AGM

[Enrico_Misso]

AGM Report Part 1

Meeting began just after 7.
All directors present plus Archie except Andrew Thompson who had other contractual obligations (Cousins?).

Item 1 : The Accounts
Westaway spoke.
Thanked Archie and wished him all the best for his new role.
Pleased that we reached our 3rd Prelim in 5 years.
Pleased with the additional $1.4m spent on the footy dept.
But still $2.1m below top team.
Pleased soft tissue injurues down significantly eg Max and Harves.
Pleased to get Matthew Drain.
Pleased that 60% of the list is under 25.
Target for 09 is to finish top 4.
Pleased that several long term disputes have been settled, specifically GT and Kingston Clowncil.
Pleased that Seaford will be ready in 2010.
Pleased with the 30,700 membership figure that was a real number and didn't include "pets" etc., effectively a record.
Pleased the sponsors have renewed.
Jeldwen are now in year 2 and the amount has increased.
Not pleased that matchday revenue is down, particularly corporate seats.
Hence strategy to make Lev 2 more accessible to members.
Highlights need for a better stadium deal.
Playing in finals was good, but despite attendance of ~200,000 there was no revenue benefit.
2008 saw a net loss of $145k despite the NAB cup win.
Pleased to get Leigh Tudor.
Pleased with the Sandy link and thereby getting Andy Lovell in the fold.
Urged members to join.

Item 2 : Election of new director
Nettlefold was elected for 3 years unopposed.

to be continued ....

[Enrico_Misso]

AGM Report Part 2

Item 3 : Life Members.

3 were inducted

Lenny Hayes - 10 years of service - no other comment required

Greg Kali (apologies if spelling is wrong) - 27 years of help behind the scenes - matchday organisation, statistics, Panasonic sponsorship etc.

Ian Henderson - (not the newsreader) - club surgeon since the 80s

For some reason Westaway gave them their awards then called for a vote. Presumably he would have had to take the award back if the vote was negative !

Item 4 : Ross Lyon address

(Ross spoke quick so apologies for bits I missed and/or can't remember)
- congratulated life members ("I am a life member of a club that no longer exists!")
- is looking forward not back
- the stories about our window closing or the clock passing midnight are a myth
- as is the story that we are too old. Av age is 23yrs and 79 days which is less than Richmond and compares favourably with most other clubs
- 50% of the list has been turned over in his 2 years at the club

Sees the club as being made up of
- Veterans : Max, Milne, Blake, Lenny, King
- Core : Nick, Sam Fisher, Goddard, Dal, Raph, Kosi, Dempster, Xman, Goose, (missed the rest - Baker?)
- Top Ups : Farren Ray(read to go), Coln Begley, Zac Dawson (gained 20kg)
- Next Core : Armitage, Eddy, Geary, Stephen, McEvoy, Connors, Miles
- Long Term (18yrs or younger) : incl Tangatalum and Rhys Stanley
(one of the fitness staff described Rhys as the "best athlete he has seen for 10 years").

I seem to be missing a few names : Gram, Montagna, Schneider, Gardiner, Gilbert, Gwilt, Jones
Ross mentioned them but not sue which categories - you can probably guess but I don't want to misquote him.


Quotes from Ross ...
"We have got everything we need".
"Our aim is top 4 in the H&A"
"We need to start the season well"
"Our draw being easy is a myth. Our draw is tough"
"Would prefer more Fri night games and less Sunday games"
"We need to score more"
"Looking to score 2 more goals a game, up from 14 to 16"
"We need to move the ball quicker"
"Add excitement, as per Robert Harvey's last Telstradome game"
"We need to encourage youth, like we did in the Sydney [correction - Freo] game when McEvoy debuted"
"We need to express the development of our talented youth"

To be continued

[Eastern]

I'm waiting for the bit where blood could have spilt when the "Real" fans had their say !!

[casey scorp]

Last question of the night from down the front…….

Can you confirm that the club has to pay everything over $9 million for the Seaford development?

Answer from a director (I wasn't there when they were introduced, but someone who was there might be able to say who it was)….with aggression!

"You need to get your facts right! Frankston Council is paying $3 million….did you know that? Did you know that?"

Yes came the reply from the questioner.

“Right, and the AFL is paying $2.55 million and the State Government is paying $3.45 millionâ€

[Raven]

McEvoy debuted against Freo, did he not?

Great report, and it's still going! Thanks

[mbogo]

Obviously this is a contentious issue then - who would have thought?

[Enrico_Misso]

AGM Report Part 3

Item 5 : Questions.

Questions from .....

Hippy with a ponytail
"Archie, before you go to GoldCoast can you explain why you didn't fully explore the option to relocate in our heartland eg Elsternwick/StKilda?"
Archie
"I am NOT going to Goldcoast !"
Yes we extensively explored all options, spoke to 8/9 Councils including Port Philip.
Issue is we need full access to the oval to organise extra/ad hoc sessions - we can't do that if sharing with other clubs. StKilda (the suburb) would have been ideal if we could have but we couldn't.

------------------

Tracy
In Aisle 38 Level 1 we get intuders sitting in the seats behind us after 1/2 time because the security people disappear. Eg feral Essendon supporters.
Archie
The security officials are meant to stay.
Let me know the details and I will take it up with Telstradome.

------------------

Stephen
When is the new stadium deal coming?
And what is happening with the new talent program in Ireland?
Archie
AFL proposed a deal to Telstradome and MCG.
Ian Collins rejected it.
Would be worth approx $1m per club per year.
Status is a deadlock and probable litigation.
Not expecting a resolution this year.

Re Ireland.
There was a training camp organised last year involving 5 AFL clubs and 25 locals.
Archie went over to help set up a program.
Matt Drain came back from a month over there today.
They have a number of potentials in some Uni cup.
They are undergoing a program for fitness, skills and diet.
Hopefully some will progress sufficiently to be picked up as rookies come November.

-----------------
Bob
Why didn't we recruit Cousins?
Would have boosted sales etc.
Archie
We did 5 to 6 months of due diligence on this.
Conflicts with our youth policy.
He is 31 and has some physical issues.
Plus "other" issues.
Big ask for a reformed drug addict to make it back.
We prefer less hype.
Better list dynamics.

-----------------
Michael
What is happening with the Social Club?
Archie
We have a lease till 2040.
Most of our operations will move to Seaford.
Need to work out with Kingston Council how we will utilise the Moorabbin venue.
But we do have rights there till 2040.

-------------------------
A Scotsman
I have had a reserved seat on Level 2 for years and this year I had to pay for a SC membership to retain my seat. Why?
Archie
The demand is high.
6400 of our 8000 SC members already sit on L2.
There are 1400 non SC members on L2.
Trade off is that they pay the SC fee but get access to the L2 facilities now that they are not doing the matchday thing with the corporates, plus a GF ticket right.
Implied that other Level 1 SC members would take it up.
(Scotsman not happy !!!).

----------------------------

Terry
In 64 when we moved to Moorabbin the Council was delighted to have us.
Members live around here. Why Seaford? Has the Council dynamics changed?
John Gudanski
Basically several Kingston councillors don't want us.
Seaford is $10.4m but no black hole, will leave us with $1m of debt.
Moorabbin would cost us $5m to $8m of debt.
Plus the $400k pa to maintain the facility would be our expense at Moorabbin, but at Seaford it is paid by the Council.


To be continued

[sunsaint]

Thanks very much for the report Enrico

[bigcarl]

Yes, great report enrico

[Eastern]

AGM Report Part 3

Item 5 : Questions.

Questions from .....

Hippy with a ponytail
"Archie, before you go to GoldCoast can you explain why you didn't fully explore the option to relocate in our heartland eg Elsternwick/StKilda?"
Archie
"I am NOT going to Goldcoast !"
Yes we extensively explored all options, spoke to 8/9 Councils including Port Philip.
Issue is we need full access to the oval to organise extra/ad hoc sessions - we can't do that if sharing with other clubs. StKilda (the suburb) would have been ideal if we could have but we couldn't.

-----------------


To be continued

Did this "Hippy with a ponytail" look like he might be a resident of Hawthorn? Did he say FAIR DINKUM at the end of his rant? Did he have a sheet of paper with hitouts to advantage stats on it? Did he have a satelite navigation unit with him to ensure he was at the correct venue?

Some of us might just know who this character is !!

[saintdooley]

i dont get it
why is the target to finish top 4? unless you win the premiership you get nothing except humiliation out of it...so why isn't the aim to win the bloody thing?
it sounds hard, but nothing is impossible!

[Enrico_Misso]

AGM Report Part 4

Item 5 : Questions continued

Lady
Greg/Nathan, before you were elected you had informal meetings with supporters.
Now nothing.
The B&F cost over $200.
It is all for Corporates.
We have become a business not a club.
But when we play at Gold Coast there are affordable functions.
Greg
Tell us what you want, dates, times
(Very wishy washy answer, mumbled on about Deleware North - no idea what he was talking about. Archie came in to save him)
Archie
There is the Victory Room after a game.
The Family day.
Or come down to any Training session.

--------------------------------

Ken
You spoke of being under the radar, but one journalist described us as the equal worst club in terms of media access.
Archie
Hawthorn was equal worst and Geelong the year before so it is not all bad.
Seriously Ross has spoken with us after the season and recognised we need to do more to market the club.
We met with Ch 7 and Ch 10 and newspapers.
Some journos can now call Ross direct.
Other examples are the recent double page spreads on Ross and the Nick tattoo piece.

--------------------------
Stephen Mason
(long time organiser of Neil Roberts Club luncheons)
Tell us about sponsorship revenue
Greg
We basicall need more people (members).
Need to grow our brand.
Modest profit expected this year.
Need to get success onfield.
Archie (had to rescue him again)
Sponsorship revenue is up 20% this year.
JeldWen sponsorship increases in year 2 and will be more in year 3.
We should be able to announce a sponsor for our shorts next month.

------------------------------------
Don
Tell us about the Sandy relationship
Nathan B
Sandy are happy with our rookies.
And happy with our non seniors players.
Allows them to focus on recruiting 2 or 3 big names instead of a group of less talented players.
Benefits us as we get access to Andy Lovell on the coaching panel.
Benefit from Sandy's successful experience with Melb.
Our members can attend for free.
Creates a presence right down the bay, linking Docklands to Sandringham to Frankston.
[Applause]

-----------------------------------
Up the back
Membership in 2005 was 32000, now it is 30,700.
Why no improvement when most other clubs are increasing?
Archie
The 2005 figures included some dodgy memberships.
Bill Express had 2000 country memberships.
The 30,700 figure for 2008 is a "clean" number and probably our highest membership.
We plan some initiatives including a "3 game" membership trialed after the start of this season to attract less fanatical supporters.
Research shows that we have 384,000 "supporters" out there compared to 1,000,000 Collingwood supporters.
So our take-up of 8.5 to 9% is quite good.
But only 120,000 of our "supporters" are prepared to spend money.
Hence we need to broaden our base.
Hence the Bayside corridor strategy of Docklands - Sandy - Frankston.
Plus onfield success.
A 5 to 10 year strategy.

------------------------------------
The "inevitable" question from Ivy
"Thanks to Sandy for the use of their rooms, though I would prefer Port Melb"
(Thanks Ivy!)
------------------------------

Hippy with the ponytail from the front (again)
Archie, do you have proof that you tried to find a deal with these other councils?
(Groans and boos from audience)
Archie
You can come and look at all the folders in my office if you want as long as you keep it confidential.

Hippy
Tell us about the clash jumper.
There is too much white, we are RW&B.
Why don't we use our traditional jumper with an all white back?
Archie
The AFL won’t allow us.
Hippy
Collingwood has an all white back.
(Booing - Westaway tries to end questions]
Archie
The AFL approves the jumpers.
You would haver to take that up with them.
At least the all white clash jumper is dead.

Hippy
Tell us about Belvedere, if the cost blows out beyond $9m do we pay?
Gudanski
Get your facts right.
Fed/State/Council put in $9m out of $10.4m.
We put in balance of $1.43m.
Figure has been checked by the quantity surveyors three times.

------------------------------
END

(Presumably Westaway now buys Archie a drink for answering all the questions for him !)

[Teflon]

I dont expect Eddie Everywher responses from the President but when the CEO (from this review) has to constantly bail him out, when he cant explain the decrease in supporter social functions/benefits...thats a concern.

We are spending more on footy thats good.

I cant help but hope Gregs got a succession plan in place...and started.

[Enrico_Misso]

Did this "Hippy with a ponytail" look like he might be a resident of Hawthorn? Did he say FAIR DINKUM at the end of his rant? Did he have a sheet of paper with hitouts to advantage stats on it? Did he have a satelite navigation unit with him to ensure he was at the correct venue?

Some of us might just know who this character is !!

I've got my suspicians too.
But he didn't mention anything about "togger tuggers".

[Saints Premiers 2008]

i dont get it
why is the target to finish top 4? unless you win the premiership you get nothing except humiliation out of it...so why isn't the aim to win the bloody thing?
it sounds hard, but nothing is impossible!

agreed, its concerning to me that a top 4 finish is the target...not a target but the...

[SainterK]

Thanks for the report...

[Enrico_Misso]

i dont get it
why is the target to finish top 4? unless you win the premiership you get nothing except humiliation out of it...so why isn't the aim to win the bloody thing?
it sounds hard, but nothing is impossible!

Saintdooley,
Ross meant that his aim in the H&A season was to finish top 4.
He pointed out that only one team has won a flag from outside the top 4 (Adelaide).
So he emphasised that it was important to get off to a good start, as opposed to our poor starts in the last two years.

Then obviously in the finals you give the flag your best shot.
But you need to be top 4 to have a serious chance.

[saintbrat]

good detail enrico- you must have had the pen and paper out?

about how many there?

many of the club there as in staff?
players?
etc

[saint66au]

A great big gold elephant stamp to Enrico Misso for a fantastic, detailed, ,and most of all unbiased report on the AGM..

Great to see a committed fan take the time to provide the site with almost a "live" coverage of events.

I'm sure I speak for everyone on SS when I say THANK YOU!!!!!!

[Teflon]

i dont get it
why is the target to finish top 4? unless you win the premiership you get nothing except humiliation out of it...so why isn't the aim to win the bloody thing?
it sounds hard, but nothing is impossible!

agreed, its concerning to me that a top 4 finish is the target...not a target but the...

In fairness I think saying "we are here to win it" goes without saying.

What Lyons trying to do is lower sights first up- lets get to a point where we can have a real assault and that has to be top 4.

Geelong were THE best side last year. Hawls BEST side when it mattered.

[St Loxton]

thanks EM for the report. Felt like a fly on a hippie.

[kosifantutti23]

Awesome effort Enrico

[Enrico_Misso]

good detail enrico- you must have had the pen and paper out?

about how many there?

many of the club there as in staff?
players?
etc

Thanks Bratty.
I did jot plenty of notes on my MX !

Not a big crowd.
Probably only 200 or so.
Plenty of empty seats.

Not many staff.
The usual familiar faces signing you in.
Those ladies should be life members, some have been there for years selling raffle tickets etc.

I remember some years queuing up for 5 minutes to get your name signed off and they had to delay the start 15 minutes whilst everybody got in.
No queues tonight .
I got there at 6:59 and was seated by 7:00

[Enrico_Misso]

AGM Part 5

Well actually just a another bit of scribble I found.

Archie had some other interesting comments in regard to the
merchandising question.

He said that 09 should be better in terms of merchandising revenue as in prev three years we didn't have a major sponsor over Xmas and hence missed sales.
This year we had JeldWen.
I think he said they expected to make $170k.

The questioner asked an additional question about revenue being higher when David Friend was at the club, something like $1m of turnover.

Archie responded that it is now much more professionally run.
In the Friend days the margins were not good and they had to write off $400k of stock.
We now have a professional retail manager Anthony ???? who did the same role with the VCA.
Expecting an increase in revenue and margin.

Grant Thomas
No he wasn't there !
But the question was asked why was the payout to GT in the 07 and the 08 accounts.
Dean (the accounts guy)
Expained that there was a provision in the 07 accounts of approx $156k (the max the auditors would allow).
The actual payout took place this year, but is the subject of a confidentiality agreement and hence is not itemised in the 08 accounts.
"I can't tell you"

[saintsRrising]

Great report Enrico.

It is much appreciated by me and I am sure many others who were not there including interstae members) , and I am sure an amazing amount of detail that will not be in the papers or on saints.com.