Collingwood are considering introducing term limits for directors as they announced that former Magpie and president of the club’s Past Players Association Paul Tuddenham had beaten 10 candidates to win a place on Collingwood’s board.
Magpies’ president Jeff Browne said the decision on term limits would be part of a consultation process that will be conducted to update the club’s constitution which has only changed once (in 2016) since 1983.
Paul Tuddenham in his playing days. He has been elected to the Collingwood board. Credit:The Age
Former president Eddie McGuire was in the role from 1998 to 2021 as was former board member Alex Waislitz, with the club valuing continuity during his tenure. Mark Korda, who was made a life member at the AGM, was a board member from 2007 until his departure at Thursday’s meeting having had a short stint as president in 2021.
Tuddenham ran with an emphasis on player wellbeing and transitioning former players. He beat off other strong candidates such as former Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna and Sports Geek founder Sean Callanan to fill the position left vacant by the departure of former president Korda.
Despite the board upheaval the previous year, Collingwood had a brilliant 2022 after appointing Craig McRae as coach, with the team reaching the preliminary final on the back of a series of close wins during the home and away season before they lost the qualifying final to Geelong by six points and the preliminary final to Sydney by one point.
The club reported a profit at the end of the financial year after attracting more than 100,000 members for the first time and made headway in the implementation of recommendations from the Do Better report.
Scott Pendlebury, who stood down as club captain for 2023 on Monday, and club champion and premiership teammate Steele Sidebottom, were both awarded life memberships.
The Magpies will open their season against the defending premiers Geelong and face a tough start to 2023 as they attempt to back up their performance from last season.
They play Port Adelaide, Richmond and the Brisbane Lions in the first four rounds before they head to South Australia to play St Kilda during the Gather Round in round five.
