Another week, and another AFL club has outed themselves as a bunch of apparent amateurs – at least when it comes to their ability to retain a CEO for more than a day.

Andrew Thorburn, the man hired to try and steer the Essendon club towards a more prosperous future on and off the field did his best impression of Grandpa Simpson at a bordello this week. – walking out of the door of Bomberland before he had time to even take off his coat.

The reason for his swift departure was his other job – as boss of the City on a Hill church.

You wouldn’t think being so high up in a church would be incompatible with being the boss of an AFL club.

But some of the beliefs that church espouse are so backward that Mr Thorburn had no choice but to walking towards the car park when they became public knowledge.

On couples of same sex, the church apparently thinks -- “Practising homosexuality is a sin.”

On the right of women to choose whether to continue a pregnancy, the church said this –

“Future generations will look back with sadness at the legal murder of hundreds of thousands of human beings every day through medicine and in the name of freedom.”

These were not the words of Mr Thorburn himself. But were clear and present views of the church he leads.

And in explaining his resignation, and his position, Mr Thorburn said he was not aware of them – or of the 2013 sermon given by a pastor which was available at the click of a computer button.

He seems to think that absolve him somehow – but as most lawyers will tell you, ignorance is no excuse.

The departure has kicked off a vigorous debate about whether people are now being “cancelled” unfairly because of their religious beliefs.

A valid debate to have – which I think those who use their religion to excuse intolerance will lose.

But the Thorburn debacle also raises another question about how professional AFL clubs really are.

If those hiring Thorburn didn’t know about his church and their outdate views, then that is a damning indictment on them and their processes.

How – when hiring someone to such an important role – could you possibly not do even the most basic of due diligence?

That beggars belief. And it also puts another dent in the game’s claim to be the “elite” sporting code in this country.

Another week, and another AFL club has outed themselves as a bunch of apparent amateurs – at least when it comes to their ability to retain a CEO for more than a day.
Andrew Thorburn, the man hired to try and steer the Essendon club towards a more prosperous future on and off the field did his best impression of Grandpa Simpson at a bordello this week. – walking out of the door of Bomberland before he had time to even take off his coat.
The reason for his swift departure was his other job – as boss of the City on a Hill church.
You wouldn’t think being so high up in a church would be incompatible with being the boss of an AFL club.
But some of the beliefs that church espouse are so backward that Mr Thorburn had no choice but to walking towards the car park when they became public knowledge.
On couples of same sex, the church apparently thinks -- “Practising homosexuality is a sin.”
On the right of women to choose whether to continue a pregnancy, the church said this –
“Future generations will look back with sadness at the legal murder of hundreds of thousands of human beings every day through medicine and in the name of freedom.”
These were not the words of Mr Thorburn himself. But were clear and present views of the church he leads.
And in explaining his resignation, and his position, Mr Thorburn said he was not aware of them – or of the 2013 sermon given by a pastor which was available at the click of a computer button.
He seems to think that absolve him somehow – but as most lawyers will tell you, ignorance is no excuse.
The departure has kicked off a vigorous debate about whether people are now being “cancelled” unfairly because of their religious beliefs.
A valid debate to have – which I think those who use their religion to excuse intolerance will lose.
But the Thorburn debacle also raises another question about how professional AFL clubs really are.
If those hiring Thorburn didn’t know about his church and their outdate views, then that is a damning indictment on them and their processes.
How – when hiring someone to such an important role – could you possibly not do even the most basic of due diligence?
That beggars belief. And it also puts another dent in the game’s claim to be the “elite” sporting code in this country.

If you enjoyed listening to The West Live for your daily news fix, then come and join us over on The Nightly Five.  Host Ben O’Shea continues to deliver punchy news and analysis, in a new podcast to get you in front of tomorrow’s news today!  Subscribe on your favourite podcast player and visit the thenightly.com.au

If you enjoyed listening to The West Live for your daily news fix, then come and join us over on The Nightly Five.  Host Ben O’Shea continues to deliver punchy news and analysis, in a new podcast to get you in front of tomorrow’s news today!  Subscribe on your favourite podcast player and visit the <a href="https://thenightly.com.au">thenightly.com.au</a>

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