Balmain Players Walk Out of Match v Wests - Match Abandoned

[Norris Lurker]

Without knowing the AFL Sydney By-Laws intimately, my understanding is that the walk-off will result in an additional debt to the club - in the form of an automatic fine from the league. Continuing walk-offs would lead to further league sanctions including demotion/deregistration ...

Forfeiting the seniors while Div 2 played, the club is possibly looking down the barrel of disqualification. I hope it doesn't come to that, but the by-laws are clear on that matter.

[Ancient Tiger]

So a question to you all.

If you thought that your club was about to fold and there was nothing else that could be done, but to protest, as all other routes had been take, would you stage a protest to save your club?

Quite a conundrum as if you answered yes then you understand, if you answered no, then you are not a true clubman.

YES

Any one else care to answer this simple question, which is what it all comes down to?

[Steiger]

Why do the board want to remain in power when they are disliked by so many at the club?

What's in it for them?

One board member won't talk to players he doesn't like and as the only support person to a recent away game only ran water to people he liked. That's a professional attitude if I've ever seen one!

Another board member has removed themselves completely from attending training or games prior to the walk out.

Another board member has not been seen at a game or training for a very long time.

I also know that board member A doesn't want board member b to be in charge and vice versa!

A club cannot operate at any level when the top brass are not liked by the majority of players, members of the board themselves do not like the players and they do not like each other.

[ShortHalfHead]

YES

Any one else care to answer this simple question, which is what it all comes down to?

Was the club about to fold before the next AGM? Are you totally convinced that Balmain will no longer be in existance in two months time unless changes are made prior to the EGM/AGM?

If it was me, I'd garner the help of all those unhappy with the current situation and get them to training and games to run water, help out in all grades to send a message out to all, that you want to change things and are prepared to put in the hard yards.

If the current board prevented you from doing these things, surely it would be another nail in their coffin.

Of course, it's your club and so you have done what you deem the best

[Ancient Tiger]

The players have done that and the board refused to let people help. There was a perfect example of that on the weekend, when a life member was refused to be allowed to assist. (before all of this took place)

It is clear that you all understand rules and procedure, but that only works when you deal with people who respect those rules and procedure. From my understanding players receive little to zero notice about AGM's for the past few years, so how can you fight that battle if you are a player? Enforcing the rules is not an easy thing to do, especially when there is little time and a lot of dollars to be spent on doing so. How can a group of players who are in their 20's have the funds to support it, or the know how? They did what they did to protect future generations and cause an investigation to what has been happening now for almost a decade.

But all of this aside, the question is would YOU protest if all other avenues had failed to save your club? It is a simple one word answer that everyone who has been reading this forum has failed to acknowledge! (that wasn't specifically directed at you ShorthalfHead)

So for those of you reading this the challenge is to answer the simple question put in yesterday by Tiges.

Over to you all...

[mountainsofpain]

Would I take all steps to try and sort out the problem? Absolutely. (Without much more information, I am yet to be convinced that has happened by the way).

Would I endorse a protest in the form of forfeiting a Premier Division match? Absolutely not.

Just because the internal situation at Balmain is deemed to be dire, that is no excuse for ****ing on another club and the competition itself.

[tara]

But all of this aside, the question is would YOU protest if all other avenues had failed to save your club? It is a simple one word answer that everyone who has been reading this forum has failed to acknowledge! (that wasn't specifically directed at you ShorthalfHead)

To answer your question I would do whatever it took to keep my club alive however I don't know that that I would protest in the form of a walkout. I will say its a brave move to take but your now in uncharted waters and I suspect that you've have opened the door for a return to a 10 team comp in PD.

[Jupiter]

YES!

Any others out there care to answer?

Yes mate from me.

Unfortunately reading here the horse has bolted though and things sound irreconcilably stuffed in terms of the current club I'm afraid. This hasn't all happened overnight, the writing has been on the wall for some years with reports of a flawed approach to running a community club. I do think the league is complicit and has had many obvious opportunities to help turn the ship and failed to - I hope they help now but I honestly can't see any outcome that would please you. Personally I think de-registration of the current club should be on the cards if 10% of what is referreed to on here is accurate. Your Tiger group may need to start out fresh ala a Saints/Auburn style group and build back from there - I'm confident that it would be possible for you to find a way to "acquire" the history and good will of your foundation club - just some smart navigation required. I have to stress, like some others on here that I do suggest you guys get some help / advice independent of the league who have their own role and agenda and perhaps independent of your core group which seems to have struggled / is struggling to address things - no offence intended but the reality is more than passion for a club is needed here and you have to start influencing your own "Tiger" destiny. If there's a committed group ready to run "a club" the sooner you can get some distance from the current blow ups and on to planning a fresh start the better I reckon.

[Pekay]

To answer your question I would do whatever it took to keep my club alive however I don't know that that I would protest in the form of a walkout. I will say its a brave move to take but your now in uncharted waters and I suspect that you've have opened the door for a return to a 10 team comp in PD.

Or for the next worthy club to take their place........Blacktown AFC.

- - - Updated - - -

Besides that tongue in cheek last comment, I've been reading this thread with interest. Not a good position to be in. I'd say the best thing to do, if you have numbers willing to return for the 'Tiger cause', would be to revert to the sash, albeit inverted so as not to clash with Gosford and Auburn (Should they even exist beyond Saturday) call yourselves Drummoyne, because let's face it, as sad as it is, the name Balmain will forever be tainted in terms of football, and play out of Drummoyne or another ground in the area. Like a Band-aid......straight off and let the wound heal by itself. But, how many of the old cattle will return? Do you have the numbers required? Will you start from scratch in a lower division, with one team perhaps?

And to answer a previous question, yes we lost players to Balmain, young talented ones too, in the last few years, but this is nothing new, and from what I was told last night, none will be returning to Balmain next year, the Johnston boys will be back in blue and white.

[Norris Lurker]

My thoughts are similar to what Tara posted before.
Do what you need to keep your club alive? Absolutely. The right to protest? Yes.
Walk off a Premier Division game? I don't know what the Sydney AFL people are thinking, and I hope I'm wrong; but my concern is that this is the "freedom of speech" moment when a club is deemed too dysfunctional to be able to be salvaged.

[Ancient Tiger]

Under the current board, absolutely correct Norris. With a new batch of people, and many of the old who have indicated their willingness to get involved, including several past presidents. These are the people who made the club successful in the past, started junior clubs when there was no AFL in the Balmain area, and forged a relationship with Sporting Clubs, growing them into successful businesses. That was all before the current board came in and sold the tiger name, put the sports club into receivership, and now want to take the club to Coogee.

And as far as ****ing on the league on other clubs. The current administration has been ****ing on the AFL brand as you all well know and have commented on for years. This action will hopefully put that to an end. Much bigger picture than one abandoned game.

If you aren't convinced that players tried all avenues after reading this forum then I really do not understand. Please see below what has been identified:

1. AGM 2 years ago had 60 people who were not members voting for Drummoyne Sports Club Board - the 30 players who turned up all voted against the current administration.
2. The Drummoyne Sports Club AGM's since have not been made known adequately to members of the club
3. The players put forward a committee with former AFL players, and business people in 2010 to submit to the board so they could run the football club, and the board stay focused on the sports club. This was refused and the sports club went into administration due to mismanagement, and the players scattered among other clubs.
4. The members/players called for an EGM and the board failed to act under their own constitution.
5. The members/players were in negotiations to separate and lose most of the money (they just wanted some to get them started), but then the board opted out of genuine attempts for a resolution. Then sacked those involved in the genuine talks.
6. A petition was brought public by the group as a cry for help and there was an overwhelming response from former Balmain people and those from other clubs

Now the EGM notice is deemed ineligible because they don't feel anything has been breached, and removal of the board was at the discretion of the board. How democratic!

Now again for those who haven't read what I posted before. This is what the players have lost:

1. Their tiger brand
2. Their home ground
3. Their sports club
4. The money from the sports club ($4.4 million)
5. Will be moving to coogee and called "Sydney Dockers"

They now have 3 weeks left in the season and chose a game that bears no effect on the finals. If they were going to protest then they picked something that did not affect the competition, so as far as ****ing on the competition, they have been quite thoughtful of that.

Post season they cannot get this sort of attention to conduct an AFL investigation and the club will be closer to the beach and be called "Sydney Dockers".

If you cannot see how these actions were desperate measures for desperate times, then I am not sure what you think is? You have to remember that this club has pushed away everyone to the point where there are NO volunteers to help, so how can you expect a group of those in their 20's to fight any harder for their club? The fought long and hard and time simply ran out, hence the drastic action!

- - - Updated - - -

And why are the directors owners of the ABN for the club?

Current details for ABN: 96 213 716 876

http://www.abn.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=96213716876

[chatovadafloor]

How does Fremantle feel about this?? Has anyone contacted them...

ABN search.... nothing suprising there.... why anyone would have him involved is a mystery.

[Ancient Tiger]

no chatovadfloor, it is a misery!

[chatovadafloor]

I would be contacting them.. I am sure they wouldnt know half story.. and I am sure the club would think twice of a relationship with the club given the turmoil going on.

no chatovadfloor, it is a misery!

[Sterling Cooper]

Balmain Dockers are a disgrace. Their club has been built on a pile of @@@@ and monopoly cash ever since they changed away from the Tigers. Majority of 'recruits' over the past 5 years have been only mercenaries. Sad, sad state of affairs. Bring back the Tigers where people were proud to play for the love, and not the cash. Interested to hear where their 'Grand Final' Heroes such as Colloupous have dissapeared to in Balmain's hour of need?