Dan Richardson - joining the mass exodus

[Crazy_Bomber]

@Wanderlust

Article from Tom Browne

The breaking point in Dan Richardson’s time at the Bombers

Essendon needed a scalp, in the end it was head of football Dan Richardson .

Contrary to popular belief in parts of the industry, sources familiar with the football bosses deal indicate he was out of contract.

In a sense it’s a bit harsh. Richardson is very personable, has enormous integrity, is respected right across the industry and is a high-quality person.

Certainly he was a top player agent. One of the best.

But the football department, in particular player retention, became a mess. And the buck stops with the boss of the department.

Put it this way, hypothetically if CEO Xavier Campbell is kept awake at night because of football issues, he has the wrong person in charge of the football department.

The hub seemed to amplify Essendon issues. And Richardson ran footy in the hub.

Essendon have reportedly sacked head of football Dan Richardson. Credit: Twitter

Chairman Paul Brasher has interviewed up to 40 people as per of his review.

And it’s understood leadership, accountability and communication were common threads raised, the Bombers wanting more focus on these areas from someone with more experience as a footy manager.

The breaking point for Richardson was a recent board presentation post season. It was in effect an audition to retain his job, and the board found it underwhelming.

That’s not to knock Richardson. It’s important to emphasise he wasn’t the architect of the coaching handover. Which was one of Essendon’s main issues this season.

The handover was essentially CEO Xavier Campbell’s idea. Done at the time when Campbell was about to be anointed as AFL boss Gil McLachlan’s eventual successor.

It had the best of intentions. To pay Worsfold due respect, train Rutten and avoid the embarrassment of a big payout to Worsfold.

Essendon coach Ben Rutten is about to enter his first official season as senior coach. Credit: Getty

But a friend to all is a friend to none. The handover with the benefit of hindsight was too nice to everyone.

And in the end, was a bit of a disaster.

Worsfold fronting up facing the media, offering up cryptic messages, became a running pantomime.

Essendon’s messaging to supporters is also off script. Half their side was missing. A valid excuse.

But after promising the world, it must have been quite a shock to Essendon supporters, when late in the year Worsfold started saying they were still trying to implement a new game plan.

Off field Essendon is going well, taking into account COVID.

Xavier Campbell was the man behind the coaching handover. Credit: Getty

The board would have to be happy with Campbell, and Justin Rodski, from a business perspective.

The club has done a great job building new facilities despite COVID and attracting sponsors.

Where does it leave Bombers coach Ben Rutten?

Rutten was Richardson’s selection. Richardson was in the Rutten camp, Rutten is Richardson’s man so to speak.

So in short, a little bit exposed.

Particularly if the new head of football forms the view Rutten can’t coach. Rutten hasn’t won over the older players.

Tom Bellchambers didn’t get a farewell game. Credit: Getty

He also mismanaged Tom Bellchambers farewell, not giving the veteran a farewell game.

Tim Watson telling SEN he is worried after two years under Rutten, Essendon don’t have an identifiable game plan. Rutten’s under pressure.

The next question becomes ‘who Essendon replace Richardson with?’

It depends if they want a traditional football manager. Who reports to the board and CEO Xavier Campbell. Who is all powerful and runs the football department.

Or adopt a flat football structure. For example, a head of operations, list boss, and boss of the coaches, all reporting horizontally back into CEO Campbell.

That certainly makes sense, with the new football department soft cap. Less people need to do more.

Essendon forward Orazia Fantasia wants to leave the AFL club. Credit: Getty

Richmond do something similar. It’s the direction Melbourne may go in.

At the Tigers, Tim Livingstone looks after the coaches, and making sure their department has the tools and structures to do their job. Blair Hartley looks after the list.

At Essendon, Adrian Dodoro looks after the list. And Kevin Sheedy is on the board in a football capacity.

So maybe Essendon don’t want or need a traditional footy boss. More an experienced football hand, a wise counsel, to support Ruttten.

If they want to replace Richardson, and have a traditional type role, the ‘go to’ club candidates would be Livingstone, the Eagles Craig Vozzo, the Cats’ Simon Lloyd, Port’s Chris Davies and Brisbane’s David Noble.

But they are all contracted. Noble wants to be a CEO.

Brad Scott would be a good left field choice. The AFL seem to have grand plans for him. But with tight budgets, as part of their recent shake-up and cost cutting, Scott is the head of AFL Victoria.

It’s a good role. But it’s beneath Scott’s skill set. So Essendon could at the very least sound him out.

Another good left field choice would be Stephen Silvagni.

He knows a lot about football. Is highly organised. Works hard. And would work well with Dodoro and Sheedy.

Silvagni only left Carlton because he was out-manoeuvred politically.

He has the sort of experience that could help and guide Rutten, however he has extensive property interests and probably wouldn’t do it.

In the meantime, Dodoro can manage the trade period. With up to three first round picks. And Caldwell.

If the Bombers make the right decisions, there is plenty of upside.

That article slowly got harder and harder to read as it went on, to a point where it was just random sentences.

[Saga]

@evs

I see Tom Browne went to the Robbo school of print journalism.

One sentence per paragraph. One sentence per thought. Zero continuity or flow between thoughts.

Seriously makes one wonder how these guys get roles - especially when you look at Robbo - I reckon folks from non-English speaking countries can write and talk better than this bloke…and he’s the head of football at herald sun and has held his prime-time role in fox-footy (sometimes I feel for the poor man Gerard, who has to carry him) - His communication (both verbal / written) is a direct reflection of himself - I’ve seen him around Docklands a few times and almost dropped some change - can easily pass for one of the homeless guys.

[stander2]

The General Manager of Football was originally selected and appointed by Tanner, Lisa Lawry and X.
A wealth of football knowledge in that lot.

[IceTemple]

@stander2

The General Manager of Football was originally selected and appointed by Tanner, Lisa Lawry and X.
A wealth of football knowledge in that lot.

yikes

[tassiehammer]

Seems pretty simple going by the Connolly piece. Stood up to X so X got rid.

[Heffsgirl]

Announce the sacking of Campbell and I’m back in with a membership.

[Darli]

Moi aussi

[BLOODSTAINED_DEVILS]

@Soulnet

That article needed more paragraphs.

Can someone precis it? Near fell asleep in the 1st one.

[jonovdp]

If Xavier Campbell has sacked him when the review hasn’t been finished, and it wasn’t part of the recommendations… then you need to get rid of the CEO.

You can not have CEO’s making their own decisions in isolation when there is a review taking place.

[j_w]

Decent article. The bolded bit is a concern.

Xavier from marketing strikes again.

The dynamics between the coach, the now former football manager Richardson and chief executive Xavier Campbell had shifted significantly in recent times.

Rutten and Richardson, his former colleague at Richmond who was instrumental in getting him to the club, had come to the realisation that as far as the list and immediate on-field aspirations were concerned, a “scorched earth” policy was required, not only in terms of names, but attitudes, the kerfuffle over the decision not to allow the retiring Tom Bellchambers a final game symbolic.

After three years in the job, Richardson had begun to challenge Campbell a lot more on the direction the football side of the operation was taking. He’d also played a key role in the recent re-signings of some of the club’s young guns. And the alignment of Richardson and Rutten was becoming obvious.

[Saucy]

Didn’t Brasher say in his speech that Richardson would have more control over the footy side of things, and a few weeks later he is sacked.

I wonder what happened? Or did Brasher lie?

[Tippa-the-Iceberg]

More Aussies?

[IceTemple]

@Saucy

I wonder what happened? Or did Brasher lie?

Or did he do a review and interview a lot of people and find that a lot of it came back to Richardson not having a clue what he is doing, then watching a board presentation that was underwhelming?

[Darli]

@IceTemple

Or did he do a review and interview a lot of people and find that a lot of it came back to Richardson not having a clue what he is doing, then watching a board presentation that was underwhelming?

Its a good question. Especially as Richo and Rutten presented together

[heppmerv1]

So where does that place X in recruiting the 3 Tigers. What a mess !
Get SOS to replace Dudoro and Rossc Lyon as Coach.

[IceTemple]

@Darli

Its a good question. Especially as Richo and Rutten presented together

Yeah well, I am not sold at all on Rutten.

[jonovdp]

I think he was identifying what he’d like to see from Dan Richardson’s role.

But if there was a breakdown somewhere between Dan Richardson, coaches and the executive team… then I’m guessing the decision was made that they must get someone that can do that job better.

[stir_fried_ewok]

@mrjez

That Tom Browne article is a farking mess. So hard to read.

Robbo is his ghost writer.

[Tippa-the-Iceberg]

He was trying to remember how to tie this knot as he was typing.

[Saga]

@stir_fried_ewok

@mrjez

That Tom Browne article is a farking mess. So hard to read.

Robbo is his ghost writer.

This is the ghost who writes for both robbo and Browne…when he’s not on twitter!