In my first week at the Club, I wrote inviting all members to provide their thoughts or feedback as to what my priorities should be.
In short, I received more than 2,000 responses, and I want to thank all those people for taking the time to respond.
In summary, a few things were obvious and consistent across many of the replies.
These included:
- Better communication with fans about ‘the big issues’
- A strong desire to have a better sense of belonging
- Providing a better match-day experience (and a better fixture)
- (And not surprisingly) for us to simply have success on the field
There was also a consistent message about the desire to revert to the CFC logo on this year’s heritage jumper as our normal strip. As a result, we’ll put that issue directly to you in a vote, to allow us to make a final call on it.
One or two other things also caught my eye.
A good number of respondents touched on the case for a Social Club, or facility to call ‘home’. The sentiment is understood, and while there are commercial realities to it, we’ll assess it as part of our overall need to plan for future facilities/venues.
There were also a number of people who yearned for a return of home games – or at least one game – to Visy Park. Again, the sentiment is clear and will be properly examined, but to be honest, there are several major impediments – including the poor condition of the ground’s back of house amenities, as well as an increasingly limited capacity.
Still, I get the point – and I get the notion that ‘re-connecting’ with the Club could well be enhanced (for some) by returning (in some way) to the heartland. One way that we can do that is around a pre-season game and Family Day being rolled together, which we’ll put into our planning.
Alongside that issue, many people had a point to make about making Etihad Stadium feel more like home when it’s a home game.
Members now know that Carlton will go from six home games at Etihad Stadium to five from next year, and that an extra home game will now be at the MCG. We are already in discussions with the venue and the AFL as to how we might give Etihad a better home ground feel – with better fan inclusion.
To be candid, some members expressed a simple, clear desire for the Board and the Club to be stable and united – and for better communication to fans. By way of a very brief response: that message is clearly understood.
The Club has a new president in Mark LoGiudice, a new CEO and a Board that is now smaller and unquestionably united. Obviously actions, rather than words, are important in this regard, but as someone who has worked closely with (and for) many boards over many years, there is definitely a united board at the top.
In terms of ‘better communication’, we will make this an absolute priority. We will:
- Conduct a member information meeting around the time of the AGM
- Provide regular, tailored updates from the CEO, or on behalf of the CEO
- Engage members more on decisions which affect them
And we will work on a regular and structured forum whereby members can have a meaningful say.
Finally, we are deep into re-setting a real and workable plan for future success. Last week we held a forum for more than 40 people from all areas of the Club. It included members, fans, coteries, corporates, directors, staff, former players, and media.
The forum was enormously helpful for the Board and me in confirming what’s important for our future direction. This feedback, coupled with the member responses to my first email, will help us formulate Carlton’s plan for the future. The key points of that plan will be communicated in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, thanks again to those who wrote back – it was genuinely helpful.
On a personal note, I’m seriously loving the obvious passion of our people toward their Club, off the back of the season just completed. I can only imagine how that would look if it were us playing in a Grand Final!
