ROBERT HARVEY

[SAINT-LEE]

At the B&F last night Harves' tribute to Spud was the least powerful.
Buckets did a superb job.
And Bourkey managed to get a few laughs as well as extolling Danny's wonderful attributes.

I was a tremendously difficult gig but Harvey was quite wooden.
It wasn't so much what he said.
More the way he said it didn't inspire an audience that was yearning for inspiration.

Later on Ratts spoke about where he hopes to lead this club.
The words were the sort of words that we have all heard before from a string of coaches.
But Ratts actually said them in such a way that he inspired belief.

Later on further Gears spoke brilliantly and clearly embraced the Ratten vision and actually expressed his love for where Ratten was taking them.
Clearly Ratts has the total buy-in from the players.

Time will of course tell.
But based on all observable evidence I believe our Board has made the right decision.
And the strong endorsements from the players and the warm reception from the floor indicates most of the StK community are in agreement.

Time for the minority smitten by their hero worship of Harvey to move on and get behind Ratts.

As our President said ...
"2020 is the Year of the Ratt!"

Fine assessment, I too sat a bit dazed and sombre, but also felt almost embarrassed for Harves. I want him to be a bad ass, but he seemed stoic and hard. I don't believe that reflects his character, work ethic or coaching experience. But
this is exactly what I said a few years ago that the last time he stood and presented his case he was bumbling and seemed disingenuous. Which can't be. But if you can't get your message across to a room you can't be the guy. That said he also had a tear if you noticed, like most of us and I wonder if it was a bit hard to speak?

Stupid Richo was a legend at chatting up his vision. It was a fine plan as well but relied to heavily on St Kilda drafting well and NO CLUB can do it consistently in any sport globally.

Gears was very good, maybe the best I have ever heard him.
Ratts was good too but a tad subdued. It was a tough night for everyone.

[thejiggingsaint]

Robert Harvey is an absolute legend of our club. I admired and respected him as a player. I admire and respect him as a fine assistant coach, and as a quality person. I could repeat those previous words about Brett Ratten. A fine player. A one-club man. A quality person and fine assistant coach. I'm disappointed for Harves not getting the gig, but I'm not prepared to indulge in a "comparison fest" between two fine men, one of whom has been appointed our senior coach for the next three years. SO! The club have appointed Brett Ratten, I for one, am prepared to have an open mind and give the senior coach my 100% support. Go Saints!!!! (to hell with the rest!)

[chook23]

Using a clearly distressed Robert Harvey.......his speech and delivery impacted by the loss of Danny

I find it disgraceful to use that speech to determine or imply that the club made the right decision......
in choosing Rattten over Harvey

[The Fireman]

Robert Harvey is an absolute legend of our club. I admired and respected him as a player. I admire and respect him as a fine assistant coach, and as a quality person. I could repeat those previous words about Brett Ratten. A fine player. A one-club man. A quality person and fine assistant coach. I'm disappointed for Harves not getting the gig, but I'm not prepared to indulge in a "comparison fest" between two fine men, one of whom has been appointed our senior coach for the next three years. SO! The club have appointed Brett Ratten, I for one, am prepared to have an open mind and give the senior coach my 100% support. Go Saints!!!! (to hell with the rest!)

The way it is, the way it has been, the way it will be...we are along for the ride..what choice do we have ?

[desertsaint]

Very unfair to judge Harvs on that speech. Buckley's speech was similar - choked up and full of ums. Both a hell of a lot closer to Spud than Ratts. Bit like comparing Darcy's composure to that of Roberts the other night.

[saintspremiers]

Using a clearly distressed Robert Harvey.......his speech and delivery impacted by the loss of Danny

I find it disgraceful to use that speech to determine or imply that the club made the right decision......
in choosing Rattten over Harvey

Fair call.

When Banger mentioned his daughter and Spud’s are friends you know this is a deeply personal loss

[saynta]

Difficult night for Banger who was almost overcome with emotion.

Don't judge him too harshly

[johnnyrayflamingo]

This was a speech about one of his best mates dying. Jesus...

[Enrico_Misso]

Using a clearly distressed Robert Harvey.......his speech and delivery impacted by the loss of Danny

I find it disgraceful to use that speech to determine or imply that the club made the right decision......
in choosing Rattten over Harvey

For sure it was a difficult ask and few would be capable.

But that is what you look for in a true leader, the ability to take charge in a really difficult moment and refocus and inspire people.
Buckets made a great speech (through a few tears) and noticibly lifted the spirit of the room.
Harvey struggled to have impact.

Winston Churchill's are hard to find.
But we do look to leaders to provide inspiration.

Harves will forever be one of the best handful of players to represent this club.
I saw most of his games and am still in awe of his freakish evasive and ball magnet abilities.
All StKilda supporters love him.

But he is not suited to be a head coach.

[desertsaint]

yes old bob hawke blubbing like a baby over his daughter drug habits, what a terrible leader. steve smith even more so, obviously shouldn't captain us again, the usa should have booted lincoln for crying unabashedly after Douglas died - whatever happened to a stiff upper lip?
seriously a load of bollocks enrico.

[desertsaint]

"While most people consider Churchill as one of the most gifted orators in history, Johnson says that Churchill did not start out that way. “We think of him as somehow supernaturally gifted, as if he had sprung from a union of Zeus and Polyhymnia the very Muse of Rhetoric. I am afraid we are only partly right,” according to Johnson. In fact, many years earlier when Churchill was 29-years old, he stood up to give a speech in the House of Commons as a newly elected representative and literally froze for three whole minutes. He managed to say a few words, but returned to his seat in despair and covered his head with his hands. He vowed it would never happen again.

Churchill spent years refining his speeches, practicing his delivery, and obsessing about every word choice, substituting longer words for shorter, more impactful ones. He gave hundreds of speeches. By the time he became Prime Minister at the age of 65, Churchill had become a masterful orator, one of the greatest speakers the world has ever known. “The secret of Churchill’s success of a speaker was immense preparation. He wasn’t a natural,” says Johnson."

[lefty]

Judging someones ability to coach based on a speech, what a joke. Richo would of won 10 flags with that logic.

[HarryM]

But he is not suited to be a head coach.

Thank goodness we've got such an expert on Coaching in here, because some of us might've thought otherwise.

[saintspremiers]

yes old bob hawke blubbing like a baby over his daughter drug habits, what a terrible leader. steve smith even more so, obviously shouldn't captain us again, the usa should have booted lincoln for crying unabashedly after Douglas died - whatever happened to a stiff upper lip?
seriously a load of bollocks enrico.

I doubt EM is basing Banger’s coaching suitably based on his B&F speech.

Banger has never been a good public speaker. Fact.

[Bernard Shakey]

Harves performance on The Front Bar a couple of months ago, told me he would never be a head coach.
He knew they were going to take the piss, because that's what they do, and he was petrified!

[Rubyjo]

Harvey's speach was magnificent..

[saintspremiers]

Harvey's speach was magnificent..

It was raw and unfiltered.

Spud would’ve been like Harv’s big brother at the club, being 8 years older.

[barneyboyz]

Robert Harvey is an absolute legend of our club. I admired and respected him as a player. I admire and respect him as a fine assistant coach, and as a quality person. I could repeat those previous words about Brett Ratten. A fine player. A one-club man. A quality person and fine assistant coach. I'm disappointed for Harves not getting the gig, but I'm not prepared to indulge in a "comparison fest" between two fine men, one of whom has been appointed our senior coach for the next three years. SO! The club have appointed Brett Ratten, I for one, am prepared to have an open mind and give the senior coach my 100% support. Go Saints!!!! (to hell with the rest!)

To hell with the rest!

[thejiggingsaint]

Its really quite sad to see the direction that the thread has taken, (citing Robert Harvey's tribute/vale to Spud) not really what we want to see at this particular sad period for the club and its supporters.

[Living the dream]

What an incredibly difficult thing to do, full of grief....and some fool judges his leadership qualities on his "performance"
Shameful.