Is off-field politics damaging our club?

[RudeBoy]

After the round 23 heroic effort from our young team, led by Bucks, provided evidence that we are indeed on the cusp of significant improvement and an exciting season ahead, it now appears that internal politics at our club is sabotaging our team's prospects.

Just when stability and unity were needed more than ever, it seems that the manner of the appointment of Gubby Allan, over the top of Balme and Hine, has upset a lot of people within our football department. As it stands now, just weeks away from this year's draft, we risk losing Balme (who is considering other offers), Allan (potentially banned for 4 yrs by ASADA), and possibly even Derek Hine. What an absolute debacle.

I only know what's been reported in the press, but if half of it is accurate, then our club is suddenly, and completely unnecessarily, in deep shit. This is all self inflicted.

Apart from this jockeying for jobs - one of the side effects of so much money in football - I still remain a critic of the role of the Leading Teams consultants, who are paid a shit load of money, and whose activities I've always considered destructive. What I do know, from a player (who shall remain nameless), is that our football department is not a very happy place, and that many players feel they are encouraged to speak their mind, but when they do they cop massive criticism.

I was incredibly upbeat after Sunday's showing by our team, but now I feel deflated and I am pissed off at the off-field leaders of our club, who seem to have let their own egos get in the way of implementing our side by side philosophy. To say I'm pissed atm is an understatement.

[thompsoc]

Ego is not a dirty word at Collingwood.
Was that Skyhooks who said that?

[jackcass]

Yeah.... Nah!

[Member 7167]

It is near impossible to gleam what is happening within the four walls of the club without being part of it. That said, it would be reasonable for the club do do a complete review and make changes where they deem it necessary.

It is obvious that the plans for Gubby have been in place for some time. To be quite honest I was more aware of what Rockets contribution was within the club when he was football director than what Neil Balme's role has been apart from the injury update videos.

Bucks, in his own words, has another season to get into the finals and prove himself as a capable coach. The club needs to give him as much support as possible to help this happen, not only for Buckley but for the club as a who.

I am hoping we retain Hine but I am not all that fussed about some of the others that some have speculated on as leaving.

As for the GWS / ASADA issue, I think this is old news that was publicised recently due to Gubby''s appointment at the Pies. The whole issue was based upon the reports of an ex girlfriend who had an axe to grind. No tests were planned for the period and none were avoided. I would suggest that the reasoning behind why individuals resided at other residences is purely speculative at best. I do not think it will proceed much further but then again anything is possible with the AFL and ASADA.

I would rather see all this blow up now than at the beginning of the 2017 season.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Bringing in Gubby isn't "internal politics", its a legitimate review of the roles required to make the club successful.

When the decision was made, the possible repercussions would have been well known and undoubtedly anticipated.

The Management team deserves more credit than assuming they just chucked someone into a role at a whim without considering the consequences.

[Piesnchess]

Its a bye week, and the muckrakers like ol Caro need a story, so they dredge up some crap on Gubby at his former club. Same old shit, Caro trolls the sewer to bash her most hated team, cant you guys figure that out by now, surely ??

[RudeBoy]

Sorry to break it to you guys, but there's a shit storm going on inside our football department right now. As a result, the club has postponed the announcement of Allan's appointment as football head.

I'm actually a fan of Gubby Allan, but I also know that Bucks and Balme have a very close relationship, so if Balme walks that will be a blow to Bucks.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Balmy may very well be upset and it may be justifiably so.

That still doesn't make it "internal politics". That would be something like 2 or more factions plotting against other.

[qldmagpie67]

Rude I get what your saying about distracting from the team but I don't think it's a big deal really.
I said when Gubby came back he wouldn't be coming back to a nothing job just involving female sports didn't make sense.
I would assume that during the course of his time here this year he would have been evaluating our football operations and making judgements
As someone mentioned earlier Eddie would have known there would have been some flack or noses out of place when they made the decision but if it's the best move for the club then so be it

[RudeBoy]

[Piesnchess]

suits will invariably replace suits, come and go, its no big deal.

[stui magpie]

[think positive]

[Cam]

[thompsoc]