That may well be right. Interesting also that Mr Brasher chairs the nominations committee, but thanks to the EFC constitution, didn’t even have to face a vote of the members to ratify his election to the board last year because it was n uncontested election. Those sorts of provisions are common to many AFL Club constitutions, but for a Club where Mr Brasher and Mr Tanner were spruiking how great the governance was a few years ago, it just doesn’t add up for mine.
And when that is the leadership of the Club, what signal does it send to everyone else? Good on Minion for tipping their money into the Club. I don’t have that kind of spare change, but that doesn’t mean I’m not entited to a view other than theirs.
There was no election. Check the Constitution on what happens in the case of an incumbent seeking re-election in an uncontested election. But I have consistently voted AGAINST everyone on the Board who was on the Board when the club blew itself up.
I admire the willingness of someone to clean up the mess they presided over, but there comes a point where you need to know it is time to move on, or for those around them to tap them on the shoulder and let the next generation have a go.
I figured we were basically starting a rebuild with that draft after so many players walked out at the end of 2020, so we’d best off be picking whoever we thought were the most talented and building around them later on.
Francis was the one I was wary of at the time. No clear best position, undersized for kpp, dropped his head too easily. But I didn’t see enough of the alternative picks (Curnow, Weidemann, Mckay) in juniors to have a preference about who we should pick instead.
What was a real pity was that when we did get pick 1, the draft crop had no clear standout. I thought at the time McGrath would be a solid citizen for a very long time without ascending to superstardom, and it’s looking that way. I would have pulled the trigger on McCluggage at the time, but it’s not like he’s in line for the brownlow right now either. Would have been nice to luck into a Walsh-calibre guy. But on the other hand, McGrath isn’t Paddy McCartin or Jon Patton either.
Keep the spirit up. Board down is the only way anything will really change.
I find it very depressing when 600 votes (400 of them proxies) beats 550 (300 proxies). Out of 60k members. Every kent happy enough to spill thousands of words on here, though.
I’ve said before that it’s near-impossible to make an informed decision at a board election, because the incumbent can’t actually tell you what they really believe because of board confidentiality. They might have opposed and fought bitterly against every decision the club made that year, and were outvoted by the unelected members every time, but come election time they can’t say so. And if you vote for someone new, and they win - how do you even tell if they’ve argued for the stuff they promised they would?
Makes a mockery of the process to be honest. You never know whether you’re voting out the right people.
I also find it depressing. It is always an educational time to have an election and ask the candidates about their backgrounds, and views. That the Club is member-based with some form of democratic right for the members is a joy lost to those who follow sports/clubs which are privately owned. That some nevertheless want to turn the Club into their fiefdom is human nature, but to be questioned always.
When not wasting time venting here I (or someone else) ought to keep a tally of years since each Director won a competitive election. I think some would be surprised by how insular it is (or even worse, just nod knowingly, as they are aware of thsi and for how long it has been this way).
Does anyone have information at hand as to how many times in his tenure that Mr Brasher has faced a competitive election?
The balance of the appointed directors is waaay out of whack. Personal hobby horse of mine, too.
Not our club any more. But people are happy with the morsels they get tossed and don’t front up for elections, so really they must be happy enough.
And I think its once; for brasher? Originally appointed, RE-elected once, ran unopposed last time?
John Keane, noted scholar of the concept of democracy had this to say in his new book 'The Shortest History of Democracy (2022).
‘Democracy brings things back to earth. It serves as a ‘reality check’ on unrestrained power. It is a potent means of ensuring that those in organisations don’t stray into cuckoo land …’
So Club Members, get out there, find good candidates to run for the EFC Board, and then VOTE.
It is just plain fanciful that democracy is the panacea to the issues at EFC. If every Member voted in an open election for all Board places then we would probably get a Board composed much like the current one.
Review the most successful Clubs of this century and here we measure success by multiple premierships, then Richmond, Hawthorn, Geelong, West Coast, Sydney and Brisbane stand out.
Of these Sydney, Hawthorn and Geelong have sustained playing excellence virtually over the whole twenty two year period. Generally these Clubs have had only two coaches and have recruited, traded and developed playing talent consistently.
No doubt, all have had stable administration and solid boards, but sustained success starts with the coach and playing group, and have nothing at all to do with democracy or Members taking over in some revolution.
With you on that Bacchus. Lots of things need fixing in the club but we’re not rotten. But we do have to change as everyone is screaming for.
For my sins I re-watched the game again and particularly the second half. Up to near on halfway through that awful 3rd quarter most of the boys were truly committed. We could not score, decisions went against us and we had no alternatives to 2MP who was comfortably held. And they swarmed us and took over. We lost the midfield proper and the floodgates opened. Heads dropped and we didn’t have one or two experienced heads to hold up in midfield and stop the rot. We looked so raw … willing but raw and in the end lambs to the slaughter. We’ve got a good bunch of young players but nowhere near enough seniority and experience when it matters. Shiel and Parish did disappoint when it really mattered.
I’ll watch Anzac Day like most of us with trepidation but you know what? There will be a reaction of that I’m pretty sure. Maybe not enough to win but those guys of ours aren’t all ■■■■■ and I’m looking at the coaches particularly Truck to respond and help guide them out of this hellhole. They DO want to win for the badge. They just don’t know how to fightback when it gets tough and plans all goes south. They lose all confidence …
Wasn’t the plan so far but I’m backing them to regroup, work hard and go again this season.
Oh yes, the ENTIRE footy industry were convinced Cox would be a champion. Pathetic hyperbole. (i.e. bullsht). Not the entire industry, no. And regardlesss, the footy industry also rated McGrath at No.1 / 2 and thought he’d be a superstar… he is plodding after 5 years… Predictions made in the footy industry are often wrong.
Cox has potential, granted. He is, however, a huge risk because of his unconventional physique and playing style. His risk level and lack of physicality is not what we needed.
But yes, thank God we have Blitz numpties that believe that no high draft pick has ever been overrated because they went high… regardless of how their careers progressed after that. Thanks for that logic… appreciate the chuckle.
I think this is the crux of the supporters angst, we expect it consistently and the club as a whole cannot provide is and hasnt for 20 years.
One of the real positives from 2016 was irrespective of the results the players showed up and had a crack. That group and mindset puts the 2022 group to shame.