Tony Free on SEN @ 8.25am

[one-eyed]

Freezer was on SEN just before 8.30am....

* We won't be extending Wallace's contract this year. That's something for us to consider later on and Terry is very comfortable with that.

* We'll be making decisions based on what's best for the playing group and for them to excel - more resources etc.

* He's been out of footy for 10-12 years so has spoken to about 20 people to formulate a way to do the review.

* He avoided giving reasons why Miller was sacked.

Maher and Watson bagged him afterwards as unconvincing and someone who "wobbled" when questioned and avoided answering questions. They also bagged Free as someone who seems to have come onto the board without the  set out vision you'd expect from a new director.

[cub]

Freezer was on SEN just before 8.30am....

* He's been out of footy for 10-12 years so has spoken to about 20 people to formulate a way to do the review.

* He avoided giving reasons why Miller was sacked.

Maher and Watson bagged him afterwards as unconvincing and someone who "wobbled" when questioned and avoided answering questions. They also bagged Free as someone who seems to have come onto the board without the  set out vision you'd expect from a new director.

I really dont get this at all, all I can do is keep supporting the club but this all smells a bit rotten to me.

[one-eyed]

I missed one important bit:

* Changes will be made and some won't be popular. There'll be more good Richmond people.

Greg Denham said that's probably the likes of Cambo, Lambert, Prescott. Maybe Benny Gale taking the role with an eye to eventually take over from Wright in a couple of years as CEO.

KB now asking supporters to ring up and say what they think of these Richmond people coming back. First supporter said these people apart from Lambert at Brisbane have had no success in their entire career so why get them back.

[shannon]

as if they will come out and tell th emedia the real reasons. common, get realisteic, they have their reasons and i bet they are legitimate and fair dinkum good reasons, and they do not have to explain to the world why .

we are moving fwd, and ppl should stop treating miller as some god and move on.

he was there for nearly 7 years, there was a bloke called Geez, who on a sunday was worshipped by all and sundry and a week later these same ppl killed him , with no reason wht so over, no review panel bla bla bla

1 week, miller had over 7 years! get over it

[cub]

Give me a tiger anyday, but playing or having a role with us in the last 25 years isn't the greatest credentials in the world is it.
We don't need a boys club, do we Jack  

[Stripes]

Shannon what are you talking about. Miller=Geez??!?!?

What Miller did do is get us back on the right track. He recruited some great players that will form the core of our future success and he hired a respected Coach who worked with him to rebuild the team to a point where we are now starting to see the rewards of all that hard work.

It's a shame that he has now been moved on just before we emerge from the darkness and he can reap the rewards of all his hard work.

In years to come I hope people remember who really did rebuild the club and helped TW make us a club to be feared once again

Stripes

[shannon]

just making an analogy. miller was acked after 6 or so years, not crucified a week after he was worshipped. just pointing out that some ppl are taking this sacking too deep. we are not in turmoil, we are not eating our own........... we are moving forward

[cub]

I can't see one instance on this site of where anyone has taken Millers sacking to deep.
Please point out a post if you can find one.
My concern is the way it was leaked and that is all.
My original post in this thread is to do with Free's credentials and any set vision he came in with.
Seems to be a bit of a mess.
All businesss' evolve and change, I can and will deal with that, just hoping they do it right and for the right reasons. 

[Stripes]

just making an analogy. miller was acked after 6 or so years, not crucified a week after he was worshipped. just pointing out that some ppl are taking this sacking too deep. we are not in turmoil, we are not eating our own........... we are moving forward

I don't want to harp on this mate and I'm not a religious person but I do know that Geez died in his 30s and that was after years of preaching and miracle work. Miller may be eventually credited with 'resurrecting' the club and working miracles to get TW  but he is no heavenly worker.

I think many supporters will be concerned about the manner and timing in which he was exited from the club rather than the decision itself.

Personally I think Miller did a great job in rebuilding us administratively and in getting quality people to the club to assist in both improving us financially off-field and attempting to build a successful playing list on-field. The marketing expertise that TW and Miller brought to the club is impossible to deny based on factual figures while the health, depth and potential of the list appears much improved but will continue to be scrutinized.

Ultimately Miller has made some poor recruiting options and other mistakes over the journey but I think he has left us in pretty good shape. I think the time was right for us to part ways but I am still annoyed by the timing and public manner in which it was executed.

I had hoped 'Eat our own' reputation was starting to fade but with internal leaks to the media, untimely sackings of key club figures and reactive board decisions perhaps my hopes are unfounded....

Stripes

[Infamy]

* He's been out of footy for 10-12 years so has spoken to about 20 people to formulate a way to do the review.

Maher and Watson bagged him afterwards as unconvincing and someone who "wobbled" when questioned and avoided answering questions. They also bagged Free as someone who seems to have come onto the board without the  set out vision you'd expect from a new director.

* Changes will be made and some won't be popular. There'll be more good Richmond people.

Very very VERY concerning
I hope March knows what the hell he's doing, but to me it looks like a good way to make the club self destruct

Appointing a bloke who's been out of football for over a decade and needs advice to restructure our entire football department is beyond ridiculous. I wouldn't believe it was true if it wasn't the Richmond FC.

[Smokey]

I don't want to harp on this mate and I'm not a religious person but I do know that Geez died in his 30s and that was after years of preaching and miracle work. Miller may be eventually credited with 'resurrecting' the club and working miracles to get TW  but he is no heavenly worker.

I think many supporters will be concerned about the manner and timing in which he was exited from the club rather than the decision itself.

Personally I think Miller did a great job in rebuilding us administratively and in getting quality people to the club to assist in both improving us financially off-field and attempting to build a successful playing list on-field. The marketing expertise that TW and Miller brought to the club is impossible to deny based on factual figures while the health, depth and potential of the list appears much improved but will continue to be scrutinized.

Ultimately Miller has made some poor recruiting options and other mistakes over the journey but I think he has left us in pretty good shape. I think the time was right for us to part ways but I am still annoyed by the timing and public manner in which it was executed.

I had hoped 'Eat our own' reputation was starting to fade but with internal leaks to the media, untimely sackings of key club figures and reactive board decisions perhaps my hopes are unfounded....

Stripes

Pretty much sums it up for me too Stripes.  Good post. 

[jackstar]

Give me a tiger anyday, but playing or having a role with us in the last 25 years isn't the greatest credentials in the world is it.
We don't need a boys club, do we Jack  

Who me ?

[cub]

Yes you ! Just borrowing an analogy of yours bud-dy 

[Moi]

I did this earlier in the day but haven't had time to post.  Here is a pretty rough copy of what he said.  It's paraphrasing because I can't type that fast lol and had to shorten as I went.  I don't think I've left much out and is pretty accurate, but not verbatim.


QUESTION:   Re Greg Miller, it was suggested by Gary March that it was time for generational change, that they needed somebody a bit more contemporary in that position.  Do you agree with him?

TONY FREE:    There was a subcommittee put in place some time ago and recommendations were made, and the board is fully supportive of that.

QUESTION:   What was it about GM that suggested to everybody at RFC that the game had slipped past him from an administrative perspective?

TONY FREE:   I think Gary is in charge of that communication regarding GM and he’s made that very, very clear. I haven’t read the newspapers, but I think he’s provided some of that today.  You need to go to him on that front.  But from a board point of view, we’re fully supportive of it.

QUESTION:   Last night On the Couch, GM said that he thought that TW should be reappointed at the end of this year.  Is that a consideration?

TONY FREE:   Of course it’s a consideration, but it’s something we will deal with down the track.  Terry is very, very comfortable with that.  As a footy club, we’re really happy with our performance over the last number of weeks, and we think we’ve got a really promising young crew there.  Our objective is really, really clear.  We’ve got a really clear purpose to really support this young group, to resource them as best we can, and give them the best opportunity to fulfill their potential.  And all decision making will be based on that.


QUESTION:   There’s also some talk that former Richmond players who are currently employed at other clubs have already been approached (Campbell and Lambert).  Has that been the case, have you moved that far forward yet?

TONY FREE:   No, we haven’t gone to any individual for them to fulfill a position at Richmond.  I’ve spoken to probably 25, 30 people since I joined the board just to get up to speed a little bit more with footy.  I’ve been out of it for a little while and I recognise that.  I spend time with people I know in footy, and those are the sorts of people, obviously, I’d go to.  They’re former team mates.  I respect them. And I’m sure you’d do the same thing.  If you entered into a new role you’d be going to people that you trust and admire and chatting it through.

QUESTION:   When you’re in charge of reviewing a football club where do you actually begin?

TONY FREE:      Look, this review process has been going on for some time.  I joined the board while that process was happening.  Gary made it really clear when I got involved that I didn’t need to be a part of that review process, so I haven’t been a part of it.  I’m spending time in the footy department.  We’re trying to grow and develop the place and get on the same page.   Our fundamental focus of thinking is we’ve got a good group of kids that we want to continue to develop into a really strong team and a strong club.

QUESTION:   Didn’t GM have a large responsibility and role to play in bringing all those kids to the footy club?

TONY FREE:   Oh absolutely, yeah.  I don’t know Greg personally.  I’ve obviously met him a few times, but he’s put in an enormous amount of work across the whole club in taking steps.  We were down and out a number of years ago.  I wasn’t close to the club then.  But if you just look at the basics, he has made an enormous contribution to the club.

QUESTION:   Freezer, how does it get out then, how does it leak out?

TONY FREE:   I don’t know, I really don’t know.  Obviously, we’d love to know.  It’s been difficult for, obviously, everyone involved.  I feel for Gary who really wanted to deliver it personally.  I feel for Greg and his family.  I just think it’s a really difficult time for everybody.  I feel for myself and my family too because we’ve been thrown into this through speculation.  So it’s a difficult time for everybody.

The bottom line is that good, strong Richmond people have only got one thing in mind.  There’s not a hint of self-interest or anything like that.  We are just trying to make this club the best we possibly can and that’s our core focus.  And if there’s decisions that need to be made that aren’t that comforting for some, well we’ve just got to make them.  We’ve got to make some brave decisions and get on with it.

[jackstar]

Very interesting Tony Free, Says that he hasnt gone to any any individual to fulfill a position at Punt Road.
Love to know what you were doing with Craig Lambert over the weekend.then ? 
Dont tell me, you were talking about your Juice Bar::  lol