What we as supporters can do if the MFC is punished?!

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,078]

I plan to stand around waving my fists and frothing at the mouth and saying F$%^^ing AFL at the pub for the next 30 years.

[pantaloons 2,018]

Nice work, Supreme Dee. It is the sense of powerlessness in all this that drives many of us mad, so I think it's fair and reasonable to workshop ideas to help the club at this time, even if our ability to help is very small. There are many instances throughout history where people power has been crucial in swaying an outcome.

So if you hear media reports tomorrow of a disgruntled mid-30s gent in a Melbourne guernsey storming AFL House with a fistful of flashbangs, kidnapping Andrew Demetriou with a BB gun and later sending a home made video to ABC news with Demetriou reading from a pre-written script demanding the AFL drop its investigation, it wasn't me.

[John Crow Batty 8,226]

Nice work, Supreme Dee. It is the sense of powerlessness in all this that drives many of us mad, so I think it's fair and reasonable to workshop ideas to help the club at this time, even if our ability to help is very small. There are many instances throughout history where people power has been crucial in swaying an outcome.

So if you hear media reports tomorrow of a disgruntled mid-30s gent in a Melbourne guernsey storming AFL House with a fistful of flashbangs, kidnapping Andrew Demetriou with a BB gun and later sending a home made video to ABC news with Demetriou reading from a pre-written script demanding the AFL drop its investigation, it wasn't me.

No doubt you will be leading the posse.

[P-man 13,154]

React by throwing all support by the club as others have suggested. You get through messes like this by sticking tight.

Boycotting games whether they be home or away will achieve nothing other than punishing the players. You really think Vlad will be sitting in AFL House and taking any note of Melbourne's crowd attendance changing from sweet bugger all to bugger all?

[dee-luded 2,958]

React by throwing all support by the club as others have suggested. You get through messes like this by sticking tight.

Boycotting games whether they be home or away will achieve nothing other than punishing the players. You really think Vlad will be sitting in AFL House and taking any note of Melbourne's crowd attendance changing from sweet bugger all to bugger all?

Absolutely, yes.

The attendances already have dropped this year in his watch.

The TV audience I think as well.

So Yes, I think they want Melbourne playing out of Melbourne, & I think Vlad also wants nth Melb to survive. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if they tried to get both of us to merge into One team.

I hope this isn't a way to destabilise us as we are about to recover.

Imagine a merged club of the Melbourne Roos, with Brian Cook at the Helm, playing at the 'G', & other games @ West Melbourne?

[Dr. Gonzo 22,399]

If any of you have AFL memberships, cancel them immediately and sign up as MFC members. I did this 4 years ago (after having a Gold AFL Membership) and haven't looked back. Much rather give the club $500+ a year for a Tridents membership than give the money to the AFL who will use it to spend on rugby players and new franchises in backwater markets.

Edited November 1, 2012 by Dr. Gonzo

[The heart beats true 16,026]

I know what you can do right now, today.

We should all be telling anyone who will listen (fans, media, anyone) that we 100% support the club in planning for its long term future. Tell them that it's been such a successful tool for other clubs including Collingwood, Carlton and WCE and that we did the right thing. Not only was it right but it was encouraged by the league by the rules they put in place. The only shame is that we havent benefited as well as others did.

We have to change the context of the argument from did we try to lose to why we planned for the future, and why the league encouraged it. The story isn't us. It is the mistake the league made in its system. A mistake they've now rectified.

[baysidedave 246]

Listening to Finey tonight on SEN, he said exactly what should be done- NOTHING, they can't prove anything from a few words of bitter ex-players, Stynes said we did not go out to deliberately lose games and as far as l can tell no-one has said that. Wilson says this that and everything else but does she have total proof-NO. Mclean has no credability, as Finey and we have been saying all along why go from Melbourne to the biggest cheats in history Carlton, whats he going to do when they de-list him? Is he going to sink the boots into them. The AFL can't do anything to us unless there prepared to look at Carlton, Collingwood, St.Kilda, Fremantle, West Coast, Hawthorn and Richmond over the last 10-15 years because they've all done exactly the same thing. Fevola and Liberatore said Carlton laid down in '07 , Wallace said he coached Richmond for draft picks one year. Fremantle,Collingwood,St.Kilda, West Coast and Hawthorn blatantly did it at least once in the last decade. So what's Anderson and Demetriou going to do about them?

[baysidedave 246]

Geez l hate some of the media like Wilson and Denham along with that pathological Ostrich(head in the sand) Demetriou and his stupid mate Anderson

[baysidedave 246]

I know what you can do right now, today.

We should all be telling anyone who will listen (fans, media, anyone) that we 100% support the club in planning for its long term future. Tell them that it's been such a successful tool for other clubs including Collingwood, Carlton and WCE and that we did the right thing. Not only was it right but it was encouraged by the league by the rules they put in place. The only shame is that we havent benefited as well as others did.

We have to change the context of the argument from did we try to lose to why we planned for the future, and why the league encouraged it. The story isn't us. It is the mistake the league made in its system. A mistake they've now rectified.

We have plenty on our side, most supporters except a few hateful ones and Patrick Smith from the Australian plus many more

[Rogue 585]

I'll suck it up, I'll grin and bear it, just as I ( and the greater many ) have for decades and will continue to support this club.

I won't be grinning.

[pantaloons 2,018]

It won't achieve anything except making me (and my wallet) feel better, but I'll take pleasure in informing The Age exactly why I won't be renewing my subscription.

[Philthy 284]

What we do? I will summarise it in 2 lines.

Support the cub we love no matter the outcome of this BS investigation.

Renew your membership if you haven't already.

[GolfBoyPro 43]

that would kill the MFC not the AFL.

Our action if this gets heavy must mirror what the Storm supporters did.

Guilty parties removed...Stick tight.

That would punish the afl cause they need 18 teams for tv rights!!!

[jane02 3,315]

What we do? I will summarise it in 2 lines.

Support the cub we love no matter the outcome of this BS investigation.

Renew your membership if you haven't already.

Exactly right. I have renewed mine, my husbands (The Collingwood supporter but a Melbourne member as well) and my dogs membership already.

We are ready for 2013.

[Sir Why You Little 34,420]

That would punish the afl cause they need 18 teams for tv rights!!!

they would hardly notice if our dead carcus was relocated to Tassie.

We supporters must stick fat.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

1. Make sure you buy your 2013 membership as early as possible.

2. Make sure any other friends/relatives who have let their memberships lapse oveer the last couple of years sign up for 2013.

3. Turn up to every game possible in 2013 and make sure we bring as many people with us as we can.

4. Turn up to the AGM next Feb. with prepared questions to ask in a reasoned manner to show our anger at the inept way the club has been run - hold the board accountable (assuming they're still there).

5. Continue to donate to the club and buy merchandise through the Demon Shop to ensure the fine the club is handed down can be paid off immediately and doesn't cripple the club.

Regardless of the outcome of the tanking, punishment or no punishment, I'm going to do this.

Cant think of a better way to stick it to caro, denham, the AFL and every other person/club.

Lets come back harder and stronger! (sounds like a viagra slogan...)

Great post Dr. Gonzo

[Mac7 309]

Show up in huge numbers at the next training session.

Show the club, the players and the rest of the AFL community that they will NEVER destroy us!

[satyricon 267]

Did that at an AGM a few years ago and some jerk pulled the micropohone away when it was getting interesting- Strike that one out

Would you like to say which years AGM that occurred at, I have been to the last half dozen and feedback is encouraged, including the 'culture' question from last year, so please when was it?

[Wormburner 674]

I have to say that the the past twelve months are beyond a joke and it is all becoming rediculous. I'm sick of MFC being the laughing stock of the AFL teams and community.

I can only imagine what Mark Neeld would be saying under his breath about this. The poor bloke will no doubt be thinking, please just give me a pre season where there are no off field distractions and I can focus on getting this team half decent.

Yes the individuals had the clubs best interest in mind when and if they had these alleged meetings. Surely the persons involved must have thought, "s&*t we're in trouble if it gets out that we are having a meeting with 15 coaching staff, and we are blatenly expressing to them that we need to lose". I mean seriously, we can't even lose without stuffing it up!

As a passionate supporter, whatever ramifications come from this, it will be a bitter pill to swallow.

I want to see MFC as a tough on and off field team that strikes fear into our opponents. When the night before we step out onto the ground, the opposition players are having nightmares over how hard they're going to get hit the next day. When as a supporter we can walk away from the game saying "geez that was a tough match and our boys put their all in". And when we can say that the board is going great guns.

Maybe one day...

[Spaghetti 264]

Remember that MFC's board contains QCs.

And? There is no shortage of QCs/SCs in Australia. I'm sure the AFL knows a couple as well.

Edited November 1, 2012 by Stylus

[H_T 2,941]

I won't be grinning.

More like grimacing.

[dpositive 1,547]

I like a combination of heart beats true and bayside dave advice

Do nothing and make detractors find proof while stating loudly and constantly that we did what other clubs did in trying to achieve long term success, and unfortunately lost games as we werent good enough. We played kids , played people in unusual positions to get experience, tried different structures and styles of play. Some players who have left could not adjust some of the coaching tactics did not work , we have changed coaches and with playing list we have and the flexibility they give we are satisfied that our long period with lack of success will be turned around. We appreciate that the afl system is designed to ensure equality and competitivness and we have followed their systems to comply.

Nothing official just a groundswell of consistent justification with just a little implied threat of "go on prove it you bastards"

[Mydee 288]

Would you like to say which years AGM that occurred at, I have been to the last half dozen and feedback is encouraged, including the 'culture' question from last year, so please when was it?

The one at the tennis centre which Bev chaired

[Swampfox 190]

I have seen our board do some stupid stuff over the years but there is no chance in hell that i would stop supporting our demons