I disagree - it's not that simple.

In the last decade or so we've performed quite well on-field if you look at something like finals appearances.

Perhaps you're talking about having premiership wins or having one of the elite players of the competition, but that didn't turn into financial success for North in the 90s.

It's that Simple for Melbourne...We have more Dormant supporters than North Have all up.

If we start beating Top sides the crowds will come.

No we don't. According to the polls, we have the least amount of supporters of any club. Melbourne is the best at converting supporters into members.

True re: the reduced expenses, but remember our player payments are likely to increase in the future as our players improve and demand higher wages as a result.

And not just the players. The coaches and other support staff will demand higher payments if the club improves their on-field performance.

Looking at those Herald Sun figures as a rough guide. Our football department cost $13.5 mill last year. Collingwood and Geelong spent about $17 mill on their footy departments. So if we increase our spending to a similar level, our football department costs will rise by 25%. Do we need to increase our spending by that amount to be successful? Essendon only spend $13.9 mill, and the dogs spent less than us, yet nearly made the GF.

It's that Simple for Melbourne...We have more Dormant supporters than North Have all up.

If we start beating Top sides the crowds will come.

No one barracks for Melbourne which is why we've gambled on Casey. The club is going to pour resources and effort into turning local residents into supporters and then members. I think it's a great plan but it will take 10 - 15 years of sound management, hard work and real passion to really fix this club. Paersonally I think we've got a better than good chance of success. What we need is a premeirship cup or two(2013-2014) and a couple of superstar players (Watts and Scully)to show around the schools and community centres in Casey.

Our financial position is a worry.

A worry?

18 months ago we were dead. D. E. D. Dead.

We've improved our operations dramatically, wiped off huge amounts of debt, and broken membership records, all while coming last on field.

Looking at it in terms of trajectory and change, we're rolling along brilliantly. It's a matter of keeping the effort up and properly riding the coming excitement. And there will be excitement, oh yes.

2010 anticipation, 2011 the excitement begins. And it never, ever, ends.

Our financial position is still a worry. We've made a small profit, and reduced the debt, but we need to continue to improve things.

If we slip backwards again, we could be in real trouble.

We've got to make sure we support our (hopefully) on field success, with off-field success also.

It's that Simple for Melbourne...We have more Dormant supporters than North Have all up.

If we start beating Top sides the crowds will come.

Agree with the above.

In 2005/2006 we got these type of crowds at the MCG:

Melbourne V Adelaide -39,000 (2005)

Melbourne V West Coast - 35,000 (2005)

Melbourne V Collingwood - 78,000 (2006)

Richmond V Melbourne - 60,000 (2006)

Melbourne V Sydney - 43,000 (2006)

Hard to believe we were getting above 30,000 against interstate teams. Combine the above crowds with increased membership and this should see our financial position improve.

No we don't. According to the polls, we have the least amount of supporters of any club. Melbourne is the best at converting supporters into members.

Clearly that fact /statistic needs to be maintained in addition to finding new supporters. Success on the field is going to drive that from now on. Wins mean greater attendances, mean more members, mean more attractiveness to sponsors, mean more clout with the AFL, mean better financial position, mean security.

Interesting to note that Dogs and Roos are a hair's breadth from collapsing.

Agree with the above.

In 2005/2006 we got these type of crowds at the MCG:

....

Melbourne V Collingwood - 78,000 (2006)

Richmond V Melbourne - 60,000 (2006)

Melbourne V Sydney - 43,000 (2006)

Hard to believe we were getting above 30,000 against interstate teams. Combine the above crowds with increased membership and this should see our financial position improve.

I'd be skeptical of those numbers.

Might they just be dominated by Richmond and Collingwood supporters. Richmond home game with a big supporter base and it was a Friday night game whch should normally add 10k to the Crowd. The Adelaide game was a Friday night game also. QBW is about 75% Collingwood. Sydney still draws a significant number of old Swans supporters and they were fresh off a flag.

We do need sustained success to turn things around not 1 or 2 good years

Interesting to note that Dogs and Roos are a hair's breadth from collapsing.

Sometimes we forget that MFC is the only basket case.

I would think Richmond and St Kilda could be scrutinised as well.