News Two new additions to the club's Board of Directors

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Former North Melbourne AFL captain Andrew Swallow and Melbourne businessman Nick Dowling are new additions to the club’s Board of Directors.

Their appointments follow the departure of director Anthony Stevens in March and Paul Dwyer’s decision to resign earlier this month.

They will officially start in their roles at next month’s Board meeting.

Dwyer has vacated his role due to increased business commitments that will take him overseas on a regular basis.

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood AM thanked Dwyer for his considerable service to the club.

“Paul has brought incredible business acumen and intellect to the Board since joining back in 2018,” Dr Hood said.

“The club has been the beneficiary of his calmness and common sense approach to the many issues we’ve confronted during that time.

“On a personal front, I want to thank him for his counsel and support, and unfailing good humour. We're going to miss him."

The appointments of Swallow and Dowling were approved by the Board at the monthly meeting on Thursday. As casual Board appointments, Swallow and Dowling will stand for formal election at the club's annual general meeting later this year.

They join Dr Hood, Andrew Harris, Selina Lightfoot, Rodney Piltz, Suzana Ristevski and Dr Harry Unglik as club directors.

Swallow enjoyed a storied career at North Melbourne, captaining the club from 2012-16, winning three Syd Barker medals and playing 224 games from 2006-17. Swallow was awarded life membership in 2017.

During his time as a player, he was a long-time AFL Players Association club delegate.

Since leaving the club, Swallow has lived in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. He has remained in football since retiring, firstly with Gold Coast’s men’s and women’s programs, and then at a community level with the Byron Bay Magpies Football Club.

Dowling has built an impressive CV as an executive and director across multiple business sectors. He started his career in banking, first with NAB and then Macquarie Bank.

In 2011, he was appointed CEO of real estate group Jellis Craig, and he is now the company’s executive chairman. He also has extensive experience in non-executive finance and real estate directorships.

He comes from a big family of North Melbourne supporters and his children are also passionate Kangaroos fans.

“We’re thrilled to have people of the calibre of Andrew and Nick join the club Board,” Dr Hood said.

“We’ve had a deliberate focus on developing a skills-based Board to steer the club through the challenges of the next few years, on and off the field.

“Andrew and Nick bring strong and diverse skillsets which complement our existing directors. We now have experience across football, finance, legal, governance, medical, business, marketing, property and community.”
 

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Finally a shot to land David??



Its Happening Ron Paul GIF


Edit. Thanks to Koshari
 
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Long time posters know my feelings about Andrew Swallow.

In Love Awww GIF
 
Long time posters know my feelings about Andrew Swallow.

In Love Awww GIF

Didn't think you were the happy clapper type.

(Hur hur jokes aside a true Shinboner and will be as much an asset off field as he was on the ground, great to have on the board)
 

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Swallow interesting. Very underrated player for us IMO as I've often banged on about.

Know he did some business studies but not sure of his other experience that might assist in this role. Was really happy to hear of his involvement in terms of an initial reaction fwiw.
 
Swallow interesting. Very underrated player for us IMO as I've often banged on about.

Know he did some business studies but not sure of his other experience that might assist in this role. Was really happy to hear of his involvement in terms of an initial reaction fwiw.

Don't think it worked out.

Believe he was doing some work experience with KPMG via Funky Carl when he was captain.

He's a builder these days around Byron Bay, which poses another interesting question about how often our football director will be at games etc.

He will be the "football" director. Pretty much most AFL clubs have a club constitution requiring one director to be an ex club footballer etc.

Like Archer and Stevens were.

He's there for his experience as an AFL footballer/captain, his experience around AFL coaching teams etc to advise on new coaches, major player contracts requiring board approval, football department appointments and possibly give his insight as a former captain on decisions like Tarryn Thomas that require board involvement.

Not there for his business experience.
 
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Don't think it worked out.

Believe he was doing some work experience with KPMG via Funky Carl when he was captain.

He's a builder these days around Byron Bay, which poses another interesting question about how often our football director will be at games etc.

He will be the "football" director. Pretty much most AFL clubs have a club constitution requiring one director to be an ex club footballer etc.

Like Archer and Stevens were.

He's there for his experience as an AFL footballer/captain, his experience around AFL coaching teams etc to advise on new coaches, major player contracts requiring board approval, football department appointments and possibly give his insight as a former captain on decisions like Tarryn Thomas that require board involvement.

Not there for his business experience.
He is not the football director. We do not have a football director. It is not written into our constitution that there must be a football director. Anthony Stevens was not football director.
 
He is not the football director. We do not have a football director. It is not written into our constitution that there must be a football director. Anthony Stevens was not football director.

Not in name, but it's why Anthony Stevens replaced Glenn Archer and why Andrew Swallow has now replacing Anthony Stevens.

Prior to that Mark Brayshaw was the board level representative with AFL playing experience and knowledge.

Prior to the restructure of the board in 2007, we had a different director structure and had all of the likes of Aylett, Joseph (not a player, but decades of club admin), Brayshaw, Rob Smith involved.

Andrew is not there for his corporate business experience. He has none.
 
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Don’t know much about Dowling but know about Swallow who was a great player and captain.
As for how many games both will attend who knows? All I want from these 2 new additions to the board is with the rest of the board is as follows.
1:Keep North pointing up on and off the field
2:Find a way to raise at least $6 Million extra a year as once Tasmania comes in no more Cash Cow from Tasmanian Government,Sponsorship ect ect.
3:Keep developing Arden St as a training base.
4:Look more into maybe having a 2nd Training base/Game venue in the Northern part of Melbourne .
5:If number 4 doesn’t happen look at Bendigo or Albury for 2nd Home ground.
6:A better TV draw as 1 supporter id be happy being the Fox Footy Friday night game as part of a Double Header on Friday night 3 to 4 times a year a 8pm start .
7:Get some VFL games at Marvel maybe 3 games Good Friday get the crowd in early raise more $$$$$$ for the kids and just pick games if we have home game against Collingwood or Essendon.
 
I'd be interested to know what Andrew's qualifications are or what specifically they view as him bringing to the board.

Because past NMFC players have a, frankly, garbage record in improving the fortunes of the club. On the board or as part of the staffing group.
 
I'd be interested to know what Andrew's qualifications are or what specifically they view as him bringing to the board.

Because past NMFC players have a, frankly, garbage record in improving the fortunes of the club. On the board or as part of the staffing group.
As much as you need corporate types for governance (and iam not a huge fan of corporates) you also need people who have played at the highest level or people familiar with the core function of footy or you get the scenario where you need to contract in football mercenaries like roos. I do share your interest what additional things spitta brings though.
 
Don’t know much about Dowling but know about Swallow who was a great player and captain.
As for how many games both will attend who knows? All I want from these 2 new additions to the board is with the rest of the board is as follows.
1:Keep North pointing up on and off the field
2:Find a way to raise at least $6 Million extra a year as once Tasmania comes in no more Cash Cow from Tasmanian Government,Sponsorship ect ect.
3:Keep developing Arden St as a training base.
4:Look more into maybe having a 2nd Training base/Game venue in the Northern part of Melbourne .
5:If number 4 doesn’t happen look at Bendigo or Albury for 2nd Home ground.
6:A better TV draw as 1 supporter id be happy being the Fox Footy Friday night game as part of a Double Header on Friday night 3 to 4 times a year a 8pm start .
7:Get some VFL games at Marvel maybe 3 games Good Friday get the crowd in early raise more $$$$$$ for the kids and just pick games if we have home game against Collingwood or Essendon.
The tv draw is solely based on performance. Start winning and better timeslots will come.
 

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