Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle insists Stephen Silvagni’s conflict of interest hampered the club’s football department as members continued to vent their displeasure.
Liddle defended the failed recruitment of Richmond defender Brandon Ellis, saying the entire list management group was aware of Liddle using his links to the former Tiger to lure him to Ikon Park.
But Liddle held the line, adamant Silvagni excusing himself from list management meetings handcuffed the football department.
He made clear that all list management decisions were robustly discussed among the entire group, despite player agents believing the team was often not on the same page.
Liddle said it was agreed by all in the list management group he would use his links to Ellis, through Richmond, Vic Metro and the Calder Cannons, to lure him across before the club eventually abandoned its pursuit post Round 23.
Liddle said the list management group, chaired by director and club Chris Judd was on the same page with approaches to Tom Papley, Ellis, Josh Deluca and Jack Martin.
“All players who were approached from other clubs as part of our 2019 list management strategy were discussed and rigorously debated over the course of many months at list management,” he said.
“Everyone on list management was very clear of the role I was playing with Brandon.
“We had individual plans in place for each of our target players that were regularly discussed at list management. I was one of Brandon’s coaches both at the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro in the national championships, and I obviously spent a number of years with him at Richmond, so it was agreed that we would leverage that relationship in our discussions with Brandon, who was set to become a free agent.”
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/carlton/carlton-chief-cain-liddle-defends-decision-to-move-on-stephen-silvagni-in-members-forum/news-story/a5a2b5ecb2d640683410b0efed7fa834
