Freezer steps down from RFC Board (afl site)

[Jackstar 1960]

Tony Free is gone it seems

[WilliamPowell]

Free leaves Richmond Board

richmondfc.com.au   
November 16, 2016 12:00 PM

Tony Free has resigned as a Richmond director.

Free recently informed the Board that increasing commitments away from football meant the time was right for him to step away.

A former Club captain and two-time Jack Dyer Medallist, Free has spent more than eight years as a Board member.

“I thank Tony on behalf of members for his commitment over a long period of time. He has demonstrated how much this Club means to him both as a player and around the Board table,” Richmond President Peggy O’Neal said.

“We will undoubtedly see him at the football and it goes without saying that he will always remain a valued member of the Richmond family. The entire Board wishes him, his wife Paula and his family, the very best for the future.”

The Club’s Nominations Committee will interview potential candidates and, based on skill requirements, make a recommendation to the Board to fill the casual vacancy in the New Year.

People wanting more information can contact company secretary Michael Stahl on mstahl@richmondfc.com.au. The full Nominations Committee Charter can be found on the Club’s website under the ‘Club’ menu item.

In other board news, O’Neal confirmed members would be asked to vote on changes to the Club’s constitution at the December 14 Annual General Meeting.

The Board has accepted a Governance Committee recommendation that director tenure limits be put in place. The constitutional amendments would see directors limited to three terms.

As part of the transition, current directors who are beyond three terms will serve out their current term but then not be eligible to serve as a director again.

The Governance Committee also recommended limiting the President to two terms in that role. A full explanation of all proposed amendments will be included with the notice of the AGM.

“Director term limits vary significantly across the AFL, and in business more broadly. The Club’s Governance Committee has been considering this for almost two years and the Board has accepted the recommendation that term limits be introduced and that will now be put to members,” O’Neal said.

The Board also confirmed an election will be held with Board incumbents Kerry Ryan and Emmett Dunne standing for re-election. Simon Wallace and Peter Casey have also nominated for the two positions.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2016-11-16/free-leaves-richmond-board

[WilliamPowell]

Couple of points = IMESHO

The Club’s Nominations Committee will interview potential candidates and, based on skill requirements, make a recommendation to the Board to fill the casual vacancy in the New Year.

People wanting more information can contact company secretary Michael Stahl on mstahl@richmondfc.com.au. The full Nominations Committee Charter can be found on the Club’s website under the ‘Club’ menu item.

IMESHO there is where the board/club are making a bad call. Here is a perfect opportunity to try and correct the disconnect with members, the cynical view of the board people hold and simply give back to the members (make them feel it's THEIR club)

IMHO they should say "you know what we aren't going to wait until the new year, we don't need the noms committee to recommend as we have great candidates to select from. We have an election coming up in the next month. Members can now elect 3 directors rather than 2."

I know they wont do it but they should. It would be a great start and it gives people the ability to put fresh faces on the board or re-elect incumbents via an election rather than another board appointment.

In other board news, O’Neal confirmed members would be asked to vote on changes to the Club’s constitution at the December 14 Annual General Meeting.

The Board has accepted a Governance Committee recommendation that director tenure limits be put in place. The constitutional amendments would see directors limited to three terms.

As part of the transition, current directors who are beyond three terms will serve out their current term but then not be eligible to serve as a director again.

The Governance Committee also recommended limiting the President to two terms in that role. A full explanation of all proposed amendments will be included with the notice of the AGM.

“Director term limits vary significantly across the AFL, and in business more broadly. The Club’s Governance Committee has been considering this for almost two years and the Board has accepted the recommendation that term limits be introduced and that will now be put to members,” O’Neal said.

think they are good changes, actually excellent changes. Way it should be again IMESHO

If people think they are right or even if they are wrong then please make the effort to vote, there is no excuse. even if you cannot attend the AGM there are other ways to vote or give your vote to someone else. It isn't hard. People want to be heard well here's your chance

[Francois Jackson]

peggy sue the dud knew she was a sitting duck so hence the rush to stitch her up for another 3 years?

[one-eyed]

Former Tigers captain Tony Free steps down as director

AFL.com.au
16 November 2016

FORMER captain and club champion Tony Free has stood down as a Richmond director ahead of the upcoming board elections due to increased commitments away from the game.

Free, who spent more than eight years as a board member, will be replaced early next year, once the Tigers have interviewed potential candidates.

Richmond is preparing for its second board election in seven years as incumbents Kerry Ryan and Emmett Dunne stand for re-election against challengers Simon Wallace and Peter Casey. 

Nominations for the board election closed on Monday and members will now vote electronically for their preferred candidates, with the results announced at the club's annual general meeting on December 14.

The Tigers confirmed on Wednesday that members would also be given the opportunity to vote on introducing term limits for directors.

The constitutional amendments would see directors limited to three terms and presidents limited to two terms in that role.

As part of the changes, current directors who are beyond three terms would serve out their current term but not be eligible to fill a seat on the board again.

It would also mean president Peggy O'Neal would hand over the presidency and depart the board at the end of her new three-year term as an appointed director.

"Director term limits vary significantly across the AFL, and in business more broadly," O'Neal said.

"The club's governance committee has been considering this for almost two years and the board has accepted the recommendation that term limits be introduced and that will now be put to members."

Rob Dalton and vice president Maurice O'Shannassy are Richmond's longest-serving directors after joining the board late in 2004.

O'Neal joined the board in 2005 and was appointed president in October 2013.

The club has more recently added fresh voices with the appointment of Dunne this year and John O'Rourke in 2015.

Free, who played 133 games for the Tigers between 1987 and 1996, was appointed in June 2008 and was praised by O'Neal for his contribution to the club.   

"I thank Tony on behalf of members for his commitment over a long period of time," O'Neal said. 

"He has demonstrated how much this club means to him both as a player and around the Board table.

"We will undoubtedly see him at the football and it goes without saying that he will always remain a valued member of the Richmond family.

"The entire board wishes him, his wife Paula and his family, the very best for the future."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-16/former-tigers-captain-tony-free-steps-down-as-director

[RedanTiger]

IMESHO there is where the board/club are making a bad call. Here is a perfect opportunity to try and correct the disconnect with members, the cynical view of the board people hold and simply give back to the members (make them feel it's THEIR club)

IMHO they should say "you know what we aren't going to wait until the new year, we don't need the noms committee to recommend as we have great candidates to select from. We have an election coming up in the next month. Members can now elect 3 directors rather than 2."

I know they wont do it but they should. It would be a great start and it gives people the ability to put fresh faces on the board or re-elect incumbents via an election rather than another board appointment.

Heartily agree with you WP.
We are having an election for 2 places on the board.
Simply accept Free's resignation and have an election for 3
My conspiracy brain however thinks this is another sneaky one. Suppose Ryan and Dunne are NOT elected and are beaten out by Wallace and Casey. The board can then APPOINT Ryan to Free's spot and Dunne can be APPOINTED to the next resignation I am expecting soon, as flagged in the media previously. In that way O'Neal and the board can have two bites of the cherry. Try to get Ryan and Dunne elected and if it doesn't work APPOINT them. If they do get elected then simply find another mate to get the resignation spots.

Here's what I posted back in September.

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.

As regards the changes to limit directors terms I would warn people to look very, very closely at the language.
It would not be unusual to see a seemingly innocent, unrelated change slipped through as part of a popular change.
 

[RedanTiger]

The double standards are further highlighted by the Free resignation.

O'Neal, Ryan and Dunne were all APPOINTED in October to cover a resignation, before elections in November.
And here we have a resignation - signalled in September - which won't be covered until the new year.

[WilliamPowell]

The double standards are further highlighted by the Free resignation.

O'Neal, Ryan and Dunne were all APPOINTED in October to cover a resignation, before elections in November.
And here we have a resignation - signalled in September - which won't be covered until the new year.

Exactly the reason I said it's really bad call, horrible mistake

Massive chance to give members a say and they are not taking it

They seem to forget that if we get to elect 3 in the upcoming election then at least 1 of the incumbents (obviously it will be Dunne) will get re-elected.

That would be an excellent result for the current board because it is entirely possible that neither will get re-elected in Dec because people want to send a message to them

Stupid decision IMESHO

[Damo]

Is IMESHO a special way of saying IMO?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Is IMESHO a special way of saying IMO?

In my ever so humble opinion it is

[Damo]

Is IMESHO a special way of saying IMO?

In my ever so humble opinion it is

Seems like it has a touch of the look at me about it IMESHO

[RedanTiger]

They seem to forget that if we get to elect 3 in the upcoming election then at least 1 of the incumbents (obviously it will be Dunne) will get re-elected.

That would be an excellent result for the current board because it is entirely possible that neither will get re-elected in Dec because people want to send a message to them

Stupid decision IMESHO

But as I said in my previous, if they've got the Free spot (and another) up their sleeves they can give them to Ryan and/or Dunne next year if needs.

[(•))(©™]

The double standards are further highlighted by the Free resignation.

O'Neal, Ryan and Dunne were all APPOINTED in October to cover a resignation, before elections in November.
And here we have a resignation - signalled in September - which won't be covered until the new year.

Numerous conflicts of interest occurring

[Harry]

Seems a deal has been made with the Malvern group where they'll replace Free and another soon to be announced resignation as reported by Caro

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Seems a deal has been made with the Malvern group where they'll replace Free and another soon to be announced resignation as reported by Caro

Maybe this is the opportunity that I was told for Hayden Morris to be given a seat on the board. I know he knows Benny Gale very well as I have been to functions where I have met up with them both having a chat.