C 80 March 6, 2012

Meet the Development Team

Responsible For Developing Our

Players & Coaches!

Speaking to us on the night will be:

Blair Hartley (Opposition & List Analyst)

Tim Livingstone (Head of Player & Coach Development)

Kim Stephens (Club Psychologist)

Lauren Cooper (Player Development Manager)

Date: Tuesday 6th March 2012

Where: The ME Bank Centre, Punt Road, Richmond

(3rd Floor, where RFC Social Club is held, please enter

through the social club entrance next to the Tiger Store,

not through the Main Entrance)

Time: 7.00pm sharp

Cost: $75 members, $100 non-members

Food & drink included (beer, wine & soft drink)

A RSVP to our e-mail address is required by 3pm Friday 2nd March to allow us to

cater appropriately.

Please note: Coaches attendance may be subject to change at the last moment and at the

Club’s discretion.

EMAIL: club80@tpg.com.au

Well TBR, here is your chance to ask all those player welfare questions and to make those respsonsible accountable.

Great night last night! Well done to the C80 Committee & Club.
I left marvelling at the difference in the Club since Dimma & Benny began, so much more professional, up to date & on the ball. There is a depth there that few of us realise.

We have some really excellent people working at the club now. Last night we saw 4 of them, and here are my impressions and thoughts:
Opposition and List Analyst - Blair Hartley
Firstly, he looks very young. He is obviously an intelligent guy, with a sound grasp of his field. I had a brief chat with him, and he was friendly and approachable. Seems down-to-earth and humble. Has a big office with lots of names on magnetic boards, which is out of bounds to most people. Very tuned in to who is possibly available in the future, and who should be targetted. He is so organised and systematic that a lot of the guess work is taken out of it. Player managers are regularly talked to, and he watches heaps of vision. I liked him a lot.

Player Development Manager - Lauren Cooper
Has been at the club for more than 5 years, but only took over this job from Weightman about a year or more ago.She seems about 28 years old, and is one of very few woman working in this role in the AFL.I think her appointment is an inspired choice, as she impressed me greatly.She was on our table. Works 6 days a week, although doesn't have a match-day role, although may be needed after the match to accompany a player to hospital, for instance. Is doing post-grad study in this field at the moment. My estimation is that she has a fantastic rapport with the players. She has a very friendly, bubbly and engaging personality, and a big smile. A people person. I liked her a lot.



Club Psychologist - Kim Stephens
Works part-time, but attends all matches, including all Coburg reserves. I'd guess he was in his 60's, and is a gentle, softly-spoken guy. Intelligent and humble, and not forceful in personality. Helps the recruiters, and can sit in the box on match day. Spends a lot of time counselling players. I liked him.



Head of Player and Coach Development - Tim Livingstone
He didn't talk as much, so it was harder to get a read on him. A no-nonsense sort of guy, but like the others, no arrogance about him.

As an aside, so many of the people I've met, or heard speak,that work at the club at the moment, are very impressive people. Recruiters, coaches, and other staff. The only one who hasn't impressed me, and who I didn't like, is Ross Monaghan, the Football Operations Manager. Perhaps it is unfair to single him out, but if I keep saying great things about all these RFC staff, maybe I should provide a little criticism to balance it out.

No she's not, you are thinking of Kalliste or perhaps Rachael.
It's only 3 recruits in the Club House, they live pretty close to one of our senior players & his partner. Lauren keeps a pretty close eye on them too.
Haven't seen Moneyball but BH is brilliant & so much more than his title suggests.

From what was said last night the 'homesickness' was handled perfectly. The Club could not have handled it any better.

I really feel many supporters need to get into a different mindset about our Club. We are no longer the rabble we once were. This is a very professional operation now. I'm sure others who were there will agree with me.

As I understand it Dusty wasn't singled out for special treatment, he left the house at his own request. If special treatment means each player is treated as an individual according to his own needs then yes he had special treatment.

None of us knows exactly what goes on behind the scenes & because we don't we tend to make assumptions & more often than not blame the Club. A career in football is to my mind like any other career/endeavour, you get out of it what everyone/both sides puts in & to apportion blame to one side is seeing only a small portion of the story. Because we all go to the football & know a fair bit about it doesn't necessarily mean we are knowledgeable enough to make hard & fast judgements. I learnt that the hard way as a teacher...just because everyone has been to school they think they know what schools/teachers do, how they operate. (Believe me they have no idea.)

As to questions yes many were asked and answered.

I think we need to stop looking for the screwups & begin to have a little faith in the Club.

It wasn't like that Broady.

No.
But believe me nothing sinister or shocking or earth shattering.