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

    46

    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

 

[LB#16]

"If you don't prepare properly, don't give your all on match day, conduct yourself as a professional athlete on and off the field, I don't think you will be here long you will be gifted games based on your age and experience"

Barham is living in a fantasy land where you say words and don't back them up. We all know Brad and the team selection committee and what they stand for.

 

[threeleggedgoat]

Barham is saying exactly what he should say.

Anyone who disagrees can GAGF.

this isn't a superannuation fund. Perform or **** off!

...are you ok with your superannuation fund not performing?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

"If you don't prepare properly, don't give your all on match day, conduct yourself as a professional athlete on and off the field, I don't think you will be here long you will be gifted games based on your age and experience"

Barham is living in a fantasy land where you say words and don't back them up. We all know Brad and the team selection committee and what they stand for.

They’ve been saying the exact same thing for two years.

Just stop with this shit and get to work building a squad that can win a flag.

 

[ant555]

"If you don't prepare properly, don't give your all on match day, conduct yourself as a professional athlete on and off the field, I don't think you will be here long you will be gifted games based on your age and experience"

Barham is living in a fantasy land where you say words and don't back them up. We all know Brad and the team selection committee and what they stand for.

Well maybe some who people expected games did not prepare like a professional athlete or went of script as far as game plan goes .
There where some team selections they got wrong for sure but that happens at every club that is trying to find a new identity and even some clubs who have found the path.
I would say that the stand with Laverde and Stringer not being offered automatic extensions says we are doin this. Heppell was not gifted too many in the last 6 weeks. They only made one error with Goldy before they parked him. They should have given Parish a VFL game before he got the nod . There where issues but that is part of sorting out where we are at.

 

[justlookingaround]

I have just seen so much evidence to the contrary that I have a hard time believing this posturing.
Like... if we get another year out of Perkins like the one we just saw in which he doesn't defend or chase or really do much of anything, or if we see Redman looking comfortable in these early years of his extension again next year, or Parish moving back to d50 at a leisurely stroll... are they gonna be booted? Cos I don't suspect they will be...
The hardball on Stringer and Lav is a good start, but I remember Scotty himself saying one of his weaknesses as coach was giving guys too many chances at North... but if these decisions are only made when outcomes have already happened, and not when its abundantly clear that they will, the damage will have already been done

 

[ant555]

I have just seen so much evidence to the contrary that I have a hard time believing this posturing.
Like... if we get another year out of Perkins like the one we just saw in which he doesn't defend or chase or really do much of anything, or if we see Redman looking comfortable in these early years of his extension again next year, or Parish moving back to d50 at a leisurely stroll... are they gonna be booted? Cos I don't suspect they will be...
The hardball on Stringer and Lav is a good start, but I remember Scotty himself saying one of his weaknesses as coach was giving guys too many chances at North... but if these decisions are only made when outcomes have already happened, and not when its abundantly clear that they will, the damage will have already been done

Well there is no Dodoro in the football department to tell everyone how good his boys are now.
I know Scott has done two seasons now but the first season was more looking at our system and working out how to change the footy department. They ran a basic game plan and put it in cruise control. I know that does not appease the punters but it is what they did. Now it has run another year where they made some serious inroads into the standard of preparation so they next step is personal.
People with call "bull shit" but it is what it is and how they approached it. Right or wrong. It is the product of head hunting a coach that was the third choice who came in late without any in depth list analysis.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

I have just seen so much evidence to the contrary that I have a hard time believing this posturing.
Like... if we get another year out of Perkins like the one we just saw in which he doesn't defend or chase or really do much of anything, or if we see Redman looking comfortable in these early years of his extension again next year, or Parish moving back to d50 at a leisurely stroll... are they gonna be booted? Cos I don't suspect they will be...
The hardball on Stringer and Lav is a good start, but I remember Scotty himself saying one of his weaknesses as coach was giving guys too many chances at North... but if these decisions are only made when outcomes have already happened, and not when its abundantly clear that they will, the damage will have already been done

well Scott is about to enter year 3 of a 4 year deal.

so the honeymoons over. If he doesn't start results in 2025, that can set up to be bettered in 2026 (his final year), he is goooooooone.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Well maybe some who people expected games did not prepare like a professional athlete or went of script as far as game plan goes .
There where some team selections they got wrong for sure but that happens at every club that is trying to find a new identity and even some clubs who have found the path.
I would say that the stand with Laverde and Stringer not being offered automatic extensions says we are doin this. Heppell was not gifted too many in the last 6 weeks. They only made one error with Goldy before they parked him. They should have given Parish a VFL game before he got the nod . There where issues but that is part of sorting out where we are at.

Lav doesn't seem like the sort of guy who doesn't put in the effort, he is limited talent wise but he does whatever the coach asks of him and puts his body on the line every week.
And to counter Heppell not being gifted games, they kept gifting games to menzie, perkins and cox for far too long this season.
I was all on board with Brad saying similar statements at the end of 2023, but the mixed messaging this year has me worrying it's a bit of talking the talk but not walking the walk.

 

[ant555]

Lav doesn't seem like the sort of guy who doesn't put in the effort, he is limited talent wise but he does whatever the coach asks of him and puts his body on the line every week.
And to counter Heppell not being gifted games, they kept gifting games to menzie, perkins and cox for far too long this season.
I was all on board with Brad saying similar statements at the end of 2023, but the mixed messaging this year has me worrying it's a bit of talking the talk but not walking the walk.

It is a bit different for Menzie / Perkins / Cox . That is more about future development and in the Menzie case all our small forwards had issues of some kind. How many games does he get if Guelfi is not injured ?
Could also say that if Hobbs does not get injured maybe Perkins goes out of the side sooner. It is not that black and white.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

It is a bit different for Menzie / Perkins / Cox . That is more about future development and in the Menzie case all our small forwards had issues of some kind. How many games does he get if Guelfi is not injured ?
Could also say that if Hobbs does not get injured maybe Perkins goes out of the side sooner. It is not that black and white.

I probably shouldn't have named menzie as I think he is in the same boat as Lav of doing whatever is asked of him but a bit limited talent wise.
I think I misunderstood your response as I thought you were bringing up Lav and Hepp as examples of the coaches sticking to their word re rewarding performance/doing what is asked of you in games/on training track.

That is how I read Scott's comments last year and then Barhams today and it's why I feel a bit jaded as I don't think it was consistently shown at selection table nor now in trade period.

 

[ant555]

I probably shouldn't have named menzie as I think he is in the same boat as Lav of doing whatever is asked of him but a bit limited talent wise.
I think I misunderstood your response as I thought you were bringing up Lav and Hepp as examples of the coaches sticking to their word re rewarding performance/doing what is asked of you in games/on training track.

That is how I read Scott's comments last year and then Barhams today and it's why I feel a bit jaded as I don't think it was consistently shown at selection table nor now in trade period.

Selection had its mysteries but you get that when you are trying to build something out of dust and weeds. Lots of people mock the notion of match sim having "some" bearing on selection until the season gets into the back half but if you can not stay on page in an organized drill then what chance do you have on match day ? Now I will repeat for those who want to take it out of context again , "some" bearing on selection. Not all. Not half. Some. It is a fine line to balance out on field playing ability v ability to follow a game plan early on when they are learning it. The ability to attempt to play the game plan often allows blokes to stay in the side for a period longer than it should based on just looking at output.
In cases like Cox and Perkins I do not personally believe that they did not try . More a case of Cox not having confidence in the body and Perkins is more loss of confidence in simply not having the footy IQ to fulfil the role. I know some call him lazy but it is easy to look lazy when you expend too much energy playing catch up due to not having the ability to transition into the next phase quick enough.
My views are based on talking with various coaches from AFL level guys down to successful local footy coaches and junior coaches.
Because of my very limited athletic ability as far as speed and agility goes my footy career in country footy was based more on how much I could learn about the game and play a role more than ability. I played probably 60/40 as far as senior / reserves footy goes and it was mainly Div 2 and Div 3 level but that quest for an advantage shaped how I look at footy and then a lot of years working as an assistant / development coach at a few clubs has shaped it again. I have never really looked at footy as a spectator / spectator. I am the bloke at the footy that spends most of his time looking where the ball is not.
Not saying I do not get a lot of stuff wrong but it is why I think the way I do.

 

[windyhill]

He’s not a good frontman Barham, some of his media appearances have been torturous. His latest appearance doesn’t fill me with any confidence. But I hear he’s very good behind the scenes. He has the biggest job in football. Essendon are ****ing huge. We are also ****ing embarrassing.
The stress levels must be high.