ANALYSIS: Longstanding former West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett’s presentation at the Tiger Connect business forum left the audience hanging on every word.
ANALYSIS: Longstanding former West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett’s presentation at Thursday’s Tiger Connect business forum left audience members hanging on every word.
In a free-flowing presentation held at the Claremont Football Club, Mr Nisbett spoke about the 'brutal' business nature of the football industry – and how, contrary to reporting from time to time by some sections of the sporting media, hurt administrators and coaches feel when having to break tough news to a player or staff member that their AFL journey at a particular club has finished.
Mr Nisbett, a proud product of the South Bunbury Football Club prior to his lengthy football administration career at WAFL and AFL level, also spoke about the importance of recruiting the right people within an organisation, the importance of backing staff to do their jobs and embracing the responsibility of being involved in elite sport, along with providing insights into a few other AFL-based topics.
The former Eagles CEO now works in an advisory role with the AFL’s executive team.
(On the ‘brutal’ business nature of elite sport)
“In an elite environment that AFL is in, it can also be very brutal,” Mr Nisbett said.
“And I think the most disappointing thing about the brutality of elite sport, is that you have to cut players and you have to say to some players who are very, very, talented that they are just not going to make the grade in your team – in your opinion.
“And it’s often an opinion that you’re actually wrong, because if they got to another environment and another opportunity, they would make the grade.
“But it’s something that’s always been the most difficult thing. When I was a football manager, it was the hardest thing I had to do.
“I’ve seen coaches break down after telling players that they’re just not going to make the roster next year.
“It’s the most brutal part of the game. Because people believe it’s heartless and the coaches don’t care.
“Well, they actually do.
“And it’s something that is a bit annoying at times when it’s reported that ‘a club did this to a person’ – it’s not because they wanted to, it’s because of the rules, and you can only have so many people on a list.”
(On decision making)
“Using your initiative is critical in football, as I know it is in most businesses,” Mr Nisbett said.
“But once you’ve made the decision, you need to go with it.
“And I find that a lot of people make decisions and then chop and change. And I see it in football clubs all the time – they’ll make decisions in the draft for example, where they’ll trade picks out for seasoned players.
“Then it didn’t work, so the next year, they’ll go back to the draft. And the year after that, they’ll trade out for seasoned players. And the year after that, they’ll go back to the draft.
“And all that does is complicate your build and opportunity.”
(On owning a bad decision)
“If you make decisions, and you get it wrong, your business will still thrive and still prosper, as long as you admit that you made a mistake,” Mr Nisbett said.
“And a lot of people don’t like putting their hand up and saying they got something wrong.
“If you can own up to that mistake, then you can go rectify it and fix it. If you don’t, you’ll meander along in your business, you’ll meander along as a football club and eventually, you fail.”
(On working alongside good people)
“Working with good people has always been my, I guess, only goal in the football clubs that I’ve worked with,” Mr Nisbett said.
“I’ve always thought my people are my best asset.
“And I’ve always thought the people I work with, my executive team at West Coast for example, were outstanding.
“They were really brilliant at what they did and what they brought to the football club and football in Western Australia as well.”
(On the importance of having staff who want to come to work)
“One of the things that elite football sometimes does is takes out the fun and engagement you really need,” Mr Nisbett said.
“And you need it for your staff and for your players. Because if it’s just a chore and you are not enjoying going to work – it doesn’t matter if you’re a player or staff member – it really inhibits you as a person and it affects your mental health.”
(On the responsibilities which come from being involved in elite sport)
“We have a responsibility at an elite level to so many people, it’s such a critical thing,” Mr Nisbett said.
“I think a lot of people get to the elite level and think they don’t have a responsibility anymore.
“I’m just a player; I’ll just go and play football and do my thing (or) I work for a football club at the elite level so I’ll just do my thing and everything will be right.
“It’s not true. We have a responsibility to a lot of people. And if you don’t think about that responsibility as part of why you are working at the football club, you shouldn’t be there.
“You’ve got to take it seriously.”
