the VFL has little
it is a joke .. so says Jeff Kennett
& the guy couldn't be more correct =D> =D> =D> =D> .... well said Jeffery , well said
Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett slams AFL Commission for dropping the ball on integrityby: Michael Warner From: Herald Sun February 21, 2013 0 Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett slams the AFL Commission for dropping the ball on integrity. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun
FORMER Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the powerful AFL Commission has compromised the integrity of the game.
Support for draft lottery
CLUB presidents Andrew Newbold and Peter Gordon want the AFL to introduce a lottery draft to eliminate any possibility of tanking... Kennett said the Melbourne tanking decision, the sacking of Adelaide recruiter Matt Rendell and Stephen Trigg's survival from the Crows salary cap rort was bad governance.
"I know they work hard and I know the chairman works hard, but they have allowed what I consider to be the highest standards of governance to be eroded," Kennett said.
"I think they could have overseen the upholding of higher standards.
"And they've got to accept collective responsibility for that.
"But my biggest worry is that it makes it difficult for the next time (a club offends).
"And they will. People will push the white line.
"Everyone might hold their breath for a year and then someone will start to ty and get an advantage and cross that line again."
The nine-person league commission includes chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou, Paul Bassat, Linda Dessau, Richard Goyder, Bill Kelty, Chris Langford, Chris Lynch and Sam Mostyn.
"All of the people on that commission are people of substance. Each of them has experiences and qualifications that have them as leaders in their field - in the law, in commerce and unions. They are all eminent persons," Kennett said.
"But my concern is that the administration has always seemed to be driving the agenda.
"Andrew (Demetriou) is a very forceful character, instead of a CEO being invited to attend - and that's not unusual - but he has been there a long time.
"That also stifles a lot of debate and, when he takes up a position, he is often very difficult to turn.
"If you've got good governance practices in place you'll always be looking towards the long-term development and growth of the competition.
"And what has happened in recent times is there has been compromise after compromise after compromise.
"The Matt Rendell thing was just appalling.
"That man was driven out by senior officers of the AFL and by his club.
"It was unacceptable. But whether the commission should have intervened - or whether the commission even knew about it until after the event - I don't know."
Kennett said Trigg's survival for more serious indiscretions was a contradiction.
"This was a plain breach of the rules by senior people. And if that had happened in the organisation that any of those commissioners were running ... they would have been out of that job together. You would never come back," he said.
Asked about the Melbourne tanking investigation, Kennett said: "I don't understand how you are not found guilty - but you are fined and two of your officers are suspended."
He said the NRL's handling of the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal was an example of strong leadership.Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos said the AFL shared some of the blame for the Melbourne tanking saga.
"I guess the biggest problem is the system created by the AFL to give teams the incentive to lose games of football," Roos told SEN.
"That was the system that was in place ... and clearly there were clubs that took advantage of that."
But Demetriou maintained yesterday on 3AW there was no evidence Melbourne had tanked.
The AFL declined to respond to Kennett's comments last night.
