Balmain Players Walk Out of Match v Wests - Match Abandoned

[MrTaxman]

Fact: I got a phone call in early July 2012 from a (dissident) member from the Balmain footy club concerning certain things happening & how it was mooted back then about setting up a new club & going back to yellow & black & writing up a new constitution & submitting a new application with the league ... so yes then you had 13 months to sort these issues out, including one AGM. I am too far removed (see later) to have been the only person in the world to have been consulted with such an idea - you may not have been aware but I can definitely tell you that others were. I remember exactly where I was (Canberra) because we were awaiting the birth of our surrogate child.

Fact: No doubt I am ignorant to all the facts because they have not been clearly spelled out (my other unposted post asks a few questions about the particular ABNs held in the structure to get a clearer understanding ... I really don't believe you fully understand the structure because if you did then you would know that the business name Balmain Dockers is not actually owned by the BAFC but I will let you investigate that pearl on the ABR website for yourself) ... but I am allowed to disagree with your form of protest & the timing of it. 10 ideas is greater than the none that you said were fully exhausted ... and I don't care for the club the same way that you do. I find it amazing that it was easy to appoint 3 members in 2012 but impossible to add one more in 2013 to give your faction control ... it is clear that the 60 members voting against you was obviously important enough to sway the voting at the last AGM ... hardly impossible if it was only about the numbers & ye simply didn't have them. If it is so difficult, what change will calling an EGM do? If they could put a man on the moon in 1969, then I am sure you can put a rocket up someone in 2013 ...

Fact: I was team manager of the AFL Sydney rep side this year & had to collate details of selected players for insurance & medical purposes - hence why I know where a few of the boys live. I assumed that they would be the contracted players. They are nice guys too. I have known people from both sides of the club for the past 25 years since my involvement in AFL Sydney began in 1988 (I have played footy at Auburn, Parra, Wests, Wollongong, sponsored Penrith, ECE, Nor-West Jets & helped out with ground management duties during finals' time) - although I was asked about 5 separate seasons to come across to play, I have never attended a training session yet alone played for the Balmain club but I have played for the Sydney Cricket Club at Drummoyne. I have not spoken to anyone pertaining to club matters subsequent to the aforementioned phone call 13 months ago. I have no personal vendattas against the BAFC - not that I really do have with any other club in Sydney for that matter. In fact, I reckon that there is only one person in Sydney footy that I simply do not like nor get along with - and no it is not Russell Matheson nor any of the Kassems (although I have got disappointed with them at times!).

Fact: As for pressure I lost my child at birth in December 2008 and whilst I was holding her warm yet limp body in my arms I was told that it was a 50/50 proposition that I would lose my wife in the ensuing 6 hour operation ... that is real stress my friend ... football is nowhere near as important. (I do want to publicly thank the Balmain Dockers for their support in that time as the President arranged a signed Freo jumper for me to auction to help my charity in helping other angel parents).

Finally, I do think it is an internal matter & that you should find a way to work it out ... internally. I wish you luck.

[smif]

I believe there's a big meeting with Sydney AFL etc happening by thursday... Or should I say investigation

[MrTaxman]

Come to think of it taxman, you are either involved in the administration, close friends with the administration, or a stalker! (Joking)

(c) Stalker ... I live in the Blue Mountains a long long way from Maroubra. See my other post about my knowledge of Sydney footy & the people with BAFC. Contact with yourself & Ancient today via this forum is the only contact that I have had with members of BAFC since July 2012 pertaining to these matters.

[brettcarle]

For someone who just joined the Forum MrTaxman seems to have a bit to say about the Tiger's predicament.
As for your personal loss, I don't see the relevance. Are you the only one to suffer in life? I think we've all experienced loss at some time or another.

We all know life is more important than football but thank you for the moral compass!

[MrTaxman]

Don't suppose there is any chance of Mr Harley, the NSWAFL Golden Boy of showing any leadership on this matter....

Whilst I always believe that there is more that Tom could do with footy in NSW (and he knows my thoughts), should he really have to get involved with this matter though? I don't think so & Matt Graham would be simply too busy at this time of year to have the time to adequately devote the necessary attention deserved if the league were to get involved & fully investigate the matter. Discuss it with them after the footy season & prior to the club AGM. There will always be internal problems within clubs & money seems to be the root of all evil.

- - - Updated - - -

For someone who just joined the Forum MrTaxman seems to have a bit to say about the Tiger's predicament.
As for your personal loss, I don't see the relevance. Are you the only one to suffer in life? I think we've all experienced loss at some time or another.

We all know life is more important than football but thank you for the moral compass!

Mostly asking questions to get a better understanding seeing that the club wanted to make it public & get the matter exposed. I used to be on this forum before under another name (Rafters) but couldn't remember my password so set up this new account ... I will ignore your other comment because I expect you to delete it before anyone else reads it.

[brettcarle]

Fact: Saying something is a fact doesn't make it so.

[Tiges]

Yes he should. This is the premier competition in NSW (NEAFL excluded) and this is a foundation club. If he isn't prepared to get involved in this then perhaps he would be better suited to going back to Geelong and trying to playing AFL again! From what I have heard however he is involved and there is an investigation being conducted.

I know there are a few people on this forum who have kept an open mind on the matter and the players did this to get an investigation.... So for those who are critics ask yourself this.

Would you go to the police to request an investigation if you were guilty of anything? Or would you do it if you were confident that the real issue would be identified? All they want is for the truth to come out!! Why not wait until then?

And I don't know what to say about your personal tragic loss except to say that it is awful and my heart goes out to your family.

[MrTaxman]

Would you go to the police to request an investigation if you were guilty of anything? Or would you do it if you were confident that the real issue would be identified? All they want is for the truth to come out!! Why not wait until then?

And I don't know what to say about your personal tragic loss except to say that it is awful and my heart goes out to your family.

Thank you for a more appropriate response.

If there is reason to go to the police then by all means go to the police ... end of story ... I obviously haven't read between those lines. Stuff doing any walk-offs in protest.

PS My name is Adrian Raftery, aka Rafters, aka Mr Taxman www.mrtaxman.com.au - didn't think I had to give any more clues than what I already did.

[mountainsofpain]

For someone who just joined the Forum MrTaxman seems to have a bit to say about the Tiger's predicament.
As for your personal loss, I don't see the relevance. Are you the only one to suffer in life? I think we've all experienced loss at some time or another.

We all know life is more important than football but thank you for the moral compass!

He used to post under another user name.

I know who he is (his new user name gives it away) and I can guarantee he has an extensive knowledge of Sydney football from his long-standing involvement in the game here.

Those with an interest in and knowledge of the game in Sydney are more than entitled to their opinions on this matter by the way. That is the logical outcome of what happened on Sunday.

If you had read his posts you would have realized his opinions are reasoned and well thought out. I don't see the need for personal shots just because those opinions may not necessarily be supportive for the action taken.

For what it's worth, I don't agree with the way this protest was conducted either and also think it is an internal matter for the various factions of the Balmain Football Club to sort out.

Just because the grievances are genuine (which I don't doubt for a minute), that doesn't necessarily mean the form of protest taken was justified nor does it mean that the club's dirty laundry has to be aired in such a public and unedifying way.

But, as with MrTaxman, I also wish luck to those who feel their club has been taken away from them and hope that they get resolution. I for instance know of one particularly long standing Balmain person who would have been deeply hurt by what has transpired and he deserves better.

So I hope it all works out for the best.

[Tiges]

Sorry Police meaning NSWAFL to conduct an investigation.... Not the actual police. A poorly executed metaphor!!

Just saying why would you put an investigation on yourself with all eyes on you, if you are guilty?

They aren't running from the truth they are tying to highlight it, and it is a very ugly truth unfortunately.

[mountainsofpain]

Whilst I always believe that there is more that Tom could do with footy in NSW (and he knows my thoughts), should he really have to get involved with this matter though? I don't think so & Matt Graham would be simply too busy at this time of year to have the time to adequately devote the necessary attention deserved if the league were to get involved & fully investigate the matter. Discuss it with them after the footy season & prior to the club AGM. There will always be internal problems within clubs & money seems to be the root of all evil.

I'm not sure the League should be expected to step in and sort out internal problems within clubs.

And, as I pointed out before, how much can they do anyway? Especially if the current administration decides to stand its ground.

[Tiges]

Just to note MOP there were 4 former presidents, the two founding members of the junior football club and about 10 life members there supporting the players after what transpired.

All of us old tigers are disgusted that it happened, not at the players, but the reasons that led to it. Us past players do not personally know most of the players that play today, but are grateful for the sacrifice they made for the future of the club.

[ShortHalfHead]

I recall a similar incident in recent years. At the country's last AGM in August 2010, Club LNP were defeated and claimed that the AGM was "stacked" citing a few "rogue" players (Warwick Oakeshott and Buddy Windsor). Head Coach Leigh Abbott, spat the dummy and called for various new elections over the next few years. To his credit, he didn't ask his players to walk out of the Canberra clubhouse as a protest, as it would have made him look sillier than he is. He has been smoking the pipe and looking forward to the September AGM citing that he can fix the current board members mistakes.

I think everyone here is hoping that this issue is resolved in good time but most are ineligible to change anything (voting). Rafters posts have been very well structured and make perfect sense to me (and thanks to him for financially supporting us and other clubs out west) If there is overwhelming support for a new administration, it will happen. A new board certainly is putting extra pressure on themselves to perform magic tricks should they be successful. Dividing the club by highlighting last Sunday would make it harder to pass around the olive branch in the future.

[Coastal Boy]

If there are suspected issues going on at board level I can see that waiting a few more months could be disastrous. From my experience, AGMs are always held without a letter going out to all members and at an inconvenient time for most to attend. You can bet if there is a outside fraction looking to come in the AGM will likely be set as late as possible etc etc.

To say that this is an internal matter for Balmain and should not be touched by the league I think comes with precedents. The AFL is currently heavily involved with Melbourne FC and overseeing their coach appointments etc. Isn't this a similar thing??

Over the years I've witnessed teams including Balmain, Bankstown, Sydney Uni and Parramatta fall out of the top division. These results are never good for the game in Sydney. The SydneyAFL has an onus to check the running and financial status of all clubs. I think they should get involved here. I'm surprised nothing has been mentioned on the SydneyAFL website - even a statement regarding the issue. What's the point in having the website if its not used for media type responses? Any major sporting body would have felt compulsion to hold a media conference within hours. Obviously no one expects that here. But a few lines in a statement might be nice.

[ScottH]

Don't know what happened there - some permutation of words must have triggered an auto-moderation filter. I have no objection to that post and it is now approved.

It was possibly the link in the post, if it was one of MrTaxman's first 5 posts.
Spam prevention, but annoyance to real posters.