News Dr Bridie O'Donnell elected to the board

[Antz]

As someone who is pretty familiar with Bridie, I think she is a fantastic appointment to the Board. Intimidatingly bright (one of the sharpest people I have met), knowledge of a broad range of sports given her Gov't role, is professionally well connected, high personal integrity, elite professional sporting background as an athlete incl world record performances, multiple titles. Terrific media performer, author and presenter as well. Has had more than a passing interest in Collingwood FC dating back prior to officially joining as a member too, despite wearing the Dogs jumper on her Insta post. Adds obvious gender diversity to the board as well. Lots of ticks from me as a life long Collingwood supporter and long time member.

Is that you Penny Wong?

 

[shizzle]

I'm a fan of the appointment. Very intelligent, speaks well. Even more amusing that it triggers the alt right maga snowflakes into gnashing their teeth. Keep crying ya muppets

 

[Leviathan Pie]

I'm a fan of the appointment. Very intelligent, speaks well. Even more amusing that it triggers the alt right maga snowflakes into gnashing their teeth. Keep crying ya muppets

I would encourage you to read an exquisite post from Markfs a page-or-two back.

Haven't seen a single post aligning to 'alt-right' viewpoints. But cool, bro.

 

[sideswipe]

well i'm sure you're more acquainted than me about how smart lawyers can manipulate simple wording for their own ends. It should be remembered that clause 30(a) states that a person doesnt even qualify for the election unless they are a board member.

the simple interpretation of these two clauses is that no one should serve on the board unless they have been a member for two years or have got the waiver...... dr bridie has neither.

considering the board received 80 applicants and there were probably 20 or 30 women among them...and that at least some of them might have been collingwood members for more than 2 years... you would think it's rather "interesting" that a board would choose to place a person who might not be technically able to fill the position...to take that risk of instability.....

you might have to ask your mate alex to come back for a few more months

Thing is it doesn’t really matter unless someone takes it to court - because of the covering clause that says if a director is improperly elected it doesn’t invalidate board decisions.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Markfs]

I'm just listening to neil mitchell.... who is a slimy piece of crap... anyway, bridie has done well. i'm impressed. She kept her composure in the face of some unsuccessful attempts to "catch her out". Bad luck Neil... I hope it improved your ratings

 

[Albert Parker]

Is that you Penny Wong?

Not sure what you are suggesting/implying. But yes, like Penny, I date women too.

 

[Markfs]

Thing is it doesn’t really matter unless someone takes it to court - because of the covering clause that says if a director is improperly elected it doesn’t invalidate board decisions.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I agree entirely. It's interesting that Bridie actually said early on with Mitchell that she would be ratified at the AGM next year and then said that she had been on the board for 24 hours...and then said the board was up for election at the AGM which is not strictly true, although her position would be.

The fact that tom browne wrote the story may indicate that dad had some advice. He wont take it further because collingwood members would string him up.

 

[Markfs]

Not sure what you are suggesting/implying. But yes, like Penny, I date women too.

but you used to date men?

 

[magpies42]

Upon what evidence do you base this statement? What kind of diversity? If you mean diversity of thought and opinions I would agree. But most people who speak of the importance of diversity simply mean more women or greater racial diversity. I am always confused by the assertion that more women or more coloured people on a board brings a better outcome. Are they suggesting women or coloured people all think differently from a white male? That seems to be a prejudiced idea. I am sure there are many women and people of colour who agree with some white males on a range of issues and in fact an all male or all female board my have more diverse thinking than a board with six different racial backgrounds.

So this current obsession with appointing more women is silly. As I've said so many times in order to pre-empt the barrage of accusations of racism and sexism, I would be delighted to have an all women board if everyone of them was a passionate Collingwood person with a deep love of the game and the acumen and creativity to spark new initiatives and ways of improving the club's on field performances and attracting more members. I recently said I cant stand Korda and the words he has spoken since being appointed President have been uninspiring, box ticking BS. Yet nobody accused me of being a man hater or misandrist. Funny how that works. Criticize a man and that's all you are doing. Criticize one woman and you clearly hate all women and you are only attacking her because she is a woman and you are a cellar dwelling creepy misogynist.

Diversity across the board, gender, colour, thought, experience, age, interests. It has been proven time and again that you get better outcomes with different experiences and skill sets. Now that is assuming that everybody in the team or board is pulling their weight and has a legitimate claim to the role based on merit. Women and men do think differently, as to be people of different ethnicities, age groups, experience and so forth.

Football teams are perfect example of diversity driving success...you have players of different skills, heights, weights, agility and approach. Not all players are of the same mould, or even worth the same...some players are quite clearly better than others but ima successful team each player brings their strength to the table.

100% agree with you on the rest of it, that was the original intent of my post. I can’t stand political correct nonsense, and particularly when it goes against the objectives of the Collingwood organisation....we have one focus and that is to win premierships. Contrary to popular belief we don’t exist to ensure gender equality.

 

[Stax on the mill]

I'm just listening to neil mitchell.... who is a slimy piece of crap... anyway, bridie has done well. i'm impressed. She kept her composure in the face of some unsuccessful attempts to "catch her out". Bad luck Neil... I hope it improved your ratings

I listened to the interview as well. Were you expecting him to lob up half volley Dorothy Dixers outside the off stump for her to swat away? Thought he asked some legitimate questions. Questions which a lot of Pies supporters wanted to hear the answers to. O’Donnell handled herself reasonably well, although she seems to be focussed almost exclusively on the AFLW and netball side of things.

Obviously opinions will differ. I take a passing interest in Collingwood’s AFLW and netball teams, and like to see them win. However, as distinct from the men’s team, I don’t cry myself to sleep and sulk for 4 days if they happen to lose. They’re very much incidental to the main game as far as I’m concerned, and always will be.

 

[DinoSoar]

It appears BF has chosen this issue.

 

[Albert Parker]

"Who are you playing on the weekend, Bridie?" she was asked.

Response: "Women or men? The wheelchair team or the netball team? The AFLW is not currently being played yet she thinks we should care as much about a game against Darebin in the VFLW as much as we do the men's senior team and worries about the women feeling marginalized or less important. If we are going to be on about inclusivity and equal status to everyone at the club why is the only team she failed to mention the men's VFL team? Imagine how belittled and irrelevant they must feel in the eyes of this new board member. Surely people with intelligence would understand their place in the pecking order whether it be in a sports club or the workplace. I would be surprised to hear Lynchy was furious about his lack of exposure in the media and his financial remuneration in comparison to our other ruckman, Brodie Grundy?

The fact of the matter is most of the Collingwood supporters -male and female, young and old only care about the success of our male senior team. There is nothing wrong with this. It doesn't need fixing. We don't need to be re-educated to understand that our wheelchair team's success is every bit as important as our male football team's success. Yet this seems to be part of her agenda. In time , there may well be people who are more invested in the week to week trials and successes of the women's team and that will be great, but for her to suggest we should be equally invested in the netball and any other team the club decides to create in the coming years is nonsense. There has been a stand alone national netball competition which is well supported and popular. The fact that we entered a team in the top league in 2016 doesn't mean all Collingwood footy fans should be emotionally invested in their progress. Bridie thinks we should and her aim is to get us there.

I am so saddened by the direction our club is taking. Its south on the ladder and woke city straight ahead for the administration. I am yet to hear anyone say thank you to the men who play in the AFL or the men in charge of the AFL who have thrown their support and millions of dollars into getting a woman's league up and running. Can anyone point me to an official statement of gratitude from any female player or coach for the way in which the women's game is being held together and financed by the money the AFL has accrued due to the blood, sweat and tears of men who played the game for decades with almost no financial reward?

All I hear is veiled digs about it taking so long, demands for more games and more money for the female payers even though their competition is still being subsidized by the men and is yet to bring a cent into the AFL's coffers. Where is the humility? Where is the acknowledgement that the hard yards were done by thousands of men who worked in full time jobs, often physically back breaking and then played on the Saturday for a pittance in front of huge crowds? I saw a AFLW North Melbourne player complaining about the fact that the women in the AFLW have to balance their training and match day commitments with a job, In her case, a part-time three day a week job! She spoke as if she really believed the men have always ben on the gravy train and this horrific expectation that she do some part time work as well as train and play was something inflicted upon the women's competition because ... well because they are women and men are misogynists.

The whole article was written in an angry tone, intent on showing just how misogynistic and unfair our game is-men getting paid big bucks while the women are on around between $14K to $26K supplementing their other work. Not bad money for a comp that was being played before non paying customers.

There are players in suburban comps training just as hard and often as the AFLW players and getting far less. If you love the game surely step one is to be overjoyed by the fact you are representing an AFL club and getting enormous exposure on television and in the media.

The article and her attitude showed a complete lack of knowledge about the history of our game and what the men who first played it did to make it the greatest game on earth. Some perspective and gratitude would not be out of place.

I loved the idea of a woman's competition. I am excited by the thought my granddaughters could play for Collingwood. But my enthusiasm has been dampened by the endless politicization of this new competition. The girls are clearly getting more skilled and athletic with each passing season and will naturally draw bigger crowds as the quality of their game improves and there would be natural evolution. The money they can make through sponsors and advertising along with the player payments would grow.

It seems no matter what male sporting competitions do the accusation of misogyny is never far from the lips of the woke brigade. Players and competitions have raised millions of dollars to help fight female specific diseases like breast cancer-even at suburban level yet this never seems to register with some people. Listening to Bridie made me feel she is another person recruited to make our club a progressive, social issue embracing institution rather than a football club with the primary aim of winning premierships and being the most successful, powerful football club in the country. I think Bridie would view that goal as a relic from our Neanderthal past and of little interest to our club as it moves forward.

If so, she is out of step with the vast majority of the Collingwood tribe she has so recently decided to join.

Her job has been to promote women in sport. Not surprisingly she has taken this tone in her posts/commentary. But she is incredibly bright and will understand the importance of the senior men's team in terms of the commercials of the club.

Did you also note in her Neil Mitchell responses that she identified the Prison Bars jumpers in responding to who the club was playing this week? An astute acknowledgement of current political issues. She nailed that interview, which I gather was unprompted.

Her appointment will likely be advantageous to the plight of our women's sporting teams, which are now a part of the fabric of the club and its future success. Collingwood FC is one of the largest employers of female athletes in Australia. Just as many have lamented that we haven't had indigenous talent in our club and senior-types to help integrate new players, Bridie will add something as a former pro athlete who has moved out of home to pursue her craft and who understands the pressures of performance, inadequate pay etc.

As a club which has acknowledged a chequered history on social matters, she'll also assist that.

She also won't tolerate the kind of behaviour which Ed stood for - back room deals with no accountability. Hiring Football managers without anyone else being consulted etc. That path taken by Ed doesn't engender a high performance environment because good people, with good ideas, won't stick around.

And even Ed introduced female sporting teams and help for the Salvo's (which also has been used as a means of rounding out the understanding about life of our young AFL players).

She's a fantastic spokesperson and media performer too but there won't be King King gaffes either. I'm glad she is on our team.

 

[Markfs]

I listened to the interview as well. Were you expecting him to lob up half volley Dorothy Dixers outside the off stump for her to swat away? Thought he asked some legitimate questions. Questions which a lot of Pies supporters wanted to hear the answers to. O’Donnell handled herself reasonably well, although she seems to be focussed almost exclusively on the AFLW and netball side of things.

Obviously opinions will differ. I take a passing interest in Collingwood’s AFLW and netball teams, and like to see them win. However, as distinct from the men’s team, I don’t cry myself to sleep and sulk for 4 days if they happen to lose. They’re very much incidental to the main game as far as I’m concerned, and always will be.

well im the same with the women's team. in fact i find it refreshing that i can switch off after the game and not care too much. I dont mind him asking the hard questions but his little laugh at the end probably belied his true intention of the interview....and the fact that he was a failure at it.

She has been put on the board for equity reasons as much as other reasons. Its happening with a lot of boards and the fact is a large percentage of the members arent blokes.

 

[Markfs]

Did you also note in her Neil Mitchell responses that she identified the Prison Bars jumpers in responding to who the club was playing this week? An astute acknowledgement of current political issues. She nailed that interview, which I gather was unprompted.

She's a fantastic spokesperson and media performer too but there won't be King King gaffes either. I'm glad she is on our team.

She had 3 hours of social media blasting and then was invited by the king of the reactionaries for an interview. I wouldnt call that impromptu. She should have known this was going to happen.

But as i said earlier, many would have wilted. She even built a bridge to Mitchell in the last minute, which I wouldnt have done if you paid me.

 

[Stax on the mill]

well im the same with the women's team. in fact i find it refreshing that i can switch off after the game and not care too much. I dont mind him asking the hard questions but his little laugh at the end probably belied his true intention of the interview....and the fact that he was a failure at it.

She has been put on the board for equity reasons as much as other reasons. Its happening with a lot of boards and the fact is a large percentage of the members arent blokes.

Yes, I did pick up on his dismissive laugh at the end. Unnecessary.

 

[domus]

As someone who is pretty familiar with Bridie, I think she is a fantastic appointment to the Board. Intimidatingly bright (one of the sharpest people I have met), knowledge of a broad range of sports given her Gov't role, is professionally well connected, high personal integrity, elite professional sporting background as an athlete incl world record performances, multiple titles. Terrific media performer, author and presenter as well. Has had more than a passing interest in Collingwood FC dating back prior to officially joining as a member too, despite wearing the Dogs jumper on her Insta post. Adds obvious gender diversity to the board as well. Lots of ticks from me as a life long Collingwood supporter and long time member.

Why is adding gender diversity to the board important? If the education department instituted a program where quotas of male teachers were set and every school was required to have fifty % male representation on their staff would you applaud this move as a positive one? I would oppose it. Gender diversity targets invariably lead to better qualified applicants missing out. This must happen because once you have reached the 50% quota for one gender then any further applicants who are not female (or male) are simply ruled out based upon their immutable characteristics.

I saw the words "women's equity" in her bio and felt a uneasy. That word equity is a worry.

You say she has high personal integrity. I didn't hear that in the Mitchell interview. He was trying to have a "gotcha" moment with his questions about when she became a Collingwood member and why. She should have said.

I was approached by the Collingwood board as someone they were interested in taking a role on the board in 2021/ I thought I could bring something worthwhile to the club and help it to achieve its goals, so I took on my membership in order to qualify and here I am. I will be 100% committed to the Collingwood cause for as long as I am a part of the board and club. I will do everything in my power to make it a better club than it was before I came. Right now Clarkson is a coach at Hawthorn. In time he may coach somewhere else because a club is looking for his skill set. I am sure they won't rule him out because he is currently committed to achieving success at Hawthorn.

But she dithered and dallied and tried to pretend she was a Pie fan and then this offer miraculously arose not long after she became a member.

 

[Markfs]

Yes, I did pick up on his dismissive laugh at the end. Unnecessary.

I beg to disagree. Very necessary for his performance for his listeners. I think it was rather dismissive of bridie, which would have made his listeners chuckle. And allow them to overlook the fact that he really didnt land a blow...

 

[Markfs]

Why is adding gender diversity to the board important? If the education department instituted a program where quotas of male teachers were set and every school was required to have fifty % male representation on their staff would you applaud this move as a positive one? I would oppose it. Gender diversity targets invariably lead to better qualified applicants missing out. This must happen because once you have reached the 50% quota for one gender then any further applicants who are not female (or male) are simply ruled out based upon their immutable characteristics.

I saw the words "women's equity" in her bio and felt a uneasy. That word equity is a worry.

You say she has high personal integrity. I didn't hear that in the Mitchell interview. He was trying to have a "gotcha" moment with his questions about when she became a Collingwood member and why. She should have said.

I was approached by the Collingwood board as someone they were interested in taking a role on the board in 2021/ I thought I could bring something worthwhile to the club and help it to achieve its goals, so I took on my membership in order to qualify and here I am. I will be 100% committed to the Collingwood cause for as long as I am a part of the board and club. I will do everything in my power to make it a better club than it was before I came. Right now Clarkson is a coach at Hawthorn. In time he may coach somewhere else because a club is looking for his skill set. I am sure they won't rule him out because he is currently committed to achieving success at Hawthorn.

But she dithered and dallied and tried to pretend she was a Pie fan and then this offer miraculously arose not long after she became a member.

so as this is an area of your greatest expertise, how would you get more male teachers in the classroom?....in 100 words or less

 

[Matrix10]

Why is adding gender diversity to the board important? If the education department instituted a program where quotas of male teachers were set and every school was required to have fifty % male representation on their staff would you applaud this move as a positive one? I would oppose it. Gender diversity targets invariably lead to better qualified applicants missing out. This must happen because once you have reached the 50% quota for one gender then any further applicants who are not female (or male) are simply ruled out based upon their immutable characteristics.

I saw the words "women's equity" in her bio and felt a uneasy. That word equity is a worry.

You say she has high personal integrity. I didn't hear that in the Mitchell interview. He was trying to have a "gotcha" moment with his questions about when she became a Collingwood member and why. She should have said.

I was approached by the Collingwood board as someone they were interested in taking a role on the board in 2021/ I thought I could bring something worthwhile to the club and help it to achieve its goals, so I took on my membership in order to qualify and here I am. I will be 100% committed to the Collingwood cause for as long as I am a part of the board and club. I will do everything in my power to make it a better club than it was before I came. Right now Clarkson is a coach at Hawthorn. In time he may coach somewhere else because a club is looking for his skill set. I am sure they won't rule him out because he is currently committed to achieving success at Hawthorn.

But she dithered and dallied and tried to pretend she was a Pie fan and then this offer miraculously arose not long after she became a member.

Save me, save me from tomorrow, I don`t wanna sail with these ship of fools, no no .

 

[sr36]

View attachment 1131667

It appears BF has chosen this issue.

Where's that photo from. I think of been on that hill.

 

[Chronz]

I'm a fan of the appointment. Very intelligent, speaks well. Even more amusing that it triggers the alt right maga snowflakes into gnashing their teeth. Keep crying ya muppets

This is a football forum, not your commie reddit board you nuffy.

 

[Billys Back]

As someone who is pretty familiar with Bridie, I think she is a fantastic appointment to the Board. Intimidatingly bright (one of the sharpest people I have met), knowledge of a broad range of sports given her Gov't role, is professionally well connected, high personal integrity, elite professional sporting background as an athlete incl world record performances, multiple titles. Terrific media performer, author and presenter as well. Has had more than a passing interest in Collingwood FC dating back prior to officially joining as a member too, despite wearing the Dogs jumper on her Insta post. Adds obvious gender diversity to the board as well. Lots of ticks from me as a life long Collingwood supporter and long time member.

She sounds like an excellent appointment. Unfortunately, there is still the issue she is female and so wasn't offered the position based upon her excellent credentials.

 

[Good Horse]

Is that you Penny Wong?

Precisely what's this supposed to mean?

 

[sr36]

Why is adding gender diversity to the board important? If the education department instituted a program where quotas of male teachers were set and every school was required to have fifty % male representation on their staff would you applaud this move as a positive one? I would oppose it. Gender diversity targets invariably lead to better qualified applicants missing out. This must happen because once you have reached the 50% quota for one gender then any further applicants who are not female (or male) are simply ruled out based upon their immutable characteristics.

I've been on a few government education selection committees, schools target gender in their recruitments regularly. Whether it's trying to get more males in primary or in ap language department or females in PE and maths, it's really bloody common and makes sense for a variety of reasons.

 

[jackcass]

Whilst that is true, it is less of a team sport for the protected rider, and more of a team sport for everyone else!

But both still covered under the broad umbrella of "team sport"... gotcha.