But i thought we were already affiliated with the MCC.

The MFC was born from the MCC in 1858. Originally the football club was established as a way to keep cricketers fit during winter. For the next 126 year until 1984 the MFC was a 100% owned club under the MCC umbrella. The problem was the old boys in the MCC still ran the MFC as an amateur club in a time when Australian Rules Football turned professional. Thus Melbourne became a basket case team. In 1984 Barrassi as coach broke the MFC from the MCC so as he and the MFC could finally be free of the weight of doing things "The MCC Way". Much of MCC board were devastated by the split and the MCC has walk around with a genuine chip on their shoulder about this for most of the last 25 years. Since 1984 for the most part the MCC gave the MFC no favours, treating MFC exactly the same as every other tenant despite having over a quarter of its members as Melbourne supporters. The MFC (except on the rare occasion) has not even been able to train on the MCG and been given no home ground advantage.

The MCC has teams in almost every sport you can think: golf, tennis, lawn bowls, cricket, shooting, basketball, squash etc. It is only natural that they want a team in AFL. At the end of the day if MFC was to relocate or fold the MCC would have more to lose than any other organisation. For the MCC to maintain its importance moving forward you would think that they would need to have a AFL club under its umbrella as a part of the cricket club.

Lets wait and see but this could be more important for our future than winning a flag.

For the MCC to maintain its importance moving forward you would think that they would need to have a AFL club under its umbrella as a part of the cricket club.

Why? The MCC seems to have flourished post 1984 split.

Well it's 10.45: anyone know anything? They're doing golf on SEN at the moment.

The MCCs significance moving forward will be not as great as the past if they don't have an AFL club. I am sure the MCC would like a Soccor and Rugby Union affiliate as well.

The MFC was born from the MCC in 1858. Originally the football club was established as a way to keep cricketers fit during winter. For the next 126 year until 1984 the MFC was a 100% owned club under the MCC umbrella. The problem was the old boys in the MCC still ran the MFC as an amateur club in a time when Australian Rules Football turned professional. Thus Melbourne became a basket case team. In 1984 Barrassi as coach broke the MFC from the MCC so as he and the MFC could finally be free of the weight of doing things "The MCC Way". Much of MCC board were devastated by the split and the MCC has walk around with a genuine chip on their shoulder about this for most of the last 25 years. Since 1984 for the most part the MCC gave the MFC no favours, treating MFC exactly the same as every other tenant despite having over a quarter of its members as Melbourne supporters. The MFC (except on the rare occasion) has not even been able to train on the MCG and been given no home ground advantage.

The MCC has teams in almost every sport you can think: golf, tennis, lawn bowls, cricket, shooting, basketball, squash etc. It is only natural that they want a team in AFL. At the end of the day if MFC was to relocate or fold the MCC would have more to lose than any other organisation. For the MCC to maintain its importance moving forward you would think that they would need to have a AFL club under its umbrella as a part of the cricket club.

Lets wait and see but this could be more important for our future than winning a flag.

almost. we were actually a seperate entity for a large part of the 1800's and they took us under their unbrella until 1984. If we join again today, it would be for the second time in history that they have taken us over.

almost. we were actually a seperate entity for a large part of the 1800's and they took us under their unbrella until 1984. If we join again today, it would be for the second time in history that they have taken us over.

So your saying the MFC was born 1858 from the MCC but independent, at some stage in the late 1800s the MCC took over the MFC, then split in 1984 and now hopefully taken over again in 2009.

1884 or 1984?

1984, the MFC and MCC split. but it is a common misconseption that we were joint to the MCC for our entire history until then. Actually, they enveloped us in the late 80's because we were struggling to survive on our own.

April Fools Day? I believe it when I see it...

It's after 11

Relax, the press release was scheduled for 11am. I was given an invite, 10:45am for 11am.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...2-23211,00.html

there is the link not done yet but its looking less and less like an April fools joke now

Melbourne Football Club and Melbourne Cricket Club together once more

At an announcement made at the MCG today, the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) once again became a Sporting Section of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC).

President of the MCC, David Meiklejohn, said, “This very important and historic agreement recognises a grand sporting tradition that is central to the competition, and goes back to the very foundation of the game itself. Appropriately, given its importance, the creation of this agreement has been many months in the making.”

The core objective of the agreement between the two organisations is to establish a close relationship for the benefit of the two clubs. The Melbourne Football Club, while remaining a separate legal entity, will become a Sporting Section of the MCC.

The agreement includes:

· The MFC’s use of the MCC name and logo as an MCC Sporting Section

· The MFC’s administrative occupancy at the MCG

· MCC support of the MFC in relation to:

o Facilities

o Administration, business and commercial assistance and opportunities

o Financial

o Social and cultural

· Qualification for MCC Playing membership as per the club’s guidelines

President of the Melbourne Football Club, Jim Stynes, said, “The two clubs share much heritage and there is great symbolism in relation to this agreement. The way forward is very much about mutuality and support for our respective goals and objectives in coming years – and hopefully decades.”

As football took hold in the 1850s and beyond, the relationship between the MCC and MFC also developed to such an extent that the football club became an MCC Sporting Section in 1889. The two clubs separated in 1980.

The Melbourne Football Club now joins a range of sporting activities affiliated with the MCC, including cricket, baseball, bowls, croquet, golf, hockey, lacrosse, real tennis, shooting, squash and tennis.

The two Presidents and CEOs signed a document symbolising the renewed connection between the two entities. The wording of the document is as follows:

Melbourne Cricket Club and Melbourne Football Club

The relationship between the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Melbourne Football Club is as old as the game itself. Our clubs share both heritage and heroes, sparked by the spirit of Tom Wills in 1858 as he sought a means of keeping his Melbourne cricketers fit during the winter months. A game was born, and so was the Melbourne Football Club.

If the MCG is ‘the paddock that grew’, we cultivated it together, through hope and hardship, with characters and colour, and with a shared heart that always beats true.

Let it be known that, on this day, the clubs again unite for the greater good, and with a spirit of mutuality and reciprocity.

!

Source or link?

"If the MCG is ‘the paddock that grew’, we cultivated it together, through hope and hardship, with characters and colour, and with a shared heart that always beats true."

These Really are great words!!

can anyone explain to me how this is great for the club now and the future?

on SEN right now

It was just reported on SEN. They mentioned one of the benefits is that the MFC will have full access to the MCC members database. I wonder if we'll be allowed to train on the G at any stage....this deal is supposed to mean that we are not a 'tenant' club, but rather a part of the MCC.

They said that Stephen Gough was asked about how this ties in with the re-negotiation of stadium deals with the AFL. He responded that it's an entirely separate issue and the Dees will still stand to gain $900k per year if the AFL accepts their current offer.

Fanatastic news!

They said that Stephen Gough was asked about how this ties in with the re-negotiation of stadium deals with the AFL. He responded that it's an entirely separate issue and the Dees will still stand to gain $900k per year if the AFL accepts their current offer.

Fanatastic news!

I'd be hoping for a further advantage over other tenants of our ground.

I'd be hoping for a further advantage over other tenants of our ground.

that would make sense wouldnt it

hopefully we get permanent changing rooms in the MCC...

hopefully we get permanent changing rooms in the MCC...

Hmmm, all stands and seats repainted red&blue, and a big demon painted into the grass during footy season! B)

The agreement: -

· MFC’s use of the MCC name and logo as an MCC Sporting Section.

· MFC’s administrative occupancy at the MCG.

· MCC support of the MFC in relation to:

o Facilities

o Administration, business and commercial assistance and opportunities

o Financial

o Social and cultural

· Qualification for MCC Playing membership as per the club’s guidelines.

From the MCC site: -

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB AND MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB TOGETHER ONCE MORE

edit: It's now on MCC, MFC and AFL & associated news sites..

can someone explain-

# MFC’s use of the MCC name and logo as an MCC Sporting Section.

and

# Qualification for MCC Playing membership as per the club’s guidelines.