Wealthy St Kilda figure Gerry Ryan and former coach Grant Thomas endorse Larry Benge to join Saints board

[shanegrambeau]

I don't know about Great Saviour ...
But the dentist expects a little plaque to mark the occasion, and a bit of fanfare, when he joins the board at tooth hurty.

Are you trying to say there's a yawning gap or a cavity if you will in our management team and he's just the man to be filling it?

Can you believe the earthquake GT has triggered this time around…the aftershocks and tsunami of flotsam coming into to fill the wound? His footsteps are giagantic ..

And he’s just endorsing someone.

Of course you can. Of course WE can.

The GT foot print is enormous…I cannot imagine any other ex-coach meddling like this…and having such a divisive impact……although mighty Leigh Matthews does occasionally mutter something that turns into big news. Then an ex player like McClure regularly takes cracks at Carlton..a bit like Thommo maybe..

Why do we feel so …I mean know, we know it’s serious…a serious threat.
A) because he’s actually right? And that leads to awful flow on effects…because we can’t have a board manipulated and controlled by a puppet master, can we?
B) we can’t tolerate in our minds that part of GT is reasonable, tolerable, sacrificial, giving, etc., and the other part is a rambling egomaniacal tyrant hellbent on doing x,y, and z and sacking Rome lie, Ivan the terrible or whoever that Barbarian tyrant was who stormed across Europe and beheaded everyone.
C) GT must be judged as one single person, one entity, one verdict, one possibility, evil or good. And yet we can acknowledge that we are all various things at various times…not so here.

I think the pressure for time and space and bandwidth in today’s media is so tight, we are reduced to syllabic grunts.
B)

[Devilhead]

Hardly a massive footprint ..... a failed footprint maybe and that's why it stirs passion amongst passionate Saints supporters.

I very much doubt anyone else in the football world cares and the media only ran with it because they are in the business of stirring controversy and they love seeing St Kilda get fkd over and have us looking like idiotic desperate fk ups.

[roskilde]

I don't know about Great Saviour ...
But the dentist expects a little plaque to mark the occasion, and a bit of fanfare, when he joins the board at tooth hurty.

Are you trying to say there's a yawning gap or a cavity if you will in our management team and he's just the man to be filling it?

Can you believe the earthquake GT has triggered this time around…the aftershocks and tsunami of flotsam coming into to fill the wound? His footsteps are giagantic ..

And he’s just endorsing someone.

Of course you can. Of course WE can.

The GT foot print is enormous…I cannot imagine any other ex-coach meddling like this…and having such a divisive impact……although mighty Leigh Matthews does occasionally mutter something that turns into big news. Then an ex player like McClure regularly takes cracks at Carlton..a bit like Thommo maybe..

Why do we feel so …I mean know, we know it’s serious…a serious threat.
A) because he’s actually right? And that leads to awful flow on effects…because we can’t have a board manipulated and controlled by a puppet master, can we?
B) we can’t tolerate in our minds that part of GT is reasonable, tolerable, sacrificial, giving, etc., and the other part is a rambling egomaniacal tyrant hellbent on doing x,y, and z and sacking Rome lie, Ivan the terrible or whoever that Barbarian tyrant was who stormed across Europe and beheaded everyone.
C) GT must be judged as one single person, one entity, one verdict, one possibility, evil or good. And yet we can acknowledge that we are all various things at various times…not so here.

I think the pressure for time and space and bandwidth in today’s media is so tight, we are reduced to syllabic grunts.
B)

Just speaking for myself I have to say I'm ambivalent about the whole thing. I have a lot of skepticism regarding this whole affair especially the way it's been conducted but I also have a lot of fondness for GT if only for the type of person he is. Still would love, as I said earlier, for a concrete description of these problems we're allegedly having at the management level and still waiting for any reasonable proof that Benge has any right to say he's the man to clean it up and bring in needed change. That can wait though.

I agree with your last point entirely and also it's off season so people are looking for anything Saints related to discuss.

[Wayne42]

The endorsing of the dentist by Gerry Ryan and GT has hardly caused a ripple in the real world, it has however provided plenty of fodder for fan forums, especially this one.

Conveniently at a time when there is nothing much happening in the world of AFL Football.

[shanegrambeau]

The endorsing of the dentist by Gerry Ryan and GT has hardly caused a ripple in the real world, it has however provided plenty of fodder for fan forums, especially this one.

Conveniently at a time when there is nothing much happening in the world of AFL Football.

Mnn,..maybe we all drink too much coffee. I know I do.

But I still thinks it is remarkable.

GT is an oddity.

I’m sure I imagine it. You know, when Mike Sheahen stopped doing podcasts with Tommo and Sam Newman, I just automatically assumed sheahan couldn’t deal with being seen in a group with Tommo. He cited reasons like he hast got time for podcasts etc., but he was back on one pretty soon.

I loved listening to Thommo on Footy Confidential …I did cringe too, but you never knew what was gonna come out..it was very interesting for a while. I was only visiting aust for a few months at the time.

[Teflon]

Hardly a massive footprint ..... a failed footprint maybe and that's why it stirs passion amongst passionate Saints supporters.

I very much doubt anyone else in the football world cares and the media only ran with it because they are in the business of stirring controversy and they love seeing St Kilda get fkd over and have us looking like idiotic desperate fk ups.

Spot on Devil
Suggesting it’s because “GT has a massive footprint” completely misses the entire point I suspect of many peoples angst.
I think many are sick and tired of good old St Kilda imploding via the media (who think we are a circus)
What’s infuriating is Thomas could not give a f@rk about that - he just wants on the Board of an AFL club so he can go d!ck measuring with the AFL big boys to satisfy his ego
Point is the victim, the loser the one that gets kicked to the kerb when it all goes to Shyte is Saints fans and members
I’m genuinely tired of our club not being professional enough to ban these self interest messiah’s
The days of worshipping individuals at St Kilda has to end - it doesn’t matter if it’s GT or Tony Lockett ...(who also moved on despite many thinking he loves the club).
Fact is WE love the club and until we get an attitude that the club is bigger than any individual the sooner we get a flag
Melbourne brought all parts of their business together - it took time for sure but they don’t have anyone leaking to the media pretending there’s all these “issues” but offering nothing but generalisations and no solutions. Thomas throws out generic wide ranging platitudes and the gullible lap it up its stuff like
“I just feel Saints are just participating in no AFL” (no Shyte Sherlock where were you in the dark Richo years??
“I think we need to look at culture” - that old hoary chestnut that’s really intangible and tough to measure
In amongst these general statements ZERO plan of action, ZERO recognition the clubs done done great things in recent times but plenty of “we need change” and “I have one more fight in me!!”
Thanks Rambo but no one asked you to fight for us and we don’t need another hero as the song suggests.

[Shaggy]

Ofcourse 2022 is make it break - with Clarkson there I think it’s critical for Ratten especially to have a good year
Ofcourse it’s good corporate practice to update your board with talent
Question for you is;
1. Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers
2. Do you think dragging the club through the media gutter is the “professional Board” member material we need ???
Good clubs don’t do that.
We are headed straight back to the days of the club being run by “white knight” individuals....it’s 80’s stuff and when these so called “fixers” have had their play we’ll be left to pick up the pieces ....only this time from Tasmania where perhaps (if we allow this trash into our club) we deserve to be.

Of course you could not accept someone GT endorses because of your personal vendetta.

But this thread should be about Gerry Ryan’s endorsement of the dentist not GT. You have made it about GT.

Gerry Ryan is our white knight. He has stood by us through thick and thin and loves the Saints.

Gerry Ryan is not merely a rich man with Javco. He started a world sport’s brand from scratch with Greenedge. He became part owner and Board member of Melbourne Storm after the salary cap scandal and they have won 3 flags since. It was not an accident Billy Slater joined us funded by Gerry. He saved Sandringham from folding in the VFL. He won a Melbourne Cup as owner. Major benefactor to the Opals and lots of suburban sporting clubs. He believes in sport. He is an OAM for his philanthrophy. Most importantly for Saints supporters he is our biggest benefactor. Javco has sponsored us forever.

Gerry endorsed Bassat as President. He endorses the dentist as a new board member to the public. He is collaborative not divisive as you are trying to make out.
Last year when there was the panic regarding COVID and finances Ryan went public with his support for the Saints and the Board. Gerry Ryan reconfirming his support in troubled times helps with stability with sponsors and creditors.

To quote Ricky Nixon:
“The club can count itself lucky that another key reason for turning its fortunes around on and off the field going into the late eighties and early nineties was having Gerry Ryan on the St Kilda board… I don’t think the vast majority of St Kilda fans can possibly have any idea just how much Gerry has done down through the years to help the club survive some perilous times”.
In fact Nixon knows Ryan also bailed the club out of financial jams several over the years. “I believe he even paid a substantial amount of the player salaries one year. But you never get to hear about it and certainly not from Gerry himself”

So at the same time you loved Ross Lyon running around for Fitzroy, Gerry Ryan is saving the saints.

Gerry Ryan supporting the dentist does mean a lot. Because Gerry wants us to win a flag and survive forever. He works with, not against Bassat.

Fitzroy did not have a Gerry Ryan. So your team is now the Brisbane Lions.

I don’t think I mentioned Gerry once and I agree his backing and his background credentials make him well placed to put forward a view.
But it’s not Gerry out Shyte canning the club again in the media - it’s Thomas and you’ve completely neglected to mention that bit.
Why is this about GT? Cause he has form and all know it.
Ask yourself the last time he came out and said the club has done something right???????
I don’t see Gerry out bashing the club...
So no it’s not about Gerry cause his intentions are genuine and he’s put his chop on the block for the club before - out of his pocket as you state
Not so Grant....although he wants all to know he’s a squillionaire ....
As for Fitzroy it’s true there were no “white knight” backers only an AFL /VFL hell bent on ensuring someone paid the price for interstate expansion. Fitzroy had the agreement to merge with Nth and both clubs had accepted that. VFL HQ stopped that.
Rest assured though...that time will come again..and any club who is still in debt and squabbling and airing its dirty laundry in the media might feel a tad nervous...
So as an ex Fitzroy member I’d suggest learn the lesson, focus on running the club professionally and leave the ego driven messiahs at the front door.
Oh btw - Ross Lyon played as he coached ....hard...but he was no Mick Conlan, Gary Pert, Paul Roos or Gary Wilson

Your points 1 & 2 are appalling IMO. You are making the endorsement of an independent director appear bad. But it is not. New blood is always needed.

"Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers" is your ignorant opinion and offensive IMO.

In terms of your feud with GT why cannot you get over it?

I don't care what you think he did to you or your family. It was 15+ years ago.

GT moved on and is now a multi millionaire. I did not see him push his business interests through the Saints. I have also never heard him bad mouth Rod Butterrs. I have never read Rod bad mouth GT also. The two of them nearly got the Saints over the line despite not being perfect individuals. They have both made multi millions in their time so they have something special about them even if u do not like them.

GT & Rod were a team and we nearly won a flag on a shoe string. I think what was achieved was amazing.

Your bitterness after all this time is really too much.

[Sanctorum]

I totally understand how some supporters get ballistic about Grant Thomas stirring the pot, and acknowledge the evidence is there that he has a record of coming out with statements that make headlines solely calculated to boost his ego and profile in the media.

Nonetheless, I am quite convinced that in this current push to put the board and senior management under pressure to get the St Kilda team on track to succeed, Thomas has the full backing of Gerry Ryan and the coterie of high profile commercial sponsors and Saints members all of who are no longer prepared to see the team languish in the bottom half of the comp, and believe the time for change is now.

They believe getting Larry Benge elected to the Board will bring this into effect.

Why confident on this occasion sancto after acknowledging his previous track record? How do you know any of this? Has Ryan or Benge or the Club or the Coterie or the Sponsors been quoted as on board with Thomas and his grandstanding, giving him their "full backing"?

Seems somewhere between paragraph two and three you have jumped the shark.

As much as supporters detest Grant Thomas with passion GL, I doubt that Gerry Ryan and Co feel the same way, in fact I expect they are close friends and share a fervent desire to see St Kilda win another premiership.

In this current scenario, it is clear that Ryan strongly endorses Larry Benge to be elected to the Board.

Ryan has rarely appeared in the media to discuss his considerable interests in St Kilda and Melbourne Storm, and I expect he is quite content to have Grant Thomas, who is a bit of a media tart, to articulate the current demand for change.

[Scollop]

Ofcourse 2022 is make it break - with Clarkson there I think it’s critical for Ratten especially to have a good year
Ofcourse it’s good corporate practice to update your board with talent
Question for you is;
1. Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers
2. Do you think dragging the club through the media gutter is the “professional Board” member material we need ???
Good clubs don’t do that.
We are headed straight back to the days of the club being run by “white knight” individuals....it’s 80’s stuff and when these so called “fixers” have had their play we’ll be left to pick up the pieces ....only this time from Tasmania where perhaps (if we allow this trash into our club) we deserve to be.

Of course you could not accept someone GT endorses because of your personal vendetta.

But this thread should be about Gerry Ryan’s endorsement of the dentist not GT. You have made it about GT.

Gerry Ryan is our white knight. He has stood by us through thick and thin and loves the Saints.

Gerry Ryan is not merely a rich man with Javco. He started a world sport’s brand from scratch with Greenedge. He became part owner and Board member of Melbourne Storm after the salary cap scandal and they have won 3 flags since. It was not an accident Billy Slater joined us funded by Gerry. He saved Sandringham from folding in the VFL. He won a Melbourne Cup as owner. Major benefactor to the Opals and lots of suburban sporting clubs. He believes in sport. He is an OAM for his philanthrophy. Most importantly for Saints supporters he is our biggest benefactor. Javco has sponsored us forever.

Gerry endorsed Bassat as President. He endorses the dentist as a new board member to the public. He is collaborative not divisive as you are trying to make out.
Last year when there was the panic regarding COVID and finances Ryan went public with his support for the Saints and the Board. Gerry Ryan reconfirming his support in troubled times helps with stability with sponsors and creditors.

To quote Ricky Nixon:
“The club can count itself lucky that another key reason for turning its fortunes around on and off the field going into the late eighties and early nineties was having Gerry Ryan on the St Kilda board… I don’t think the vast majority of St Kilda fans can possibly have any idea just how much Gerry has done down through the years to help the club survive some perilous times”.
In fact Nixon knows Ryan also bailed the club out of financial jams several over the years. “I believe he even paid a substantial amount of the player salaries one year. But you never get to hear about it and certainly not from Gerry himself”

So at the same time you loved Ross Lyon running around for Fitzroy, Gerry Ryan is saving the saints.

Gerry Ryan supporting the dentist does mean a lot. Because Gerry wants us to win a flag and survive forever. He works with, not against Bassat.

Fitzroy did not have a Gerry Ryan. So your team is now the Brisbane Lions.

I don’t think I mentioned Gerry once and I agree his backing and his background credentials make him well placed to put forward a view.
But it’s not Gerry out Shyte canning the club again in the media - it’s Thomas and you’ve completely neglected to mention that bit.
Why is this about GT? Cause he has form and all know it.
Ask yourself the last time he came out and said the club has done something right???????
I don’t see Gerry out bashing the club...
So no it’s not about Gerry cause his intentions are genuine and he’s put his chop on the block for the club before - out of his pocket as you state
Not so Grant....although he wants all to know he’s a squillionaire ....
As for Fitzroy it’s true there were no “white knight” backers only an AFL /VFL hell bent on ensuring someone paid the price for interstate expansion. Fitzroy had the agreement to merge with Nth and both clubs had accepted that. VFL HQ stopped that.
Rest assured though...that time will come again..and any club who is still in debt and squabbling and airing its dirty laundry in the media might feel a tad nervous...
So as an ex Fitzroy member I’d suggest learn the lesson, focus on running the club professionally and leave the ego driven messiahs at the front door.
Oh btw - Ross Lyon played as he coached ....hard...but he was no Mick Conlan, Gary Pert, Paul Roos or Gary Wilson

Your points 1 & 2 are appalling IMO. You are making the endorsement of an independent director appear bad. But it is not. New blood is always needed.

"Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers" is your ignorant opinion and offensive IMO.

In terms of your feud with GT why cannot you get over it?

I don't care what you think he did to you or your family. It was 15+ years ago.

GT moved on and is now a multi millionaire. I did not see him push his business interests through the Saints. I have also never heard him bad mouth Rod Butterrs. I have never read Rod bad mouth GT also. The two of them nearly got the Saints over the line despite not being perfect individuals. They have both made multi millions in their time so they have something special about them even if u do not like them.

GT & Rod were a team and we nearly won a flag on a shoe string. I think what was achieved was amazing.

Your bitterness after all this time is really too much.

The irony here...or should I say the hypocrisy here is that he keeps telling others to to get over their bitterness and he keeps criticising posters for their stance.

Hey Teffers,

Time for self reflection

Hmmmmmm..... Where have I heard that before?

[Devilhead]

Find it pretty funny that some supporters are backing a guy who thought it was a good idea to be Coach, Head of Development, Head of Contracts & Chief of List Management amongst many other things and of course everything was great and the only change required was for him to take on more roles and get rid of people.

The way GT has tried to destabilise the club by publicly panning the current board insinuating major issues and deep rooted discontentment is insulting especially when he claims he has the cure when he clearly failed previously ...... a snakeskin oil salesman if there was ever one

I hope Larry is prepared to be undermined cause GT has form in this area

[Teflon]

Ofcourse 2022 is make it break - with Clarkson there I think it’s critical for Ratten especially to have a good year
Ofcourse it’s good corporate practice to update your board with talent
Question for you is;
1. Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers
2. Do you think dragging the club through the media gutter is the “professional Board” member material we need ???
Good clubs don’t do that.
We are headed straight back to the days of the club being run by “white knight” individuals....it’s 80’s stuff and when these so called “fixers” have had their play we’ll be left to pick up the pieces ....only this time from Tasmania where perhaps (if we allow this trash into our club) we deserve to be.

Of course you could not accept someone GT endorses because of your personal vendetta.

But this thread should be about Gerry Ryan’s endorsement of the dentist not GT. You have made it about GT.

Gerry Ryan is our white knight. He has stood by us through thick and thin and loves the Saints.

Gerry Ryan is not merely a rich man with Javco. He started a world sport’s brand from scratch with Greenedge. He became part owner and Board member of Melbourne Storm after the salary cap scandal and they have won 3 flags since. It was not an accident Billy Slater joined us funded by Gerry. He saved Sandringham from folding in the VFL. He won a Melbourne Cup as owner. Major benefactor to the Opals and lots of suburban sporting clubs. He believes in sport. He is an OAM for his philanthrophy. Most importantly for Saints supporters he is our biggest benefactor. Javco has sponsored us forever.

Gerry endorsed Bassat as President. He endorses the dentist as a new board member to the public. He is collaborative not divisive as you are trying to make out.
Last year when there was the panic regarding COVID and finances Ryan went public with his support for the Saints and the Board. Gerry Ryan reconfirming his support in troubled times helps with stability with sponsors and creditors.

To quote Ricky Nixon:
“The club can count itself lucky that another key reason for turning its fortunes around on and off the field going into the late eighties and early nineties was having Gerry Ryan on the St Kilda board… I don’t think the vast majority of St Kilda fans can possibly have any idea just how much Gerry has done down through the years to help the club survive some perilous times”.
In fact Nixon knows Ryan also bailed the club out of financial jams several over the years. “I believe he even paid a substantial amount of the player salaries one year. But you never get to hear about it and certainly not from Gerry himself”

So at the same time you loved Ross Lyon running around for Fitzroy, Gerry Ryan is saving the saints.

Gerry Ryan supporting the dentist does mean a lot. Because Gerry wants us to win a flag and survive forever. He works with, not against Bassat.

Fitzroy did not have a Gerry Ryan. So your team is now the Brisbane Lions.

I don’t think I mentioned Gerry once and I agree his backing and his background credentials make him well placed to put forward a view.
But it’s not Gerry out Shyte canning the club again in the media - it’s Thomas and you’ve completely neglected to mention that bit.
Why is this about GT? Cause he has form and all know it.
Ask yourself the last time he came out and said the club has done something right???????
I don’t see Gerry out bashing the club...
So no it’s not about Gerry cause his intentions are genuine and he’s put his chop on the block for the club before - out of his pocket as you state
Not so Grant....although he wants all to know he’s a squillionaire ....
As for Fitzroy it’s true there were no “white knight” backers only an AFL /VFL hell bent on ensuring someone paid the price for interstate expansion. Fitzroy had the agreement to merge with Nth and both clubs had accepted that. VFL HQ stopped that.
Rest assured though...that time will come again..and any club who is still in debt and squabbling and airing its dirty laundry in the media might feel a tad nervous...
So as an ex Fitzroy member I’d suggest learn the lesson, focus on running the club professionally and leave the ego driven messiahs at the front door.
Oh btw - Ross Lyon played as he coached ....hard...but he was no Mick Conlan, Gary Pert, Paul Roos or Gary Wilson

Your points 1 & 2 are appalling IMO. You are making the endorsement of an independent director appear bad. But it is not. New blood is always needed.

"Larry the dentist appears to have eff all credentials other than big mouth piece backers" is your ignorant opinion and offensive IMO.

In terms of your feud with GT why cannot you get over it?

I don't care what you think he did to you or your family. It was 15+ years ago.

GT moved on and is now a multi millionaire. I did not see him push his business interests through the Saints. I have also never heard him bad mouth Rod Butterrs. I have never read Rod bad mouth GT also. The two of them nearly got the Saints over the line despite not being perfect individuals. They have both made multi millions in their time so they have something special about them even if u do not like them.

GT & Rod were a team and we nearly won a flag on a shoe string. I think what was achieved was amazing.

Your bitterness after all this time is really too much.

I couldn’t give a “continental” (good ole GTism look it up) what you think of my views - it matters little.
Your naivety is breathtaking if you can’t see the issue behind how the entire approach for “Larry the dentist” to join the board has been conducted. It’s being played out in the media with a clear smear campaign suggesting the club has “issues” with GT up for 1 more fight....,
It’s not about hatred - it’s about not being stupid and blind to that combined with the fact that supporters have had a gut full of white knight saviours with only their interest at heart.
You failed to address the FACT that Gerry hasnt gone nuclear on the club via media ..only your love child and serial offender in Thomas?? Why would that be???
I also couldn’t give a rats arse how much money GT now has cause he’s NEVER ponied up and sponsored the club....that would be an act of genuine concern for the club but that won’t occur unless he gets some power/control back ...man has form.
No one suggests good candidates joining the Board is not a necessity- ofcourse it is. IMO GOOD candidates don’t need to drag the clubs name through the media to make that happen via loud mouth shonky backers in Thomas.
BTW always liked Rod Butters - met him and genuinely approachable guy who was clearly taken for a long ride by “his mate” who took his cash and decided $1m wouldn’t be a loan....
Anyway, continue to pretend this latest GT media foray is nothing more than “just making sure good ole Larry joins the Board” ....I’ll reserve my right to respectfully disagree as I prefer to live in reality over delusion.

[Teflon]

I totally understand how some supporters get ballistic about Grant Thomas stirring the pot, and acknowledge the evidence is there that he has a record of coming out with statements that make headlines solely calculated to boost his ego and profile in the media.

Nonetheless, I am quite convinced that in this current push to put the board and senior management under pressure to get the St Kilda team on track to succeed, Thomas has the full backing of Gerry Ryan and the coterie of high profile commercial sponsors and Saints members all of who are no longer prepared to see the team languish in the bottom half of the comp, and believe the time for change is now.

They believe getting Larry Benge elected to the Board will bring this into effect.

Why confident on this occasion sancto after acknowledging his previous track record? How do you know any of this? Has Ryan or Benge or the Club or the Coterie or the Sponsors been quoted as on board with Thomas and his grandstanding, giving him their "full backing"?

Seems somewhere between paragraph two and three you have jumped the shark.

As much as supporters detest Grant Thomas with passion GL, I doubt that Gerry Ryan and Co feel the same way, in fact I expect they are close friends and share a fervent desire to see St Kilda win another premiership.

In this current scenario, it is clear that Ryan strongly endorses Larry Benge to be elected to the Board.

Ryan has rarely appeared in the media to discuss his considerable interests in St Kilda and Melbourne Storm, and I expect he is quite content to have Grant Thomas, who is a bit of a media tart, to articulate the current demand for change.

Lots of “I suspect” in that but little evidence
I’d argue Gerry isn’t a fan of kicking the club via the media given that’s not his style
I suspect you’d be wrong on that score.

[Teflon]

Find it pretty funny that some supporters are backing a guy who thought it was a good idea to be Coach, Head of Development, Head of Contracts & Chief of List Management amongst many other things and of course everything was great and the only change required was for him to take on more roles and get rid of people.

The way GT has tried to destabilise the club by publicly panning the current board insinuating major issues and deep rooted discontentment is insulting especially when he claims he has the cure when he clearly failed previously ...... a snakeskin oil salesman if there was ever one

I hope Larry is prepared to be undermined cause GT has form in this area

BANG ON
I’m just gobsmacked at how gullible some are that they can’t see it’s not about St Kilda with Thomas....it’s about him
Where has he been when we’ve been down Shyte St under Richardson for 7 years IF he loved us so much????
He sees opportunity here
He knows there’s some good kids and a decent core that just needs an injection of some additional A grade talent to help Steel and we have a chance at a genuine push. That’s why he’s crawling out from under his rock - don’t give me the “he’s just been really busy” dribble
It’s actually sad that our own clubs supporters defend a guy who publicly rents out quotes to the media to constantly kick the club ....bizarre. When’s the last time he came out publicly and said the club was doing anything well????
Fancy the muppet questioning Gallagher who IMO over the past few years with stuff all first round selections has overseen a considerable list improvement....but Thomas reckons he’s no good???? What a moron
Personally I don’t care if Finnis moves on - I’d like Lethlean to step in as I think he has spine and would rightly tell Thomas to go forth and fornicate.

[cwrcyn]

Yes, it's interesting that this comes up when the club has already turned the corner after the failings of the the Watters/Pelchen/Richardson/Elshaug era. The work that has been put in on and off the field in the past three years has been enormous, with one glaring failure and that's in the are of fitness. I would argue that 2021 was the aberration and not 2020 because of that failure. In other areas....the redevelopment of Moorabbin and the positive shift in recruitment is a far cry from Seaford and the mystifying trades and draft selections of the previous era (McCartin, Longer, Tom Lee, Dunstan, Spencer White, Nathan Wright, Hugh Goddard, etc).

We've copped a whack from Thomas and the media in recent weeks, but I think it's overblown from both parties. Yes indeed, where was Thomas in 2016? He's stuffed his pockets with $113 million and now he's got time on his hands. Of course, have your passion for the club, be willing to assist and promote the right people who can help the club, but don't pot them in the media. That lacks class. Have a serious look at what's been achieved in the past few years. Remember Grant, your short-sightedness around the Tasmania deal cost this club about $12 million, which is close to what it requires to wipe out its current debt.

[samoht]

What about the development (or lack thereof) of players like Long, Coffield, Clark, Hill, Battle, etc... and the fact that Hind has flourished elsewhere?

Someone has to be accountable for Hanneberry and Hill given the salaries they are on vs their output?

If we'd kept and developed Hind, we wouldn't have had to fork out another$400k per annum.

Are we happy with our development department?

We can't keep turning a blind eye to mediocrity and glaring errors.
Where is the accountabilty?

Most of us on this forum were upset with the Hanneberry deal and when we went for McCartin over Petracca.
Maybe we should be offering our services for free?

[Yorkeys]

Not to pretend to be an apologist for mistakes, Samoht, however ......
Long has not shown an ability to give consistent contributions or be disciplined. He has had plenty of chances, been played in different positions for periods. Gives mercurial cameos and then can go missing or be a negative at key moments. Could any coach get more from him, I wonder.

Coffield was on a big upward curve then had a long down period for some reason, Ratts put it to him, gave him chances/encouragement, finally dropped him. Reinstated him and latterly he has seemed to regain really good form. Find it hard to agree he is not on course. Fingers crossed.

Clark was going from strength to strength until that wicked hit by McKay.

Hill probably was not going to improve given age/wear and tear. Big thing moving clubs and States. Feel Ratts has done all that could be asked to try to assimilate him in the team, find a position for him, adjust game plan for him and that by and large Brad has done well. Not a hard man but fwiw would prefer him to a Viney.

Battle: another that has not grasped all the opportunities given him and been hampered by injuries. Can't agree his progress has been stifled by a lack of trying to get him up and about.

Hind was probably behind several defenders in our side and think it was good of the club to release him for more opportunities. Perhaps he could have been retained and Long let go (contracts willing) but possibly Hill is our run and carry man. Actually it could be argued Hind developed under the Saints system.

Hannebery selection has proved a dud. Apologies made, reputational damage suffered, contract renegotiated and hopefully lessons learned. Good intentions in the decision and possibly if Finnis was more of a football expert he would have vetoed, but difficult given where we were and a need to support Lethlean at that time.

Could ask Finnis to walk but that would change the dynamics of the administration markedly and who knows what follows. Can you imagine how disruptive a Hocking might be, wanting to stamp his brand on a club.

As hypocritical as it sounds given rants I've made in the Richo era, I'd like to see current personnel be give more years together. I see a bright future, maybe not a flag but teams will need to work to beat us, if they can.

End of apology.

[cwrcyn]

King is developing well, as are Connolly and Byrnes. Paton was going brilliantly until his broken leg. We've also seen the resurgence of Webster and McKenzie.

How about that Petracca guy from Melbourne? Spent 4 years on a half forward flank and people were wondering "where is this once in a generation player?. Shouldn't he have come into the midfield at the start and dominated?" A bit of patience doesn't go astray.

There's development and there's also the self driven aspects of improved performance. Development at most clubs has been curtailed due the the pandemic. Hard for guys outside the main team to get enough game time to work on the things they need to. That's why you have to give credit to Connolly and Byrnes. Played very little VFL football and took their chance when given the opportunity.

I'm convinced Clark, Bytel, and Coffield will get better, as will Connolly and Byrnes. I expect at least three of those five to really shine in 2022. If Battle is settled in a key position, he'll be competent in the role.

Along with King at 21, Sharman at 21, and Higgins at 22 we have a pretty good group of youngsters and with some luck and good judgement, we'll have three more to add in a month's time.


The tiresome blathering about development gets quite nauseating. No one was complaining about it in 2020 when we were winning most of our games. Too many people looking reasons to kick the club. Okay, so Hind left us and is shining at Injectorland. Might that not have been due to the coaching he had at the Saints for two years? And remember, he's 27 years old, not a kid!

[samoht]

Okay, so Hind left us and is shining at Injectorland. Might that not have been due to the coaching he had at the Saints for two years? And remember, he's 27 years old, not a kid!

He was in and out of our side, and was generally overlooked - showed some glimpses, but that's about it - so I don't think we can give ourselves any credit for his turnaround at his new club.

[cwrcyn]

Couldn't knock back the under-the-table money from The Cheaters, just like Caldwell.

[Devilhead]

Hind came 8th in the B&F of a side that came 8th

Sinclair's season was as equal as Hinds - slightly less disposals but a lot less turnovers

[Vortex]

Hind has to back up his breakout year until his career is over which will be soon seeing as though he's 27. I'm going to wait until his career is over before deciding how I feel about him.

[cwrcyn]

We have 7 guys who can fill the small defender role.......Paton, Webster, Hill, Sinclair, Clark, Coffield, and Connolly. In another ten months no-one will be bothering to moan about Nick Hind. We have that position more than adequately covered. We have more pressing issues like CHB and the ruck, but at least we have a competent player in Battle to fill the CHB role, if needed. People carry on about Nick Hind as if we had given away Nick Dal Santo.

[freely]

We have 7 guys who can fill the small defender role.......Paton, Webster, Hill, Sinclair, Clark, Coffield, and Connolly. In another ten months no-one will be bothering to moan about Nick Hind. We have that position more than adequately covered. We have more pressing issues like CHB and the ruck, but at least we have a competent player in Battle to fill the CHB role, if needed. People carry on about Nick Hind as if we had given away Nick Dal Santo.

I seem to have lost the plot here - isn't this the GT-bashing thread?

[CQ SAINT]

We need some indication in the thread title that regardless of the topic, the discussion can and probably will go anywhere. Some posters need that, so they don't waste there time expecting the thread to be about what it says.

[Sanctorum]

We have 7 guys who can fill the small defender role.......Paton, Webster, Hill, Sinclair, Clark, Coffield, and Connolly. In another ten months no-one will be bothering to moan about Nick Hind. We have that position more than adequately covered. We have more pressing issues like CHB and the ruck, but at least we have a competent player in Battle to fill the CHB role, if needed. People carry on about Nick Hind as if we had given away Nick Dal Santo.

I seem to have lost the plot here - isn't this the GT-bashing thread?

or more to the point: "Teflon bashing GT thread", it's been a jolly entertaining debate so far, 12 pages and growing....