Francis Galbally says Collingwood is thriving under ‘selfless leadership’ after the club’s boardroom clean-out

Collingwood finished last for the first time in 1976. One year later, it played in the first of successive grand finals. And a key Pies backer says he feels another renaissance is imminent.

Francis Galbally – the driving force behind Collingwood’s bitter boardroom coup – says it’s no surprise the Pies are thriving under “selfless leadership”.

Galbally, 68, a lawyer turned businessman, launched a campaign for governance reform at the Magpies in November 2020, leading to the demise of long-time president Eddie McGuire, the fall of replacement boss Mark Korda and installation of new club chief Jeff Browne.

“Many may say it is trite to say that leadership is everything, but the reality is that it is critical when you are in charge of a group of people, let alone young persons,” Galbally said.

“Collingwood lacked proper leadership and governance and was lurching publicly from crisis to crisis. And worse these seemed to be of its own making.

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Francis Galbally. Picture: Rob Leeson

“But the most important thing is that the transition has returned the club to what it is and should remain: Collingwood is a football club. It is not a political body nor should it be a mouthpiece for various causes. Its mission is to play football, win games and premierships.”

Galbally – the Magpies’ honorary solicitor from 1976-94 – called on McGuire to put in place a succession plan and publicly declare his intention to vacate the job (which McGuire did on the eve of Christmas 2020) before becoming a key backer behind Browne after the leaking of the ‘Do Better’ racism report forced an even earlier end to the Eddie era.

“Collingwood supporters just want to watch the players play, coaches coach and hopefully the team will win games and a flag,” Galbally said.

“Supporters want to hear from the players and coaches about the games. They do not want to be lectured about politics nor social causes.

“There is in our society a time and place for these issues but footy needs to be about footy. And to do this it needs the right culture and environment – and the right leadership to create it.

“The players and coaches need to trust those that manage the club to do so selflessly. The new Collingwood board has, under the radar, recreated that culture and environment.”

At the height of its off-field troubles, Galbally likened the plight of the Magpies to the spectacular downfall of Crown Resorts.

Eddie McGuire and Peter Gordon watch a match in a private box in 2021. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Unfortunately the club had simply lost direction and leadership but it was clear how this could just as simply be turned around with a change and now it has happened,” he said,

“A major part of this is the new football and coaching group. Understated and just talking about the game. And this is led by the board who we do not hear from other than actions like bringing past players back into the fold such as Leon Davis, or using past champions whose sons are playing today such as Peter Daicos, Peter Moore and Gavin Brown.

“I have experienced this before at Collingwood. In 1976, for the first time in our history, we finished at the bottom of the ladder. The next year, with a change in leadership – with the same players – we played in two grand finals. I am not saying that will happen this year, but we will be playing finals with a very young side, so all Collingwood supporters can dream again of what may be.”

Originally published as Francis Galbally says Collingwood is thriving under ‘selfless leadership’ after the club’s boardroom clean-out