Colless warns we can't keep up with big clubs

[BillyRayCypress]

No one has mentioned Myles BH or Andrew Ireland either so not sure what the relevance is of Templeton, a CEO who left the club around a decade ago. No doubt he made a strong contribution while he was at the club but he isn't overly relevant to where the club is heading now.

I doubt Colless does very much "day to day" around the club. He isn't part of the management team. He is chairman of the board, and my understanding is that he is a non-executive chairman. He probably spends his "day to day" looking after his business interests and earning a living, hence enabling him to also give up plenty of time on (I believe) an unpaid basis to participate in steering the strategy and overseeing the corporate governance of the club, which is the function of the board.

I mentioned Templeton as he was there during the first critical years post the early 90's. Yes add Baron Hay and Ireland to the list. The relevance? He (they) were/are the CEO's.

So if Colless has little to do with running the Club (as in your words you're guessing what he does) as you say, then credit should be given to the people that are responsible for running it.

The Sydney Swans have been in Sydney for 30 years. The membership has stagnated. In a city of over 3 million people (1% of the population, if all 30,000 members lived in Sydney) , you can only blame nrl and other interests so much for your own inadequacy.

[liz]

I don't see why the acknowledgement that it takes more than one person to contribute to the running of a successful operation requires the denegration of the efforts of any of the individuals involved. And the specific relevance of Colless to this thread is that some posters have used his recent comments as a prompt to specifically criiticise him and his efforts, not those of Templeton, MBH or Ireland.

I think that on almost every measure, the Swans are a successful organisation given the competitive (on and off field) environment that they operate in. I don't hold Colless personally and solely responsible for the fact that the Swans don't have 100,000 members and I think it is a harsh critic who does.

[royboy42]

Some folk here seem to be some of our politicians on downtime.
Like them, as soon as they are challenged, they changes tack.
Seems to me that arguing for the sake of argument alone is insufficient reason to post!
Don't bother attacking me..I'm done with this thread.

[Jewels]

On AFL360 on Thursday night, they were discussing the mess that Port Adelaide is in and saying that it's not just a new coach that is needed but they need to get the culture right. Robbo made a comment something like they should look at Sydney and try to get people of the caliber of Colless and Ireland or words to that effect anyway.
Now I think Robinson is a ginormous tool and not a huge fan of our club but he does know his stuff and for him to specifically mention Colless and Ireland was quite a compliment and shows the esteem that at least the Melbourne media hold for them and the credit that they give them for setting and holding our culture.

[Dirtyburt]

I like colless hair, not as good as LRT, but good none the less

[DamY]

I don't see why the acknowledgement that it takes more than one person to contribute to the running of a successful operation requires the denegration of the efforts of any of the individuals involved. And the specific relevance of Colless to this thread is that some posters have used his recent comments as a prompt to specifically criiticise him and his efforts, not those of Templeton, MBH or Ireland.

I think that on almost every measure, the Swans are a successful organisation given the competitive (on and off field) environment that they operate in. I don't hold Colless personally and solely responsible for the fact that the Swans don't have 100,000 members and I think it is a harsh critic who does.

+1

[The Big Cat]

What is it about SOME people on this site? We're on top of the ladder and we're universally accepted as the blueprint for all clubs both on and off the field!

First it was Longmire .... then a spanner in the works for the snipers - he is successful in taking us to the top of the ladder
Then it was LRT ....... then a spanner in the works for the snipers - he kicks goals and is seen as integral to our forward line.
Now Richard Colless .... Come on you lot ... grow up!

[Nondo]

So Richard Colless steps in with the club borderline bankrupt and oversees it making a grand final within 3 years and then having the most successful 15 years of its history, and the most consistently successful of any AFL Club over that period.
The club was a laughing stock when he got involved and is now universally recognised for its professionalism and positive culture.
There's a difference between Sydney and other clubs and a large part of that difference is Colless. And from what I understand he would happily step aside if someone with similar credentials would agree to take on the role unpaid like he has been doing. Maybe it is time for new blood, but gee it's a bit ungrateful to turn on the guy for making a pragmatic assessment of how the competition looks today.

[Big Al]

[deleted]

[Big Al]

I have no clue whether Colless has done a good job or not simply because I'm not privvy to the inner workings of the club. However while the club isn't perfect its certainly a club that is the envy of the competition and the people who have run the club over the years deserve kudos for that.

[Dirtyburt]

I have no clue whether Colless has done a good job or not simply because I'm not privvy to the inner workings of the club. However while the club isn't perfect its certainly a club that is the envy of the competition and the people who have run the club over the years deserve kudos for that.

Fully agree

[dimelb]

I have no clue whether Colless has done a good job or not simply because I'm not privy to the inner workings of the club. However while the club isn't perfect its certainly a club that is the envy of the competition and the people who have run the club over the years deserve kudos for that.

Brings to mind some rules for life from my favourite fictional detective: "Don't say more than you know, don't spend more than you have, don't throw your weight around more than necessary."

[aardvark]

What is it about SOME people on this site? We're on top of the ladder and we're universally accepted as the blueprint for all clubs both on and off the field!

First it was Longmire .... then a spanner in the works for the snipers - he is successful in taking us to the top of the ladder
Then it was LRT ....... then a spanner in the works for the snipers - he kicks goals and is seen as integral to our forward line.
Now Richard Colless .... Come on you lot ... grow up!

The large feline does have a point there.......

[Big Al]

The large feline does have a point there.......

Anyone else in their heads immediately change those first 3 words into something less savoury?

[dimelb]

Anyone else in their heads immediately change those first 3 words into something less savoury?

You mean "the big felafel"?