The review was a necessary measure following a tough year for everyone involved with the Club and is the first step in determining how we can reclaim success both on and off the field.
To ensure integrity in the process, the Board appointed two independent experts to the review panel, former Adelaide Crows General Manager of Football John Reid and Organisational Specialist Terry Coyne.
They helped drive the review process together with our Chief Executive Officer Michael Bowers and Senior Coach Michael Voss.
The review analysis and subsequent recommendations for improvement have been fully endorsed and supported by the Board, CEO and Senior Coach.
The review analysed the entire operations of the Club, both on and off the field. One of the overwhelming findings was that the Club is severely under-resourced in its Football Department. This is something the Board is committed to correcting immediately. Additional resources will be added to the Club through the appointment of the following new positions for the 2011 season:
• General Manager - Football
• Two (2) Assistant Coaches
• Game Analyst
• Assistant to Game Analyst
• Physical Performance Manager
The General Manager of Football will operate alongside Senior Coach Michael Voss and will report to the Club’s CEO and the Board at its monthly meetings. The role will primarily manage the ever increasing off-field and administrative aspects of the Football Department. This includes list management, physical performance, player welfare, player development and general administration - in short, everything other than coaching the players. The Club is currently seeking an outstanding person to take on this most important role.
Our aim is to ensure that our Senior Coach can concentrate on what is most critical to our business - the team’s on-field performance - by ensuring our players and coaches are prepared in the best manner possible.
So, what does this mean for our members and supporters? Quite simply, it means you can expect changes at our Club, some of which have already started.
Former Adelaide Crows Champion Brett Burton has already been appointed as the Club’s Physical Performance Manager. In this role, he will oversee the entire Physical Performance Department which includes our strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, doctors, trainers, statistical analysts and dietician. He will establish a ‘one stop shop’ for the physical preparation of the playing group. James Hanish has also joined the Club from the Adelaide Crows and will work with Brett Burton to ‘beef up’ our performance analysis area.
Manny Lynch, who previously held several roles, will now have the key responsibility of developing leadership and culture off the field as our Welfare Development Manager.
Meanwhile, long-time employee Nicole Duncan has been elevated to Football Administration Manager.
On the coaching side, we have secured Brownlow Medallist and former Melbourne and Collingwood player Shane Woewodin as an Assistant Coach. Shane most recently has been the Senior Coach at East Fremantle in the WAFL. Existing staff member Jarrod Harkness takes over the Game Analyst role to assist our coaching department.
There will be further new football staff signings including another Assistant Coach, which the Club will communicate to members and supporters as they are confirmed.
It’s important to note that the need for additional support does not rest solely within the Club's Football Department. Our administration team will also be equipped with extra resources that will be supported by a new staffing and organisational structure. A strategic planning process is currently underway with input from the CEO, Terry Coyne and the Board.
Some staff have moved on to other roles or left the Club recently and we thank them for their service.
At last month’s Club Champion event, guests viewed a stirring video outlining the adversities the Brisbane Lions faced back in 1998 and how we subsequently responded with three consecutive premierships.
The theme of the video was ‘Adversity Breeds Success’.
The presentation highlighted that with the right attitude and the right people, difficult times and challenges can lead to success. We are determined to learn from this year’s experience and use it as motivation to build future success.
Having completed the review, we can now approach the 2011 season with the knowledge that we have the right team on board. We believe that today will be a defining moment in our Club’s history.
We understand that some members and supporters may have become frustrated with the uncertainty surrounding the review process.
However, it would not have been appropriate for us to disclose our findings until the review was completed. The Club also wanted to perform its due diligence thoroughly and not rush the process.
I can wholeheartedly assure our members and supporters that no stone has been left unturned in our bid to get this proud Club back to the top of the AFL both on and off the field.
Yours Sincerely,
Angus Johnson
CHAIRMAN
