Is it time for Smorgon to step down

[Bornadog]

Don't get me wrong, Smorgon has been great for the club, taking over during a difficult period and stabilised our financial position. After 15 years maybe its time he stepped aside, its a long time.

During the past 15 years there has also been some big negatives and maybe we should have progressed faster than what we have.

* The Rhode decision - what a debacle. We had a great young batch of players and he was a useless coach. Who knows what could have been achieved during that period.

* Not standing up to the AFL and just being allowed to be pushed around. Examples are the stadium deal at docklands. The club allowed the AFL to negotiate the deal and we got the biggest raw deal of all time. Blokes like Kennett - love him or hate him he doesn't take any shit from anyone and doesn't let the AFL push Hawthorn around. Look at the Tassie deal, wow the dollars from that have made the Hawks one of the richest clubs. When we wanted to do a special deal with the NT government for big bucks, the AFL said no. Smorgon should have been tougher.

* TV deals and block buster games - again we have been pushed around by the AFL and we just don't stand up for our rights.

* Big mouthing about the Grand Final

* I have heard from many sources he doesn't put much money into the club (even Aker said that today). I know he doesn't have to but you would expect a millionaire President to do something for the club. He was supposed to bring in business connections to help out, has he done that?

Finally, the decision today and the debacle this season about Rocket's coaching future. Handled very badly, should have been nipped in the bud early but all we get every week is speculation in the media. Surely this has influenced the playing group.

Anyway you may agree or disagree, but if Rockets time is up so is Smorgons and maybe the board.

[choconmientay]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

To made Eade solely responsible for the failure of this season is plainly wrong. He should take a lot of responsibility for that as well. Yeah, why stop if we are doing a clean up and start a-fresh. We could also sack Fantasia, Garlick and get a new management team to plan for the next decade. (may be i shouldn't speak with the anger still inside of me)

[LongWait]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I know you love Rocket BAD, as many on here do, but calling for Smorgon's head is an emotional rather than rational response imho. Rockets' time was up and the decision not to renew his contract was reasonable.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I know you love Rocket BAD, as many on here do, but calling for Smorgon's head is an emotional rather than rational response imho. Rockets' time was up and the decision not to renew his contract was reasonable.

I can accept what you say about Rocket and my love for him. I thought Rocket was the best option going forward and I will declare I met up with him a couple of times a year over the past 3 or so years with a few other woofers for dinner, but the post I have made is not an emotional one.

I have heard from a very good source that the Dimma lead coup is a possibility and the person who wants to take over as President( not Dimma) will come in and wipe the debts as his first act.

Anyway maybe we need a fresh start and maybe now is the time. We are so far behind other clubs in a number of areas.

* No List Manager
* Lack of asisstants and recruiters in the field
* Lack of Physios and personnel to help recovery
* Beautiful new buildings but lack of exercise and other equipement
* as well as all the pints made above during Smorgons time.

Its time

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

Don't get me wrong, Smorgon has been great for the club, taking over during a difficult period and stabilised our financial position. After 15 years maybe its time he stepped aside, its a long time.


* I have heard from many sources he doesn't put much money into the club (even Aker said that today). I know he doesn't have to but you would expect a millionaire President to do something for the club. He was supposed to bring in business connections to help out, has he done that?

.

This is my big one. Eddie, Kennett and Frank Costa (to name a few) would have had the connections and done this. Has David? This club needs strong business allies as a core structure to it's financial future.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

* The Rhode decision - what a debacle. We had a great young batch of players and he was a useless coach. Who knows what could have been achieved during that period.
.

Horrible coach yes, but this was as much a commercial decision as it was a coaching one, we also then didn't have to deliberately tank.

* Not standing up to the AFL and just being allowed to be pushed around. Examples are the stadium deal at docklands. The club allowed the AFL to negotiate the deal and we got the biggest raw deal of all time. Blokes like Kennett - love him or hate him he doesn't take any shit from anyone and doesn't let the AFL push Hawthorn around. Look at the Tassie deal, wow the dollars from that have made the Hawks one of the richest clubs. When we wanted to do a special deal with the NT government for big bucks, the AFL said no. Smorgon should have been tougher.

.

shit deal yeah, but at the time we were not getting the numbers at our matches and a fixed return above our average numbers seemed like a good deal, just lacked foresight.

* TV deals and block buster games - again we have been pushed around by the AFL and we just don't stand up for our rights.
.

Not sure on what you think we missed out on here?.

* Big mouthing about the Grand Final

.

Everyone needs a target(pass mark). Asking for anything less would be laughable

* I have heard from many sources he doesn't put much money into the club (even Aker said that today). I know he doesn't have to but you would expect a millionaire President to do something for the club. He was supposed to bring in business connections to help out, has he done that?

.

Smorgon is not a benevolent society, look what happened when Gutnick tipped his millions into the club.

He should be judged purely on his merits and to to suggest that he should be dipping into his own purse to support the club is unfair.

Finally, the decision today and the debacle this season about Rocket's coaching future. Handled very badly, should have been nipped in the bud early but all we get every week is speculation in the media. Surely this has influenced the playing group.

Anyway you may agree or disagree, but if Rockets time is up so is Smorgons and maybe the board.

The club had always advised that it would be making the decision at the end of the year and regardless of whether it was/is the right decision, the fact that we brought it forward is of benefit to both Rodney and the Club.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I will always appreciate what David Smorgon has done for our football club but this is the worst decision he has made in his time.

This is the first time I have considered that David is no longer the right person for the job.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I will always appreciate what David Smorgon has done for our football club but this is the worst decision he has made in his time.

This is the first time I have considered that David is no longer the right person for the job.

Great minds think alike. Time to question all his decisions now.

We need to take the next step...... David helped the club take the next step from 1996, but now the next step is higher.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I will always appreciate what David Smorgon has done for our football club but this is the worst decision he has made in his time.

This is the first time I have considered that David is no longer the right person for the job.

That's exactly how I feel too SS.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I will always appreciate what David Smorgon has done for our football club but this is the worst decision he has made in his time.

This is the first time I have considered that David is no longer the right person for the job.

Agree 100% with this too.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I will always appreciate what David Smorgon has done for our football club but this is the worst decision he has made in his time.

This is the first time I have considered that David is no longer the right person for the job.

expressed my sentiments exactly.
I'm not averse to tough decisions being made, such as changing a coach. However the job to boot Eade seems to me to be a decision made more for wanting to be seen to be making a tough decison than actually making a tough decision.
When you consider the resources or lack thereof around Eade, you wonder how just changing the coach is going to magically correct this.

When you then factor in Smorgon's statement about a refresh as opposed to a rebuild. it has made me question whether he is losing it, or does he think we the members are stupid and will swallow that horseshit?

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

Horrible coach yes, but this was as much a commercial decision as it was a coaching one, we also then didn't have to deliberately tank.

Wrong Decision, we exist to play footy not make profits

shit deal yeah, but at the time we were not getting the numbers at our matches and a fixed return above our average numbers seemed like a good deal, just lacked foresight.

Cannot justify the deal, it was wrong. We should have stood our ground but we just got pushed around by the AFL

Not sure on what you think we missed out on here?.

Block buster games against the big clubs. We have been very competitive in Rockets time and have never pushed to play some big games at the G and make some big dollars.

Everyone needs a target(pass mark). Asking for anything less would be laughable

Well keep it internal and not put pressure on the club through the media

SmorgOn is not a benevolent society, look what happened when Gutnick tipped his millions into the club. He should be judged purely on his merits and to to suggest that he should be dipping into his own purse to support the club is unfair.

Well why be President if you bring nothing to the table? Maybe be unfair but either you put money in or get others to. Kennett got the Tassie Government to give them what $10 million or so.

The club had always advised that it would be making the decision at the end of the year and regardless of whether it was/is the right decision, the fact that we brought it forward is of benefit to both Rodney and the Club.

Thats fine but the whole season all we have heard about is whether Eade is the man or not, this happens when you are losing. This surely effects the playing group.

[GVGjr]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

BAD, can I ask what the catalyst is for this very damning assessment?
I'm very interested in the timing of your declaration.

From memory you have heaped praise on Smorgon for a long time.

[Bornadog]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

BAD, can I ask what the catalyst is for this very damning assessment?
I'm very interested in the timing of your declaration.

From memory you have heaped praise on Smorgon for a long time.

Don't get me wrong, I think Smorgon overall has done a great job for the club. Gordon had taken us as far as he could and I think Smorgon has also taken us as far as he can and maybe its time for new blood.

The Catalyst is this years performance, and the frustration of not getting into a Grand Final since 1961. Sometimes you have to work from the top down and maybe its time.

Do you agree with my assessment? I have never been happy with some of the things I mentioned in my op, especially the deals at Eithad. You know in 2008 and 2009 we had the best average crowds at Eithad, that includes Saints and Essendon and we got nothing out of it. One of those games we topped over 51,000 attendance against Collingwood, only to receive - what $150,000 or so.

I see guys like Eddie and Kennett really stick up for their club, even North, but we just lay down when the AFL tells us to because we have an inferiority complex.

[Dogmatic]

Re: Is it time for Smorgon to step down

I think smorgon was un-opposed at the last election. Does anybody want to take over the presidency?