This is exactly why he’s out the door, and the club would be correct....

The club had two choices... release a more honest statement about SOS’s departure, which wouldn’t have been a good look for SOS or the club, or go the way they did with the conflict of interest..

The club might have even given SOS the choice on the narrative...

So you don't think the club could've released a statement something like this;

At the end of SOS's 5 year contract in his position as senior list manager and in charge of the largest list rebuild in AFL history, both Carlton and Stephen Silvagni have both decided it's time to part ways for the next stage of the clubs development.....etc.

No fanfare, no drama and no BS excuses.

So you don't think the club could've released a statement something like this;

At the end of SOS's 5 year contract in his position as senior list manager and in charge of the largest list rebuild in AFL history, both Carlton and Stephen Silvagni have both decided it's time to part ways for the next stage of the clubs development.....etc.

No fanfare, no drama and no BS excuses.

Yes. That would have been ideal. Someone should get a kick up the arse but some supporters need to move on. Some of the fawning and devastation on some of the fan sites could lead you to suspect we assassinated the Dalai Lama.

It doesn't matter your integrity - having two children on the list, one a fringe player, the other yet to play a game and with only a year contract left, and a third child coming through who isn't considered likely to make it, and being integral to the list management/contractual status of these children is about as big a conflict of interest there could be. That's not even debatable. If the kids were absolute stars and commanding a spot in the team it could be overlooked but when their only just thereabouts, its a different story. It's unfortunate but you cant be list manager and father to 3 players involved in the club that you manage and expect it to be anything but a conflict of interest - and thus it's unmanageable.

It doesn't matter your integrity - having two children on the list, one a fringe player, the other yet to play a game and with only a year contract left, and a third child coming through who isn't considered likely to make it, and being integral to the list management/contractual status of these children is about as big a conflict of interest there could be. That's not even debatable. If the kids were absolute stars and commanding a spot in the team it could be overlooked but when their only just thereabouts, its a different story. It's unfortunate but you cant be list manager and father to 3 players involved in the club that you manage and expect it to be anything but a conflict of interest - and thus it's unmanageable.

It doesn't matter your integrity - having two children on the list, one a fringe player, the other yet to play a game and with only a year contract left, and a third child coming through who isn't considered likely to make it, and being integral to the list management/contractual status of these children is about as big a conflict of interest there could be. That's not even debatable. If the kids were absolute stars and commanding a spot in the team it could be overlooked but when their only just thereabouts, its a different story. It's unfortunate but you cant be list manager and father to 3 players involved in the club that you manage and expect it to be anything but a conflict of interest - and thus it's unmanageable.

This is my position.

Especially like the line highlighted

Liddle want Ellis and Butler and had most likely assured them of a spot
Teague wanted Betts
SOS wanted Papley and Martin

SOS must have told Liddle there was no room for Butler and Ellis if we take Betts as his target was Papley and Maritn
When the Papley deal fell over and Martin deal was shaky Liddle must have gone to town on SOS for missing the other two

The Boys on the List are just a smoke screen to what most likely ha gone on

Liddle has used SOS inability to bring in big name free agent to shaft him


Next years trade period will be interesting and you question what List manager will take up the role with a CEO sticking in his 20 bobs worth


regardless of what has gone on there is now enough quality on the list to make significant inroads up the ladder

Most likely.....must have....most likely......possibly......

Let's try sticking to the facts. One person who was in the meetings has given an account of what occurred. Anything else is supposition and uninformed rumour.

Can the CEO explain the reporting lines associated with all members of the list management team prior to the departure of Stephen Silvagni and if it is common practice for staff below CEO level to address the board. - Andrew

Cain Liddle | Hi Andrew, the Club has established strong governance frameworks whereby sub-committees of the board are aligned to key strategic priorities across the business.
Specifically, with list management, the List Management sub-committee is chaired by Chris Judd (Director) and includes the Head of Football, GM List Management & Strategy, the CEO and the List Manager with the Coach and Head of High Performance also consulted across the season. As is the case with all sub-committees, key strategies and decisions are discussed and agreed upon as a sub-committee.  All players who were approached from other clubs as part of our 2019 list management strategy were discussed and rigorously debated over the course of many months at list management.

As per AFL guidelines, the CEO and Board are responsible for signing off on all TPP.
To further ensure good governance in list management, a number of conditions have been introduced by the Board that require the CEO, to seek board approval before some player contracts are agreed to by the club. These conditions relate to length of contracts, quantum of salaries and in some instances, age of players. This further restricts the ability of anyone, at any level, operating in silo and without the collective support of other key stakeholders.
In regards to making presentations to the board, we have various staff members present on a rotational basis to ensure accountability and open communication across the entire football club.

What Board members have any practical football knowledge at the highest level eg actually in running a football club prior to their appointments to the Carlton board ??? - Tony

Mark LoGiudice | Hi Tony, under the guidance of the Independent Nominations Committee, the Board has been deliberately constructed to cover all aspects of the Club and to ensure we have the right skill-sets to govern all areas of the football club, understanding that our core business and key priorities are our football teams. In relation to Director support of our football programs, Chris Judd played 279 games at the highest level, including a premiership and was captain of the Carlton Football Club. He has won the Brownlow medal (twice), Norm Smith medal and is a premiership captain. He also does an outstanding job working with our Head of Football Brad Lloyd to have oversight of our AFL and AFLW program to ensure we are striving to perform at the highest level.

Patty Kinnersly also made history by becoming the Blues’ first designated Board member to oversee the AFLW/VFLW programs. Her appointment reflected the Club’s continued commitment to good governance and to building a skills-based Board aligned to the needs of the Club. Alongside an extensive corporate career, Kinnersly has 14 years of playing experience in the VWFL for the Ballarat Lions, Fairfield Falcons and Parkside Magpies, playing in five premierships and representing Victoria on 10 occasions, twice as captain.

From the Member Forum:


Firstly, if the List Management sub-committee deems the player to be physically and technically capable, and there is nothing else on the open market, age is irrelevant.

Secondly, who in their right mind would want to operate with such oversight? What the @#$%&! would the board - especially ours - know about the intricacies of the playing list?