Collingwood president Jeff Browne to target membership as he aims to return club to its former glory

Jeff Browne hasn’t wasted time laying down the law at Collingwood after being appointed its 14th president, revealing key areas it must address to become a powerhouse again.

Jeff Browne at the Grace Darling Hotel, where the original meeting to form the Collingwood football club was held in 1889 . … Photo by Michael Klein.

New Collingwood president Jeff Browne says the Magpies need to “shape up” and regain their standing as the biggest team in town.

Browne was confirmed as the Pies 14th president on Friday after being voted onto the board the previous evening, ending a messy political battle which had been waged since Eddie McGuire departed earlier in the year.

His four-person ticket was voted in by the members with Mark Korda handing over the presidency reins peacefully. Ex-player Paul Licuria and Jodie Sizer were named vice-presidents.

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Jeff Browne says his initial focus was to improve the club’s membership base.

Browne said his immediate focus was to improve the club’s membership base which was currently around 82,000.

“We have 82,000 members, we need to pile that on and get above 100,000 members and then we can rightly move around town and argue our case with a lot more weight,” he said.

“That is a key immediate objective to get those membership numbers up. Our financial position is strong but clearly the focus needs to be winning games of football.

“That is what our supporters are desperate for and we need to put a team out there each week that gives it all and wins the four points. We need to win a lot more matches and we need to shape up as a real force on the field.”

He backed new coach Craig McCrae to bring “joy back” for the Pies supporters after a disappointing 17th placed finish in 2021.

“We have a new coach, a young list and some great players who have played some great games of footy for the club,” Browne said.

“We need to deliver that joy back to our long-suffering supporters who have dealt with Covid for two years as footy is a great filip for people.

Browne says he is comfortable with the club’s handling of the Jordan De Goey situation.

“Collingwood is a huge community and nothing gives them more joy than to see their players go out and win more games.”

The long-time AFL legal counsel and former Channel 9 boss said he was comfortable with how the club had handled the Jordan De Goey situation.

De Goey is currently banned from training at the club as he awaits the verdict on assault charges from an incident in a New York bar in October.

“I have spoken to some board members, I have spoken to the administration about the situation,” Browne said. “I understand some of the issues, I don’t understand enough of them to offer a view.

“The way the club has handled it, there is very careful thought and management going into it and I’m backing management to continue to handle that.

“How it comes out depends on different outcomes, he is facing charges in another jurisdiction, things can happen, charges can change, offences can change.

“It is a watch and see, be supportive but be very forensic in analysing the facts.

“I’m convinced this morning that the club has handled that as I would expect and there is nothing I can add to that.”

A new seven-member board was announced at Thursday night’s annual general meeting with Browne’s ticket — which included Barry Carp, Renee Roberts and Christine Holgate — all getting endorsed by the members.

VRC chairman Neil Wilson, who joined the board earlier in the year before being ruled ineligible, was unsuccessful in his bid to retain his position while current board member Holgate was re-elected.

Carp is the founder of venture capital firm River Capital while Roberts is a financial regulator specialising in leadership, strategic and operational transformation.

Why Browne’s Pies reign won't be like Eddie’s

Corporate powerbroker Jeff Browne has finally sealed the deal to become the new Collingwood president, ending a bitter battle which has divided the troubled club.

A new seven-member board was announced at Thursday night’s annual general meeting with Browne’s ticket — which included Barry Carp, Renee Roberts and Christine Holgate — all getting endorsed by the members.

The former Channel 9 boss and AFL legal advisor was appointed president after the Collingwood board met on Friday morning.

Browne was elected the club’s 14th president and sitting directors Jodie Sizer and Paul Licuria were appointed vice-presidents. All appointments were unanimous.

VRC chairman Peter Wilson, who joined the board earlier in the year before being ruled ineligible, was unsuccessful in his bid to retain his position while current director Holgate was re-elected.

Jeff Browne is 24 hours away from becoming Collingwood president after being voted onto the club’s board. Picture: Michael Klein

Current president Mark Korda, who replaced Eddie McGuire in April, will remain on the board but hand over the top job after an agreement was reached in recent weeks.

Carp is the founder of venture capital firm River Capital while Roberts is a financial regulator specialising in leadership, strategic and operational transformation. Existing vice-presidents Jodie Sizer and Paul Licuria round out the new board.

Korda promised that Browne, who will become the Pies 14th president, would take over an “absolutely united team going forward” which certainly hasn’t been the case since he officially put his hand up in June.

One-time acting president and interim chief executive Peter Murphy, who wanted the top job when McGuire quit, decided not to seek re-election.

Wilson had been headhunted and appointed as a casual vacancy in April before it was ruled that his MCC membership nominating Collingwood as his club of choice meant he wasn’t a qualified voting member.

The Collingwood club has undergone a massive restructure off the field in the past 12 months. Picture: Getty Images

“Peter (Murphy) was an agent of change, someone who helped to modernise Collingwood be it through the Collingwood Foundation, as interim chief executive or as a director. Few achieved as much in their time as Peter did,” Korda said.

“Neil was unfortunately with us for only a short time but the expertise for which he was identified served the board well during this year.”

Korda praised McGuire and fellow long-term board member Alex Waislitz who also resigned earlier in the year.

“Both were on the board for 23 years and I think it is fair to say they saved the club when it was almost bankrupt when Eddie and Alex took over. Their legacy is unbelievable, Eddie president for 23 years,” Korda said.

He said Covid-19 had stopped the club properly celebrating the pair but that would happen next year.

Browne is unlikely to enjoy a two decade reign like his good friend McGuire given the board is currently reviewing its constitution with a push to have the president only serve a maximum of six years in the job.

Outgoing Collingwood president Eddie McGuire after 23 years in the top job. Picture: Alex Coppel

Club members will get the chance to have their say on the potential changes with directors also likely to have their time capped with three terms of three years being proposed.

The board election puts an end to one of the most dramatic years in the club history which started with long-time president McGuire stepping down in the wake of the Do Better report which found systemic racism at the club.

Coach Nathan Buckley was the next to go after the Pies had a horror start to the season, resigning after 10 years in the job in June. He was replaced by senior assistant Robert Harvey.

The Pies finished the season 17th and then appointed former Brisbane premiership forward Craig McCrae as senior coach.

His first point of business has been to deal with the Pies best player Jordan De Goey being arrested in New York and subsequently banned from the club pending the outcome of a court case next month.

Just 11,500 of the club’s 82527 members were eligible to vote — although the club is reviewing this particular rule — with only 4000 of those participating in the online board election in which there were 11 candidates for the four vacant seats.

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Originally published as Collingwood president Jeff Browne to target membership as he aims to return club to its former glory