Old interview with John Gdanski - AJN
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- evertonfc
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Old interview with John Gdanski - AJN
Here's an interview with John Gdanski I came across from the Australian Jewish News.
Yes, it's a bit old (Oct 19, 2007), but it's still quite an interesting read if you've got a spare five minutes.
Saint John of Moorabbin
http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=4248
After seven years on the St Kilda Football Club board, John Gdanski believed it was time for a change. He was the architect behind the recent bloodless coup staged by the Footy First ticket that ended former president Rod Buttress’ seven-year reign and talks passionately about the dawning of a new era at Moorabbin. Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board and what we can expect from the talented but underperforming Saints next season.
How did the challenge to Buttress materialise?
A number of factors were very annoying. The first one was the Steve Baker case [Saints tagger that was handed a seven-week suspension for rough conduct against Fremantle’s Jeff Farmer even though the incident wasn’t caught on camera] that was handled, in my opinion – and I need to be careful – I don’t believe that was handled as well as it should have been.
By who?
Well, I’ve got to say by the board. Notwithstanding, I didn’t have anything to do with it. Ross Levin and I were completely excluded but it wasn’t handled well by the board. Now that’s the problem ... we were two lawyers on the board and we were not asked anything. It’s fair to say the board was divided over many issues for a long period of time.
There was a footy sub-committee of Rod Buttress, Glen Casey and Mark Kellett and it wasn’t sufficient. The information flow was not acceptable.
Greg [president elect Greg Westaway] said, “Will you come with me?â€
Yes, it's a bit old (Oct 19, 2007), but it's still quite an interesting read if you've got a spare five minutes.
Saint John of Moorabbin
http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=4248
After seven years on the St Kilda Football Club board, John Gdanski believed it was time for a change. He was the architect behind the recent bloodless coup staged by the Footy First ticket that ended former president Rod Buttress’ seven-year reign and talks passionately about the dawning of a new era at Moorabbin. Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board and what we can expect from the talented but underperforming Saints next season.
How did the challenge to Buttress materialise?
A number of factors were very annoying. The first one was the Steve Baker case [Saints tagger that was handed a seven-week suspension for rough conduct against Fremantle’s Jeff Farmer even though the incident wasn’t caught on camera] that was handled, in my opinion – and I need to be careful – I don’t believe that was handled as well as it should have been.
By who?
Well, I’ve got to say by the board. Notwithstanding, I didn’t have anything to do with it. Ross Levin and I were completely excluded but it wasn’t handled well by the board. Now that’s the problem ... we were two lawyers on the board and we were not asked anything. It’s fair to say the board was divided over many issues for a long period of time.
There was a footy sub-committee of Rod Buttress, Glen Casey and Mark Kellett and it wasn’t sufficient. The information flow was not acceptable.
Greg [president elect Greg Westaway] said, “Will you come with me?â€
Clueless and mediocre petty tyrant.
will be interesting to compare the sponsorship figures of this year and last year. The whole idea of "cuddling" the corperates seems to be a big focus.....
FQF
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
loyal in the good times and bad
In richo I trust
2013 trade/draft best ever?
Billings - future brownlow medallist Longer - future best ruck
Dunstan - future captain Eli - future cult hero
Acres - future norm smith
Interesting the perspective on RB almost the opposite of what Westaway stands for.
RB was highly visible at footy matches and the media loved jumping on this. I can remember heaps of close ups of RB watching the game.
According JG he wasn't into promoting the club to financial backers.
You never really know though do you, the media are so good at inventing stuff based on perception. They played RB as the flamboyant young president and his outbursts in the media really helped them build this up.
Westaway plays the serious elderly statesman that has St.Kilda's best interests at heart - it's probably too unintersting to sell for the media.
Two opposed perceptions of what a president should be.
Interestingly it's similar with our coaches - GT with his confident swagger and turn of phrase - RL quiet, circumspect, dry to the point of deadpan. Both sets gave the saints something quite different both pretty interesting for their times.
RB was highly visible at footy matches and the media loved jumping on this. I can remember heaps of close ups of RB watching the game.
According JG he wasn't into promoting the club to financial backers.
You never really know though do you, the media are so good at inventing stuff based on perception. They played RB as the flamboyant young president and his outbursts in the media really helped them build this up.
Westaway plays the serious elderly statesman that has St.Kilda's best interests at heart - it's probably too unintersting to sell for the media.
Two opposed perceptions of what a president should be.
Interestingly it's similar with our coaches - GT with his confident swagger and turn of phrase - RL quiet, circumspect, dry to the point of deadpan. Both sets gave the saints something quite different both pretty interesting for their times.
I've never seen a bad St.Kilda player - that's just how they are.
Maybe this has something to do with the fact the article has a specific targeted audience. JG knows his community, the supporters of an AFL club in the large are a much more diverse beast. Even still though he's careful with some off the stuff he's saying (legalities).Although having said that, it's just so refreshing to read someone saying what they think without fear of upsetting
I've never seen a bad St.Kilda player - that's just how they are.
Re: Old interview with John Gdanski - AJN
This is really interesting. At the time, it was the way the Baker case was handled by the club/board that made up my mind that it was time for a change at board level. Clearly JG felt exactly the same way. Interestinmg how a completely outside perception (mine) is precisely the same as an insiders one - sometimes everything is exactly how it appears!John Gdanski wrote:The first one was the Steve Baker case [Saints tagger that was handed a seven-week suspension for rough conduct against Fremantle’s Jeff Farmer even though the incident wasn’t caught on camera] that was handled, in my opinion – and I need to be careful – I don’t believe that was handled as well as it should have been.
By who?
Well, I’ve got to say by the board. Notwithstanding, I didn’t have anything to do with it. Ross Levin and I were completely excluded but it wasn’t handled well by the board. Now that’s the problem ... we were two lawyers on the board and we were not asked anything. It’s fair to say the board was divided over many issues for a long period of time.
Hird... The unflushable one is now... just a turd...
- rodgerfox
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My view is, that by the time the Baker case was heard, Butterss was about Butterss. The club was merely a vehicle for his flourishing 'J Grade celebrity' career.
I also firmly believe, Demetriou had him. He'd gone from fighting the AFL on pretty much everything, to not saying boo and towing the AFL line.
I think the AFL wanted Baker rubbed out. And I think Butterss let it happen.
Maybe Baker had to take one for the team in the long run? If he didn't get 7 weeks, we'd still have Butterss.
I also firmly believe, Demetriou had him. He'd gone from fighting the AFL on pretty much everything, to not saying boo and towing the AFL line.
I think the AFL wanted Baker rubbed out. And I think Butterss let it happen.
Maybe Baker had to take one for the team in the long run? If he didn't get 7 weeks, we'd still have Butterss.
evertonfc wrote:That was why I posted it.rodgerfox wrote:it's just so refreshing to read someone saying what they think without fear of upsetting anyone.
It was a honest, open and fortright...the kind of stuff that you want to see from your board.
thanks mate...an interesting read....
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
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"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
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- Enrico_Misso
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Or of course the offending post gets deletedEnrico_Misso wrote:Wow B4E.
One of your more impressive rants !
I'm tipping this thread will go crazy or be locked.
The rest of Australia can wander mask-free, socialise, eat out, no curfews, no zoning, no police rings of steel, no illogical inconsistent rules.
They can even WATCH LIVE FOOTY!
They can even WATCH LIVE FOOTY!
- barks4eva
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barks4eva, you made the following comments:
[quote your comments in the John Gdanski thread were borderline racist and defiantely inflammatory.
You receive one warning for breaking this rule; should you receive a further two warnings in the next month, you may be banned for up to one month.
Regards,
saint66
U R Joking, yeah?
Why don't you do me a favour and just ban me now!
FAIR DINKUM
Talk about political correctness gone crazy!
Surely you can't be serious!
Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board
I’m very proud of my position and I’m very proud of representing the Jewish people if I can say that.
We both feel pretty strongly about helping the Jewish clubs.
There’s a huge Jewish supporter base at St Kilda ... the goodwill is huge.
Of the 8000 votes in support of the Footy First ticket that came in really quickly, about 1000 of them up the front were Jews, which is a great result.
So only Jews can call themselves Jews, is this what you are insinuating?
I still reckon we need a few more Palestinians on the board!
Anyone have the contact details for Hamas?
The fact is the s*** has hit the fan and it's called Belvedere Park!I was the one that broke the board up, I was the one that divided them, I was the one that caused the s*** to hit the fan.
DO THE MATHS AND THE SQUARES ARE ALL ROOTED.
and there's no 2barks4eva wrote:barks4eva, you made the following comments:
[quote your comments in the John Gdanski thread were borderline racist and defiantely inflammatory.
You receive one warning for breaking this rule; should you receive a further two warnings in the next month, you may be banned for up to one month.
Regards,
saint66
U R Joking, yeah?
Why don't you do me a favour and just ban me now!
FAIR DINKUM
Talk about political correctness gone crazy!
Surely you can't be serious!
Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board
I’m very proud of my position and I’m very proud of representing the Jewish people if I can say that.
We both feel pretty strongly about helping the Jewish clubs.
There’s a huge Jewish supporter base at St Kilda ... the goodwill is huge.
Of the 8000 votes in support of the Footy First ticket that came in really quickly, about 1000 of them up the front were Jews, which is a great result.
So only Jews can call themselves Jews, is this what you are insinuating?
I still reckon we need a few more Palestinians on the board!
Anyone have the contact details for Hamas?
The fact is the s*** has hit the fan and it's called Belvedere Park!I was the one that broke the board up, I was the one that divided them, I was the one that caused the s*** to hit the fan.
- St Fidelius
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are you sleeping with poochy?barks4eva wrote:barks4eva, you made the following comments:
[quote your comments in the John Gdanski thread were borderline racist and defiantely inflammatory.
You receive one warning for breaking this rule; should you receive a further two warnings in the next month, you may be banned for up to one month.
Regards,
saint66
U R Joking, yeah?
Why don't you do me a favour and just ban me now!
FAIR DINKUM
Talk about political correctness gone crazy!
Surely you can't be serious!
Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board
I’m very proud of my position and I’m very proud of representing the Jewish people if I can say that.
We both feel pretty strongly about helping the Jewish clubs.
There’s a huge Jewish supporter base at St Kilda ... the goodwill is huge.
Of the 8000 votes in support of the Footy First ticket that came in really quickly, about 1000 of them up the front were Jews, which is a great result.
So only Jews can call themselves Jews, is this what you are insinuating?
I still reckon we need a few more Palestinians on the board!
Anyone have the contact details for Hamas?
The fact is the s*** has hit the fan and it's called Belvedere Park!I was the one that broke the board up, I was the one that divided them, I was the one that caused the s*** to hit the fan.
either that, or you have hit the fan, or maybe both
Don't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel to appear, run down there and light the bloody thing yourself!
He'll regret all that when he sobers up.HarveysDeciple wrote:and there's no 2barks4eva wrote:barks4eva, you made the following comments:
[quote your comments in the John Gdanski thread were borderline racist and defiantely inflammatory.
You receive one warning for breaking this rule; should you receive a further two warnings in the next month, you may be banned for up to one month.
Regards,
saint66
U R Joking, yeah?
Why don't you do me a favour and just ban me now!
FAIR DINKUM
Talk about political correctness gone crazy!
Surely you can't be serious!
Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board
I’m very proud of my position and I’m very proud of representing the Jewish people if I can say that.
We both feel pretty strongly about helping the Jewish clubs.
There’s a huge Jewish supporter base at St Kilda ... the goodwill is huge.
Of the 8000 votes in support of the Footy First ticket that came in really quickly, about 1000 of them up the front were Jews, which is a great result.
So only Jews can call themselves Jews, is this what you are insinuating?
I still reckon we need a few more Palestinians on the board!
Anyone have the contact details for Hamas?
The fact is the s*** has hit the fan and it's called Belvedere Park!I was the one that broke the board up, I was the one that divided them, I was the one that caused the s*** to hit the fan.
- St Fidelius
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 10492
- Joined: Sun 01 Aug 2004 10:30am
I don't think he drinks that much to sober up, he is just a natural at itGrumpyOne wrote:He'll regret all that when he sobers up.HarveysDeciple wrote:and there's no 2barks4eva wrote:barks4eva, you made the following comments:
[quote your comments in the John Gdanski thread were borderline racist and defiantely inflammatory.
You receive one warning for breaking this rule; should you receive a further two warnings in the next month, you may be banned for up to one month.
Regards,
saint66
U R Joking, yeah?
Why don't you do me a favour and just ban me now!
FAIR DINKUM
Talk about political correctness gone crazy!
Surely you can't be serious!
Gdanski talks exclusively to AJN sports editor ADAM KAMIEN about footy, Jewish support for the new board
I’m very proud of my position and I’m very proud of representing the Jewish people if I can say that.
We both feel pretty strongly about helping the Jewish clubs.
There’s a huge Jewish supporter base at St Kilda ... the goodwill is huge.
Of the 8000 votes in support of the Footy First ticket that came in really quickly, about 1000 of them up the front were Jews, which is a great result.
So only Jews can call themselves Jews, is this what you are insinuating?
I still reckon we need a few more Palestinians on the board!
Anyone have the contact details for Hamas?
The fact is the s*** has hit the fan and it's called Belvedere Park!I was the one that broke the board up, I was the one that divided them, I was the one that caused the s*** to hit the fan.
Don't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel to appear, run down there and light the bloody thing yourself!