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

    Pos.

    Def

    Career

    Season

    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

    HB

    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

  Wt

  98kg

  Pos.

  Def

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  13.4

  3star

  K

  6.3

  2star

  HB

  7.0

  4star

  M

  5.3

  5star

  T

  1.3

  3star

  No current season stats available

  D

  10.6

  3star

  K

  6.2

  3star

  HB

  4.4

  4star

  M

  3.6

  4star

  T

  1.0

  3star

  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

    HB

    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

    HB

    11.5

    5star

    M

    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

 

[Lore]

It just annoys me in first instance that they feel they should have a say and be heard

And of course part of the process could well be asking what the players in spain want as coach

They're just expressing an opinion. Why would you have more right to an opinion than they do?

If they were demanding to sit in on interviews with prospective coaches or CEOs that's a different thing, but that's not what has been reported.


The club surveyed the players before they left as part of their exit interviews, so nothing is left to fester. They now need to trust the process (cobblers cobble), and should now be focused on what they need to be doing so they can play their role in taking the club forward.

For the players, their goal setting for next season all revolves around setting fitness PBs when they get back for pre-season.

 

[Keystone agony]

They're just expressing an opinion. Why would you have more right to an opinion than they do?

If they were demanding to sit in on interviews with prospective coaches or CEOs that's a different thing, but that's not what has been reported.


The club surveyed the players before they left as part of their exit interviews, so nothing is left to fester. They now need to trust the process (cobblers cobble), and should now be focused on what they need to be doing so they can play their role in taking the club forward.

For the players, their goal setting for next season all revolves around setting fitness PBs when they get back for pre-season.

Has nothing to do with me and my opinion

Not saying i necessarily do or dont

Just i wouldnt expect anyone important to listen to mine

 

[SydneyBomber]

they need to hire the ghost of Yabbie Jeans or John Kennedy Sr. if they need "discipline"

Tommy raudonikis / Roy masters.
Imagine heppell warming up like this, would be like getting slapped with a lettuce leaf

 

[BrunoV]

So much reactive thought.

For a start what is the angle requiring caution with undisciplined players wanting guidance from a disciplinarian mentor?

They're somehow going to fool Lyon? Good luck with that.

I find it surprising that people so regularly fail to apply the lessons from their own lives and experiences when considering football clubs and players.

In my experience, the inexperienced / underperforming want a lot of guidance and usually need it. I sure as hell wanted it and would have killed for more at a number of different points. I worry a lot about how juniors are going to learn now that offices are as good as empty.

This is not the first time the players have asked for firm guidance and mentoring. They all know deep down what the problem is because it is so obvious. It's something they would have talked around probably every week, maybe even every session, for the last 2 years.

 

[Nifft]

So much reactive thought.

For a start what is the angle requiring caution with undisciplined players wanting guidance from a disciplinarian mentor?

They're somehow going to fool Lyon? Good luck with that.

I find it surprising that people so regularly fail to apply the lessons from their own lives and experiences when considering football clubs and players.

In my experience, the inexperienced / underperforming want a lot of guidance and usually need it. I sure as hell wanted it and would have killed for more at a number of different points. I worry a lot about how juniors are going to learn now that offices are as good as empty.

This is not the first time the players have asked for firm guidance and mentoring. They all know deep down what the problem is because it is so obvious. It's something they would have talked around probably every week, maybe even every session, for the last 2 years.

It's also possible that there is a group of senior players that would like a hard taskmaster as coach to force the lazy players to start playing for the team. Shiel for example strikes me as someone that would want others around him to put in as much as he does, and I could see Merrett being the same.

 

[Lore]

https://twitter.com/barhamdave

Is this the first time we’ve had a club president with a social media profile?

 

[tandino]

Just on board chat, wasn't aware that Ray Horsburgh died a few weeks ago.

Will always remember the vision of him walking down Napier Street holding his files the evening Sheedy got sacked.

 

[yodellinhank]

It's also possible that there is a group of senior players that would like a hard taskmaster as coach to force the lazy players to start playing for the team. Shiel for example strikes me as someone that would want others around him to put in as much as he does, and I could see Merrett being the same.

The one player who was dropped for not playing for the team?

 

[Albertross]

The one player who was dropped for not playing for the team?

Tbf, there should have been others.

 

[Nifft]

The one player who was dropped for not playing for the team?

I can't get inside Shiel's head to know exactly why he wasn't giving 100% at times, but there were a lot of other players that were just as bad or worse and Shiel responded well after being dropped.

Have you ever been involved in a group task where some of the others are half arsing it? It's frustrating and means you have to work twice as hard to get the task done because some are being lazy or ducking around. That would cause angst in the group if it was happening week in week out, so I could see why some players could want to see their teammates being forced to be more accountable.

 

[84859300]

It's also possible that there is a group of senior players that would like a hard taskmaster as coach to force the lazy players to start playing for the team. Shiel for example strikes me as someone that would want others around him to put in as much as he does, and I could see Merrett being the same.

I'm a bit worried with 'senior players' requesting a coach - as they already have blood on their hands the way they treated Truck with distain and not following his instruction. Not responding to him on the bench. Not giving a damn.

Let them sit out the process like the rest of us, as we investigate the best out there. After interviews, Lyon might be found out to be not the cure all people were expecting with another option being best suited.

The players inaction with the last coach should be the last say they have in any of the matter.

 

[84859300]

Just on board chat, wasn't aware that Ray Horsburgh died a few weeks ago.

Will always remember the vision of him walking down Napier Street holding his files the evening Sheedy got sacked.

I'm more of a fan of remembering when his wife called up talk back radio to plead for Essendon people to take it easy on her husband.

 

[Kong]

Yeah it's a bit puzzling that the source of much of our angst, the senior playing corp, are the ones that now appear to want some tough love. I guess the penny has dropped?

The lazy pricks said the same thing after Worsfold - that they wanted clear direction from Rutten.

12 months later they’d stopped defending, so you’ll excuse me if I ask them to have absolutely no say in who the next coach is.

 

[faible]

The lazy pricks said the same thing after Worsfold - that they wanted clear direction from Rutten.

12 months later they’d stopped defending, so you’ll excuse me if I ask them to have absolutely no say in who the next coach is.

I assume 'playing group' isn't a homogenous lifeform. It likely means 'some within the playing group' want a coach who'll drive standards and discipline. I can imagine that being a guy like Merrett, not a guy like Parish.

 

[faible]

Why the players feel they should have any input is beyond me

I dunno, when you've replaced multiple coaches it seems relevant to ask players for their feedback on what was good or bad, clear or unclear. This is a high performance environment, not a call centre.

Why are we the only side where players feel they should be picking the coach

We're not.

Leave the job to those with the experience in the role and that have been picked for the job based on their experience. Ie cobblers cobble.

When you go to the cobbler you tell him what you want done to your shoes, you just don't tell him how to do it.

The issue now is, you pick the coach based on what the players want. Who dont have the experience or knowledge and bypasses the 'process'

No, you pick a coach based on an array of factors and inputs. One element of which is playing group feedback of previous coaches.

Or you do the process thus not taking into account what the players want and they sook it up because they didnt get what they wanted

This isn't an either/or thing. You take all relevant inputs in to consideration; players, assistant coaches, football GMs.

 

[BomberManU]

Sounds more like players were being asked for their input - can't see a problem with that. This seems to be morphing into 'the players demand...etc, etc', which doesn't appear to be the case.
The so called 'process' looks sound, not sure what the problem is. We should be happy that they're even attempting to do things the right way (finally!)

 

[Chucks]

I'm a bit worried with 'senior players' requesting a coach - as they already have blood on their hands the way they treated Truck with distain and not following his instruction. Not responding to him on the bench. Not giving a damn.

Let them sit out the process like the rest of us, as we investigate the best out there. After interviews, Lyon might be found out to be not the cure all people were expecting with another option being best suited.

The players inaction with the last coach should be the last say they have in any of the matter.

Yep - let the players play, the coaches coach, the administrators administrate!

Not to mention a few players from memory were vocal in their desire for Worsfold, or at least hinted at it (from memory Goddard did off the top of my head).

I must say the whole Ross/Dons agenda that the media have driven in the last week is becoming an eye roller. He's really been handpicked as that 'new shiny toy' from an outside perspective...

In the event that Lyon is actually interested (which doesn't sound a sure thing at all), we just need to hope we stick fat and actually go through a proper process, instead of the umpteenth knee jerk reaction.

 

[Bombermania]

The journalist might have asked a player if they liked the idea of Ross Lyon becoming Essendon coach, which the player said yep, then the journalist reported it as the players want Ross Lyon.

 

[Howard Moon]

I assume 'playing group' isn't a homogenous lifeform. It likely means 'some within the playing group' want a coach who'll drive standards and discipline. I can imagine that being a guy like Merrett, not a guy like Parish.

it might be like the oft used "football world"

the football world reacts to...

 

[Lore]

I don't remember which thread it was that we were talking about fan engagement and the club not being particularly strong in that area...

Well I just went down a Twitter rabbit hole, Fermanagh is Jo Doonan's Gaelic footy club when she's not playing AFLW, and they shared this:



Would actually be really good to have a little booklet with all the players faces and bios like this, especially if they want to collect signatures. Get a new book every year, make more opportunities for kids to meet the players and try to collect all the autographs...

 

[84859300]

I don't remember which thread it was that we were talking about fan engagement and the club not being particularly strong in that area...

Well I just went down a Twitter rabbit hole, Fermanagh is Jo Doonan's Gaelic footy club when she's not playing AFLW, and they shared this:



Would actually be really good to have a little booklet with all the players faces and bios like this, especially if they want to collect signatures. Get a new book every year, make more opportunities for kids to meet the players and try to collect all the autographs...

As Draper signs his 51st signature Milpool...

 

[tandino]

I'm more of a fan of remembering when his wife called up talk back radio to plead for Essendon people to take it easy on her husband.

Good times.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

No idea what the fuss is with thr Ibiza trip. I'm glad the lads get along so well. They're a team, when you're friends you want to fight for each other. You often see 4-5 lads going to America or Europe together. There's not much evidence of exclusion going on.

 

[Lore]

No idea what the fuss is with thr Ibiza trip. I'm glad the lads get along so well. They're a team, when you're friends you want to fight for each other. You often see 4-5 lads going to America or Europe together. There's not much evidence of exclusion going on.

If you didn’t listen to Kane Cornes you’d never even know they were going on a trip together. I’ve hardly heard a thing about it except in this thread… and I consume a lot of footy media.

It seems that no reputable media outlet actually finds it newsworthy, and that’s saying something given how much mileage they make out of Essendon on an average day.

 

[Doss]

No idea what the fuss is with thr Ibiza trip. I'm glad the lads get along so well. They're a team, when you're friends you want to fight for each other. You often see 4-5 lads going to America or Europe together. There's not much evidence of exclusion going on.

Kane Cornes lives to create the cheap likes and outrage lines. It’s his sole point as a person in the media.