Do rebuilding Tigers have enough football bite at board level?Jon Pierik
The Age
July 9, 2016It's been another intriguing week at Tigerland, with more to come in what shapes as a pivotal year under the stewardship of president Peggy O'Neal, chief executive Brendon Gale and coach Damien Hardwick.
While there has been much focus and debate on the Tigers' playing list, recruiting, development and coaching now finals are no longer on the agenda, it was Jason Dunstall the godfather of the Hawks' recent dynasty who changed direction and targeted another important area when appearing on Fox Footy's On the Couch.
Dunstall said it was "very odd, very strange" that the Tigers do not have a football director on their board the role he had enjoyed at Hawthorn. He also added if he was a Richmond board member, he would be nervous, and thinking: "The decisions that we've made, as in committing to the coach for another two seasons ... and agreeing that we have a strong-enough list to actually get to where we want to go, I'm second-guessing those decisions."
The Tigers preferred not to comment. But it's been pointed out they do have a director of football former skipper Tony Free. Gale, who played 244 matches, also sits on the board and has a strong focus on pure football matters.
But for Dunstall to take aim at the director-of-football role, even claiming they do not have one, when almost all clubs do, can only suggest there has been private consternation about Free's role.
We can only speculate why Dunstall went down this route but we know the tentacles in the AFL world can spread far and wide. It could be said he has an inadvertent link to the Tigers, through Hawks' coach Alastair Clarkson's close friendship with Hardwick. Dunstall hired Clarkson, and Hardwick was an assistant during the early years of Clarkson's reign. Fellow Fox Footy panelist David King is a former Tigers' assistant coach.
But his comments have also opened up wider questions about what the board believes is its key responsibility off-field strength, which has been achieved, or what supporters truly want, that being on-field success.
Those close to the Tigers say Free is a lovely, pleasant man, but there is a view he lacks the robustness needed to seriously question decisions made in the football department. It's said he regularly agrees with Gale perhaps too much.
It's also been claimed O'Neal had previously wanted him to step down, as he had supported Malcolm Speed's bid for the presidency in 2013. The board, as we know, had been split between Speed and Maurice O'Shannassy, with O'Neal emerging as an alternate leader when peace was brokered.
It's also been pointed out four directors have been on the board for more than 10 years (excluding Free, who was elected eight years ago). Has there been enough fresh thinking?
The board had rejected fixed terms when a review was conducted a couple of years ago. Wealthy property developer Joe Russo was one candidate overlooked last year. But he may not be done with, amid suggestions he is already gathering a ticket to challenge.
Russo told Fairfax Media on Friday: "While I remain concerned about the on and off-field performance of the Tigers I don't think I have the energy to run again. It was interesting last year but I note most of the points I was making in 2015 are even more relevant now than they were then. There is no doubt the club's drive for stability has led to complacency."
On the field, amid a policy of now playing the kids, beginning against the Bulldogs on Saturday night, the pressure now turns to the football department and recruiting.
Will there be a blockbuster trade? Brett Deledio's name has been thrown about in the media, but the Tigers say he will be back next year. His manager Anthony McConville also maintains he will be there but admits to Fairfax Media all parties will "keep an open mind".
There are about 20 Tigers off-contract this year. Hardwick is contracted until the end of 2018. But Dunstall had this to say when asked if, as a Tigers board member, he would be comfortable with Hardwick remaining for next season.
"I'd need to see a very clear vision going forward," he said. That vision comes at a critical juncture for a club almost four decades removed from its last flag.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-do-rebuilding-tigers-have-enough-football-bite-at-board-level-20160707-gq17ww.html
