improvement

You're taking a risk on this site poining out Pert's very real achievements.

[Little Goffy 14,381]

His credentials and connections would seem valid. Although, 'connections to The Corporation' is a mixed endorsement. Don't know more.

But right now any noise about this sort of thing just reeks of the long campaign of undermining which has been going on for, what, five years? Even before and during the premiership. Some of [those people] probably really resent the premiership as a setback to their plans to bring the club success and would be first in line to declare it a 'Covid Fluke'.

What an unfortunate state of affairs. No matter how good he personally might be, there's that feeling  to 'can you really trust a new spouse who you met when they convinced you to cheat on your old partner?'.

Anyway, I will reserve judgement. This could turn out to be anything from 'the underminer faction has found their proxy to upend the board and start placing their people in positions of influence all over the club' right through to 'a capable board member whom all parties respect has been put in position which will be a valuable part of building mutual trust and reconciliation within the club.

Or, indeed, yet another total beat-up by a media [censored] turning idle musings into dramatic conclusions.

[Redleg 40,767]

1 hour ago, Swooper Northey said:

As well as being a successful lawyer 

Whose admission to practice law, was moved in the Supreme Court, by yours truly.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,334]

2 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Interesting.  Smith has some strong alliances with the AFL leadership. 

Wouldn't surprise if the AFL want both the president and CEO removed from their roles. Perhaps it's more convenient to have them outside the tent when the text message stuff finally kicks off. CP5 isn't the only one with a brand to protect. 

[BLWNBA 919]

1 hour ago, BoBo said:

‘Current president Kate Roffey is under significant pressure after a heavily-criticised radio interview about Christian Petracca’s future on Thursday.’

 

Is this implying that she’s under significant pressure from board members?

It sounds like there’s been no shortage of pressure from the board and those around her; particularly since the events of last week. I will admit I found it surprising as the board is (was) seemingly ‘stacked’ in her favour. However, we may be at a point where Roffey is now seen as the sacrificial lamb by those around her. 

[DeeSpencer 25,330]

2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Good idea to have someone who knows a bit about how the football department works. I sometimes think the current Board has the wool pulled over their eyes by the Football Department.

Do we really think a guy who played in the 70’s and 80’s knows anything about modern football departments?

His playing experience gives him some insight over a regular board member but probably very little in the scheme of things. 

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,777]

Stephen Smith dated Karen West, a Playboy centrefold. 
Talented man!

[Wilson7 2,644]

Fantastic news

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,673]

4 hours ago, Monbon said:

Matthews got away with it as well. 

How quick were the trainers to get out to Smith, also how good were the Adidas jackets on the trainers. 

👏

[Demon_spurs 1,818]

I do believe he was also the first player to play a senior game from the little league

[Kent 2,904]

11 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Can't read the article but does this mean goodbye Kate ?

Kate gone Portz el presidenti

[Kent 2,904]

I didnt realise there was a vacancy  Better tell Lawrence!

Must have been an emergency board meeting over the week end

[Ollie fan 3,338]

10 hours ago, Demon17 said:

As an mcc member I think  he was very good chairman.

Provisional membership excellent idea commercially and helping provide earlier benefits to poor sods on the 200000 long waiting list.

Mcc standards are fine except drinking at the seats. 

Matthews round armed him at Princes Park. Smith was an excellent full back and Lethal couldn't get a kick on him that days. Reverted to type . Thug

I expect there was a fair bit of pressure to open up the club. MCC members have very important privileges at one of the greatest grounds in the world and I suspect the idea of it being closed to all but members of the Melbourne Club was losing popularity.

[Demon17 5,141]

48 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

I expect there was a fair bit of pressure to open up the club. MCC members have very important privileges at one of the greatest grounds in the world and I suspect the idea of it being closed to all but members of the Melbourne Club was losing popularity.

The Melbourne club crack is as old a cliche as Dees members skiing in Spetember. Although I do like skiing, I'm not a members of the Melbourne Club, subscribing anyway to Groucho Marx's theory.

The MCC does have crowd behaviour issues, don't get me wrong, esp on Dees vs the Pies matches when Pies members of any form storm the place.

It turns into a Zoo as I last year complained in writing to the Club about shameful behavior of Collingwood fans in Level 1, fuelled by alcohol and stupidity no doubt.

With the club being on Crown land, anyone should and can join.  The great John Cain's argument.

Just need the foresight and patience to sign up on the waiting list. 

 

[BoBo 2,940]

9 hours ago, BLWNBA said:

It sounds like there’s been no shortage of pressure from the board and those around her; particularly since the events of last week. I will admit I found it surprising as the board is (was) seemingly ‘stacked’ in her favour. However, we may be at a point where Roffey is now seen as the sacrificial lamb by those around her. 

Yeah interesting. That’s what the representation was about the board that I had heard, that it was behind Roffey. If it does eventuate and she resigns, I wonder what that means for an external review I.e. will we internally make changes to not have one as this will placate people’s desire for change. 
 

I guess we’ll see what happens!

[BLWNBA 919]

11 hours ago, BangBnagBang said:

Full Back??

A forward come backman, and another backman! Though I dare say they won’t be who you’re thinking of! 

[drysdale demon 4,814]

12 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Can't read the article but does this mean goodbye Kate ?

David Robb will retire from board leaving his spot vacant.