Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Dave Barham

[Lore]

Spoiler: Timeline of events

• 15/8: President, Paul Brasher resigns, replaced by Dave Barham who foreshadows external review
  • Votes for Brasher: Peter Allen, Simon Madden, Sean Wellman
    Sean Wellman

    Age

    50

    Ht

    193cm

    Wt

    90kg

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    Def

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    Last 5

    D

    14.1

    4star

    K

    9.7

    4star

    HB

    4.5

    3star

    M

    4.5

    4star

    T

    1.0

    3star

    No current season stats available

    D

    8.0

    2star

    K

    4.4

    2star

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    3.6

    3star

    M

    2.6

    3star

    T

    0.8

    3star

  • Votes for Barham: Andrew Muir, Dorothy Hisgrove, Melissa Green, Kate O’Sullivan, Kevin Sheedy
• 21/8: Senior Coach, Ben Rutten
  Ben Rutten

  Age

  41

  Ht

  190cm

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  98kg

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  Def

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  Last 5

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  13.4

  3star

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  6.3

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  7.0

  4star

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  5.3

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  1.3

  3star

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  D

  10.6

  3star

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  6.2

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  4.4

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  3.6

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  1.0

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  sacked
• 24/8: CEO, Xavier Campbell resigns
• 24/8: Directors to resign
  • Paul Brasher, immediately
  • Simon Madden, immediately
  • Sean Wellman, after new football director is appointed
  • Peter Allen, after AGM & finance portfolio handover in December
• 26/8: Details of coaching selection committee appointment
  • Sub-committee of 6: Josh Mahoney
    Josh Mahoney

    Age

    47

    Ht

    180cm

    Wt

    83kg

    Pos.

    Fwd

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    11.3

    3star

    K

    6.8

    3star

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    4.5

    3star

    M

    3.5

    4star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.9

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    9.2

    3star

    K

    5.4

    2star

    HB

    3.8

    3star

    M

    2.2

    3star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.4

    3star

    (Chair, GM-Footy), Robert Walls, Jordan Lewis
    Jordan Lewis

    Age

    38

    Ht

    186cm

    Wt

    86kg

    Pos.

    D/M

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    23.5

    5star

    K

    12.1

    4star

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    11.5

    5star

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    5.5

    5star

    T

    2.7

    4star

    MG

    310.5

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    15.0

    4star

    K

    6.8

    3star

    HB

    8.2

    5star

    M

    4.8

    5star

    T

    2.8

    5star

    , Simone McKinnis OAM, Andrew Thorburn and Dorothy Hisgrove (board member).
• 26/8: Details of external review process
  • Ernst & Young to coordinate with support from Andrew Thorburn, working closely with Nick Ryan (Acting CEO) & Dorothy Hisgrove (board member)
  • Focusing on four areas: (1) Board effectiveness & composition, (2) a review of leadership, operations and culture including the footy department, (3) the senior coach appointment and (4) the new CEO appointment.
• 26/9: Andrew Welsh appointed to the board of directors, replacing Simon Madden
• 29/9: Brad Scott appointed as Senior Coach
• 30/9: Kevin Sheedy claims decision to appoint Brad Scott was 6-1 against him
• 3/10: Andrew Thorburn appointed as CEO - alternative link
• 3/10: “External review to be handed to the board next week”: Andrew Thorburn, Crichton Medal Address
• 4/10: Andrew Thorburn resigns as CEO
• 11/10: External review preliminary findings
• 24/10: External review preliminary findings II
• 2/11: Dan McPherson appointed as General Manager of Performance & Cam Roberts as Head of Development
• 11/11: Dean Rioli appointed to the board of directors, replacing Paul Brasher
• 14/11: Tim Roberts & David Wills appointed to the board of directors, replacing Sean Wellman and Paul Allen respectively
• 28/11: Dorothy Hisgrove announced as first female vice-president (at the Essendon Women's Best and Fairest night)
• 1/12: Craig Vozzo appointed as CEO
• 13/12: Board director election results: Andrew Welsh and Andrew Muir elected
• 15/5: The club's First Nations Advisory Council established, to be led by Dean Rioli (chair, Indigenous board member), and including: Leanne Brooke (EFC EGM – Community & The Long Walk. Essendon FC), Dorothy Hisgrove (EFC VP and National Manager Partner KPMG), Kane Ellis (CEO of Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service), John Evans (Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement at Swinburne) and Che Cockatoo-Collins (EM, Indigenous Affairs NBN, EFC Past Player)
• 16/5: Board of Directors declare support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament, after consultation with the new First Nations Advisory Council
• 28/8: EGM - Football, Josh Mahoney has accepted a role as GM Football Operations at the AFL
• 10/10: GM - Performance Daniel McPherson, and Head of AFLW/AFL Operations Manager Aysha Ward have been elevated to the club executive as joint leaders of the club's football department, as GM-AFL and GM-AFLW respectively

 

[Phone]

lol at barham and sheedy not showing up in the dressing room

sheedy might not have been at the game but whats barham's excuse

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Five ****heads on the board make a ****wit move and the rest of the club and us supporters have to put up with the bs fallout including being an absolute laughing stock. Barham and Sheedy out

 

[JayJ20]

lol at barham and sheedy not showing up in the dressing room

sheedy might not have been at the game but whats barham's excuse

It’s what poor leaders with little empathy do. Get Barham out before he destroys the club even further.

 

[CBombers17]

So

what plan do you implement for a bunch of front running flat track bullies with very little physical presence and no leadership. ?
Please do tell us.

That's it in a nutshell. He was doomed from the start. Didn't have the cattle to deliver the plan and was always going to struggle in the interim. Needed everything to go his way this year to get through. All with a rancid infighting club culture playing out in the background - a further distraction for players.

Its unlikely but I reckon he should be able to coach his final year. Do the review and fix what needs fixing. Set reasonable goals and demand a better start to the season or he's under the pump. It's possible the supporters would get behind this too now after what's taken place.

 

[Duckworth]

Barham strikes me as an empty suit that's taken the top job at the behest of rich nuffies that think their contributions to the club entitle them to a say in how it's managed.

At that point we may as well let BigFooty run it. But only take game day thread suggestions.

 

[JayJ20]

We wouldn't even be having this conversation if Rutten was a past Essendon player. Hird in his second year was given a pass for missing finals from 10-3 and 138% after round 14. Literally lost 8 of the last 9 games with losing margins of 71, 67, 96, 94 included in that stretch. Can you imagine if Rutten did that?

I'm just sick of how this football club operates. Knights got zero support and Hird gets probably one of the most expensive coaching teams ever assembled. Rutten gets disrespected for no good reason.

I'd be ok with specifically making sure we don't employ Essendon people until the club stabilises.

 

[Eleven 38]

The footy club needs to be on the same page from the board down. All our issues 100% start with the board.

Even if Barham resigns, who's moving in? We need to have one of those board takeovers where someone else has a ticket and offers us a plan and something to vote for.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

The footy club needs to be on the same page from the board down. All our issues 100% start with the board.

Even if Barham resigns, who's moving in? We need to have one of those board takeovers where someone else has a ticket and offers us a plan and something to vote for.

Honestly the board just needs to shut the **** up and let the football department do it's job without interference. The club was in much better shape until one week ago where we manufactured a crisis and now we're scrambling to fix one almighty mess we've made.

 

[DonsRule]

You're kidding yourself if you think we could fall into the finals playing any other game plan. I'm not phased by losing, it's about how you lose. I would mind if we lost every game of the year if we were competitive and had a structure that was scalable. Rutten has had 3 years to build a structure...he's failed

While there are question marks rightly in truck, we have had Knights, Hird, Bomber, Worsfold now Rutten that have failed in getting a defensive game plan capable of running deep into finals. He may be a problem but the issues run far deeper

 

[TheGrizz]

The problem with a 10 person board is that building a ticket that big is difficult.

I would love nothing more than (and I mean genuinely) for them to make the hard call tomorrow and keep Rutten, do an external review and cut out dead wood (players who don't 'buy in', Dodoro, Campbell, Sheedy etc).

However I don't see it happening, mostly that would mean both the two factions on the board would have to admit they got it wrong. The Barnham side would have to admit undermining Truck was silly with no genuine chance at Clarkson, and the Brasher side would have to admit backing Campbell and Dodoro was a mistake.

However there is too much ego involved for that.

 

[Burzum]

The problem with a 10 person board is that building a ticket that big is difficult.

I had never really paid attention to board matters but Eddie McGuire made a comment the other night on Footy Classified that Essendon is renowned for having a large board. This allows for factions to grow and there not to be a total buy-in for the direction of the footy club. It would be great if something like that was looked at in the future, but I can't see why that would happen.

 

[Lore]

The problem with a 10 person board is that building a ticket that big is difficult.

I would love nothing more than (and I mean genuinely) for them to make the hard call tomorrow and keep Rutten, do an external review and cut out dead wood (players who don't 'buy in', Dodoro, Campbell, Sheedy etc).

However I don't see it happening, mostly that would mean both the two factions on the board would have to admit they got it wrong. The Barnham side would have to admit undermining Truck was silly with no genuine chance at Clarkson, and the Brasher side would have to admit backing Campbell and Dodoro was a mistake.

However there is too much ego involved for that.

The only way this works (and I want it too as well) is if the whole lot of them get behind the external review and agree to action all recommendations whether they’re mates with the bloke in the gun or not

 

[Lore]

I had never really paid attention to board matters but Eddie McGuire made a comment the other night on Footy Classified that Essendon is renowned for having a large board. This allows for factions to grow and there not to be a total buy-in for the direction of the footy club. It would be great if something like that was looked at in the future, but I can't see why that would happen.

That’s true but it’s also customary for the board to present a united front.

Like even if you go back and read the thing from Brasher and Barham after the coup on Monday, the quotes from both of them sort of puff each other up with all the pleasantries.

It’s why the weird shit with Sheedy and the Clarko Norf to Tassie thing is so bizarre

 

[Albertross]

We clearly have players that are in support of Truck. Are we in danger of having players requesting a trade due to the events over the last week?

Zach made mention of it on his regular TV gig this week, he waited to sign a new contract until he knew what direction the club was taking. McGrath is another who waited, clearly if either were not happy with the club's vision for the future, they would have been gone and been rewarded with lucrative offers at more successful clubs than us.

If Truck is sacked, I would not be surprised to see some senior players requesting a trade, Zach potentially being one of them.

 

[TheGrizz]

The only way this works (and I want it too as well) is if the whole lot of them get behind the external review and agree to action all recommendations whether they’re mates with the bloke in the gun or not

Unfortunately I feel this has a snowflakes chance in hell of happening.

 

[Lore]

Unfortunately I feel this has a snowflakes chance in hell of happening.

I think the terms of reference are going to limit the review to the administration, and if it’s conducted by PWC then mostly I guess it’s looking at the finances, staff turnover and cultural issues more than the NFP side of things. So yeah.

 

[ghostdog]

I think the terms of reference are going to limit the review to the administration, and if it’s conducted by PWC then mostly I guess it’s looking at the finances, staff turnover and cultural issues more than the NFP side of things. So yeah.

Is it unrealistic for the members to expect the terms of reference to be released?

 

[TheGrizz]

I think the terms of reference are going to limit the review to the administration, and if it’s conducted by PWC then mostly I guess it’s looking at the finances, staff turnover and cultural issues more than the NFP side of things. So yeah.

I think from his press conference he said it was the whole club, he mentioned one of the big 4 consulting firms and some footy people and Dorothy Hisgrove.

I doubt you would have just an admin review if you were including 'footy people'

 

[Call Me Cake]

I think we're collectively stuck between wanting people that are bold enough to drive real change and accountability - while also not being reactionary, miscalculated or grubby in doing so.

A part of us likes that a push for an external review is happening and that bad habits/signs are being called out - but another part of us dislikes the uncomfortability it has caused us to feel from a sociable/empathetic aspect, and the feeling of falling forward into an unknown future holding great risk it has caused within us.

It's a fine line.

 

[Bombermania]

I had never really paid attention to board matters but Eddie McGuire made a comment the other night on Footy Classified that Essendon is renowned for having a large board. This allows for factions to grow and there not to be a total buy-in for the direction of the footy club. It would be great if something like that was looked at in the future, but I can't see why that would happen.

Not only the largest board, but also possibly the most coterie and supporter groups.

 

[Lore]

Is it unrealistic for the members to expect the terms of reference to be released?

When it is fully announced it should have the terms of reference. But with this club who really knows

 

[Zach Package]

Industry groundswell for Rutten is palpable and there are very pointed (and justified) criticisms coming for the board and the exec. Trust levels in the club are probably lower right now than mid saga.

It doesn’t fix any of the backroom stuff but I think backing Rutten in no uncertain terms tomorrow at least until a full external review is complete will go some way to restoring a level of trust and credibility after what they have done.

I don’t see how we possibly attract or retain players, appeal to draftees or even attract the best coaching and footy ops applicants without doing this. Leon Cameron

Leon Cameron

Age

52

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.7

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

20.8

5star

K

14.4

5star

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6.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

this evening said there is no way he would consider applying on the basis of what happened this week. We’ve just demonstrated in the worst way that we don’t give two shits about our people.

Add to this there’s footage going around of Truck in the rooms looking close to tears hugging I’d presume family and Madden is swanning around 2-3 metres away from him with a big, dumb grin on his face not acknowledging him at all. Get him the **** out of the joint.

 

[andleanback]

We wouldn't even be having this conversation if Rutten was a past Essendon player. Hird in his second year was given a pass for missing finals from 10-3 and 138% after round 14. Literally lost 8 of the last 9 games with losing margins of 71, 67, 96, 94 included in that stretch. Can you imagine if Rutten did that?

I'm just sick of how this football club operates. Knights got zero support and Hird gets probably one of the most expensive coaching teams ever assembled. Rutten gets disrespected for no good reason.

I'd be ok with specifically making sure we don't employ Essendon people until the club stabilises.

Don’t you remember every single player was popping hamstrings in the 2nd half of 2012. Thanks weapon

 

[windyhill]

Who is Vice President ? Can he speak in front of the camera ? Because poor old Barham has shown it’s not his strong point. That presser was ****ed up and did not fill me with confidence. But then again, he did make more sense than “ the back pocket plumberS” inane ramblings.

 

[windyhill]

Call me sexist, whatever. Sonia Hood, class. Peggy O’neal, class. The bulldogs old girl, she’s a ripper . Melbournes prez, you’d have a beer with her, she carries on like me. We need a female in charge, so obvious it hurts.
Lore I’m looking at you