Balmain Players Walk Out of Match v Wests - Match Abandoned

[Steiger]

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?

Sterlo, why would Loopy hang around such a disgraceful place? I don't blame anyone, contracted or not for walking away from the club... This is the exact problem the loyal few are trying to fix!

[Tiges]

Agreed with regards to the players. I do understand why the players are cast as mercenaries, but as Steiner said, why would they stay?

Guys like Loopy and Luffy played hard for the club and wanted to be involved, especially Luffy who did an awesome job organising fund raisers for the club. The AFL crop were so focused on helping juniors and put their hand up for committee roles. Luffy even used to show up early and do water and boundary for under 18's.

[unconfuseme]

I'm sure plenty of recently ex-players are sniffing (back tears) at the state of affairs ...

Why wasn't the protest on when the team was contending for a flag? ... nothing seems to have changed in the area of administration, just no cash around ...

And who are these recalcitrant directors? ... it's public record, so why not name and shame them???

[Tiges]

Have you not read the list that ancient tiger has written?

In the last year they have lost their club, their home ground and are now heading towards coogee. Not a big change really, are you serious?

Go back and read the steps taken in the last few years and why the situation is so desperate now.

And it was the uncontested players that protested, not players looking for cash as you suggest.

With respect to the moderator of this forum he has asked for names not be be identified.

[brettcarle]

I don't know who the people involved are. The Dockers committee details were removed from their website in February 2013.
I guess if people don't know who the committee is, it makes it easier to be unchecked and unaccountable.

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[unconfuseme]

As has been mooted by many, the club has been a "basket case" for years ... that didn't happen in the past 2 years.

Put out a petition to save a historic icon and it's a no brainer, everyone will sign, but "The Dockers" have little cultural or historical significance in Sydney, so does anyone outside the club really care what's happening?

Disrupting the competition only serves to disenfranchise other clubs, who were more than likely only indifferent about your survival to start with ... would have been more meaningful to withdraw all teams from the comp.

Sorry, if you don't say who is responsible for this, it just becomes a purple haze.

What are their motives?
Who benefits and how?
Why would the Dockers play out of Coogee?
Who would play for them?

Without that info, who's to say that the process wasn't democratic, and it's just the minority complaining???

Looks like legal action is the only remedy.

[Tiges]

So on one hand people will sign to save an iconic club, then on the other hand they are indifferent? Which one is it? And the fact you mention it being iconic, but of no historical significance is equally as confusing.

And yes the club had been a basket case for years, but has only been this year that they have lost the above mentioned points.

So when would the players removed the team from the comp? At the start of the year when they did not know there was a planned a move to coogee? Or when there was still hope for an EGM or resolution?

As the above points which have been highlighted with significant detail have stated ALL avenues were taken and when ALL avenues had failed drastic action had to be taken, and the players were considerate enough to do it on a dead rubber match.

If you want to know who is a director then then look at the ABN lookup link which was also highlighted by ancient tiger.

[unconfuseme]

"Balmain Tigers" are an iconic club, Balmain Dockers are not.

Like St George "Dragons" are an iconic club, but no one gave a faaaaaark about the St George Crows ....

If someone can answer the "Who benefits and how" question, I'm sure things will be much clearer.


... do we need more proof that there are plenty of school teachers sucking on the public tit for life, that you wouldn't trust with a real job - just sayin!

[brettcarle]

... do we need more proof that there are plenty of school teachers sucking on the public tit for life, that you wouldn't trust with a real job - just sayin![/QUOTE]

Where's the LIKE button!?

[mountainsofpain]

So on one hand people will sign to save an iconic club, then on the other hand they are indifferent? Which one is it? And the fact you mention it being iconic, but of no historical significance is equally as confusing.

And yes the club had been a basket case for years, but has only been this year that they have lost the above mentioned points.

So when would the players removed the team from the comp? At the start of the year when they did not know there was a planned a move to coogee? Or when there was still hope for an EGM or resolution?

As the above points which have been highlighted with significant detail have stated ALL avenues were taken and when ALL avenues had failed drastic action had to be taken, and the players were considerate enough to do it on a dead rubber match.

If you want to know who is a director then then look at the ABN lookup link which was also highlighted by ancient tiger.

Have the relevant external bodies (government, AFL etc) been contacted about this?

Has a lawyer been consulted to see what your options are? If one hasn't been available pro bono, has some sort of fighting fund been established to fund legal advice and other activities?

Has publicity been organized about what is going on? Has advertizing been considered? Have any sort of open meetings been organized for those with concerns to attend?

Is there a detailed strategy in place to take things forward from here?

How much effort has been made to get significant representation at AGMs? I saw a number of 30 players attending an AGM mentioned. Given the apparent level of concern, is that the best representation that can be rustled up to attend an AGM?

And so on......

I don't want answers to all the above by the way. They are just a few things off the top of my head which make me wonder if "all" avenues have been taken.

[Tiges]

That is the club they are trying to save... The only people who want to save the Fockers are the board themselves. Hence the reason why the players deserve your support. (And I did mean to say Fockers)

The question you have about who benefits... The Dockers board benefits in their own heads as they are power hungry morons, who use being a "director" as some sort of life entitlement, which justify's their existence.

Quite pathetic but true, and lets hope the investigation uncoveres more about their motives. The first question that should be raised is why is a director the "owner" of the ABN for the football club? A football club with a windfall coming its way... That is what I would be asking and want to know. Don't you?

[Tubz]

So, what happens this week at team selection?? Was the head coach involved in this protest or was he left on the sidelines wondering what half his team were doing?

IMO, this course of action is disrespectful to the game. Any player worth his salt plays every game like it was his last. If these blokes had the intention of walking off, and they obviously did, why did they take the field in the first place? I agree that it seems the current administration need to move on and give it back to the people with the clubs best interest at heart but walking out on a Premier Division match is ridiculous. Clubs such as Parramatta, Southern Power, Penrith et al and their senior grade players would give anything to play just one match in Premier League. Ca you imagine this happening in the VFL/WAFL/SANFL??

This issue is bigger than the Balmain footy club though. C'Town have also had major issues over the past 5 years financially/player retention wise/support staff wise, SHEagles and Syd Uni are struggling with the weight of expectation of NEAFL and the flow on effect to their Prem Div sides and Illawarra are on their death bed it seems being winless in prem and forfeiting their Div 2 side. Where to from here?? Maybe clubs such as the Southern Power/Parra and the like with their houses in order need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves in the top flight as Manly have done so well this season. Not sure why all these clubs are struggling to survive, anyone have any ideas?

Ancient Tigers and Tiges won't agree with some (or all!) of this post, but it's just my opinion and nothing more.

[Tiges]

MOP.... The questions you asked will be answered in time, but there is a process with these kinds of concerns as you would appreciate, so only certain information an be divulged at this point in time. Ancient Tiger I think has done a pretty good job of painting the picture as best he can, without contravening forum or legal requirements.

[mountainsofpain]

MOP.... The questions you asked will be answered in time, but there is a process with these kinds of concerns as you would appreciate, so only certain information an be divulged at this point in time. Ancient Tiger I think has done a pretty good job of painting the picture as best he can, without contravening forum or legal requirements.

As I said, I don't want answers. Some of the suggestions I made may not even be relevant.

I am simply wondering if all avenues have really been exhausted here

My point is that if you feel a situation like this needs to be rectified you have to be well organized, funded, researched, have the right support behind you and have a clear strategy.

I am simply wondering how much of that is the case.

[Tiges]

Tubz there is no malice toward anyone with a point view on this, but it seems people are failing to recognise that the game has been disrespected for years by this board and the players are making a statement to the AFL to say enough is enough. Dodgy administrators cannot and should not be tolerated, and it takes actions like these to bring it to a head. These players have acted in the interest of their club and the game, and that is what Ancient Tiger and myself are trying to explain.

You have all bagged the hell out of the Balmain administration for years, and rightly so. You should keep an open mind and wait till all the facts are revealed to the rest of our community. These are the facts that some of us know, and the reason why these players are the gutsiest players I have ever seen!

The online support and private messages to the new Balmain Facebook page has been overwhelming and very appreciated by the group, and the players.

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MOP... Could not agree more and for the most part it is the case. The difference being you have David and Goliath in terms of financial resources, and a Goliath that does not play by the rules of the constitution. With very little time before a move to coogee and the end of the season, a dead rubber game was the only way to bring attention to plight to save a foundation club. The players hate what they had to do, but they did it for all us against dodgy administrators. They did it to highlight the disgraceful conduct that has occurred over the last decade, and they did it knowing they would they cop &&&& for doing it!

Is that not courage? Screw the brownlow medals and the AFL premiership players...each and every player that
stood up to this and walked off is my favourite player of all time!

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Yet still no statement from the club administration.... Hmmm wonder why!