FOLLOWING the launch of the new Hyundai partnership extension, Carlton CEO Brian Cook faced the media to answer any questions they might have.
Covering the partnership, the AFLW review and how the AFL pre-season is tracking, here is what Cook had to say.
On the Hyundai partnership extension:
"We’re trying to grow on and off the field. We’re trying to grow not only in terms of winning games, but also grow our corporate partnership menu, so to speak. This is just an amazing outcome for us.
"We’re hoping to get over the line our top 10 sponsors for long periods of time and this is a really good step in doing that."
On the Club's responsibility in the AFLW review:
"I think the energy levels in our Club were focused on the AFL men’s review last year and then the implementation of the recommendations of the review. We as a Club acknowledge that and don’t shy away from that point.
"I think maybe the mistake we made was trying to make the AFLW look like the AFL, but it’s not. It’s a different product, it’s a different structure that’s required, a different mentality.
"We’re learning our lessons as we go. The good thing is we’re admitting it. We’re the first to have a crack at it in terms of a review, we’re courageous enough to do that and we’re standing here saying we didn’t get it 100 per cent right and we need to do something about it and we’re committed to doing it."
On finding a new General Manager of AFLW and AFLW Senior Coach:
"The AFLW is going through a huge evolution. We’re getting into more fuller-time people, but we have to stay within a cap.
"It’s a really tough gig, and the skills that are required to be a general manager of AFLW are sophisticated. To find those types of people is difficult given the salary range you can afford to pay.
"We’ve got two positions that we’re trying to fill, the General Manager of AFLW will be the first and then that person will have some input into the Senior Coach appointment."
On the goal for the AFL side in 2023:
"We want to improve.
"One of the things I’ve learnt in my long time in footy is that you cannot determine how other clubs will improve. You have a fair gauge on how you might improve, but it’s talking in the wind when you start indicating that you’re going to finish fourth or fifth. That’s our philosophy."
On the pre-season training increase:
"From what I’ve seen, they’ve taken that next step. They’re fitter, they certainly have increased the intensity of training from last year and I’ve seen a greater stability amongst the players.
"One thing I am very impressed with is that I haven’t seen a loss of appetite and of the things in footy is that if you have a group of people in any department who loses their appetite or aren’t in a state of readiness for the change, you’re in trouble and we haven’t got that.
"I’m very impressed with what’s going on and very hopeful of even further improvement this year.
"We’ve taken the next step, unfortunately we have a few injuries as you know and that always is the case when you increase the intensity and the volume which we have done compared to last year.
"'Vossy' and the team have not been reluctant about that, they’ve set some pretty high standards for the players and they’re loving it: that’s the feedback I’m getting."
