St Kilda's Strengths and Weakness

[Vortex]

Our recruiting is our main issue ... apart from the obvious blunders (petracca), even James Worpel at pick 45 vs Clark pick 7.

We banked on Clark having a higher ceiling, but Worpel has been better from rhe word go, year after year, and Clark hasn't bridged the gap.

Our recruiting problems are only the outcomes of issues with foundational instability. It would be nice to think the return of Ross is the tuning point after 150 years of failure but sheez its hard not to be cynical this is just another false dawn.

[B.M]

Worpal was one of theses picks where people bailed at him (wrongly) because he was a bull in u18s and was a men amongst boys

Shannon Hurn, Luke Parker were the same

Recruiters often overlook the obvious and outsmart themselves

[samoht]

We need to assemble the best recruiting team ... whatever it costs.

Fool's paradise, false dawn, whatever ... I know Sicily and May (and their managers) would love to shake Lyon's hand and personally thank him.

[Vortex]

We need to assemble the best recruiting team ... whatever it costs.

Fool's paradise, false dawn, whatever ... I know Sicily and May (and their managers) would love to shake Lyon's hand and personally thank him.

I have been saying this for an eternity and I'll say it again, we need board positions created that have the sole responsibility for football and recruiting, and the positions need to be filled with suitably qualified and competent football people, Leigh Mathews types. That's your "whatever it costs" meat on the bone right there.

[saintsRrising]

We need to poach the best recruiters.

I would tend to think that we have gone ok since Toce became our head recruiter. He seems to have a good eye for talent. Did well when was just focused on particular states.

Now before Toce, yes a horror story. And a horror story made worse by too many very poor trades ins. Getting both you drafting trading wrong is a recipe for failure.

[saintsRrising]

I have been saying this for an eternity and I'll say it again, we need board positions created that have the sole responsibility for football and recruiting, and the positions need to be filled with suitably qualified and competent football people, Leigh Mathews types. That's your "whatever it costs" meat on the bone right there.

Personally I believe that Jason Blake since joining our Board in 2021, has been the quiet achiever behind the scenes in reforming our Football Management and Department and in providing good and clear football focus.

[Vortex]

I have been saying this for an eternity and I'll say it again, we need board positions created that have the sole responsibility for football and recruiting, and the positions need to be filled with suitably qualified and competent football people, Leigh Mathews types. That's your "whatever it costs" meat on the bone right there.

Personally I believe that Jason Blake since joining our Board in 2021, has been the quiet achiever behind the scenes in reforming our Football Management and Department and in providing good and clear football focus.

What have been some of his initiatives and achievements?

[Sanctorum]

Board members work behind the scenes, there's no way anyone will ever find out what Jason Blake's input has been but suffice to say that as a very experienced past player (219 games, 14 years) he qualifies as a competent football person.

He graduated at RMIT wirh a double degree in Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Construction Management) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance Specialisation).

He also has the advantage of having played under Ross Lyon so will have a clear understanding how the coach operates, his strengths and weaknesses.

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1089679

[Vortex]

Board members work behind the scenes, there's no way anyone will ever find out what Jason Blake's input has been but suffice to say that as a very experienced past player (219 games, 14 years) he qualifies as a competent football person.

He graduated at RMIT wirh a double degree in Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Construction Management) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance Specialisation).

He also has the advantage of having played under Ross Lyon so will have a clear understanding how the coach operates, his strengths and weaknesses.

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1089679

In biology parlance, Jason has just entered puberty with regards to experience and gravitas at the board level, and can you really see his relationship with Ross as anything other than that of the subordinate student to the master.


Having said that I think he is worthy of a junior board position however he would greatly benefit from a senior mentor that is in the Leigh Mathew’s mould and whereby both positions are responsible for all things football operations.

[CQ SAINT]

Board members work behind the scenes, there's no way anyone will ever find out what Jason Blake's input has been but suffice to say that as a very experienced past player (219 games, 14 years) he qualifies as a competent football person.

He graduated at RMIT wirh a double degree in Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Construction Management) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance Specialisation).

He also has the advantage of having played under Ross Lyon so will have a clear understanding how the coach operates, his strengths and weaknesses.

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1089679

In biology parlance, Jason has just entered puberty with regards to experience and gravitas at the board level, and can you really see his relationship with Ross as anything other than that of the subordinate student to the master.


Having said that I think he is worthy of a junior board position however he would greatly benefit from a senior mentor that is in the Leigh Mathew’s mould and whereby both positions are responsible for all things football operations.

Again. Mattbews has been a premiership coach 4x. and the best of the best on the field according to many.

Unfortunately, as an administrator, he is a failed deputy chair and Football Manager and stood down in 2017, citing his commitment to his employment in football broadcasting was holding him back. Hmmmmm.

Walsh was a gun administrator.

Leigh Matthews is a reluctant retired coach, who has amassed $millions as a commentator and ex-thug footballer and hasn't had any success in the administration area at all.

I heard Malcolm Blight is available? Tony Lockett. How about Barry Hall?

[The Fireman]

Spot on CQ

Matthews definitely displayed biological gravitas on the field but lacked parlance in the boardroom?

Sorry guys, just trying out my new chatbot

[Vortex]

Board members work behind the scenes, there's no way anyone will ever find out what Jason Blake's input has been but suffice to say that as a very experienced past player (219 games, 14 years) he qualifies as a competent football person.

He graduated at RMIT wirh a double degree in Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Construction Management) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance Specialisation).

He also has the advantage of having played under Ross Lyon so will have a clear understanding how the coach operates, his strengths and weaknesses.

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1089679

In biology parlance, Jason has just entered puberty with regards to experience and gravitas at the board level, and can you really see his relationship with Ross as anything other than that of the subordinate student to the master.


Having said that I think he is worthy of a junior board position however he would greatly benefit from a senior mentor that is in the Leigh Mathew’s mould and whereby both positions are responsible for all things football operations.

Again. Mattbews has been a premiership coach 4x. and the best of the best on the field according to many.

Unfortunately, as an administrator, he is a failed deputy chair and Football Manager and stood down in 2017, citing his commitment to his employment in football broadcasting was holding him back. Hmmmmm.

Walsh was a gun administrator.

Leigh Matthews is a reluctant retired coach, who has amassed $millions as a commentator and ex-thug footballer and hasn't had any success in the administration area at all.

I heard Malcolm Blight is available? Tony Lockett. How about Barry Hall?

As usual your brain runs off fully cocked and in turn it always seems to lead you to getting your panties all tied in a knot and your facts all muddled up, funnily enough I went to a function not so long ago and Leigh was introduced as a director on the board of the Lions Football club, my understanding is he is still very much a mover and a shaker at the club, just to be sure I just checked the Lions website board of directors page...yep! still says he's a director.

I have told you before, take up chess, it helps exercise the brain in preparedness for mental gymnastics.

[CQ SAINT]

Yes he is a director, he stood down from roles as, deputy chair and manager of football 6 years ago, to pursue more IMPORTANT personal pursuits in the media, which make him millions.
His position is a token one, he is an AFL man. They have made a packet together.
He is payed to commentate as an expert on the game by the media. They pay him so well, as a Brisbane director, he only has time to market the game in Queensland, to businessmen at functions, moving and shaking.
He is the token board member serving his own self interest, that you seem to despise. But you were at function, and you were impressed?

[CQ SAINT]

How many premierships have Brisbane won since they didn't have the best coach and the best players?

[nostalgicsaint]

So some believe Matthews is a successful administrator but Lyon an unsuccessful coach?

[CQ SAINT]

In 10 years of being on the board, his biggest achievement was standing down from 2 important roles to pursue a job as the AFLs expert commentator.

[samoht]

So some believe Matthews is a successful administrator but Lyon an unsuccessful coach?

Lyon was reportedly on $1 mill/year at Freo, when he first started with them ... close to 10 years ago?
$1 back then would buy $1.50 now, easy.

So, he was "perceived" to be a top-notch coach, back then at least.

I just hope the money we're saving on his salary (I think he accepted a much more realistic salary with us) is being spent wisely on attracting and assembling the best recruiters and on player development ... the 2 areas that can bring about sustained success and a successful coach on the back of that.

I hope St Kilda has finally woken up to itself.

[Vortex]

In 10 years of being on the board, his biggest achievement was standing down from 2 important roles to pursue a job as the AFLs expert commentator.

I dunno, his club just played off in a GF and has been a sustainable top four side for the past 6 years, the Lions are what we aspire to be, RELEVANT!

Did your “gun administer” think we were RELEVANT when he was sniping from the cheap seats? Shame he didn’t take the job seriously and stick around to do something about it.

Yeah and I dunno about achievements, check out the Lions board and then compare it to ours, tell me which director on BOTH boards has not only the most credible and proven football record in all areas of the game over a 50 year period and then do the comparison on each clubs success and relevance over the past 25 years and still try and argue what Mathew’s has or hasn’t achieved for his club.

So back to my point grasshopper, a Mathew’s type on the board would be handy, a “type”, obviously not Mathew’s himself but somebody with his standing and gravitas.

Focus and stay adult.

[Sanctorum]

The childish, condescending tone of responses by some individuals on this forum makes ones skin crawl

Adult???? Juvenile more appropriate.......

[shanegrambeau]

The childish, condescending tone of responses by some individuals on this forum makes ones skin crawl

Adult???? Juvenile more appropriate.......

My juvenile delinquency awaits any opportunity ...it doesn't take much..I put my hand up, but the red flags are already ablaze..

[Yorkeys]

In 10 years of being on the board, his biggest achievement was standing down from 2 important roles to pursue a job as the AFLs expert commentator.

When you are a coach you can be an authoritarian dictator bastard if the side is winning.
On a board you have to be persuasive, network, compromise.
I can see how a guy who had no qualms about breaking opponents heads as a player and was a ruthless coach would find board room politics difficult.
Also Leigh seems to have little sense of humour or irony, which could come across as being difficult or rude in the board lunchroom chatter sessions.

[The Fireman]

The childish, condescending tone of responses by some individuals on this forum makes ones skin crawl

Adult???? Juvenile more appropriate.......

My juvenile delinquency awaits any opportunity ...it doesn't take much..I put my hand up, but the red flags are already ablaze..

I just wish I could grow up
but I know who you are aiming at Sancto

[CQ SAINT]

I really expect more from you Vort but I have no idea why. I think the pearls of wisdom advice you leave and the teenage overconfidence are sort of endearing, maybe?

Graeme Allan, have you heard of him?

Like you were close with Matthews but the lack of knowledge of man behind the coaching legend is a little sad, because like others I really dread talking to, you just pulled out a big name without removing yours eyes from the lights before you wrote it.

Next time your at a free lunch, and they role out Director Matthews, ask him who his football department manager, and head of list management and recruiting at Collingwood and Brisbane was.

Ask him who convinced him, with a plan for the Brisbane football clubs football department and list, to take on the job. After he told Andrew Ireland he wasn't interested.

They were $500k short of what he wanted a year and $Ms short of what channel seven and a contract for the 2000 Olympics lead up with Bwuce would bring.

Matthews asks Gubby if they can fix Brisbane, Gubby reckons the list is hot, the facilities are s***, the culture is good amongst talented players but they need big bucks spent on the facilities and we need to control the budget and say who gets what out of it. The club will need to raise millions in donations and a few holiday resorts will need to be bought invested in and shares sold off on the rise.

The only issue is money.

Matthews contacted Gubby, Gubby contacted Ireland, Ireland contacted Browne and Jackson. Jackson contacts Matthews and informs him the 98 TV rights will allow the soft cap to double. Olympics money got thrown at the Gabba and first class facilities are on their way. Facilities and finances fixed.

Everyone got well paid. They had the best of everything and cash was slinging under tables faster than you could COULD'NT see it.

Matthews retired because the Gold Coast was coming. The concessions, the dirty deals, the extra, the upgrades, they all stopped. He knew they would.

When Mathews stood down they were $13m in debt.
They were heading to the bottom.
They draft concessions disappeared.
They Gabba stopped the reserves playing on the same field.
They had a leadership void on field.

Matthews just keeps making more money, more free trips and slinks off back full time to being an expert.

They had been hero worshipping. The AFL is fixed.

Now, back to the silly notion that a volunteer position on a board, would attract anyone of any real influence and be a good idea.

Didn't we head hunt Gubby Allen to consult as our head of player acquisition and list managers.

Focus and stay adult. Lol

[shanegrambeau]

Tough for AFL to come up roses in our 'bleached' public world..

'Brand AFL' has few 'clean heroes' I suppose. Fit for the role model the sport needs to portray to kids and families.

As the game went national, the first group of heroes..

Mathews, Gary Ablett snr, Carey , even Plugger...all kinda less than optimal on the 'stain-free' scale

then the '00s hit and the drug stories came along, West Coast etc.

The greatest...have their marks, wounds and blemishes..but the pure - where are the pure?

[The Fireman]

I’m right here