The capping of tenure on the Geelong board and changes to which level of member can vote on club matters are among five amendments to the Cats constitution passed at last (Wednesday) night’s AGM.
Geelong has been reviewing its constitution for several months, having last looked closely at the document in 2018.
Members were consulted via an online forum and survey. At the same time, the Cats also examined current corporate governance principles, principles from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and recently updated club constitutions.
Under the change to tenure, board members will be limited to nine years (three terms of three years), with provision to be extended in “certain circumstances”.
No provision for tenure has previously been made. However, 12 years has been the usual practice.
“They’re (tenure limits) widely considered to be good practice and best practice in corporate governance,” Geelong’s chief strategy and growth officer and general counsel Marcus King said.
“We believe what we’re putting forward achieves that.
“It provides directors with sufficient time to make a meaningful contribution to the club, but it also allows for the board to be refreshed and for new directors to come in and contribute to the club as well.”
Previously, only Geelong members with five-game access or higher could vote on club matters.
However, that has been adjusted for any member who spends $50 or more to join the club.
“We have a number of members who live in the country, live interstate, even overseas, who can’t access games but still pay considerable money to be members,” King said.
“And we think that those members should be entitled to vote just as access members are.
“That proposed change would allow for approximately 70% of our membership to vote.
“And just to give you a practical sense of it, this is not just allowing any person to vote.”
Other amendments included removing outdated references to gaming, as Geelong no longer earns revenue from poker machines, allowing the use of technology (Zoom, Microsoft Team, etc.) for general meetings of club members, and referencing the club’s code of conduct within its disciplinary powers provisions.
NEW PRESIDENT TAKES OVER
Grant McCabe is now officially the president of Geelong.
The Cats announced his appointment in May. He replaces Craig Drummond, who will depart the board after 12 years, including four as president.
“I’m honoured and excited to take on the role of President and to continue to serve the Club with the same commitment as Craig, and that in previous leaders such as Colin Carter and Frank Costa OAM,” McCabe said.
“We thank Craig for his outstanding service during his tenure and the strong position he has presided over, with consecutive years of record membership, strong financial results, the completion of the Joel Selwood Stand, the delivery of our new AFLW purpose-built locker room and the 2022 Premiership.
“The board is focused on driving continuous improvement and growth for our club, and I look forward to working closely with the staff, coaches, AFL and AFLW players, partners and our members to give us every opportunity to be successful on and off the field.”
McCabe’s deputy will be Lyndsay Sharp, who joined the board in 2021.
“I’m thrilled to be appointed to Vice President of the Geelong Football Club, a well-respected organisation that has the community at the centre of its DNA,” Sharp said.
“As a board, we are looking forward to working under the leadership of Grant and thank Craig for his outstanding stewardship to date.
“Our Club is set up for an exciting year ahead, and I am excited to continue to work with the entire football club as Vice President.”
CATS INDOOR FACILITY UPDATE
Geelong is closing on its target of $20m to make the purpose-built The Costa Family Centre indoor training facility a reality within the Kardinia Park precinct.
The Costa family initially contributed $10m, and the Cats have now raised $14m.
Speaking at the AGM, Marcus King revealed the southwest corner of the precinct, bordered by Park Crescent and Latrobe Terrace, was the likely location of the 40m x 60m facility.
As well as a training field, it would feature a cafe, Cats Shop, and community spaces.
“More than half of the league now have these,” King said.
“And they’re a great facility not only for high performance but for community.
“To have kids, clinics and activities in there. To run events throughout the year. To provide that space for community clubs. Not just community football clubs but all sorts of community sporting clubs.
King says the Cats are working closely with the Kardnia Park Stadium Trust as part of a broader masterplan for the precinct.
“There’s a little way to go, but we’ve got (a) really strong alignment on the location of that, which would be roughly on the A3 car park,” he said.
“So part of the design would be actually at the basement car park.
“We’ve heard about car parking tonight and the importance of that. We don’t want to lose car parking.
“But it is a good location for that facility for all users of the park.”
CARTER FAMILY FUNDS VFA PREMIERSHIP CUPS
Former Geelong president Colin Carter has been what CEO Steve Hocking has described as “relentless” in his pursuit of having the club’s seven VFA premierships recognised by the AFL.
And he has put his money where his mouth is, with the Carter family funding the production of premiership cups for those pre-1897 successes, which came in a nine-season stretch between 1878-86.
“What I can share with the members tonight is that the Carter family have donated… they’ve actually had cups produced,” Hocking said.
“I think that is the right step as a football club; they will take up a prime position in the stadium.
“You can get push back, push back, push back. Or you can do something about it, which is what we’ve done.”
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