Dwayne Russell

[pitmaster 3,087]

Ditto to Rojik

3AW = 3M-O-R-O-N Radio and has done so for 40 years

[45HG 1,539]

And when you call " You can come out now its safe out there", I get second opinion thats closer to the truth....and live longer.

[DeeBest 13]

3AW = 3M-O-R-O-N Radio

Or 3AWful as I call it.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Why shouldn't he say it? He's probably right. I'm not Dwayne's biggest fan either, but if we remove the blinkers of being a Melbourne supporter, I actually agree with him. I've got mates and work colleagues who have been saying the same for 12 months.

Your post is garbage. The quote thats offended people is "would anyone really miss Melbourne if they were gone?"

Would anyone miss any of the 10 Melbourne based clubs? Or the interstate ones for that matter?

Or more specifically, would anyone outside of the fans of that specific club, it's members and supporters really be all that upset?

This is all just another way of saying that because Collingwood have a bigger supporter base, people would miss them more if they were gone. Like saying just because we're headed for 30,000 instead of 40,000 somehow we're less significant.

His comment, were it made by someone that was in some way relevant to football, would be considered incendiary because EVERY club's supporters would prefer to see a smaller club vanish than their own... THAT much is true of most one-eyed supporters. If I HAD to choose between us and the Roos disappearing, I'd choose the Roos. And I LOVE the Roos as a club.

Matter of fact I think it would be a crying shame if the Pies were to leave. All that spectacular history and tradition with us. The '58 flag. If I can say that about Collingwood, I can say it about any club.

If you take the sum total of peoples' so-called "opinions" about MFC as a club, anyone who has a clue knows that when the current crop of young players, and the incoming youngsters mature, we'll become as exciting as the Dogs. Maybe even more exciting. Our lack of exposure is temporary, and it's something every club that bottoms out goes through.

This thread makes a lie of that.

No. I said people don't listen or retort. If you understood the spirit of the post you'd have seen that I meant if anyone in the media, his panel members, anyone in the print media had cared what he said, we would have seen a lot more written and spoken about it. As it is, I only see net posters getting up in arms... = insignificant. Had it been Vlad, or Walls, or Sheahan, or Caro... then we would have seen some more argy bargy.

No insult to all of us, but in the grand scheme of things our opinions count for little.

[Carn dees 108]

How about a bit of respect for the oldest club?

In about 3-5 years time someone else will be our position, after we win a few premierships and become successfull again.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

No. I said people don't listen or retort. ....

No insult to all of us, but in the grand scheme of things our opinions count for little.

That's right.

Sought of gives some impetus to Deebest's comments when Dwayne Russell makes the comments on the highest rating radio talk and football station in Victoria and guess what no uproar from the general public.

And I did not see any significant bluster from the football media and general public nearly 12 months ago when Vlad said MFC does not stand for anything. I could not think of a more damning statement.

And I dont think MFC would be missed if it were relocated. Most clubs and their supporters would say "Phew at least its not us". It was the general reaction of this Forum when the Kangas were considering the Gold Coast.

[45HG 1,539]

Is that any different from most teams RR?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Is that any different from most teams RR?

If its in regard to relocation, if it were either NM or MFC no. Over time the AFL via the media have soften the expectations of football followers that 10 teams is not viable and that there will be expansion interstate which may involve Vic Club relocation.

There would only be commotion if tier one clubs were moved (eg Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn, Geelong and possibly Richmond). I think St Kilda, WB, NM and MFC need to watch their backs carefully in the future.

[45HG 1,539]

I don't really think Geelong features in the 10 team question any longer given their capacity to draw on rural supporters (although even then they can steal away Melbourne-based fans) so perhaps they do

And the Hawks have already essentially half relocated.

I guess we'd have to wait and see. NMFC were threatened with relocation and they posted a record membership because of the uproar. Perhaps MFC fans weren't as into it because we know this battle involves us deeply, but generally footy fans were against it.

However in general I agree, if any of us, North, the Dogs or the Saints got moved on, the game could continue pretty easily.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I don't really think Geelong features in the 10 team question any longer given their capacity to draw on rural supporters (although even then they can steal away Melbourne-based fans) so perhaps they do

And the Hawks have already essentially half relocated.

I guess we'd have to wait and see. NMFC were threatened with relocation and they posted a record membership because of the uproar. Perhaps MFC fans weren't as into it because we know this battle involves us deeply, but generally footy fans were against it.

However in general I agree, if any of us, North, the Dogs or the Saints got moved on, the game could continue pretty easily.

Hawthorn are only in Tasmania for the lucre. Period.

NMFC did a last gasp tin rattle ad got 40,000 human and otherwise type members but still struggled to get 20,000 to a home game. They did a wonderful PR stunt which once the dust settles they are only in marginally better position with no clear future. Footy fans dont really care unless its there own club. I dont see any Melb based supporters of other clubs running vigils for Fitzroy or South Melbourne.

This Forum was very much into the issue and I would be surprised if MFC fans werent unless they were playing ostrich.

[45HG 1,539]

The tin rattle was answered largely by opposition fans.

However I agree, if a club cannot maintain themselves and have to be relocated other fans wouldn't lose a moments sleep in the process in the long run, especially if it's a fan from another club in a similar position.

I feel a little guilty that I almost wished for the Kangas relocation for the sole reason that it would ease the pressure on the MFC.

[Demonster 37]

Dwayne's rhetorical question comes from ignorance. He is from Adelaide. He can never understand the passion that Victorian's have for their game - founded and created in Victoria.

I doubt there would be a genuine Victorian football follower who would not want all the previous VFL clubs to survive.

Would a Victorian care about the survival of an interstate club? I doubt it.

Would an interstater care about the survival of a Victorian club? I doubt it.

Dwayne is from Adelaide and that is his prejudiced perspective.

Dwayne to be truly credible should begin every opine on anything to do with the AFL with, 'Being from Adelaide.....'

To ask the dubious question about Melbourne, without having any sense of understanding that 5 million Victorian's have zero care factor about the WA and SA concoctions, simply indicates a lack of perspective.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

....

Possibly the silliest post I have read this year on a trite topic. Talk about lack of perspective.

The tin rattle was answered largely by opposition fans.

Proof??? Opposition supporters who felt community minded may have dipped in here and there but dont stretch the truth too far.

I feel a little guilty that I almost wished for the Kangas relocation for the sole reason that it would ease the pressure on the MFC.

Like WB and Saints supporters.

Everyone hates the idea of relocation of team but wish it were someone else's club that gets relocated if it has to happen.

[timD 994]

Why shouldn't he say it? He's probably right. I'm not Dwayne's biggest fan either, but if we remove the blinkers of being a Melbourne supporter, I actually agree with him. I've got mates and work colleagues who have been saying the same for 12 months.

Right now the MFC is totally insignificant. The league (and in turn other clubs) are propping the club up financially, on and off field the clubs a basket case, nobody wants to sponsor us, the TV networks don't want a bar of our games, the MCC seems to prefer Collingwood and other clubs with drawing power over us.

Do you honestly think we're important? There are 15 other clubs streets ahead right now. And if we were gone, I doubt too many people would care. We don't have the image and I doubt we'd get widespread support like what Footscray and North Melbourne did in their troublesome times from the average football fan. We're not a club too many people have a 'soft spot' for.

Deebest, I love reading what you write. Respectfully, I think you have failed to understand people and the AFL.

Fitzroy is gone and no-body cares.

South Melbourne is gone and no-body cares.

One of North or us will be gone soon and no-one will care.

If essendon disappeared I would not care. If carlton disappeared I would not care. If west coast disappeared I would not care. If the saints disappeared I would barely bother remembering. I love my club. Not the AFL. Not rivalries. Just my bloody club.

Get it yet? I reckon people care about their own and when it comes to it everyone else when resources are limited well they can go and rot.

As for standing for something, well, no club 'stands' for anything really. Not when you actually think beyond simplisitic stereotypes. It is all crap. What counts is how you connect to people and how that connection can be 'sold' to sponsors for the benefit of their product. No clubs 'stands' (in the eyes of the AFL and the corporates) for anything else other than that.

THE AFL however, will care a lot. The soccer is growing and the AFL could lose about 250, 000 supporters australia-wide if Melbourne disappeared. How many would take their kids off to others codes on the death of their club - I would for one and I would never look back. I'd withdraw from the MCC and throw my lot in with a new code. Thousands would do the same. I would grieve, but not a penny would ever be spent by me on memberships or merchandise.

THE AFL would not dare lose that much support (I hope), risk lower TV rights packages and sponsorships in a delicate time.

It, for mine, makes the casey deal just critical. We need more members and more community exposure (via TV or 'community projects') in order to boost our appeal and corporate 'draw'. Why the [censored] Jimma is playing around with the casey deal is beyond me. Get the community, and access to people and companies will want to use it.

Then, we'll 'count' for something. Funny, 'casue we'll still count for nothing in everybody's else's eyes but our own.

[DeeBest 13]

deestupid is what your id name should be

Gee how mature are you? The way you write and spell, you've certainly got the IQ of a Collingwood supporter.

timD, you make some good points. It depends whether the AFL are more concerned with those 250,000 supporters you indicate the AFL would lose if a club like Melbourne disappeared, or if they're more concerned with their plans to grow the game in Sydney and QLD.

[timD 994]

Yes, I think it does, mate.

[Sir Why You Little 34,819]

All This will depend on How many Games the club Wins from this year on. We have bottomed out. The next phase is whether we pull out of it. It is not going to be easy. People may Disagree but we are so far behind the pack. I still have nightmares of that Friday night game last year against Geelong.. That was scary!! We are a long way off winning.

[Demonster 37]

For posters to say no-one cares about losing another Victorian club is simply wrong.

There was a huge out-pouring of feeling for Fitzroy when they went under, and a large degree of disenchantment with the AFL with how it was done. This despite it being inevitable for several years....very unlike the Demons situation.

Fremantle to their great credit was the only organisation that gave them any kind of respect with a very, very moving send-off. Either time dims the memory or some here were too young at the time.

What is true and which has been noted here is that supporters are happy for a team to go to the extent it makes their own team safer. But the fact of losing a Melbourne side would sit well with no genuine Victorian football supporter.

[timD 994]

Demonster, I think people would be sad, for a while. But then they move on and the memory fades and they no longer care. That process took how long for the Roys (for the majority of the population) - 2 years, 4 years? They're well and truely gone now.

[Guest JACKtheRIPPER]

Demonster, I think people would be sad, for a while. But then they move on and the memory fades and they no longer care. That process took how long for the Roys (for the majority of the population) - 2 years, 4 years? They're well and truely gone now.

i would never watch a game of afl again.