Balmain Players Walk Out of Match v Wests - Match Abandoned

[Ancient Tiger]

Coastal Boy, it should be and that is why government departments will be looking into it. The plan to move to the other side of town is a fairly new development that the REAL club has faced. The group now has the DSC articles which has been quite useful to them.

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Without these articles previously, factually incorrect information was hard to contest. Now it can be.

[tellitlikeitis]

Mr taxman has nothing to do with the current board of Balmain and if pretty well known around Sydney AFL - Pretty sure that almost everyone that is posting here from Balmain know who he is by now. Any Mr Taxman is his real name - try doing some research - he is providing some good advise here free of charge i thought

Sorry bro on not knowing the key ppl and their alias' on here. Was just coming across as very defensive and of the board and that is why I asked the question cause I can't really believe all the stuff about 4.4million and stuff etc. Think there has gotta some reasonable explanation or point of view that's all.

[Ancient Tiger]

Sorry bro on not knowing the key ppl and their alias' on here. Was just coming across as very defensive and of the board and that is why I asked the question cause I can't really believe all the stuff about 4.4million and stuff etc. Think there has gotta some reasonable explanation or point of view that's all.

Believe it. Look at the RMG website and search for Drummoyne Sports Club. Pretty shocking, or "murky" as Tara put it.

[Coastal Boy]

Coastal Boy, it should be and that is why government departments will be looking into it. The plan to move to the other side of town is a fairly new development that the REAL club has faced. The group now has the DSC articles which has been quite useful to them.

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If the assets of the club remain as property of the club(ie not sold) I can only summate that any "damage" allegedly caused by the current board can be fixed. Is a caveat of some type a possibility?

If an asset owned by an organisation is sold below its market value is this not illegal? Would the police not investigate?

[Mug Punter]

So, it would appear that the Balmain Dockers' players are in the wrong and the AFL is punishing them whilst they perform an "investigation". Bearing in mind of course that the fellow in charge of the Dockers was heavily associated with the NSWAFL.

The NSWAFL have sat on their hands and watched this debacle unfold over the years. The untenable and disgusting business model of Balmain has been a constant theme here for years.

This whole situation is a shameful reflection of the lack of governance in the game in Sydney and the buck stops with the NSWAFL.

I suggest Mr Harley that you do what you are employed to do and sort this out.

The only solution in place for this proud club to rebuild from its mismanagement is to start again from the bottom. Rebuild as a community club with a strong constitution and strong governance. Get rid of the Dockers and return to the famous yellow and black. Return to Drummoyne Oval and kick Sydney Uni out (let them find their own ground). Start amateur and stay that way if you can't afford to pay players and focus on junior development.

This is so far advanced that only a significant bailout and LEADERSHIP from the NSWAFL can save this club.

I believe that no one who is a true football fan wants to see this club fold. If this is allowed to happen whilst GWS are being funded to the tune of millions each year then this will be a disgrace for the AFL.

I hope I am wrong but I believe that Balmain AFC will cease to exist in 2014.

One other thing. A club is it's members. How on earth can the AFL allow a partnership of David and Gillian Yole OWN Balmain Dockers AFC (this is a FACT and not a libellious statement). How can these two OWN a football club?

[unconfuseme]

The risks of self interest interfering with good decision making, are always high when you put unqualified inexperienced amateurs in positions of authority where there is money involved.

Just ask GWS and the AFL how happy they were with their original "recruitment" strategies. I'm not talking list management here, I'm talking the guy who set himself up with a 7 year job interview, got all the recommendations for the role (from himself), and then got flicked because he couldn't manage the job ... FAIL, as anticipated by anyone who ever tried to have dealings with him.

Not necessarily the case here, but it is always a risk ... just as is total incompetence.

Just sayin' ...

[Jupiter]

Jupiter, given the drastic action is it a stretch that mental health issues are out of the question? Drastic action was taken, now I am not saying if that is true or not, but until an inquiry is conducted NOTHING should be assumed. I have mentioned bullying, threats towards players on this forum previously, is that not a potential driver for mental health issues? The AFL should not assume that it is NOT a potential issue.

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I assume your questions now have been answered Mountains of pain?

Hi Ancient Tiger - not a stretch I agree the folks involved are no doubt stressed and beside themselves. Definately worth running that to get lenience - my fear is when you have a fairly poor stitch up Tribunal system you are unlikely to get anything other than what the league wants. I'd be disgusted if the players get punished severely, that would be wrong. There are obviously a lot of extenuating circumstances. In terms of the league I just read Mug Punter's post which I think sums up that side of things pretty well. Depending on what the league knew it almost sounds negligent if all of that was allowed to go on under their nose.

[ShortHalfHead]

When was the league first notified officially that the current board had breached the constitution in regards to AGM's etc ?

[Ancient Tiger]

Jupiter, We are hoping that the circumstances allow the league to afford leniency too!!

ShorHalfHead, the league were first notified of issues at AGM's in 2011, but there was not much they could do except hope for the best, as all things are tied to the Drummoyne Sports Club. In the Leagues defense there is no jurisdiction in that area of governance, but 2011 is where they found out there were massive issues.

Those issues were highlighted again when the board changed their stance on NEAFL and pulled out of the race with out telling their General Manager who had already done quite a lot of research and work for the presentation and was well down the path of that process with the league. When the General Manager called up about the next stage of the meeting, the league had been informed that they weren't proceeding, but not the person running the club. Oh and that decision was made outside of a formal meeting, so only a few directors made this decision and knew about it. Again outside of constitution procedure.

Mug Punter, I hope you are wrong about 2014, but yes is very concerning. From all the old heads I have spoken with in the few years, and more so the last week, they all feel the club was dead and gone and the current situation is not Balmain. They now feel that there is hope as the players of today have enough of the old tiger spirit to try and bring this to a head, and are again now feeling that old spirit. With a lot of people working on this and some new developments over the weekend, we are hopeful!

And again, the players hate what they felt they had to do to save this club and meant no disrespect to anyone. As they put it, they did this for the next generation of footballers to come through. Lets just hope there is one, with the same integrity the club had for the first 100 years.

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[Pekay]

So where do you go from here? Do you have enough talented cattle to continue in Prems, or do you consolidate the players left, and those that may potentially return, into 1 team and play in Div 1 or 2? Will the Randwick exodus do reversed? What colours will you wear, as Auburn (should they continue) and Gosford alrerady wear the Tigers colours?

[Ancient Tiger]

So where do you go from here? Do you have enough talented cattle to continue in Prems, or do you consolidate the players left, and those that may potentially return, into 1 team and play in Div 1 or 2? Will the Randwick exodus do reversed? What colours will you wear, as Auburn (should they continue) and Gosford alrerady wear the Tigers colours?

The first focus is to assist the players mount their best case to the AFL. The other focus is to get the club back to its members, and put the right people in place to ensure the club is successful moving forward. The rest at this stage is a mystery to us all. One thing is guaranteed though, if the members don't get the club back, there will be no more Balmain.

[Bingo Peter]

Wowwsers makes interestting reading and hve ti say it deosnt surprise me that this is teh end result of what with my limmited knowldge of the situation could only ocurr.

I remember a few years back I wasin the prosess of mooving to Sydney with work and buisness commitments I sounded out few clubs to playiing and wad very close to singing with Balmain. Well loong story short one of their scouts came to watch a game I was playing in and inishally I did nt know they were coming so I couldn't ask my coach to see if he would play me in a varety of possitions even though I probably wouldn't anyways being ateam player. So I played on the halfback I am suited to a reboundin role and am quiet damaging on my left. So I played ok and then got a email from ghe club saying that I wasn't versatile when in whole honesty I played a team role on the day and shut down there damaging chf.

So insteed of coming though with the $800 a game they were going they renigged. I wasn't that bitter as I went onto win a bnf. At my club and worked remotely. But I did get a quite smile when they lost ghe grand finale due to poor rebound option off the half back

[Mug Punter]

Wowwsers makes interestting reading and hve ti say it deosnt surprise me that this is teh end result of what with my limmited knowldge of the situation could only ocurr.

I remember a few years back I wasin the prosess of mooving to Sydney with work and buisness commitments I sounded out few clubs to playiing and wad very close to singing with Balmain. Well loong story short one of their scouts came to watch a game I was playing in and inishally I did nt know they were coming so I couldn't ask my coach to see if he would play me in a varety of possitions even though I probably wouldn't anyways being ateam player. So I played on the halfback I am suited to a reboundin role and am quiet damaging on my left. So I played ok and then got a email from ghe club saying that I wasn't versatile when in whole honesty I played a team role on the day and shut down there damaging chf.

So insteed of coming though with the $800 a game they were going they renigged. I wasn't that bitter as I went onto win a bnf. At my club and worked remotely. But I did get a quite smile when they lost ghe grand finale due to poor rebound option off the half back

You're compooter got no spel cheque Peeter?

Glad it all worked out in the end, good to see loyalty in footie isn't dead after all and let your story be a salient lesson to all young footballers across the nation.

[Junior]

But I did get a quite smile when they lost ghe grand finale due to poor rebound option off the half back

When the Eagles kicked 10 in the first quarter of that GF, it didn't matter who Balmain had rebounding from half back if you can't get your hands on it!

[Coastal Boy]

I don't see how the "tigers" clash concept would be an issue. I can't see Auburn being around next year. Gosford are the Wildcats. Besides, Moorebank and Wests have co-existed in the same divisions without a problem.