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Absolutely agree. If you look at what bad cultures do to high draft picks then just look at Melbourne and (to a lesser extent) Carlton's record of burning through No.1 picks. To the club and supporters, it is a frustration and a shame that the kid didn't work out, but they cut their losses and move on. To the player it is a promising career that was doomed to fail from the night their name was read out. It is the loss of career, finance and joy simply because of the ineptitude of the club and its inability to develop a young player.
OK.
Incoming a long post on our culture/stability compared to North's.
I've put it in a spoiler so people can choose to scroll past without being confronted with a wall of text.
I find it interesting with the question regarding NM's culture to compare them to ourselves.
Tom Harley took over as CEO in 2019, with Pridham and Longmire already well established.
Since that time NM have had 2 Presidents, 3 CEOs and 4 coaches (plus 2 interim coaches).
With regards to the NM culture I'll mainly focus on the appointment of Ben Amarfio to replace Carl Dilena as CEO.
Dilena was a former AFL player, a former NM board member and CEO from 2013 to the end of 2019.
As part of the machinations involving Ben Buckley (President) and Glenn Archer (as football director), Dilena was 'let go' because the club wanted to bring in a CEO with a more football focus.
Under Dilena North eliminated their debt, had consistent profits and made two Prelim finals.
NM appointed Amarfio a former Cricket Australia (CA) employee with a commercial broadcasting background who had also worked in the broadcast field with the AFL and Austereo.
So yep essentially no football background whatsoever.
Now when Amarfio was appointed CEO much was made of how at CA he had his secretary cook his breakfast every morning.
But not before his arrival time of 9.30am and naturally she also had to make sure all the condiments were lined up appropriately in his glass office (Worcestershire Sauce his preferred choice). The fact that he also did it with his lunch got less scrutiny.
He was also outed as making approaches to media outlets to hire James Brayshaw (the former NM President) at the time he was negotiating media deals with those very outlets.
Now I happen to know two people who were involved with CA when Amarfio was onboard (one internally, one externally) and he was renowned for his politicking and the ability to take ownership of success and make sure failure was an orphan to be adopted by someone else.
Unfortunately for Benny when the race was on to replace James Sutherland as CA CEO it was a two horse race and Amarfio backed the wrong horse.
The new CEO (Kevin Roberts) ensured Ben was escorted from the CA's offices by security, never to return.
Unsurprisingly in the ethics report commissioned in the aftermath of the Bancroft/Warner et al ball tampering Amarfio was found to be arrogant and not a team player
And so moving on we come to covid and the Qld boltholes.
Tom Harley moved with the players to Qld, became bench coach (with Charlie Gardiner as match day runner).
Mind you this is the same CEO who on at least one occasion has run water for the AFLW team.
Symbolic perhaps but I would have thought an indication of an all in ethos.
As for NM.
First year coach Rhyce Shaw took the players to Qld.
Ben stayed back in Victoria, presumably because he couldn't guarantee the quality of the cooking in the hubs.
Sadly we all know what happened to Rhyce and he stepped away from coaching at the end of the year.
So with Rhyce gone Amarfio and the new (and current President) in Sonja Hood decided that David Noble was the man to be the new senior coach. Obviously hoping to emulate the success of Chris Fagan who had also moved from a football administration role.
Noble led the club to the wooden spoon in his first year and was sacked after a 1-15 start to his second season.
A review found that there was overwhelming negative feedback to his coaching and personal style.
He even had to publicly apologise for his behaviour lambasting the players after a loss.
The review made no findings on his choice of breakfast.
And so with Noble gone, Sonja Hood decided to set out on her own in pursuit of Alistair Clarkson, with Ben and the club having decided to part ways.
As for JHF he walked in the door at the start of 2022 (Noble's second year in charge).
Then he was 'outed 'for flying home to Adelaide for Mother's Day on a weekend off.
Prior to the mid-season draft the club's 3 senior recruiters quit. They had been at the club for 17, 10 and four years respectively.
Of course JHF was dropped from the side (for Round 21) because he hadn't taken an ice bath 'properly'.
So by the end of his first season, coach gone, CEO gone, recruiting staff gone, a wooden spoon, the club publicly calling him out and former player Atu Bosenavulagi confirming JHF and Cam Zurhaar 'were always at each other’s throats' during training amid criticism of JHF being 'very competitive'.
The same Zurhaar who was highly critical of JHF walking out on North, yet currently has his manager hawking his services around every club in the land.
And so one last comment on the culture at North.
The CEO was recently asked at a NM supporters business function what was the club's plan when the money dried up from Tasmania with the entry of the Devils.
Her response apparently was initially 'anyone got any ideas?' before settling on the AFL always wants clubs to play in Darwin, that would be a nice spot for a holiday for North's supporters.
Ah there's long term planning if ever I saw it.
So dear reader if you have made it this far what is the moral of the story?
Barrack for a stable, inclusive club in the Swans rather the basket case that is North.
But you probably knew that already.
Greene is a little unlucky as he was committed to going for the ball. He had eyes for the ball. Split second decision and he turned his body slightly. Blues player got up played out the game
Why the ball was kicked to him , 1 at the most as he could've killed him if he wanted
Could have told them this for free before they traded for Jackson.
None, but I agree I can't say I've been impressed.
)
Seriously good post! Couldn't decide whether to love, laugh or like... but content is excellent!!None, but I agree I can't say I've been impressed.
She (and the AFL generally of late) seem to have the attitude of never deal with an issue today that you can put off until tomorrow.
(Although to be fair that's probably my attitude to life as well.
I find it bewildering and sad that I watch BT commentate and find myself in agreement.
The 6-6-6 rule has been in for an number of years, get rid of the warning and pay a free kick if a team infringes.
Laura Kane was asked about it pre-season and her response was along the lines of 'we are monitoring it and we'll look at it at the end of season.'
Why wait?
Similarly goal umpire awards a goal, TV goes to an ad break, bunker reviews it during the break and can halt play further if needed.
Implement the change now, no club will be disadvantaged.
While I'm on a roll I find it ridiculous the AFL didn't take the Charlie Cameron ruling to the Appeals Board.
The tribunal actually found Cameron guilty as charged (careless, medium, high)and then tied themselves in knots to reduce the outcome to a fine rather than one week off.
Comments like the conduct was careless, but not recklessly careless, that Charlie has played over 200 games and is in the majority that have never been suspended (they did acknowledge he had been fined a number of times, that in the current climate would probably have resulted in a suspension) and then took into account a good bloke discount for his work in the indigenous community.
It was the most convoluted decision that basically ignored the limitations expressed under the tribunals guidelines of 'exceptional and compelling circumstances'.
Tribunal totally unnecessarily opened a can of worms and the AFL did nothing to put the lid back on.
I think I need a nap now.
Yeah, only if that was their intent. Bring Jackson in, trade Darcy out. But if it wasn't, and it wasn't, doesn't make any sense.
Hogan never punched him , wouldn't have bruised an apple
