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Not sure what other clubs have done in relation to reviews, but it is certainly clear that we have not really gone anywhere in the last decade. Other clubs have been much better at running themselves in all facets of the club. We can winge about lost draft picks years ago, but that was years ago. We are in danger of being left behind in the modern game, despite the fact that facilities at Visy are streets ahead of where they were a decade ago. We need to modernise our approach to how the club functions. Other clubs are leading the way, Sydney, the Pies, Hawks and one of the best is Geelong, just look at how things have changed at Kardinia Park, or whatever it is called these days.
I don't know what happened at the Cats from a review perspective in about 2006, but I was at our corporate love-in last Oct which was held in one of the big rooms at the G. The day was largely about setting corporate mission, vision and values. What was interesting that Cameron Ling was one of the presenters and at various times during the day he spoke about the values based approach that was adopted by the Cats in the mid naughties. Obviously they had a strong president and CEO, but that is only part of the picture. They recruited and nurtured players largely on the basis of good values held by the players. So, players who were potential stars, but who happened to be flower fell out of favour. They had a very simple matrix for assessment based on good/ave skills and good/poor values. They ended up with year after year (and still do) of guys who are absolutely focussed on footy and the club, would run through brick walls, never say die, turn up each week, etc etc. Since that time they amassed three flags, Brownlow medalists, Norm Smith medalists and umpteen AA's. Obviously they have recruited weel, but they have also nurtured their players.
Interesting to compare the Blues and where we seem to be, with the Cats and their outcomes. Guess it doesnt stack up that well for the Blues.
As much as I love Sticks, the "We are Carlton, ^%$## the rest" approach just doesn't cut it in todays era of big business footy. Somehow we need to move more towards the way that the successful opposition club are operating if we are truly going to achieve sustainable success. Run the club properly, have a solid business plan, recruit well, support the coaching staff, engender behaviours in the player group that makes them want to "die for each other" and the club, embrace the supporters.
I for one do not want the Bummers or the Pies to get to 17 before we do, and I want us to, not just be satisfied with 17, but go into the 20's over the next 10-15 years. Lions won three in a row, Cats have won three in recent years, its difficult, but its not impossible.
At board level, I think there is too much Pratt influence. Not sure what Fahour would bring or if he wants to bring it, but board changes seem inevitable if the changes that we need are going to be realised. Even though the processes have been less than satisfactory, I support MM in the role, but he needs to mould the playing group "in his own image" and he has the opportunity in the next year or so.
Maybe an independent review would be a catalyst for this, but the hardest thing will be to get the incumbents to realise this. Who are the experts?
I want the club to be successful on the field, as do most passionate supporters, but I want the club to be a good club just as much.
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also on twitter @m_j_short
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