Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

[LostDoggy]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

I'd be a little cautious of measuring passion by what one might say or what is reported in the media.

Agree that Smorgon has been quieter this year, though I believe that was a conscious change from those previous.

I've had a few supporters of other clubs ask me during the season if David is still our president. This seems to be due to the fact they are so used to him being not only the face and voice of our club but also being the unofficial spokesman for the presidents of smaller clubs on AFL issues.

I think we need a strong vocal President who will champion the club and create awareness of the good thiongs the club has done and continues to do in the community. Although far from being out of the woods, we are not the struggling organisation we once were and I think that gets lost when we don't perform well on the field.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Except he ain't doing surgery. Frank Costa was a fruitier yet one of the most successful presidents of recent times.
What experience did Steve Kernahan have?
Smorgon had no experience as a football president either.

Agree, Smorgon's been on the departure lounge for a while now.
Not sure after the Ratten Malthouse soap opera I'd be putting Kernahan up front as an example. Kernahan admitted he had "blood on his hands" re Ratts, yet didn't resign.

[jeemak]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

That's like saying give the guy a scalpel and let him prove he can be a surgeon!

OK, maybe that's a little dramatic. All I was suggesting was that beyond running successful restaurants we're not sure about his business acumen. Agree that Gordon was untried, though I would hazard a guess that one might be exposed to more dirverse business in his chosen profession than a restaurateur might be.

I suppose the most important thing for an inexperienced president to do is surround himself with excellent business minds, that can work cohesively towards a common good. If Dimma can do that, and bring an entrepreneurial element to the task then great.

Except he ain't doing surgery. Frank Costa was a fruitier yet one of the most successful presidents of recent times.
What experience did Steve Kernahan have?
Smorgon had no experience as a football president either.

I think I've plainly admitted an exagerration Chops, and also a means by which an innexperienced president might be able flourish in the role.

Interesting you raise Costa, as he would be the first to admit putting Cook in the driver's seat was the best thing he could have done for Geelong. Having said that, I think you might be selling him a little short by labelling him a fruiterer.

[Guido]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

I don't believe Smorgon put much money in personally (I can't prove that, just what I have been told) and he was touted as having lots of business connections but we still have a debt of $4 million.

I don't know where this $4mil figure comes from. Garlick has been quoted in the local papers saying $8mil-$9mil, the balance sheet has the club's liabilities at $14mil.

That it took 13 years to even begin a bulldoze the debt campaign is a story in itself, but whatever the figure is, when it's adjusted for inflation, the club is in a worse debt position than what it was during the fightback of 1989. This is despite over the last ten years the club receiving over $15 million in discretionary assistance from the AFL.

Kudos for the effort that Smorgon and this board have put in, but when it comes down to it, Andrew Demetriou's policies (tens of millions in assistance towards weaker clubs) and nous (outstanding negotiation in broadcast rights and player wages) have saved this club.

I don't know if Dimma is the man for the job, but we need a president with and a plan and vision towards the club becoming truly independent and completely in control of its own destiny. On the back of a "woe is us" attitude and a number of poor (to stupid) decisions, Smorgon had the club give up on this goal a long, long time ago, leaving us completely and hopelessly reliant on the AFL for our day to day survival.

It's all well and good now with a "friendly" CEO and AFL commission, but whether it be 5, 10 or 20 years down the track, there will eventually be a "change of outlook" at the top, and our current financial situation has us completely and utterly at the AFL's mercy (merged or dead at the stroke of a pen - no romantic "fightback" can save the club if there isn't a fundamental change to its finances).

This is not where I want the club to be, so as long as they a present a valid and viable platform, I would vote for almost any presidential challenger.

[Bornadog]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

I don't know where this $4mil figure comes from. Garlick has been quoted in the local papers saying $8mil-$9mil, the balance sheet has the club's liabilities at $14mil.

Not sure where you are getting your figures from. The Bulldoze the debt started at $5million and they have knocked off about a $1million. see here

According to the balance sheet there was a commercial Bill owing for $4.25 million and another loan for $1.6 million which is a fixed and floating charge in favour of Tabcorp Investments No. 6 Pty Ltd over the assets of The Peninsula Club operated at the former Dromana-Red Hill RSL.

Total Liabilities are $14 million but that includes the above plus trade creditors.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Why do you say smoke and mirrors? is that from what you read in the paper?

Sorry if my comment had you flummoxed, i was responding to Ghost Dogs suggestion that there is a lot to like in regards to Dimma and him possibly being president. I'm in the opposing camp as I think how dimma has previously gone about agitating the current board has been poor. As for the money suggestion as I said I'll believe it when I see it. Smoke and mirrors was probably the wrong term.

[Bornadog]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Sorry if my comment had you flummoxed, i was responding to Ghost Dogs suggestion that there is a lot to like in regards to Dimma and him possibly being president. I'm in the opposing camp as I think how dimma has previously gone about agitating the current board has been poor. As for the money suggestion as I said I'll believe it when I see it. Smoke and mirrors was probably the wrong term.

No probs.

[Guido]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Not sure where you are getting your figures from. The Bulldoze the debt started at $5million and they have knocked off about a $1million. see here

According to the balance sheet there was a commercial Bill owing for $4.25 million and another loan for $1.6 million which is a fixed and floating charge in favour of Tabcorp Investments No. 6 Pty Ltd over the assets of The Peninsula Club operated at the former Dromana-Red Hill RSL.

Total Liabilities are $14 million but that includes the above plus trade creditors.

I saw it with my own eyes in a local Western Times article, Garlick quoted the club's "historical" debt as either $8mil or $9mil million. It was about a year ago, but should have the article lying around somewhere to confirm whether it was 8 or 9.

The $4mil-$5mil debt figure has been bandied about since 2000 - it doesn't quite add up that it has remained the same when the club's liabilities (according to the balance sheet) have more than doubled in that time frame and the club made consecutive million dollar losses for a few years running in the early to mid-2000s.

But I'm happy to bow to better judgement. Tell me though, if we hit the $5million target listed, are we debt free?

[Bornadog]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

I saw it with my own eyes in a local Western Times article, Garlick quoted the club's "historical" debt as either $8mil or $9mil million. It was about a year ago, but should have the article lying around somewhere to confirm whether it was 8 or 9.

The $4mil-$5mil debt figure has been bandied about since 2000 - it doesn't quite add up that it has remained the same when the club's liabilities (according to the balance sheet) have more than doubled in that time frame and the club made consecutive million dollar losses for a few years running in the early to mid-2000s.

But I'm happy to bow to better judgement. Tell me though, if we hit the $5million target listed, are we debt free?

I am only going by the balance sheet and the answer is yes.

[Greystache]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Just heard Dimma on SEN denying any interest in taking over. So much for that then.

What a complete shock.

The Dimmatina guide to free advertising;

1- Tell your mates involved in football you're considering doing xxxx at your old club, and it will take that club to new heights.

2- When the story starts to build traction, unconvincingly deny it to the media.

3- Be seen to be secretly meeting with potential key figures in a highly public place

4- While the story continues to generate publicity, never address the issue publicly and confirm or deny your intentions.

5- When the story reaches the point where you have to put up or shut up kill the story and claim to never having any knowledge of, or intention to fulfill the committment.

Wait 12-24 months then do it again.

The Dimmatina's use the Bulldogs and Richmond as their personal marketing tools, then
don't give back anything in return.

In all the years since he's retired this hugely successful restauranteur has never seen fit to put his hand in his pocket to even offer a minor sponsorship deal, yet now he's supposed to suddenly become a saviour. Please!!

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

What a complete shock.

The Dimmatina guide to free advertising;

1- Tell your mates involved in football you're considering doing xxxx at your old club, and it will take that club to new heights.

2- When the story starts to build traction, unconvincingly deny it to the media.

3- Be seen to be secretly meeting with potential key figures in a highly public place

4- While the story continues to generate publicity, never address the issue publicly and confirm or deny your intentions.

5- When the story reaches the point where you have to put up or shut up kill the story and claim to never having any knowledge of, or intention to fulfill the committment.

Wait 12-24 months then do it again.

The Dimmatina's use the Bulldogs and Richmond as their personal marketing tools, then
don't give back anything in return.

In all the years since he's retired this hugely successful restauranteur has never seen fit to put his hand in his pocket to even offer a minor sponsorship deal, yet now he's supposed to suddenly become a saviour. Please!!

And he needs the publicity why, exactly?

[Greystache]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

And he needs the publicity why, exactly?

Is that a serious question?

Why does a business in hospitality want free publicity?

[always right]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

And he needs the publicity why, exactly?

Perhaps he's simply a publicity whore ala Akermanis.

[Maddog37]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

What a complete shock.

The Dimmatina guide to free advertising;

1- Tell your mates involved in football you're considering doing xxxx at your old club, and it will take that club to new heights.

2- When the story starts to build traction, unconvincingly deny it to the media.

3- Be seen to be secretly meeting with potential key figures in a highly public place

4- While the story continues to generate publicity, never address the issue publicly and confirm or deny your intentions.

5- When the story reaches the point where you have to put up or shut up kill the story and claim to never having any knowledge of, or intention to fulfill the committment.

Wait 12-24 months then do it again.

The Dimmatina's use the Bulldogs and Richmond as their personal marketing tools, then
don't give back anything in return.

In all the years since he's retired this hugely successful restauranteur has never seen fit to put his hand in his pocket to even offer a minor sponsorship deal, yet now he's supposed to suddenly become a saviour. Please!!

Greystache, this almost sounds personal. Is it?

Still love that avatar too by the way.

[Greystache]

Re: Smorgon Leadership Challenge update

Greystache, this almost sounds personal. Is it?

Still love that avatar too by the way.

Not at all, I've almost never had anything to do with him. I just scratch my head at the way he works the system and has some people fall all over themselves to hand him control of the club. All flair, no substance.

The way Richmond handled his Dad a few years back was brilliant, he started making noise about sacking the coach and paying out his contract. The story gained some legs, so the club called on Dimmatina publicly to put up immediately. He backed off instantly when it was time to put up and wasn't heard from again about the issue.

Thanks, I'm probably due to update it, he's nearly 18 months now.