Billionaire Blues powerbroker Bruce Mathieson lauds Carlton’s clinical call on CEO Steven Trigg
BILLIONAIRE Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has backed the club’s decision to part ways with Steven Trigg, saying Mark LoGiudice is an “excellent bloody president”.
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BILLIONAIRE Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has backed the club’s clinical call on chief executive Steven Trigg.
Mathieson said Blues president Mark LoGiudice and his board were making the necessary decisions to return the club to the top.
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“Mark is a tough boy — he doesn’t mess around,” Mathieson declared.
“He’s a very, very good president. He’s an excellent bloody president. The club is making what they see as the best decision for the club.”
Trigg was told his time was up by the Blues late last week just three years into his tenure at Ikon Park.
Asked if he liked that kind of leadership, Mathieson replied: “Oh s--- yeah.
“They will go through the process the same way they did when they got him (Trigg). I think he’s done a good job, but I can tell you Mark is an excellent bloody president — he’s a beauty.”
The Blues are competing with three other Melbourne clubs — Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs — for a new CEO and have made no secret of their interest in axed AFL football operations boss Simon Lethlean.
Lethlean — forced to quit the AFL in July over an affair with a younger female staffer — has already been ruled out as an appropriate candidate for the Hawks’ top job by reinstated club president Jeff Kennett.
“We are a family club ... it’s much too early for a club like Hawthorn,” Kennett said last week.
Mathieson took aim at Kennett’s stance and said he would have no issue with Carlton hiring Lethlean.
“What no-one has ever done that in politics? If there was an MP who was going to keep him in power in politics what would Kennett be saying? They would do anything to stay in power, it’s just a joke,” Mathieson said.
“He (Lethlean) hasn’t done it on our watch, you turn around and say these are the rules. You get the best.
“I can guarantee you one thing with Mark and that is he will put the best in and he won’t mess around.”
Asked if he remained in contact with LoGiudice, Mathieson said: “We have a yap every now and then, yeah.”
The pokies king, a former Blues director who has gifted hundreds of money-spinning poker machines to the club, said Carlton was only just recovering from the savage salary cap sanctions handed down by the AFL 15 years ago.
“We are two years into our plan (under coach Brendon Bolton) and you’ve got to realise that the league destroyed us — they nearly buggered us for life really with what they did to us,” he said.
“You look at how they let Essendon off compared to what they did to us. It was a disgrace what they did to Carlton, the penalties were so big.
“We’re only starting to work our way out. We were in front in nine games this year in the last quarter with a bunch of young kids. We’re not far off and there’s no point rushing out now and buying a million people, because the kids need at least another year under their belt.
“How long has it taken (Damien) Hardwick to turn it around? It takes a long time and I think what they have done in two years is staggering.”
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