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

 

[ghostdog]

According to Barrett this morning, Scott's agreement to the coaching appointment was in part linked with an assurance that Thorburn would be CEO.

On this though, didn't Scott make some kind of remark to the effect of needing to fix the club's structure? ...or am I imagining that?

 

[faible]

Fair enough. There's a mountain of reasons to be walking away from EFC at the moment, if Christians are deciding that the club's values and direction are not for them it would certainly make sense, and be the perfect time to look elsewhere.

I would argue that from the Club's perspective I don't think they are being 'anti-Christian'. No-one is asking supports for their beliefs, no is saying people of all walks of live aren't welcome, all they've said is that the proposed CEO can't explain and reconcile the position of the group he holds a leadership position in, then he can't bold a leadership position at the club. If that's taken as 'EFC hates religion' I'm not sure there's much that can be done

Less so the clubs commentary - I also think asking Thorburn to pick one leadership is within the bounds of a fair conflict of interest - than the wider media and social commentary going on.

The Essendon board was less bad generally than the main-board, and I can only imagine the shit-show that was social media. There's also a hell of a lot of irony in the HUN going after Thorburn for this, yet being the biggest cheerleader of ScoMo / Perrotet / <insert anyone else who'd believe the same stuff as Thorburn would>.

 

[Saint]

Fair enough. There's a mountain of reasons to be walking away from EFC at the moment, if Christians are deciding that the club's values and direction are not for them it would certainly make sense, and be the perfect time to look elsewhere.

I would argue that from the Club's perspective I don't think they are being 'anti-Christian'. No-one is asking supports for their beliefs, no is saying people of all walks of live aren't welcome, all they've said is that the proposed CEO can't explain and reconcile the position of the group he holds a leadership position in, then he can't bold a leadership position at the club. If that's taken as 'EFC hates religion' I'm not sure there's much that can be done

There's a massive difference about being inclusive for members and players of diverse faiths (including the non-inclusive ones). That's very different to appointing somebody with an non-inclusive faith to a position of leadership.

There's certainly an argument to be made that Jesus has been against us for over a decade now.

 

[BrunoV]

I think I speak for everyone when I welcome the 'best candidate' when we appoint zher.

The worst part about the professional managers, that is the board and most executives, is that they think they are leaders. They're not leaders by definition, they're bureaucrats.

Leaders dont buckle to mobs throwing temper tantrums.

The irony of Thorburn, a member of the executive class that exploited identity politics cynically and helped to force it down our throats, being claimed by the snake that eats its own tail is not lost on me.

 

[Chambo]

This is quite a bizarre...On one had the guy should not have been let anywhere near the joint with what happened at NAB and his tenure there. There is a reason he has been dabbling in startups for the past 2-3 years. How he was hired on this alone blows my mind...

Then there is the Church on the Hill stuff, the guy won awards through his inclusive practices at work and his commitment to diversity and inclusion should/should've been judged by his actions...which they aren't.

So confusing...He should never have got the job, but then should never has lost it because of his religious beliefs. He championed the pride game through his involvement at NAB...But you can't be head of a church with those views and CEO of Essendon either. He also could have said more in his interview at SEN.

 

[mike14]

Less so the clubs commentary - I also think asking Thorburn to pick one leadership is within the bounds of a fair conflict of interest - than the wider media and social commentary going on.

The Essendon board was less bad generally than the main-board, and I can only imagine the s**t-show that was social media. There's also a hell of a lot of irony in the HUN going after Thorburn for this, yet being the biggest cheerleader of ScoMo / Perrotet / <insert anyone else who'd believe the same stuff as Thorburn would>.

I can only imagine the main-boards, as they love a good pile-on at the best of times. I wouldn't be seeking out the HUN for anything, let alone balanced and nuanced discussion.
Religion is unfortunately one of those ones that always gets the fires burning brightest. The disappointing thing is that it never even should have got to this point. Thorburn should have either not been in consideration due his time at NAB and/or Essendon being aware of the potential conflict with Church on a Hill, or they shouldn't have cared about that but had statements at the ready when they appointed him to explain it.

So we've screwed over Thorburn, screwed over the fanbase no matter what side of the argument you may be on, and once again shown the world that we're a 7th rate organization that should really just be taken out the back and put out of its misery

 

[Howard Moon]

so we lack leadership off field and on field, atleast we are now aligned like Scott wanted - and he thought it would be a long hard road to unity

 

[Vander18]

He could. Not sure he'd win.

Me neither. But that’d be the angle

 

[Blind Turn]

Our ability to shift Hawthorne’s one big saga from the front pages so that we get more coverage is absolute marketing genius. Relegating the meh clubs to the pages of insignificance as always.

 

[Lore]

On this though, didn't Scott make some kind of remark to the effect of needing to fix the club's structure? ...or am I imagining that?

I thought he said structure of the football department, but Thorburn said something about the alignment of the pillar (president, CEO, gm footy, senior coach) to organisational mission and vision being tightened up.

 

[Squeaky]

I can only imagine the main-boards, as they love a good pile-on at the best of times. I wouldn't be seeking out the HUN for anything, let alone balanced and nuanced discussion.
Religion is unfortunately one of those ones that always gets the fires burning brightest. The disappointing thing is that it never even should have got to this point. Thorburn should have either not been in consideration due his time at NAB and/or Essendon being aware of the potential conflict with Church on a Hill, or they shouldn't have cared about that but had statements at the ready when they appointed him to explain it.

So we've screwed over Thorburn, screwed over the fanbase no matter what side of the argument you may be on, and once again shown the world that we're a 7th rate organization that should really just be taken out the back and put out of its misery

Nailed it!

 

[Dave]

Hope he doesn't let the door hit him on the bum on the way out.

 

[Dave]

I know people will say 'good riddance' - but people of any belief or faith (obviously within reason, not the KKK) should be welcome at EFC.

Seems like the wheel is turning where it's all good, unless you're Christian, then it's not. Probably due to people like ScoMo or the US anti-abortionists forcing their views unto others, but it still feels all a little gross to me.

Plenty of EFC supports would be Catholic and feel pretty down after the commentary the last 24 hours.

Might also have something to do with the Church's involvement with child sex abuse and it's subsequent squirming to avoid responsibility. That feels more than a little gross to me.

 

[faible]

Might also have something to do with the Church's involvement with child sex abuse and it's subsequent squirming to avoid responsibility. That feels more than a little gross to me.

Doubtful given that's been going on for years and years without any particular public repercussions.

 

[Dave]

And this is my big issue with all this, it's the good riddance we don't need your type aspect of this whole situation.
It's not inclusivity, it's what we want at the expense of others.
Both sides are guilty of it, and the media commentary smacking the club for not doing due diligence on an aspect of someone's character that you are legally not allowed to use as a basis for employment is really shitty.

None of us would like it being done to us, why are we so happy it's happening to someone else even if we don't agree with his opinions (again we don't even know his individual opinions it's just by association).

It's not his opinions (the AB) but his actions in actively preaching them. And the whole sex abuse thing that I (and others have) alluded to.

 

[Dave]

Doubtful given that's been going on for years and years without any particular public repercussions.

I think the change in public attitude is the repercussion.

 

[Dave]

I wasn't really specifically trying to argue about Peter Comensoli FWIW. Just the general theme of commentary the last 24 hours has been pretty strong anti-Christian, and pretty gross at times in how it's come across.

I can fully understand those EFC supporters choosing to walk away for a while given they'd be feeling pretty unwelcome if they're Christian of any denomination, irrespective of whether City On A Hill represents their views or not.

I would say it's been pretty strong anti-bigot, but po-tay-to po-tah-to.

 

[Dave]

He championed the pride game through his involvement at NAB...But you can't be head of a church with those views and CEO of Essendon either.

He wasn't head of the church when he was at NAB. That's what most people have issue with.

 

[Dave]

//yaco

 

[faible]

I would say it's been pretty strong anti-bigot, but po-tay-to po-tah-to.

Given the commentary of some of the posters on here who are also Christian, seems like they're feeling like bigot and Christian are being heavily conflated as being one and the same, and they're not feeling particularly welcome at this time.

People can choose to ignore what they say or not, but that's how people appear to be feeling right now about how the discourse has been.

 

[faible]

I think the change in public attitude is the repercussion.

There was pretty much zero commentary that I saw about anything related to sexual abuse. Everything largely seems to be about abortion and LGBTQIA+ in this case.

 

[windyhill]

You embarrassing ****s. All of you.

 

[DeanoT]

Buy a Geelong membership and bask in boring stability and consistent performance?

It does get a tad dreary from time to time. However, my wife is a mad Dons supporter - good times in our household the last few weeks. For me, anyway.

 

[Dave]

There was pretty much zero commentary that I saw about anything related to sexual abuse. Everything largely seems to be about abortion and LGBTQIA+ in this case.

Yeah, but bear with me ok. It's the historical sex abuse that opened people's eyes to how corrupt churchs are, which make them less inclined now to accept other behaviour that they may otherwise have accepted.

 

[Dave]

Given the commentary of some of the posters on here who are also Christian, seems like they're feeling like bigot and Christian are being heavily conflated as being one and the same, and they're not feeling particularly welcome at this time.

People can choose to ignore what they say or not, but that's how people appear to be feeling right now about how the discourse has been.

I can understand that, though I think most have been pretty clear that it's certain views that are abhorrent, not Christians themselves.


Food for thought: Maybe they know what LBGTQI+? people feel like for being LBGTQI+?. Though being Christian is more a choice than LBGTQI+?