Please (Synbad, I'm talking to you... ) I don't want this to become a "Sticks is out of his depth" debate - we've got one already.

But I'd be interested on what people can add to the discussion around EXACTLY who and where the real behind-the-scenes influence currently comes from, and where it's likely to come from, in the near future.

The Pratt Family has been a strong influence at Carlton for many years, and as I understand it, will most likely continue to have influence in the future.

The Smorgon Family in the past has too. How much so now, and into the future? I'm not sure. But they've been the two big 'names' in our past.

Then you have businesspeople such as Bruce Mathieson. Don't know how much he has to do with the club now...

'Names' such as Mike Fitzpatrick.

Then what I'd call the second or third tier of influence: the Daniel Grollo's and Zac Fried's (excuse the Ayres-like pluralisation).

Then influential ex-players. Which ones have the ear of the board, and who's exerting influence?

I ask these questions because I feel reasonably well-informed on the club's past, but woefully ignorant of the club's future. Where does the power lie, who has the influence? Who's the next Wes Lofts, the next George Harris, the next Dick Pratt?

(And Remember Sinners et al - NO 'STICKS MUST GO' RHETORIC, OK!!!)

If he doesn't say he thinks it's Fraser Brown he is fibbing.

I await his reply.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Carlton Crew - but they all shot one another but Gatto is still around
Lygon Street Pizza makers- formerly known as Carlton One lost a bit of clout when they backed Collo
Elliotts clan - he wanted to keep Fev
Smorgy - dont think so
Pratt family - maybe but Jeanie wanted Fev
Mathison -Maybe very vocal
Fraser Brown - could be


Don't know but our two major sponsors are both from Asia Hmmmm maybe there is a new player

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

The club’s never had any money although its patrons have always had bucketsful.
At the end of the Elliott era the club not only had no money it had massive debts thanks to a spending spree and no plan to repay the debt.

One of the best things Sir Richard did was to bring Swanny on board and give the administration clout. Most of us have confidence in Swanny and his administration and IMO that’s where clout should stay. Sticks would be crazy not to place a lot of weight on Swanny’s advice.

I just can’t see why people are complaining about the Sticks presidency when he’s turned the club around in such a stunning way. Sticks has runs on the board now.

We should be very wary of anything that would cause dissension and a return to the factional war of the post-Elliott era.

Let’s not under-estimate the many different challenges of being President of an AFL club in crisis. Great work Sticks!!

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Bawditawaba

Powerbase is the wrong term. There is actually a power vaccum. We have a reluctant president who assumed the position by default & an unbalanced board, which by it's own admission is too large and probably lacks real football smarts and top end of town influence. However they are supported by a powerbase that has the money but not the time to run the club (Pratt Family, Mathieson, De Lutis and a couple of others). I assume this will change sooner rather than later.

This is not about sticks I.G.. I really don't want another thread about his merits or otherwise. It's not about who's done good or otherwise; it's about the political powerbrokers around the club or at the fringes. Who are they and who's likely to align themselves to the club in the future. Like it or not, I get the feeling that a new era may be upon us sooner rather than later.

OK but by doing such a good job Sticks and Swanny considerably enhance their own power and influence. They earn the confidence of influential supporters.
The way power is exercised varies from issue to issue is always in a state of flux. You'd hope that those who want a new President are not simply trying to increase their own power by doing that.

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Bawditawaba

John im actually guessing......

When i say Fraser Brown its because its what i hear happens when Dog Brown is around that group of guys.

Alot of people who have seen Sticks Ratts and Dog Brown as well as Braddles and Williams and everybody else have noticed that Fraser seems to be the sun and the others are the planets that orbit him.

The board seem to be happy to be going along for the ride not really agreeing with the class of 95 and decisions.. but not really doing anything to counter it
No new blood has been introduced since the Smorgon shallacking.
As a matter of fact the board has remained on 8 odd with no new resignations or additions for a while.. so im wondering how long time stands still for some of these guys. .. which is how you keep the status quo...
Youd have to question what Simon Wilson QC.. (Also present under Mssrs Collo, Smorgo,Pratt and now Sticks) have to offer?
Yes i know he offers legal advice but surely you dont have to be on the board for a decade under an assortment of presidents with various degrees of success to do that...

I do hear the current board is not too open to anybody new. (One of our TC board contrinbuters might wish to expland)

Obviously Pratts influence would still be the purse strings ...

What we have found and it has been obvious since the class of 1995s failed coup of Pagan .. that there is indeed a pretty significant cluster of ex players that have gravitated back to the club and have undertaken roles of sorts... whether on the board or in the footy dept.

The salient feature of these ex players is that often theyre not the most obvious choices or indeed the best credentialled candidates for the jobs received.

With such a load of ex footy players and the adoration that mere mortals have of past champions ... alot of people have been happy to go along with 'the cluster'..

Swann would be meant to be the counter balance to all this.. but the massive salary he is indeed on and the culture around him that he must fit into ... i would think being human he can be swayed and influenced also.Noone is going to give up on that kind of monetary reward ... Swann would be the highest paid CEO in the AFL... i would think.


Now on yesterdays presser!!.. it really hit home how unprofessional we are when we fronted a packed media throng with a couple of ex footballers. One the captain of the century and a living Carlton playing legend.. and the other a 2 times best an dfairest and ex player from the same era who happens to be the coach.

HOWEVER,.. the decions maker of the club would be the CEO .. Greg swann... not present.. and no legal person from the board present.

The decision to front the media and answer questions to the public.. both supporters and the wider footy community was a dogs breakfast.
Whoever thought this through obviously didnt think it through enough and it did indeed create a negative image on how the club is run...

Now with 2 or 3 weeks of knowing this presser would have to be fronted... something is totally amiss when you have ex players who fronted it inadequately and were totally exposed... because the class of 95 believe that they are fully equipped to run what is arguably the greatest club in Australian professional sport..... when the whole world has moved on into a new professional ear.

I know its a rambling , long winded answer... but the more i examine the behaviour of what is going on.. the more i see with my own eyes.. or hear from around the place ... the more rocks that are flipped over ... the more class of 95 people are apparent.. and doing their job ... but not necessarily the best person for each job.

I do not question their loyalty...
I do not question their love and passion for the club.

I do question their capabilities.. and the damage theyre causing in my opinion by just looking out for each other .. when they are NOT the best people for the job...

Massive worry....!!!

The club is being in run by a bunch of ex players .. and some people that are too scared to rock their boat....!!!

You cannot tell me Sticks is the best man for the job... nor can you tell me he is running the club!!

Where was our CEO Swann yesterday???

Why was Sticks there without him or a lawyer???

Was Sticks that arrogant or that stupid.. ???


its not about sticks going... everyone knows how i feel about sticks the president...

im just trying to illustrate how it works..and sticks is key

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IIRC one of the current board members mentioned here along the lines, that since they stood up during the bleak times, they deserve to be around when things are good, and vice versa for new aspirants.

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Scott, things aren't as happy as they used to be down here at the unemployment office. Joblessness is no longer just for Philosophy majors - useful people are starting to feel the pinch.

I as pretty much always agree with Synbad but in the end results are what counts. Last year Ratten got a tick and so at this point stays. Recruiters get a tick so they stay. Membership and sponsorship are also up so the upper management seem to be doing thier job as well.

The presser the other day as Synbad put it was a dog's breakfast no doubt about that even though reading it through the various papers did not reflect too badly on Sticks. I, like everyone else think the sun shines out of his backside (as a player and captain) but the guy could be a genius and still sound thick with that voice ... and I do not think he is a genius.

I think next year is going to be a watershed one for the club ... it will be the making or breaking of a number of people at the club ... from coach, to players, to board.

Best result would be Ratten becomes successfully creative and shows some nouse and a gameplan that involves kicking it to multiple targets! (not convinced yet he is able to), the board has a slight reshuffle and then it will be happyland at CFC.

Thanks for the replies so far guys ( sinners I knew you wouldn't be able to resist)

The political powerbase resides with " the members of the Carlton Football Club"