The point being there are NOT "3 positions up for grabs at the AGM" but only two. The board have the other as well as Gale.
See Caro's article above, she confirms there are 3 board positions up for grabs this year. O'Neal, Ryan & Dunne
I don't know which part of Caro's article you're referring to with regards to the 3 board positions.
From the article directly above your post I quote the following:
While O'Neal is up for reelection in November she has received the board's nomination leaving director Kerry Ryan the most vulnerable.
Ryan will stand alongside former player Emmett Dunne, who was seconded to the board last month. Already one challenger, lawyer Simon Wallace, has announced his intention to stand.
That to me reads that O'Neal, while being DUE for re-election, has been appointed by the board to fill a board-decided vacancy, only leaving Ryan and Dunne up for election depending on challengers.
Further to these elections, it is also worth noting that Caro also mentions that there may be more APPOINTMENTS made by the board before the AGM.
Fairfax Media expects a further two Richmond directors to stand down over the next month.
So, if true, that would mean a change to the board of as many as four in the space of a couple of months.
O'Neal facing re-election but APPOINTED by the board as their choice, IMO changing her status.
Dunne APPOINTED last month and facing election in December
Ryan APPOINTED to the board and facing re-election in December.
Two further directors standing down next month and obviously their replacements APPOINTED by the board to serve the remainder of the term of resigning directors.
So on a board of 9 the members will only have a choice of 2 directors, Ryan and Dunne or their challengers.
I know that what the board are doing is legal and according to the constitution but I would much prefer they would announce the next two resignations to coincide with the AGM, call for replacement candidates and have an election for all 4 positions, while allowing O'Neal to take her position as a board APPOINTED director.
I personally don't like these board appointed directors but acknowledge the members gave them that right. I also feel that the O'Neal APPOINTMENT is a corruption of the philosophy behind this power. It was and is asserted that this is a way for the board to bring in required skills without having to campaign to members. "New blood" if you will. If O'Neal cannot convince members to vote for her after eleven years on the board with three as President then surely her APPOINTMENT is a direct corruption of members will ie she can't get elected by the members so we'll appoint her despite their wishes.
