It was great to wake up this morning to hear Tim Watson say Melbourne Football Club is now debt free. Its just fantastic what Jim and Chris and Cameron have been able to achieve in just 2 years. Im also glad to be able to doante $50 towards the cause.

My question is do we still receive assistance from the AFL? You know how they give us money and the dogs as well. Do we still receive this or now can we stand on our own 2 feet. It would be great the day we can say to the AFL we dont need your money.

Anyway great work. I just heard Garry Lyon on mmm and he spoke about last night and couldnt believe how great the facilities are and the amount of money people donated. he also said its nice to see the premiership cups on display instead of being in a cupboard where they used to be.

As in another post hope to see plenty of this on the Footy Show tonight!

I have to say, I'm starting to get a little sick and tired of some of these debt riddled clubs (Collingwood $8mill, Carlton $6mill) getting fixture wellfare in the form of blockbuster games while us other debt free clubs prop them up by copping the Sunday games. B)

Love it!

Even though we are debt free, my understanding is that we will still receive part of the AFL's special assistance allowance.

It is designed for clubs with smaller supporter bases and financial capacity than the Pies, Bombers, Blues, Eagles etc.

It may be reduced to a degree though.

Now the job of the club should be to acrue assetts that make solid residual income, so that we can forever stand alone and be strong, with our members and at our MCG wearing Red & Blue.

Even though we are debt free, my understanding is that we will still receive part of the AFL's special assistance allowance.

It is designed for clubs with smaller supporter bases and financial capacity than the Pies, Bombers, Blues, Eagles etc.

It may be reduced to a degree though.

We currently receive a million per year from the AFL, if I'm not mistaken. Our profit was 2 mil this year, but that was because of the govt money for AAMI (We didn't spend it all - kept 1 mil for future rent) and the back pay we received for the new stadium deal (also 1 mil). The impression I got is that we pretty much broke even. You'd still have to think we would be losing a mil a year if the AFL stopped giving us money. In addition, the MCC also give us a mil. I'm not sure if this is something they'll do every year or did it just because we were in trouble. So, we have to find a way to make an extra mil or two per year. I'd be interested to find out how they plan to do this.

We currently receive a million per year from the AFL, if I'm not mistaken. Our profit was 2 mil this year, but that was because of the govt money for AAMI (We didn't spend it all - kept 1 mil for future rent) and the back pay we received for the new stadium deal (also 1 mil). The impression I got is that we pretty much broke even. You'd still have to think we would be losing a mil a year if the AFL stopped giving us money. In addition, the MCC also give us a mil. I'm not sure if this is something they'll do every year or did it just because we were in trouble. So, we have to find a way to make an extra mil or two per year. I'd be interested to find out how they plan to do this.

Even though we got a big pay day with match day revenue in one hit, next season we'll still be earning an extra $100,000 per home match than we have in the past That's an extra $1m p.a. No doubt the better stadium deals could help save clubs like us. Also, I assume we're saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments we no longer need to make. Plus, I also assume we'll be making a bit of a packet from the newly purchased pokie machines.

But, yes, we definitely need to be looking at ways to find an extra $1-2m p.a. consistently. Ideally we would not have to accept any money from the afl.

It is worth noting however, that the afl money is essentially an 'equilization fund', which is basically compensating us for the fact our draw is financially inferior to almost all other Victorian teams. If the AFL stop giving us money, that means they have to start giving us a more equitable draw commercially. Besides which, as we improve on the field, we will 'earn' more Friday night matches, commercially better draws, get better crowds, more members etc... the flow on will mean much more money in the bank

"from tanking it to banking it" - I LOVE IT

Oh yeah. Or take it & Bake it, & see how it turns out, taste it.

A draft pick won't do anything on its own, without nurturing it & shaping it.

We currently receive a million per year from the AFL, if I'm not mistaken. Our profit was 2 mil this year, but that was because of the govt money for AAMI (We didn't spend it all - kept 1 mil for future rent) and the back pay we received for the new stadium deal (also 1 mil). The impression I got is that we pretty much broke even. You'd still have to think we would be losing a mil a year if the AFL stopped giving us money. In addition, the MCC also give us a mil. I'm not sure if this is something they'll do every year or did it just because we were in trouble. So, we have to find a way to make an extra mil or two per year. I'd be interested to find out how they plan to do this.

One of the great myths perpetrated by the likes of Eddie and co is how they support the competition...

Here is a cut from the AFL annual report showing how much each club was distributed in 2009. Despite the AFL telling all and sundry how they are contributing $1M to us to help us out, we could do with as much help as Collingwood or Carlton received financially!! Also shows how bad shape the Bulldogs & North are in.

2009 PAYMENTS TO CLUBS

Club Base Other Total

Adelaide 5,673,252 1,733,453 7,406,705

Brisbane Lions 5,673,252 1,879,367 7,552,619

Carlton 5,673,252 3,528,088 9,201,340

Collingwood 5,673,252 3,395,688 9,068,940

Essendon 5,673,252 2,876,238 8,549,490

Fremantle 5,673,252 1,822,684 7,495,936

Geelong Cats 5,673,252 3,348,326 9,021,578

Hawthorn 5,673,252 2,534,122 8,207,374

Melbourne 5,673,252 3,136,364 8,809,616

North Melbourne 5,673,252 3,737,825 9,411,077

Port Adelaide 5,673,252 1,919,679 7,592,931

Richmond 5,673,252 2,730,944 8,404,196

St Kilda 5,673,252 3,077,173 8,750,425

Sydney Swans 5,673,252 2,709,795 8,383,047

West Coast Eagles 5,673,252 1,872,318 7,545,570

Western Bulldogs 5,673,252 4,733,426 10,406,678

Western Bulldogs 5,673,252 4,733,426 10,406,678

$1 Million more than North ?

One of the great myths perpetrated by the likes of Eddie and co is how they support the competition...

Here is a cut from the AFL annual report showing how much each club was distributed in 2009. Despite the AFL telling all and sundry how they are contributing $1M to us to help us out, we could do with as much help as Collingwood or Carlton received financially!! Also shows how bad shape the Bulldogs & North are in.

2009 PAYMENTS TO CLUBS

Club Base Other Total

Adelaide 5,673,252 1,733,453 7,406,705

Brisbane Lions 5,673,252 1,879,367 7,552,619

Carlton 5,673,252 3,528,088 9,201,340

Collingwood 5,673,252 3,395,688 9,068,940

Essendon 5,673,252 2,876,238 8,549,490

Fremantle 5,673,252 1,822,684 7,495,936

Geelong Cats 5,673,252 3,348,326 9,021,578

Hawthorn 5,673,252 2,534,122 8,207,374

Melbourne 5,673,252 3,136,364 8,809,616

North Melbourne 5,673,252 3,737,825 9,411,077

Port Adelaide 5,673,252 1,919,679 7,592,931

Richmond 5,673,252 2,730,944 8,404,196

St Kilda 5,673,252 3,077,173 8,750,425

Sydney Swans 5,673,252 2,709,795 8,383,047

West Coast Eagles 5,673,252 1,872,318 7,545,570

Western Bulldogs 5,673,252 4,733,426 10,406,678

wow those figures are staggering-Collingwood get all that money and the Golden fixture. This will not do.

One of the great myths perpetrated by the likes of Eddie and co is how they support the competition...

Here is a cut from the AFL annual report showing how much each club was distributed in 2009.

So everyone gets a base payment of $5,673,252, but what were the criteria for the "other" payments? Am I to assume they include payments from the equalisation fund for some clubs (e.g. North, Melbourne, WB etc) but the balance is based on some sort of attendance formula? (In which case I have no arguments with the larger clubs being rewarded.)

2009 "Other" payments beyond the base

Adelaide 1,733,453

Brisbane Lions 1,879,367

Carlton 3,528,088

Collingwood 3,395,688

Essendon 2,876,238

Fremantle 1,822,684

Geelong Cats 3,348,326

Hawthorn 2,534,122

Melbourne 3,136,364

North Melbourne 3,737,825

Port Adelaide 1,919,679

Richmond 2,730,944

St Kilda 3,077,173

Sydney Swans 2,709,79

West Coast Eagles 1,872,318

Western Bulldogs 4,733,426

wow those figures are staggering-Collingwood get all that money and the Golden fixture. This will not do.

They also attend quite well for the AFL. They are entitled to what they get.

So everyone gets a base payment of $5,673,252, but what were the criteria for the "other" payments? Am I to assume they include payments from the equalisation fund for some clubs (e.g. North, Melbourne, WB etc) but the balance is based on some sort of attendance formula? (In which case I have no arguments with the larger clubs being rewarded.)

AFL smoke and mirrors I suspect. Adelaide and West Coast had good attendances....so it doesn't make sense.

And the circular argument is good game times get good attendances etc.... should not be financially rewarded.

Most clubs would like 18 games in their home city. But only some get it year after year.

Also shows how important the Debt demolition will be into the future. Clubs like North, Footscray and Richmond would disappear overnight if the AFL turns the tap off.

As others have predicted...a Tassie relocation is inevitable, no need for the AFl to set up a team there.

Edited August 6, 201014 yr by george_on_the_outer

As others have predicted...a Tassie relocation is inevitable, no need for the AFl to set up a team there.

It may be logical but I don't know about inevitable

There have been many "inevitable" relocations before that haven't eventuated

Still, I hope you are correct, would love to see a side in Tassie. They love their footy and have made a great contribution to the game

AFL smoke and mirrors I suspect.

I looked up the AFL Annual Report, and found the payments for 2009 were described as:

• A base distribution of $4.2 million
  
• A bonus distribution of $1.2 million (making the total base $5.4 million)
  
• Special Distribution Fund to the following clubs: Western Bulldogs ($1.7 million), North Melbourne ($1.4 million), Melbourne ($1.0 million), Sydney Swans ($0.8 million), Carlton ($0.6 million), Richmond ($0.4 million), Port Adelaide ($0.25 million), Hawthorn ($0.25 million)
  
• Other payments to clubs included amounts for game buy-out agreements, distribution of the AFL’s signage rights at Etihad Stadium, prizemoney, travel subsidies and promotional funding to help clubs develop the game around Australia.
  

No mention of anything to do with attendances. So how come Collingwood ends up with $260,000 more than Melbourne, even after taking the $1 million SDF payment into account?

Now the job of the club should be to acrue assetts that make solid residual income, so that we can forever stand alone and be strong, with our members and at our MCG wearing Red & Blue.

Also buy your membership!

I can't believe we, Jim, and the club did this inside of two years. It happened SO fast!

[*]Other payments to clubs included amounts for game buy-out agreements, distribution of the AFL’s signage rights at Etihad Stadium, prizemoney, travel subsidies and promotional funding to help clubs develop the game around Australia.

No mention of anything to do with attendances. So how come Collingwood ends up with $260,000 more than Melbourne, even after taking the $1 million SDF payment into account?

Would our Darwin game come under either of these?

The only thing I can see here that Collingwood may rake in a few $ is with promotional - which I reckon could be quite dodgy. When Collingwood play Sydney in West Sydney I wonder if that constitutes promotional.

We've achieved almost all the big off-field things over the last 3 years

- debt free

- have elite training facilities

- have found a 'summer' home at Casey and an 'in season' home

- Record membership and good crowd attendances

- Strong major sponsorship deals

Are there any more 'off-field' problems that people feel still need to be addressed?

I actually can't really think of any.

We've achieved almost all the big off-field things over the last 3 years

- debt free

- have elite training facilities

- have found a 'summer' home at Casey and an 'in season' home

- Record membership and good crowd attendances

- Strong major sponsorship deals

Are there any more 'off-field' problems that people feel still need to be addressed?

I actually can't really think of any.

A social club is needed, one that all MFC supporters can and hopefully want to use.