On and off paddock Tigers' leadership is under threat
May 31, 2004
LEIGHTON WOOD may be appointed by the Richmond board as the club's new chief executive tomorrow night but there is no certainty that he will serve the directors – what's left of them.
The chatter in the football community is lively and loud. Plots are plentiful and all of them thickening. Past board members are involved in putting together both a ticket to run the club and a new football department. Favourite son Kevin Bartlett has been approached but has declined to become involved.
A leading businessman has become the point guard for the new challenge. It is believed an AFL commissioner has been briefed of the concern the challengers hold for the future of the club under Clinton Casey's miniature administration.
And it is now clear that former chief executive Ian Campbell was at odds with the football department under coach Danny Frawley and football manager Greg Hutchison. The mutual decision for Campbell to leave the club last week was not wholly about the club finances.
A club source said the positions of Frawley and Hutchison were under urgent review by Campbell at the same time the club retrenched eight employees in the marketing department.
The appointment of Wood should cause concern, too. He may well be the most appropriate person but the appointment process is being done at a speed that suggests other contenders have not been given due consideration.
At least the club has sounded out leading officials from other clubs to see if they have any interest in the position.
Wood is being heavily endorsed by the AFL. So was Campbell. Such was the strength of AFL approval that the club did not meet Campbell face-to-face before signing him. Interviews were done by video hook-ups between Australia and the US.
The AFL is not afraid to meddle. Melbourne Football Club sources confirm Rob Flower was urged to help mount the challenge to Joseph Gutnick. It ended with the election of Gabriel Szondy and his board. Szondy has gone and so has Melbourne's financial position. Under new chairman Paul Gardner, the club is seeking as much as $2million from the AFL's competitive balance fund. Which proves AFL input into club politics and appointments guarantees nothing.
This weekend's football has proved that Richmond remain uncompetitive. They failed hopelessly against West Coast, a side beaten by 17 goals the week before. Richmond's record on the road is shameful. When asked to travel they lose their way every time. It can be no excuse because West Coast, Adelaide and Brisbane have travelled every other week and won seven premierships.
While much must change at Richmond at board and administrative level, the football team needs to be heavily reviewed. Frawley said after Saturday's loss to West Coast that the effort of the team was satisfactory but that the players' decision-making and skill levels were unacceptable.
This is Frawley's fifth year at Richmond. That is ample time for a coaching panel to bring the playing group's basic skill levels to AFL standard. Don't forget this is a team Frawley said was being primed to win a premiership by now. The team has won just 18 of their past 54 matches – a 33 per cent strike rate. Worse, they have won five of their past 24.
The club needs to change its captain. Wayne Campbell is an adequate player. He has won four best and fairest awards at Richmond – one when the club finished fourth under John Northey, three when the Tigers finished 12th, 13th and 14th.
If leadership is lacking off the field, it is non-existent on it. Campbell the skipper has no presence. He plays a style of game that does not inspire. It is one of hurried kicks and harried handballs. He does not run lines and so cannot oversee the Tigers' game plan. On Saturday he had 17 touches, a sprinkling were effective, and was badly beaten by West Coast journeyman Callum Chambers, who kicked three goals and was awarded votes by some commentators.
Compare his work to Ben Cousins. The West Coast skipper had 24 touches and his delivery was always measured and purposeful, never approaching the frenetic disposal style of his counterpart. Not once did Campbell perform an act that would have caused his team-mates' hearts to beat a little harder.
Worse, he is delusional. At the start of the season he said Richmond were a top-four side. He looks glum on the field but clearly he has a sharp sense of the ridiculous.
Change of leadership is threatened off the field. It must be made on the field.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9699035%255E12270,00.html
