Unless my radio reception was corrupted, Smorgon at no stage actually said the football department review was initiated by the AFL.

And nothing he said could reasonably be interpreted as indicating the $1.5M was to pay out Pagan.

I had the opportunity to go to the Presidents Luch today.. but decided against a noon siesta in winter...

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He did a reasonable job in the interview.

Thought he handled himself well actually - talked about youth policy - stuck to his guns on the review at seasons end without pre-empting decisions to be made
Made clear what the position was with Kouta
Discussed loan from AFL sensibly - made clear what capacity Fitzy is attending board meetings and the duration of his attendance at those meetings
PS Much better performance than from BONES Mcguire recently - I think Tarrant is wonderful too because he has a large share portfolio and has a house in toorak

I thought it was pretty clear during the interview that the AFL have initiated the review irrespective of whether Smorgon said it or not. Of course he'd say that the review was internal as well.

Anything else I said is just Jim (hopeful) speculation. Due to where they said our losses are occuring, purely match day and membership, indicating it to be purely on-field, it's just me trying to put 2 + 2 together and seeing if I actually got 4, not 5. There's only one way to improve our on-field performance in the short-term, especially given he refused to guarantee the coach's positon next year. It's not as if we, ourselves, can pay the cost of paying him out.

My concern is that you have stated as fact something which is actually your interpretation of what was said.

ahhh that old chestnut....



GW - get ya arse in here

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

The end of season review may, or may not be AFL driven. But how you could conclude that it was "pretty clear" from that interview is beyond me. You could say you got the impression it was AFL driven, which would be your interpretation, and would differ from mine.

So isn't anyone else worried that now the AFL have "two" of their people within our decision making process? It seems to me that our club is now well and truly run by the AFL. Then again maybe it's my paranoia of the AFL.

Im not - both are good and have skills - both are monitoring and assisting AND BOTH ARENT ON THE BOARD

I'm sure you, frank and headplant can handle it. I'm over it. If I wanted serious intelligent debate I'd talk to the dog I don't have...

Facts, schmacts...

This place if for people to hear what they want to hear and say what they want to say. Listening to what's actually said is so far down the list it's on the other side of the sheet. Most of us aren't actually interested in reading what comes after our posts unless it somehow impinges on our own concrete version of events. Every now and then someone manages to shift someone elses opinion (and I've been extremely grateful when someone's made me see something from another perspective) but it's a rare enough event for it to stand out like the semen production facility of the proverbial pooch I don't own.

How anyone can seriously question the PART-TIME appointment of two highly skilled succesful people to the club (one of whom is a past premiership captain and former board member) FREE OF CHARGE is beyond me.

Is the fact that Smorgon didn't meet Watts before it was announced a concern?

Possibly but only in what it says about Smorgon which we already know.

Are Fitzpatrick and Watts going to help us?

Absolutely.

I'm not convinced by Smorgon at all but I thought he handled that interview pretty well. He was up front on most issues but didn't give anything away. The fact that the media haven't jumped all over him afterwards is a sign that he just may be learning on the job. That's a good thing whether you or I like the bloke or not.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Possibly??? The AFL have just hired someone to run a part of the CFC, Smorgen (who is running the club - supposedly) has never met him, yet it could possible be a concern.



Yep these two will be looking after the clubs best interest, no doubt, just like Collo did. The fact the AFL have now replaced Collo with 2 additions, 1 of which we have begged to come and help out on numerous times previously but didn't have the time, is not a concern . It seems some people live under rocks for their whole lives and only come out when it's tooooo late.

I dunno why the AFL wanted to "introduce" anyone to our board … they're doing a bloody great job. In fact, we should be sending our people to the AFL to show 'em how it's done!

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Even better, the AFL should send our people to Collingwood.
It should'nt take us long to drag them down.
Sort of an "equalisation system" for administrations.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Yeah we might as well have handed the keys in when we accepted that money but we had no other choice. The old stand alone Carlton is dead and now the AFL pulls our strings, not an ideal situation as we are now at their mercy but it's better than no Carlton at all.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

And of course you'll be at the top of the list of those who'll read into it what they want to.

Amazing that a "part-time consultant" is now "running a part of the CFC".

Do you know what a consultant is Surrey?

Do you really think Watts will just barge in and make decisions against the will of the club?

Are you really that paranoid?

Are you soulfly's lovechild?

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

This debate is surreal.

Firstly, I listened to the Smorgan interview, and at no time was there a suggestion that the AFL were behind a review of our coaching department.

Secondly, Fitzpatrick is there as an observer and advisor to the board for a couple of months. That doesn't tell me the AFL is running our club, and surely Fitzpatrick is an individual in whom we can have faith.

Thirdly, Watts is a proven performer in reforming an AFL club, but some think we shouldn't have his advice because the AFL are paying the bill.

At no stage has it been said that we have to take the advice of the AFL, but we have got some professional help for free, and whoever thinks we don't need it needs professional help.

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Haha, I like it!

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I have always suggested we need outside help and have put forward someone like equivalent to Cook from Geelong several times....I see Fitzpatrick and Watts as a positive and in all fairness to the AFL I wouldnt be giving 1.5 mill to the Carlton Football Club without wanting some same handle on how it was being spent and some checks and balances.....we are lucky we got the money and the AFL are actually looking like offering genuine help..
Its not like smorgan and co have come up with a plan is it?...apart from run to the AFL with their hands out and cap in hand.....
I'd be begging Fitzpatrick and Watts to come up with some ideas while they have a connection to the club rather than whining about it....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Who helped Cook? Who helped Watts? Nobody.
Malouf and co. need help. It tells you a whole lot about our club.