Brendon Gale on SEN - 18/11/2014

[one-eyed]

Benny Gale was interviewed on SEN's 'the run home' today ... [11.55 mins]

AUDIO: https://soundcloud.com/sen1116/the-run-home-brendon-gale

[one-eyed]

Cotchin deal high on Tigers' 'to-do' list
Brett Anderson
SEN
18 Nov 2014


A long-term contract extension for skipper Trent Cotchin is high on the agenda for Richmond according to CEO Brendon Gale.

The star midfielder is out of contract at the end of 2015 and already has rival clubs – including Hawthorn, circling for his services.

“He’s out of contract next year, he’s the captain of our club, he’s a best and fairest winner – we rate him very high, clearly we already do,” Gale said.

“We’ll sit down with Trent sooner rather than later to look at securing him for a long time.”

Despite a quiet trade period, Gale said that the club’s list management strategy has them well placed to make a move on a free agent or out-of-contract star, should the opportunity arise in the years to come.

“We’ve got a list plan in place and if an opportunity comes along to address a key need – there’s players that are ‘nice to haves’, we’ve all got those, but if there’s a player we think is available and can address a key need and wants to come to our club we’ll certainly be very aggressive,” he said.

“But it’s got to be strategic and it’s got to make sense, so we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Meanwhile, earlier the Tigers today announced a 10th successive operating profit and has improved its net asset position from $22.38 million to $23.71 million.

“We set out a few years ago to really build a strong organisation and strong business model because footy clubs cost a lot of money to run so you can’t really have a competitive footy team if you don’t have a strong business,” Gale said.

“We’ve worked hard to build a solid club – we certainly don’t take that result for granted, but as we all know it’s all about footy and whilst we can meet their needs, we need to keep getting better and that’s the big challenge in front of us.”

http://www.sen.com.au/news/cotchin-deal-high-on-tigers-to-do-list

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Gale calls for transparent doping hearing
Brett Anderson
SEN
18 Nov 2014

Richmond CEO and former AFL Players Association boss Brendon Gale has called for open transparency when it comes to the AFL’s tribunal hearing into the Essendon supplements scandal.

The AFL handed down 34 infraction notices to past and present Essendon players on Friday with a tribunal hearing set to be convened in the near future.

Gale, who headed the AFLPA from 2005 to 2009, told SEN that he believes it is important that any hearing is open and transparent.

“The more light you can shine on these sorts of things the better,” he said.

“I don’t think there is anything harmful to come from transparency.

“It’s fair to say – rightly or wrongly that the public’s lost a bit of faith and confidence in the whole process because certain aspects by law have had to be behind closed doors, but if there is an opportunity to open it up and shine a light it’s a great antiseptic, so I’d be for open transparency any time.”

The AFL has been facing pressure to make the hearings open to the media like the regular tribunal but the Players' Association opposes open hearings to protect the players' privacy.

http://www.sen.com.au/news/gale-calls-for-transparent-doping-hearing

[one-eyed]

More from Benny Gale ...

* Our people cop a bit from time to time for being bandwagon supporters but I think what the financial results really underlines is the strength of the loyalty of our members and our fans to back up year after year.  We certainly don’t take that for granted.

* I think it’s really having some concrete plans in place and just harnessing the talent of the people we have internally, putting some pretty solid plans in place, that have been pretty well thought through and sticking to them.

* One of the central parts of that, was putting our members at the centre of the organisation. We don’t just exist for our members – we exist because of them. That’s the way you speak about them, it’s the way you speak to them, it’s the way you inform them, it’s the way you service them, it’s the way you price and develop your membership products. They’re the centre of our entire club, and I think it starts from there.

* We set out a few years ago to really build a strong organisation and a strong business model because footy clubs cost a lot of money to run. So you can’t really have a competitive footy team unless you’ve got a strong business. We’ve worked hard to build a solid club and we certainly don’t take that result for granted.  But, as we all know, it’s all about footy and whilst we can meet their needs, we’ve got to keep getting better. That’s the big challenge in front of us.

Full article: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2014-11-19/tigers-acclaim-their-members

[Judge Roughneck]

“The more light you can shine on these sorts of things the better,” he said.

“I don’t think there is anything harmful to come from transparency.



Tell him his dream in

Dad I dug a hole its filling with water 

[WilliamPowell]

* One of the central parts of that, was putting our members at the centre of the organisation. We don’t just exist for our members – we exist because of them. That’s the way you speak about them, it’s the way you speak to them, it’s the way you inform them, it’s the way you service them, it’s the way you price and develop your membership products. They’re the centre of our entire club, and I think it starts from there.


Full article: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2014-11-19/tigers-acclaim-their-members

I have a problem with the bit I've highlighted. During 2014 there were so many times this was just not the case... the spin we got when things were crap, proved it. we got treated like morons

This jury is still out

Hopefully the lessons have been learned.. time will tell I have no doubt

[RedanTiger]

That’s the way you speak about them, it’s the way you speak to them, it’s the way you inform them, it’s the way you service them, it’s the way you price and develop your membership products.

Agreed WP.

Nomination Committee - introduced without member input.
Board appointments - reduced member input to the board.
Online renewals restricted to Committed Tigers only - lack of member choice in their own membership.
Increase/change of 110% committed to Tiger Patron - no choice, just a letter stating the change from $12.50 (Country member) to $25.
No email (or mail) notice of AGM or board elections  - there was email of fixtures, membership, sponsors, SURVEYS and charities but only an email to ask if they could email notice of AGM.

Yes Brendon, it's all about how you inform them and how you service them.
Only you would know how members are spoken about within the "four walls of the club" (tm) but membership, meetings and elections are the only way members can be directly involved in the club and the above list doesn't look good.

I would say though that you seem to have changed the person posting as RFC Official from the original and that's a big plus in terms of interacting with "them" (the members).   

[taztiger4]

That’s the way you speak about them, it’s the way you speak to them, it’s the way you inform them, it’s the way you service them, it’s the way you price and develop your membership products.

Agreed WP.

Nomination Committee - introduced without member input.
Board appointments - reduced member input to the board.
Online renewals restricted to Committed Tigers only - lack of member choice in their own membership.
Increase/change of 110% committed to Tiger Patron - no choice, just a letter stating the change from $12.50 (Country member) to $25.
No email (or mail) notice of AGM or board elections  - there was email of fixtures, membership, sponsors, SURVEYS and charities but only an email to ask if they could email notice of AGM.

Yes Brendon, it's all about how you inform them and how you service them.
Only you would know how members are spoken about within the "four walls of the club" (tm) but membership, meetings and elections are the only way members can be directly involved in the club and the above list doesn't look good.

I would say though that you seem to have changed the person posting as RFC Official from the original and that's a big plus in terms of interacting with "them" (the members).   

agree with most of that, prob jumping the gun on AGM though, constitution would require 2 weeks notice ( well most do) so that time limit hasn't been reached yet, so should receive notice by next Wednesday

[rogerd3]

We don't take our supporters for granted, Yeh we just deduct money from their accounts without their authorisation..Pfft I'm done!!

[WilliamPowell]

In fairness rogerd3 re Board appointments and reduced member input

Members have no one to blame but themselves for that. It came about with a vote on changing the constitution.

Very few members turn up to AGMs and when something as important as that was up for a vote 4 people and they were all from this forum voted NO, everyone else there on the night voted yes

And those who didn't go but gave proxies gave them all except 1 person to Gary March

Then we have people now complaining about it but it could have been defeated but people just didn't bother

Re notifying members re the AGM at this stage they have done what's legally required of them. That is  advertised it on the website and put a notice in the papers. Not saying it is right, just saying legally they down the right thing

[RedanTiger]

In fairness rogerd3 re Board appointments and reduced member input

Members have no one to blame but themselves for that. It came about with a vote on changing the constitution.

Very few members turn up to AGMs and when something as important as that was up for a vote 4 people and they were all from this forum voted NO, everyone else there on the night voted yes

And those who didn't go but gave proxies gave them all except 1 person to Gary March

Then we have people now complaining about it but it could have been defeated but people just didn't bother

Re notifying members re the AGM at this stage they have done what's legally required of them. That is  advertised it on the website and put a notice in the papers. Not saying it is right, just saying legally they down the right thing

No that was me, WP.
Regarding the board appointments, I accept that the members voted for the change (except you and me and another few who only add up to four according to Stahl) to reduce their rights. I just find it hard to stomach the statements about members being the centre of the club while you reduce their direct input and control.

Come in spinner.

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

Am I the only one that understands Gale is speaking marketing jargon?! There are some intelligent heads in this forum but wowser how did you guys miss that one. Gale is marketing a product - whilst simultaneously making sure we maintain the current membership figures. I can see the model he's attempting to go for - one that separates on field performances from membership enticements. Which is to say, they looking for a scenario where people sign up for the fans, not necessarily the players. Seems a little more sustainable wouldn't you say? One of the power clubs in the Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund - sells themselves entirely on the enticement, or even prestige, of being a Dortmund fan - who is devoted to the club and adores them despite performances.

One has to admit that there have been many times, especially in recent history, where the members and  the fanbase have held the club back. A distinct seperation between the fan base and board level may be what is required, we can't have the plebs feeling they have too much power to motivate the masses and overthrow the ruling (administrative) class. Or hasn't anyone read "the communist manifesto"????

[WilliamPowell]

Am I the only one that understands Gale is speaking marketing jargon?! There are some intelligent heads in this forum but wowser how did you guys miss that one. Gale is marketing a product - whilst simultaneously making sure we maintain the current membership figures. I can see the model he's attempting to go for - one that separates on field performances from membership enticements. Which is to say, they looking for a scenario where people sign up for the fans, not necessarily the players. Seems a little more sustainable wouldn't you say? One of the power clubs in the Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund - sells themselves entirely on the enticement, or even prestige, of being a Dortmund fan - who is devoted to the club and adores them despite performances.

Absolutely understand what he is trying to do, you call it "marketing jargon" I call it spin. The words mean very little if people don't buy into or believe what you are saying

You cannot go on and on about "We don’t just exist for our members – we exist because of them" and then your very actions show the total opposite.

That's what happened in season 2014 and that was my point

Spruik the numbers whether it be financial or membership level all you want. But don't go on about something that you've been so far removed from it borders on disrespecting those very people you speak of

[tiga]

We don't take our supporters for granted, Yeh we just deduct money from their accounts without their authorisation..Pfft I'm done!!

FFS ask for a refund and move on!

[scjhammo]

with what brendon has done for the club over the past years he amazing with out him we would still be paying off debts glad he is part off the club.... He has got the off field issues sorted financial know we just need to get the on field success rolling... its bright boys

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Am I the only one that understands Gale is speaking marketing jargon?! There are some intelligent heads in this forum but wowser how did you guys miss that one. Gale is marketing a product - whilst simultaneously making sure we maintain the current membership figures. I can see the model he's attempting to go for - one that separates on field performances from membership enticements. Which is to say, they looking for a scenario where people sign up for the fans, not necessarily the players. Seems a little more sustainable wouldn't you say? One of the power clubs in the Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund - sells themselves entirely on the enticement, or even prestige, of being a Dortmund fan - who is devoted to the club and adores them despite performances.

Absolutely understand what he is trying to do, you call it "marketing jargon" I call it spin. The words mean very little if people don't buy into or believe what you are saying

You cannot go on and on about "We don’t just exist for our members – we exist because of them" and then your very actions show the total opposite.


That's what happened in season 2014 and that was my point

Spruik the numbers whether it be financial or membership level all you want. But don't go on about something that you've been so far removed from it borders on disrespecting those very people you speak of

Great post Willy.
I'd like to add a couple of comments. I don't doubt the club (or Benny Gale) ambition or intentions in what is being said.
 Some people may doubt that but I believe them and I think this has helped the club be united and deliver focus to the total club "transformation".
The real issue then becomes the ability of those people to execute what they say.
Are the club ruthlessly pursuing the right people - on field or off field - to deliver the dream?
Being United isn't enough and I have wondered if the pursuit of unity and focus has come at the expense of getting the right capability to execute what is required to deliver the dream.