PAFC CEO Matthew Richardson

[Doctor Feel]

• Our football operations model is based on GWS’s model

What does that actually mean?

Some good points in there but these 2 are massive red flags for me:

• No intention of transferring club ownership from corporate elected boards to membership elected boards. AFL technically has control over the PAFC, but they merely sign off on the PAFC board’s recommendations. The 8 PAFC board appointments are made internally.
• Tracking the growth in membership based on younger fans signing up with a target of 100k members within the next 5 years.

The first one has been covered by many other posters so not going to go into.

The second one really tealls me they are really pushing hard for the "lets grab the kids attention with Gameday experience and peripheral stuff" rather than actually being good at Football. The 100k membership in 5 years is just a pipe dream that was peddled 5 years ago and hasn't come close to coming to fruition. Stop making these ridiculous statements.

The club under this board have done some good things, financially especially, but the period of stability at all costs is now over. The platform has been set, now it is time for fresh blood to build on a solid foundation. They have failed miserably to recognise the problem on the field, our core business, for that their time must be up.

lol we're just the adelaide strikers in football form.

 

[ibd77]

What does this mean? And why would GWS be a model we'd follow? Seems strange.

Something to do with core senior players managing the younger players. This detail is sketchy to me as I was sought of between listening in and zoning out at that point, as this came after my question about members elected boards.

 

[ibd77]

What the f@#@, what do we need to do? Breed them in a test tube?

Nope but we will probably need to battle the SANFL with the AFL's support over this matter as we are "stealing" from their talent pool that feeds their league.

 

[Lockhart Road]

Something to do with core senior players managing the younger players. This detail is sketchy to me as I was sought of between listening in and zoning out at that point, as this came after my question about members elected boards.

Sounds like something Hinkley would bring in to leave himself with even less to do … ratified by the GM Football.

 

[ibd77]

lol we're just the adelaide strikers in football form.

Shut up and consume, that's the PAFC model going forward.

 

[edgie]

See this is why youse can't be trusted to vote. What does an english rom com actor know about foody?

Mate he was a serious arse kicker in Kingsman



We could use a guy like that!

 

[Papa G]

Something to do with core senior players managing the younger players. This detail is sketchy to me as I was sought of between listening in and zoning out at that point, as this came after my question about members elected boards.

Lol. Why would a 150 year old club built on absolute ruthlessness and success be following the model of 13 year old club with no soul and that hasn't won shit? These are the morons we are dealing with. Maybe having ex players on the board that actually understand the game isn't such a bad thing Richo you ****ing fraud!

 

[Chewy316]

The GWS model was in reference to the establishment and setup of the women's team. Richo referred to Gold Coast and GWS as the two different models of building a team in the modern era. Gold Coast acquiring a bunch of average middle aged players whilst GWS built more in the draft and supplemented it with a select few of experienced older vets (Chad Cornes etc).

He said Port have chosen the GWS model for the women's team knowing they won't be competitive for the first 3 years or so but they expect to improve as their young players continue to develop.

There was very little to no mention of the current men's program outside of not needing to recruit a star midfielder for the next 10 years given the talent they have in that spot.

Was very much a night of "look at how great we are" but conveniently ignoring that on field performance of the men's program is arguably the most important element to defining "greatness" at the Club.

 

[Papa G]

Was very much a night of "look at how great we are" but conveniently ignoring that on field performance of the men's program is arguably the most important element to defining "greatness" at the Club.

Arguably? It's the sole Element.

 

[malcheski]

Arguably? It's the sole Element.

I begrudgingly tend to agree. Whilst I do believe women's footy has its place, I bet you London to a brick that all Crows fans would trade their 3 AFLW flags for 1 AFL flag in an instant.

 

[GremioPower]

I begrudgingly tend to agree. Whilst I do believe women's footy has its place, I bet you London to a brick that all Crows fans would trade their 3 AFLW flags for 1 AFL flag in an instant.

It’s because there’s no “men’s” team. It’s the MAIN team. It’s non-discriminatory.

The game is just too physical for women to get a shot in the top level. Thus, the necessity for “women’s” teams. However, nothing should impede any person to play among the best if there are interest and opportunity for that.

 

[Coobk001]

I begrudgingly tend to agree. Whilst I do believe women's footy has its place, I bet you London to a brick that all Crows fans would trade their 3 AFLW flags for 1 AFL flag in an instant.

The Crows 3 AFLW flags mean about as much as Norwood's 10 flags before 1891. Nice to have on their resume, but the competition has only just become whole, and the monopoly on an entire state + NT's talent has now been broken and the real challenges begin from here for everyone.

 

[Portwon]

Thanks to those that have provided information particularly ibd77 for his comprehensive list.

I also acknowledge the club attempting to listen (but not actually using their ears).

Matthew I fundamentally disagree with some of the directions and actions that you taken for the club as well as what appears to be the clubs overall approach. Apart from (another) survey how would you suggest I and like minded members approach this ( given you have no intention of ever giving up control). Shut up and pay your money perhaps?

I am most concerned about the point of targeting the young members and (trying to approach the 100k).

It would appear that the pushing out of those that used to be engaged and that have valid concerns is real.

Could you perhaps explain to me Matthew why you don't value the potential income long term engaged members provide?.

Last time I checked I think that some of us older disenfranchised white noise representatives have discretionary income that we could choose (or not) to send the clubs way....

What's the old adage re new customers v retention?
.

 

[Papa G]

AFLW Flags mean about as much as the Norther Divison Under 12 B grade. How grown men with no hidden agenda or direct involvement can even imply with a straight face that they like or care for AFLW is simply mind boggling.

 

[PJ Power]

Thanks to those that have provided information particularly ibd77 for his comprehensive list.

I also acknowledge the club attempting to listen (but not actually using their ears).

Matthew I fundamentally disagree with some of the directions and actions that you taken for the club as well as what appears to be the clubs overall approach. Apart from (another) survey how would you suggest I and like minded members approach this ( given you have no intention of ever giving up control). Shut up and pay your money perhaps?

I am most concerned about the point of targeting the young members and (trying to approach the 100k).

It would appear that the pushing out of those that used to be engaged and that have valid concerns is real.

Could you perhaps explain to me Matthew why you don't value the potential income long term engaged members provide?.

Last time I checked I think that some of us older disenfranchised white noise representatives have discretionary income that we could choose (or not) to send the clubs way....

What's the old adage re new customers v retention?
.

Presumably they want to re-establish our membership base with a new generation that has only known one way: To clap happily so long as our players kick the odd special goal for Instagram during captain's run, sign a few signatures and take a few selfies, and in so doing make our "community proud". Kicking actual goals and winning actual games is an after-thought. Supporter expectations by the time 2030-35 come around will have reached St Kilda's levels of lowness. Just being happy to participate and exist.

 

[PowerLil]

If you are brave enough, you can bring this up at the next dinner. It will be interesting to see if the next dinner is in October. I am sure more members would bring this up.

I already have, in writing and in person.

 

[tribey]

Absolutely ****ing terrified of accountability, basically.

This.

Absolutely none of those goals, let alone Chasing Greatness™, could be achieved, and all we’d get is a shoulder shrug and the usual incredulity at people being disgruntled.

 

[Duck Farmer]

• Our football operations model is based on GWS’s model

What does that actually mean?

I think it means we fücked up by not signing Kingsley.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Absolutely ****ing terrified of accountability, basically.

Not fair. We iNvItE tHe HeAt!

 

[Duck Farmer]

Did laugh at the question for the competition "In 25 words or less, tell us what you would do if you were the CEO of the Club for one day?"

Yeah, only 2 two words needed. We could then use the other 23 to train ChatGPT to generate our social media content and corporate strategy, allowing us to buy our licence back from the AFL from the money we save on the WooHoo Group while delivering a superior outcome.

 

[El_Scorcho]

I am fully expecting the Crows to create a commission of "experts" to select a majority skills based board and give maybe only one extra spot to the members rather than have a fully member elected board once they have the chance in 2028.

Just like Port I can't see the arrogant buffoons in charge wanting to cede control to the unwashed members.

Good, because their members, as clueless as they are, are as frustrated as we are. They absolutely hate their administration. If we get both sets of supporters up and about about the issue, it's much harder to ignore than if it's just us.

We basically can't lose unless the Crows fans really don't care about a member elected board, and based on what I can see, they do. They either get it and we demand it as well, or they don't get it despite having a provision for it and we get a broader media campaign about it.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Richo is definitely someone who will come out to take the credit but hide when there needs to be accountability

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Good, because their members, as clueless as they are, are as frustrated as we are. They absolutely hate their administration. If we get both sets of supporters up and about about the issue, it's much harder to ignore than if it's just us.

We basically can't lose unless the Crows fans really don't care about a member elected board, and based on what I can see, they do. They either get it and we demand it as well, or they don't get it despite having a provision for it and we get a broader media campaign about it.

Agreed.

I have posted about it several times on their board just to make sure that they know what is coming and are ready to fight.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Richo is definitely someone who will come out to take the credit but hide when there needs to be accountability

If he wants to take a lot of credit, he can effectively repair his legacy by getting the club back in the hands of the members. At the moment his legacy is an ineffectual underqualified tryhard who couldn't generate success and hid from accountability

 

[El_Scorcho]

Agreed.

I have posted about it several times on their board just to make sure that they know what is coming and are ready to fight.

Excellent. I'll be doing the same in the lead up. We need to razz them up enough that if they don't get it they go ballistic, and if they do get it they sink the boots into us for being an AFL controlled franchise while they're a real club.