A recent article in The Age by Jake Niall (which may be behind a paywall) explores the inner tension at Carlton Football Club over the past three decades. The club was once defined by power and success then found itself in a cycle of division, instability, and impatience. Having had nine different coaches since 2000, multiple leadership changes at board level, and a struggle to perform on field, the article that Niall writes is a great case study in leadership, particularly for those in church ministry.
Obviously, professional sport and pastoral leadership operate in very different arenas, they do share some similarities, as I’ve written about before. Leadership struggles, the challenge of unity, the weight of expectations, and the temptation to look for a quick fix rather than embracing the slow and patient work of building something that will last.
A Divided House
Denis Pagan, one of Carlton’s many coaches, described his tenure at the club as “an absolute nightmare”, primarily due to the fractured leadership: “Splinters everywhere… board level, administration level. The playing group was split.” It was a house divided against itself, as Niall writes.
Jesus’ words in Mark 3:25 speaks of this truism, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” This isn’t just true for football clubs; it’s true for churches as well. When leadership teams—pastors, elders, and deacons—are pulling in different directions, the whole church suffers.
Paul understood this as well when he writes to the church in Ephesus to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Unity isn’t automatic; it requires intentional effort. When a church operates more like a dysfunctional football club, where different factions vie for control, the focus shifts away from Jesus and his mission.
Patience and the Slow Work of Discipleship
Carlton’s downfall wasn’t just about division; it was also about impatience. The club became addicted to the idea of a quick fix—whether it was a high-profile coach, a big-name recruit, or a billionaire benefactor. As Malthouse put it, “This is going to take a slow burn to get right and it’s also going to take patience.” But patience was in short supply.
Churches can fall into the same trap. We want fast results—spiritual growth that happens overnight, new programs that immediately bear fruit, discipleship that runs on a tight schedule. But faith formation, like rebuilding a football club, doesn’t work that way.
Jesus consistently used farming illustrations to describe the Kingdom of God and the growth that happens over time. “First the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head” (Mark 4:28). Paul says similarly about this patient approach to ministry, saying, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Pastors, elders, and deacons need to embrace the long game of discipleship. There are no shortcuts. A healthy church isn’t built in a season or two—it takes years of faithful, consistent, and patient work.
The Role of Leadership in the Church
At Carlton, instability at the top had a ripple effect. Pagan noted that too many influential voices behind the scenes “wouldn’t have known a football from an Easter egg.” Leadership dysfunction filtered down to the players, resulting in a culture where no one was really set up for success.
Churches can find themselves in a similar place. If the relationship between the pastoral team and church leadership is dysfunctional, the congregation feels its effects. Leadership in the church isn’t about control but about shepherding God’s people toward spiritual health. It reminds me of those words from 1 Peter 5:1-4,
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
Ephesians 4:11-12 also describes the God-given role of leadership:
“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Leadership in the church exists for the nurturing of the people, not for power struggles or personal agendas.
This is exactly how Jesus established his church. He didn’t appoint boardroom executives—he built his church on disciples who would faithfully shepherd his people. “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The church belongs to Christ. It is grown through his Word, sustained by his Spirit, and led by those called to serve, not control.
The Temptation of the Quick Fix
Carlton’s desperation for success led to a flawed approach; new coaches, new strategies, new leadership—anything but patience and stability. As a result, they spent more time rebuilding than actually moving forward.
We might be tempted to fall into the same mindset. A new program, a new vision statement, a new pastor—these things can feel like they’ll fix everything. But real transformation doesn’t come from quick changes, it comes from faithfulness.
Jesus didn’t rush. He spent three years slowly forming twelve disciples, who still weren’t ready by the time of his crucifixion. Paul didn’t plant churches and expect them to mature overnight—he stayed, he invested, and when he moved on, he kept writing letters to guide them further.
Carlton’s recent resurgence has come not from chasing instant success but from building long-term stability. Likewise, a healthy church doesn’t rely on the next big thing, it commits to the slow, faithful work of discipleship.
A Different Kind of Leadership
Carlton’s history serves as a warning. The church is not a football club, but if we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves running it like one.
Instead, we are called to a different kind of leadership—a leadership rooted in unity, patience, and the long, steady work of building up the people of God. The ultimate model for this is Jesus, “who made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7).
If we lead as Jesus led, if we remain united in purpose, and if we commit to the slow, faithful work of discipleship, we will see lasting transformation—not just in our churches, but in the lives of those we are called to shepherd.
After all, the church isn’t chasing a premiership. We’re building something eternal.
