‘Heads must roll’ at Suns
Call for action as Suns chase emergency help
An industry heavyweight said last night: “If it was a public company like BHP, a lot of people would be in trouble. They just wouldn’t last.”
Former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou and retired league commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick were the other key drivers behind the creation of the Suns and GWS.
“Before any assistance is agreed, one must look at what has happened — and why it has happened — and where those responsibilities lie to avoid something like this happening again,” Thomas said.
“There needs to be a very strong focus on the people in charge of those decisions and their level of culpability.
“Unfortunately within the AFL, there’s an ‘all care, no responsibility’ culture that has evolved.”
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett last month said the Suns’ malaise was “an issue, in one sense, of the AFL’s own making”.
“What we are seeing today is a reflection of concerns that were raised when we were told there was going to be two new clubs,” Kennett said.
“Now the AFL has got to deal with it, there is no way anyone else can.”
FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says emergency assistance for the Gold Coast Suns should be followed by the resignations of all senior AFL officials involved in the establishment of the club.
The $200 million “Bad News Suns” are set to apply for a priority draft pick and extra financial support after an eighth consecutive failed season since joining the league in 2011.
Thomas said rival clubs should demand fresh concessions were made on the proviso AFL officials behind its foundation fell on their sword.
“Decent people, when they’ve completely wasted and thrown down the drain bucketloads of other people’s money, hold themselves accountable for that — but I wouldn’t be holding my breath,” Thomas said.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and league broadcasting boss Travis Auld played major roles in the creation of the competition’s 17th club. Auld was the club’s inaugural chief executive, while McLachlan and ex-AFL strategist Andrew Catterall were driving forces of expansion back in Melbourne.