Dear Mr Gauci

RE: Herald Sun article, 5 November 2014 - Ron Gauci and Jason
Cunningham to run for Essendon board, seek change
One second after the Essendon players, Hird and Thompson are cleared, and one second
after those at the AFL and ASADA, who are guilty of misconduct and incompetence are
sacked, I shall have no interest in Essendon Football Club. However, until then, Ill fight to
stop anyone undoing the good work in the fight for justice.
Item 1: EXCLUSIVE: FORMER Melbourne Storm boss Ron Gauci has challenged Paul
Littles board to seek a mandate from Essendon members at next months annual meeting.
Gauci wants change at board level without the need for a bloody coup or the financial waste
of an extraordinary general meeting.
My Comment:
1. If you expect your players to put their heads over the ball, spill their blood and get
down and dirty, you have to do the same thing. No one will follow a leader who wont
do the hard yards himself. If Essendon is as bad as you claim, the cost of an EGM
would be small change.
2. The politicians in theory also support the bloodless coup, but inevitably that only
occurs after destabilising tactics and smear campaigns. You are off to a good start but
are you really prepared to spill blood and get dirty?
Item 2: He said it was time for honesty, transparency, dealing with the real issues and
making the hard decisions if Essendon were to be restored as one of Australias premier
sporting organisations.
My Comment:
1. This comment is nothing but an unsubstantiated smear. It implies the current board
has been dishonest and covered up things. In all modesty, I think I know as much
about the saga as anyone and I think the current board has been honest and open. It
has done an excellent job in extremely difficult circumstances.
2. However, Id need answers to a huge numbers of anomalies before I supported Evans
and Robson in the same way as the current board. If you bothered to read the Interim
Report and some of the board financial reports in 2012 you would wonder whether
you had picked them up from the Fiction or Non-Fiction section. For starters Id like
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to know how over $100,000 of unpaid invoices apparently werent included in the
monthly board financial reports. Then Id like to know if the AFL pressured Evans
and Robson to suspend Dean Robinson or whether Evans and Robson did it of their
own initiative. If I were EFC, Id be insisting the AFL cough up the $1 million
payable to Robinson. At the same time, Evans and Robson could tell us whether they
capitulated to pressure from the AFL to hire Liz Lukin. The Essendon board didnt
meet until Thursday 7 February 2013 so these two extraordinary decisions on or
before 5 February 2013, were made without consulting the board.
3. If I were running on a platform of honesty, transparency and surrender to the AFL and
ASADA, unlike you, Id actually identify the real issues and explain what hard
decisions I would take to resolve them.
Item 3: Gauci said he had been urged to make a run after the Switkowski report highlighted
governance failings at the club and after observing decisions made since the investigation
began that have resulted in this saga dragging on to the players and the clubs
detriment.
My Comment:
1. I have never understood why people hide behind the group. Surely it is more honest to
say I have identified the following grave errors by the current board and I believe I
have the skills to solve those problems.
2. Urged by whom to make a run? The AFL? The inner circle at Essendon who you
claim are urging you to stand have no idea of what went on. The AFL is such a
secretive body, and the media has been so biased, very few people know anything
about what went on at Essendon. Im prepared to bet that you are unaware that Dr
Reid reported a possible anti-doping violation to the AFL on 19 October 2011 and
that the AFL did nothing about it. If the AFL had fulfilled its responsibilities the
whole saga would not have occurred.
3. Anyone who advised you to run after reading the Switkowski Report shouldnt even
be allowed to vote. You obviously havent read it. Its a joke. Its flawed. I suggest if
you want to be taken seriously, you latch onto something else if you want to justify
running.
4. The decisions made by Evans and Robson were inexplicable but I suspect you are not
interested in those. There have only been a couple of poor decisions since then.

5. In August 2013, Paul Little disappointingly, but understandably, capitulated to

pressure from the AFL, the media and probably the people you claim to represent. If
that wasnt the worst decision in this whole sorry saga, it at least gets in the grandfinal. As an apparent Neville Chamberlain man, you obviously supported the decision
so you cant assign a black mark to Little or the board for that decision.
6. If Little had demanded a hearing, and if the AFL hadnt pressured Little to intimidate
Hird to stop his Supreme Court action, the whole saga would have ended in August /
September 2013. Essendon would have won. Essendon would have competed in the
finals and there would have been no $2 million fine or loss of draft picks. Ill bet you
didnt even analyse Dillons original disgraceful 34-page charge sheet, which listed
234 grounds, or the final charge sheet which listed 17 grounds none of which could
be substantiated.
7. Essendon had nothing to do with the saga being dragged out between 2 August 2013
and mid-June 2014, when ASADA issued its show cause notices. Show-cause notices
which laughingly didnt include the evidence. Are you really implying that you would
have urged / compelled the players to take the Cronulla option just to end it? I dont
know any of the players, but as much as they want the matter to end, they believe they
are innocent and they will fight to the bitter end.
8. The investigation was corrupted and Essendon was entitled to challenge the
corruption.
9. All of the above notwithstanding, the delay has been caused by ASADAs chicanery,
incompetence and preparedness to do the dirty work for the AFL:
10. The vast majority of the Interim Report was devoted to governance issues which were
outside ASADAs jurisdiction. ASADA wasted weeks on these issues. No one will
ever convince me ASADA was legally entitled to investigate issues such as whether
Essendon checked Robinsons references.
11. ASADA not only fiddled the evidence but omitted key evidence. If the investigation
had been conducted correctly, ASADA would have realised 12 months ago there was
insufficient evidence to convict the players and therefore would have exonerated them
last year.

12. Even after stacking the deck, there is no way of proving the players were administered
Thymosin Beta-4:

There is no evidence of anyone supplying it.

ASADAs two key witnesses, Alavi and Charter dont even claim they supplied
EFC with Thymosin Beta-4

There is no evidence of anyone administering it.

The players deny being administered it.

Vials of Thymomodulin were found in Danks fridge.

No vials of Thymosin Beta-4 were found at Essendon

13. ASADA was aware of the above last year. It should have pulled the plug then. You
are wrong to blame the Essendon board for dragging it out. It appears that you want
the players to tarnish their reputations by seeking a deal. I have played for a few clubs
in my time but I cant recall anyone being prepared to vote for someone for board
membership who didnt support the players.
14. The other bad decision by the current board was the attempt to interfere with Hirds
right to appeal Justice Middletons decision. My understanding is the board went
down the same path as Hird and received similar advice. It only backed off when the
AFL intimidated them again. It was hardly fair to sack Hird for doing what the board
wanted to do!
Item 4: I, like others, love the club and we are concerned about the future. We believe we
can make a difference, Gauci said.
My Comment:
As I said earlier, identify the issues and your solutions and explain how you can make a
difference.

Item 5:The decisions made in the past about how to handle these issues have resulted in
many relationships key to a resolution being broken.
My Comment:
1. This is gobbledegook. Even Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen wouldnt have made such a
convoluted statement as this. I assume you said it to smear the current board but it is
so obtuse no one would know what you meant.
2. Although you mentioned these issues I havent been able to ascertain what these
issues are.
Item 6: It is now about the decisions that could still be made that are critical to the clubs
future.
My Comment:
1. You are making sense at last. As I understand it, you are saying future decisions will
affect the future. Let me think about that. I think you are correct.
2. Dont you think you owe the members more? You should have identified the key
future issues and explained what decisions you would make.
Item 7: The impact on the players and the club personally, financially and commercially
continues to grow.
My Comment:
1. The players have received show-cause notices. Please explain what you would have
done with them. You have two choices: One, plead guilty or two, defend the players.
You appear to want the players to capitulate.
2. Of course there is a financial cost in supporting the players. Are you implying you
dont support this action? If the players are exonerated, which they will be unless the
AFL imposes a sting of Fine Cotton proportions, Essendon will gain commercially.
Item 8: Gauci said he was concerned by what appeared to be breakdowns in trust occurring
inside the club.
My Comment:
Guess what? I dont think the members will trust you because you are not prepared to be
specific in identifying the problems nor solutions. Please identify who doesnt trust whom.
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Item 9: Asked whether he wanted to replace Little as chairman, Gauci said he would serve
the club in whatever capacity the board decided was best if he were elected as a director.
My Comment:
First good response to Grant Baker. However, as you later call for a complete spill of the
board I suspect you want to be chairman.
Item 10: In fewer than three years Gauci helped steer Storm to a premiership and readied
the club for sale.
My Comment:
I know this is an attempt by Baker to pump up your tyres but I always thought Bellamy,
Smith, Cronk and Slater steered Storm to victory. What position did you play?
Item 11: He said his experience in dealing with the aftermath of the salary cap scandal could
be used by an Essendon board that had not fully come to grips with the supplements saga.
My Comment:
Anyone who equates a salary cap breach with the Essendon saga doesnt deserve to be on the
board. The salary cap breach was pretty simple and there was no room to fight. Melbourne
Storm spent more on players salaries than it should have. The solution was also simple. Renegotiate contracts and move some players on. The Essendon situation is completely
different. First there is no evidence of wrong doing by the players. Second, the Essendon
board has had to face a hostile media, and ASADA and the AFL, all of which were guilty of
misconduct. In the circumstances, wanting to sack Hird without just cause aside, the board
has done a very good job in difficult circumstances.
Item 12: Over the past few months, I have been approached by a strong and influential
group of Essendon supporters who believe that change is now needed to rebuild this club,
he said.
My Comment:
This strong and influential group obviously knows very little about the situation because they
have done an appalling job in briefing you. At this point you are running a scare campaign.
You have backed the wrong horse by jumping on Switkowski and you imply that Essendon
should have rolled over and taken its medicine when there are no signs of sickness.
Item 13: It concerns me when I hear frequently from Bomber supporters who are
embarrassed by way the club has handled the saga.
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My Comment:
Given how many conversations you had with the Essendon supporters who know what is
best, I am surprised you havent been able to tell us what mistakes the board has made and
what you would have done differently.
Item 14: We are all calling for change. This needs to start from the top and through proper
process determine the points of failure within the organisation that also need to result in
change.
My Comment:
1. Who is we? You and Jason. I know M/s Wilson and Pat want change but are there
any other influential supporters prepared to identify themselves?
2. You say you want a thorough proper process to determine the points of failure. I
thought you and your influential mates had already done that. I have done too many
strategic plans to count, and I am a strong supporter of Confucius when doing them.
Confucius said there is no point in starting your journey until you know where you are
going. I suggest until you know where you want to take the club you be grateful for
the current board.
Item 15: We would ask that all board members, with the exception of those elected since
2012, consider going back to the eligible voting members for a mandate to continue with the
current strategy through an election process. This is the only constitutional way of truly
acting on behalf of the will of the members. This is good governance.
My Comment:
1. Mr Gauci, Id like to go out with Elle McPherson but it is not as simple as just ringing
her. Id have to get rid of her husband and body guard first and then hit her over the
head. Im not prepared to do that. The same applies at Essendon. If you want a new
board, you have to blast them out. Dont ask them to walk away quietly.
2. This is Alice in Wonderland stuff. If you want the prize, fight for it. If your cause is
not worth spilling a little blood, it is not worth fighting for. If the current board fell for
this nonsense they dont deserve to be there.
3. Implying that the board is acting unconstitutionally if it doesnt declare all positions
vacant proves how ignorant and nave you are.
Bruce Francis
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