Malcolm Speed

Brendan Gale was an inspired choice as chief executive.

And he put together a terrific management team.

There was a high level of trust between the board and Brendan.

And at one stage, it was quite interesting there.

It came out of the Essendon doping saga, where I think all clubs were looking inward there.

Could this happen to us?

What's happening with our supplements program here?

We put in place a process there where a board charter where Brendan was directed to adopt a no surprises approach.

He was to deal with all of the day-to-day running of the club.

If there was an issue that he thought it was appropriate for the board to deal with, he was to take that to the president.

It was Peggy O'Neill at that stage.

And they would discuss whether to bring it to the board, but there were to be no surprises.

And that's a good relationship between the board and the chief executive.

When it came to coach renewals, and Damien Hardwick's contract was renewed a few times over that period, maybe two or three, Brendan led that discussion.

He was very detailed.

He was very strong in his support of Damien, and he could see the long-term big picture, which was important.

And I think part of the stability was having a chief executive who was there for maybe, Brendan, before he left, he was probably there 15 years.

He was there from about 2009 right through to the three premierships.

It should have been four, but it was only three.

I had to get that in, Gerard, I'm sorry.