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]

I know we are all on about what if Weston gets on, who (on the current board) is openly supporting him? Could they be removed if the support doesn't get up or is it member driven hence is difficult to remove people?

The theory seems to be that if Weston gets on the board it will tip the balance of power in favour of Andrew Welsh as president, instead of VP as he is now.

Apparently Welsh as president is scary because he played football with Hird and under Sheedy once upon a time and therefore that means he’ll destroy everything he’s been helping to build since he got on the board in the first place.

Welsh is on the record as disapproving of Sheedy breaking board unity, supportive of Hird as a future coach if he goes and gets experience as an assistant coach somewhere else, promoting stability with the current board, advocating strong club governance and wanting to implement the recommendations of the club-wide review, and is particularly in favour of a thorough process in appointing coaches specifically: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...w-welsh-up-for-challenge-20221013-p5bphy.html

The fact that Welsh is a likely successor as President in 2 years anyway seems to have escaped notice. Barham is planning to handover to Welsh (or whoever the board supports, but he seems to think it’ll be Welsh) before retiring as a director; Barham will hit his maximum 12 year term as a director in 2027 anyway and wants to complete the handover before that.

Solomon is a friend of Welsh and would likely support him in whatever he was willing to do, but I don’t think Welsh wants to be president just yet anyway. There’s no reason to jump the gun on that.

Weston may be bad news, but he doesn’t have the support and cannot single-handedly destroy everything.

 

[Yoda_]

The theory seems to be that if Weston gets on the board it will tip the balance of power in favour of Andrew Welsh as president, instead of VP as he is now.

Apparently Welsh as president is scary because he played football with Hird and under Sheedy once upon a time and therefore that means he’ll destroy everything he’s been helping to build since he got on the board in the first place.

Welsh is on the record as disapproving of Sheedy breaking board unity, supportive of Hird as a future coach if he goes and gets experience as an assistant coach somewhere else, promoting stability with the current board, advocating strong club governance and wanting to implement the recommendations of the club-wide review, and is particularly in favour of a thorough process in appointing coaches specifically: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...w-welsh-up-for-challenge-20221013-p5bphy.html

The fact that Welsh is a likely successor as President in 2 years anyway seems to have escaped notice. Barham is planning to handover to Welsh (or whoever the board supports, but he seems to think it’ll be Welsh) before retiring as a director; Barham will hit his maximum 12 year term as a director in 2027 anyway and wants to complete the handover before that.

Solomon is a friend of Welsh and would likely support him in whatever he was willing to do, but I don’t think Welsh wants to be president just yet anyway. There’s no reason to jump the gun on that.

Weston may be bad news, but he doesn’t have the support and cannot single-handedly destroy everything.

so people are jumping at shadows about possibilities than assurances?

 

[Old Campaigner]

so people are jumping at shadows about possibilities than assurances?

PTSD from the last 20 years will do that

 

[zigipop]

Weston may be bad news, but he doesn’t have the support and cannot single-handedly destroy everything.

I find the statement “he cannot single handedly destroy everything” a curious one. Can you specify exactly what it is that EFC has that hasn’t already been destroyed in the last 20 years?

 

[faible]

I find the statement “he cannot single handedly destroy everything” a curious one. Can you specify exactly what it is that EFC has that hasn’t already been destroyed in the last 20 years?

Windy Hill hasn't been demolished (yet).

 

[Squeaky]

The lock on the trophy cabinet hasn't been destroyed in the last 20 yrs - it is in 'as new' condition!

 

[windyhill]

Windy Hill hasn't been demolished (yet).

I’m still standing, yeah, yeah. yeah.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

why the actual upheaval?


iven to followed deeply all the good and bad Barham (& Co.) have done since his appointment but it feels like the club is finally going in a reasonable direction and then this

As for Paul Weston himself, where has he been for however long he's considered doing this? sounds suss to me

He’s a Sheedy puppet. Simple.

 

[ant555]

so people are jumping at shadows about possibilities than assurances?

Not really. It is a 100% ploy to try and remove Barham by voting him out. What happens next depends on 2025. Are you saying that with Barham gone and two new board members in the Hird camp that if we do not play finals Scott will still be safe ? The pressure will be enormous to get Hird in as coach after he spends a year at Port Melbourne working on fine tuning his skillset. It is not jumping at shadows. If Barham does not get back in it is a real possibility. Of course if Barham gets the votes then it is done and dusted before it began.
I have a few sources telling me it is 100% what their plan is. Problem for them will be I suspect Barham will keep his spot and it will be line ball between Solly and Verner Green. Solly will support the current board but you can almost guarantee that he would be in a Welsh / Weston camp with Sheedy behind the scenes with Barham out of the way.
There is still plenty of coterie support for Hird as coach.

 

[Donflicted]

Not really. It is a 100% ploy to try and remove Barham by voting him out. What happens next depends on 2025. Are you saying that with Barham gone and two new board members in the Hird camp that if we do not play finals Scott will still be safe ? The pressure will be enormous to get Hird in as coach after he spends a year at Port Melbourne working on fine tuning his skillset. It is not jumping at shadows. If Barham does not get back in it is a real possibility. Of course if Barham gets the votes then it is done and dusted before it began.
I have a few sources telling me it is 100% what their plan is. Problem for them will be I suspect Barham will keep his spot and it will be line ball between Solly and Verner Green. Solly will support the current board but you can almost guarantee that he would be in a Welsh / Weston camp with Sheedy behind the scenes with Barham out of the way.
There is still plenty of coterie support for Hird as coach.

When will it end so over this addiction to this fairy tale ending that Hird will be the GOAT coach that this old regime and these out of touch coteries think.

 

[ant555]

When will it end so over this addiction to this fairy tale ending that Hird will be the GOAT coach that this old regime and these out of touch coteries think.

It will never end for some but as long as Barham gets back and Vozzo is still around Hird will not be a factor unless he does 3 or 4 years hard yards as a senior assistant at an AFL club that has success. From what I hear Vozzo is not rusted on Scott but he wants him to keep building the footy department and program . Even if we have some struggles next year Scott will be safe to coach the fourth year (unless it is a total shit fight like 2020). The key going forward for Scott will be some decent improvement in 2026 and the pressure will be on Rosa to land a couple of top class Free Agents leading into that year. The plan is to draft again next year with maybe a trade option or two or a FA but they want to be set up to really push forward in 2026. Not saying they will not be trying to do that next year but the top end in charge know that next year may not be realistic with the current list. This years fade out really gave them a real dose of clarity on where we are at and how out of touch some of the movers and shakers behind the scenes are when it comes to the list.
I think it is fair to say after backing in the senior guys for most of the season last year even Scott will be looking at it differently next year if the inside talk I hear is right. Guess we will see. 2025 is looking to be among other things a real line in the sand moment for a number of players and the coach.

 

[windyhill]

When will it end so over this addiction to this fairy tale ending that Hird will be the GOAT coach that this old regime and these out of touch coteries think.

Yep. It’s ****ing pathetic.

 

[Old Campaigner]

When will it end so over this addiction to this fairy tale ending that Hird will be the GOAT coach that this old regime and these out of touch coteries think.

Probably when either Scott leads us deep into finals or Hird takes over, runs the list into the ground and dispels the mythology surrounding him

 

[thebigboy]

Probably when either Scott leads us deep into finals or Hird takes over, runs the list into the ground and dispels the mythology surrounding him

I think it’s more the latter. Short of a premiership, they would have a rusted on belief that Hird would have gone 1-step further

 

[Harlequin]

David Barham about to come up on RSN 927

 

[BomberManU]

Is there (still) really a 'Hird camp'? I know we as supporters joke/worry about him coming back, but surely there's zero chance of that ever happening now, no matter who gets on the board. Surely???

 

[faible]

Is there (still) really a 'Hird camp'? I know we as supporters joke/worry about him coming back, but surely there's zero chance of that ever happening now, no matter who gets on the board. Surely???

There most definitely is.

A number of posters on here are still Coach Hird stans, they'll post about it from time to time.

 

[eth-dog]

Is there (still) really a 'Hird camp'? I know we as supporters joke/worry about him coming back, but surely there's zero chance of that ever happening now, no matter who gets on the board. Surely???

Unfortunately there is.

 

[mike ross]

 

[Darealrath]

David Barham about to come up on RSN 927

Hopefully helps but really needs boncer34 to lift and endorse him on the Bigfooty Bombers podcast, Joe Rogan style.

 

[Donflicted]

It will never end for some but as long as Barham gets back and Vozzo is still around Hird will not be a factor unless he does 3 or 4 years hard yards as a senior assistant at an AFL club that has success. From what I hear Vozzo is not rusted on Scott but he wants him to keep building the footy department and program . Even if we have some struggles next year Scott will be safe to coach the fourth year (unless it is a total shit fight like 2020). The key going forward for Scott will be some decent improvement in 2026 and the pressure will be on Rosa to land a couple of top class Free Agents leading into that year. The plan is to draft again next year with maybe a trade option or two or a FA but they want to be set up to really push forward in 2026. Not saying they will not be trying to do that next year but the top end in charge know that next year may not be realistic with the current list. This years fade out really gave them a real dose of clarity on where we are at and how out of touch some of the movers and shakers behind the scenes are when it comes to the list.
I think it is fair to say after backing in the senior guys for most of the season last year even Scott will be looking at it differently next year if the inside talk I hear is right. Guess we will see. 2025 is looking to be among other things a real line in the sand moment for a number of players and the coach.

Good to hear thanks Ant for sharing this.

Really good to hear that the overall football department now has a realistic view of our list overall.
I see alot of people complain that the reason they don't like Barham is because of his mishandling with Andrew T but its ultimately a sliding doors moment if it didn't happen we would not have had Vozzo.

Also over the Scott does not play the kids he does but he also had to get a good look at our list overall if you were a coach and you got told you had a good list you would want to see your senior guys play and give them chances to bounce back.

 

[Corleone]

I have voted for DB to continue.

The fact that Dodoro and Sheedy are gone was enough to secure my vote.

People may think we are jumping at shadows, but it's plain to see this is a Sheedy ploy with Weston as his latest puppet, these clowns are setting up an offsite in Port Melbourne just waiting for a bad year from Scott to hope to bring back Hird.

This cannot happen. If you have the option to vote, please do so.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Is there (still) really a 'Hird camp'? I know we as supporters joke/worry about him coming back, but surely there's zero chance of that ever happening now, no matter who gets on the board. Surely???

One word…

Sheedy.

 

[Don Won]

Is there (still) really a 'Hird camp'? I know we as supporters joke/worry about him coming back, but surely there's zero chance of that ever happening now, no matter who gets on the board. Surely???

I think you are right, I’m not even convinced that Hird would be in the Hird camp when it came to coaching the EFC again.

On this, (and a question to everyone not just you) I haven’t listened to Solomon or Weston, but are they advocating for Hird and Dodoro or is it all just suspicion because of connections?

 

[horj89]

Paul Weston is still living in the 80s by the sounds of it. If he had it his way he’d still have the players working full time jobs. He had an absolute ‘mare in the interview.