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

[kosifantutti]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... f5c58af850

Business giant and influential St Kilda figure Gerry Ryan has endorsed a bid by dental surgeon Larry Benge to join the club’s board.

Benge, who has provided dental services to the club for 20-plus years, confirmed he had sought support for a shake-up at St Kilda from several influential Saints figures.

[Wayne42]

Interesting choice, i used to sit near Larry and his Mrs when i had my Level 2 reserve seat for years at Marvel Stadium.

[saynta]

Try this one

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... 87b7294a8a


"Having inherited footy’s longest premiership drought, trouble may be looming at St Kilda, and a push for a board shake-up has won the backing of two influential club figures

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Business giant and influential St Kilda figure Gerry Ryan has endorsed a bid by dental surgeon Larry Benge to join the club’s board.

The Saints now own the unwanted tag of the AFL’s longest premiership drought of the establishment clubs and have made finals just once since 2011.

Benge, who has provided dental services to the club for 20-plus years, confirmed he had sought support for a shake-up at St Kilda from several influential Saints figures..

“Larry has been a long-time supporter, he’s given a lot to the club over many years and would add some value,” Ryan said.

“Every sporting club and every business should keep bringing new people and new ideas to the table.

“They (St Kilda) are a couple of years into a program and hopefully next year it comes to reality.”

Benge also has the support of former coach and director Grant Thomas.

Thomas, who recently sold his digital bank for $116 million, told the Herald Sun he was keeping a close eye on proceedings at Moorabbin.


“Larry Benge is a highly successful business person with great character and integrity. I’m certain (president) Andrew Bassat as a highly successful business person would respect and appreciate his input,” he said.

“I’ll be very interested to see how they treat his approach. If he is not taken seriously or respected I will definitely think deeply about my next steps.”
Dental surgeon and businessman Larry Benge says St Kilda needs fresh input at board level.

Thomas played 72 games for the Saints between 1978-83, then served on the board and as football director before coaching the club from 2001-06.

“I only have one good fight left in me and — as always — I’m very happy to use it for the cause of St Kilda,” he said.

“In my view there are two types of teams in this competition: those in the premiership business and those simply playing AFL.

“From my observation over the last decade, St Kilda is just playing AFL. It’s time. We want to see a dramatic change in leadership, organisational connectedness and performance.”

St Kilda has won one premiership in its history in 1966.

Those pushing for change at St Kilda have raised concerns about the club’s football program, recruiting strategy, list construct and governance structure."

One view is that St Kilda effectively has two chief executive officers in Matt Finnis and former AFL football operations boss Simon Lethlean, the club’s chief operating officer.

Questions have also been raised about the commitment of at least one of the club’s eight directors.

“You can’t keep blaming coaches and players. It’s a culture that the board sets. They are definitely on notice,” one observer said.

The Saints finished 10th this season with 10 wins and 12 losses.

Benge said “St Kilda’s decade of performance warranted change”.

“My view is it needs fresh input into the board. It feels like it is very static and needs to be more dynamic and innovative,” he said.

I have experienced the club first hand for 22 years whilst assisting with all their dental treatment and emergencies – through seven administrations – I believe I’m qualified to say that things need to change.

“I would like the opportunity to represent the members on the board to help instigate change and set the strategic direction for success.

“Some processes of the club’s and accountability are questionable.
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“This isn’t a new thing. Collingwood, Carlton and Hawthorn have addressed their issues and St Kilda needs to do the same to ensure we don’t get the same outcomes.

“Boards need refreshing and accountability and it is frustrating where the club has been and is going'



Interesting. An obsessed poster whose nick I can never remember for some reason, has repeatedly posted that Grant is yesterday's man while his hero is still desperately being sought be numerous Afl clubs. Clearly he is wrong.

[skeptic]

Can we please stay on topic rather than try to provoke old feuds.

[roskilde]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

[Waltzing St Kilda]

I endorse his bid to join the board.

This century we've seen the Swans, the Cats, the Tigers and the Dees all break their long premiership droughts (also the Lions, if they count).

Meanwhile we've spent ten years making dumb decisions and tolerating mediocrity.

About time we get professional, all the way through.

[bigcarl]

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

Maybe a prelude to him buying the club and installing himself as president for life.

[Impatient Sainter]

I dont know anything about Benge, but I hate reading those murmurings via the media, its St Kilda of old. If he does want to enter the board why cant he do it quietly without bringing public scrutiny on the club. Did they infer that Lethlean is being payed the same as a CEO? If so there is an inbalance there and can understand the disqiiet, and wouldnt Lethleans salary come under the Football Dept cap?

Having said that prior to Lethlean arriving the clubs (Finnis) previous management of the Football Dept was very ordinary. Extending Richardson's & Elshaugh's contracts were disgraceful decisions.

[lewdogs]

Does the club need a clean-up, a filling or a full root canal?

[Teflon]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

It’s classic Thomas
At the end of the day it’s not about the club - it’s about him and his ego and St Kilda is just the hapless vehicle
Some dentist who has $ reckons he wants to be the “members voice” and cause board upheaval???
Just as the club gathers a good core young list together and has done the hard yards to trim the fat off the last few years???(sure more to do but Bing next year, gun mids this year and we are heading in the right direction). Where was GT when Richo and Trout were screwing us up for the past 6 years????? Now he wants to play again...
All this so “good ol GT” can have his “last fight” (he took on AFL last time and that got us nowhere!!) to appear relevant in AFL circles again because as an AFL coach HE IS FINISHED and knows no other club would touch ‘rent a quote’
The fact he’s happy to let this play out in the media
The fact he’s happy to drag us back to the rabble days of St Kilda of old should tell any half sensible Saints supporter enough about any intentions GT has (no I’m not talking about the GT sycophants..,god knows they’re brain dead)
We have Lethlean who IMO is doing a great job making our club relevant again and while Bassat has had his detractors he’s a genuinely smart, self made businessman who is more than comfortable leaving his ego at the door and doesn’t feel the incessant need to be daily cannon fodder for the media
A return to crack pots and ego maniacs running St Kilda will end the club IMO and relegate us to Tassie faster than we know.
And here I thought we had FINALLY gotten past the culture of ego....here it comes again...

[Shaggy]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

It’s classic Thomas
At the end of the day it’s not about the club - it’s about him and his ego and St Kilda is just the hapless vehicle
Some dentist who has $ reckons he wants to be the “members voice” and cause board upheaval???

Except it is not about GT.

Gerry Ryan endorses the dentist. GT supports his endorsement.

You have made it about GT because of your vendetta.

[Wayne42]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

It’s classic Thomas
At the end of the day it’s not about the club - it’s about him and his ego and St Kilda is just the hapless vehicle
Some dentist who has $ reckons he wants to be the “members voice” and cause board upheaval???
Just as the club gathers a good core young list together and has done the hard yards to trim the fat off the last few years???(sure more to do but Bing next year, gun mids this year and we are heading in the right direction). Where was GT when Richo and Trout were screwing us up for the past 6 years????? Now he wants to play again...
All this so “good ol GT” can have his “last fight” (he took on AFL last time and that got us nowhere!!) to appear relevant in AFL circles again because as an AFL coach HE IS FINISHED and knows no other club would touch ‘rent a quote’
The fact he’s happy to let this play out in the media
The fact he’s happy to drag us back to the rabble days of St Kilda of old should tell any half sensible Saints supporter enough about any intentions GT has (no I’m not talking about the GT sycophants..,god knows they’re brain dead)
We have Lethlean who IMO is doing a great job making our club relevant again and while Bassat has had his detractors he’s a genuinely smart, self made businessman who is more than comfortable leaving his ego at the door and doesn’t feel the incessant need to be daily cannon fodder for the media
A return to crack pots and ego maniacs running St Kilda will end the club IMO and relegate us to Tassie faster than we know.
And here I thought we had FINALLY gotten past the culture of ego....here it comes again...

I think you might be slowly losing the plot Teffers, it's fun watching it though, i have to admit.

And as previously stated it's the clubs former Vice President, you know the one that has his name on the new digs at Moorabbin, Gerry "Jayco" Ryan, he's the one that is endorsing change.

GT probably has nothing to do with it, he is just supporting it because, long after he has gone, the club still hasn't achieved anything.

[Vortex]

I laughed when I read Benge believed he was qualified because he assisted the club with dental treatments.

Hearing media statements such as "pushing for change" is interesting. Ryan and Thomas stiring the pot.

This is the problem with the AFL comp, it has become a vehicle for self interest.

[minneapolis]

If you want to put a bit of "bite" into the club, then who better than Benge?

[kosifantutti]

Benge could help with drafting if we have any holes in the list that need filling.

[Vortex]

Upon reflection of that article I wondered if this was about GT and Lethers. Obviously Lethers is an AFL plant and we know how GT feels about the AFL.

I'd guess we will get more meat on the bone as the season progresses in 2022, if we start falling off a cliff expect GT to come hard for Lethers.

Question that needs answering, can the club afford to have a man who is dispised by the AFL come back to the board or any official capacity for that matter.

Interesting soapy ahead.

[Saints58]

I wish GT would leave the club alone, thanks to Lethean ,Bassett, Gallagher they are all doing a great job and have changed the club form a club treading water to a big improver.
This is the best back of house the club has had for a while and if finnis needs to go so be it.
We carnt afford to lose any of these guys, yes a board needs change but do it quietly as the press always love to dig the boots into the saints don't give them the chance

[Mr Magic]

Benge could help with drafting if we have any holes in the list that need filling.

A specialist at implanting himself.

[saynta]

I endorse his bid to join the board.

This century we've seen the Swans, the Cats, the Tigers and the Dees all break their long premiership droughts (also the Lions, if they count).

Meanwhile we've spent ten years making dumb decisions and tolerating mediocrity.

About time we get professional, all the way through.

So would I. In an instant. Brain dead or not.

[frank]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

It’s classic Thomas
At the end of the day it’s not about the club - it’s about him and his ego and St Kilda is just the hapless vehicle
Some dentist who has $ reckons he wants to be the “members voice” and cause board upheaval???
Just as the club gathers a good core young list together and has done the hard yards to trim the fat off the last few years???(sure more to do but Bing next year, gun mids this year and we are heading in the right direction). Where was GT when Richo and Trout were screwing us up for the past 6 years????? Now he wants to play again...
All this so “good ol GT” can have his “last fight” (he took on AFL last time and that got us nowhere!!) to appear relevant in AFL circles again because as an AFL coach HE IS FINISHED and knows no other club would touch ‘rent a quote’
The fact he’s happy to let this play out in the media
The fact he’s happy to drag us back to the rabble days of St Kilda of old should tell any half sensible Saints supporter enough about any intentions GT has (no I’m not talking about the GT sycophants..,god knows they’re brain dead)
We have Lethlean who IMO is doing a great job making our club relevant again and while Bassat has had his detractors he’s a genuinely smart, self made businessman who is more than comfortable leaving his ego at the door and doesn’t feel the incessant need to be daily cannon fodder for the media
A return to crack pots and ego maniacs running St Kilda will end the club IMO and relegate us to Tassie faster than we know.
And here I thought we had FINALLY gotten past the culture of ego....here it comes again...

100% spot on
Grant Thomas is an oxygen thief.

[Ghost Like]

What's interesting is that our biggest dental emergency in my memory was Kristian Bardsley losing his chompers to Ablett Snr. Benje did not do the procedure to repair Bardsley's teeth, that was a dentist in Knox.

[Impatient Sainter]

Does he have any qualifications in sports administration or history in anything related to the game other than dentistry?

I'm struggling to figure out why he would be a smart addition.

Is wily old GT trying to install a puppet board member who speaks with his voice?

It’s classic Thomas
At the end of the day it’s not about the club - it’s about him and his ego and St Kilda is just the hapless vehicle
Some dentist who has $ reckons he wants to be the “members voice” and cause board upheaval???
Just as the club gathers a good core young list together and has done the hard yards to trim the fat off the last few years???(sure more to do but Bing next year, gun mids this year and we are heading in the right direction). Where was GT when Richo and Trout were screwing us up for the past 6 years????? Now he wants to play again...
All this so “good ol GT” can have his “last fight” (he took on AFL last time and that got us nowhere!!) to appear relevant in AFL circles again because as an AFL coach HE IS FINISHED and knows no other club would touch ‘rent a quote’
The fact he’s happy to let this play out in the media
The fact he’s happy to drag us back to the rabble days of St Kilda of old should tell any half sensible Saints supporter enough about any intentions GT has (no I’m not talking about the GT sycophants..,god knows they’re brain dead)
We have Lethlean who IMO is doing a great job making our club relevant again and while Bassat has had his detractors he’s a genuinely smart, self made businessman who is more than comfortable leaving his ego at the door and doesn’t feel the incessant need to be daily cannon fodder for the media
A return to crack pots and ego maniacs running St Kilda will end the club IMO and relegate us to Tassie faster than we know.
And here I thought we had FINALLY gotten past the culture of ego....here it comes again...

Totally agree the guy is an egomaniac. The same guy who sued the club for a million bucks when he left. Then single handedly shut down the Tasmanian games and further cost the club millions in revenue and membership for a decades.

GT's only interest in the club was always to suit himself, so he can take a ride has no on a slow boat to China.

[Mr Magic]

What's interesting is that our biggest dental emergency in my memory was Kristian Bardsley losing his chompers to Ablett Snr. Benje did not do the procedure to repair Bardsley's teeth, that was a dentist in Knox.

I don't think that Benge was the Club Dentist back then.
He certainly was for a long time in the 2000's, and maybe still is?

[SAINT-LEE]

There's no proven magical formula that ALWAYS works....

But having highly successful, driven and committed business people involved in a sports club may be an asset.

Michael Jordan owns a basketball team that is pathetic.

Terry Pegula bought the Buffalo Bills from Ralph Wilson ( founder and original owner for 55 yrs) .... His business acumen and clever team culture building has created a growing success for the team.

There's many examples of team board members, presidents and owners globally who played the sport and others who played no sport....the formula for winning is always building a board, coaching staff, culture, stadium facilities and tiered player development focused on success. Brutal pruning, brave iniatives and loads of money seems to help alot.

Replacement of one thing rarely yields the ultimate prize ( fire the head coach or replace the board etc).

We do need a total revamp, throw out what is failing and add what is required.

[Freebird]

Can we please stay on topic rather than try to provoke old feuds.

Who put you in charge...I thought Saynta's comment relevant