Couldn't manage a win today despite all their huff and puff about being the attention starved but more deserving (North of) brother... Anyone else get the feeling they could eventually end up being South Melbourne.... VERRRRRRY South... sipping apple cider and spotting tigers?

Anyways, hopefully it shuts them up for a while...

I would not be at all surprised to see them living it up in Tassie. They are a prime candidate with their perpetual financial troubles.

I wouldn't be too hard on them about the loss though. They were up against some pretty tough opponents and winning at Skilled is never an easy thing to do.

I would not be at all surprised to see them living it up in Tassie. They are a prime candidate with their perpetual financial troubles.

I wouldn't be too hard on them about the loss though. They were up against some pretty tough opponents and winning at Skilled is never an easy thing to do.

Not being hard on them for the loss, came up against some reasonable competition, and have always had a soft spot for North as a club, but the last year or so I've grown really tired of their seeming need to cling on to us and rather than use some original thought, just chime in with their name when ours is mentioned, and things seem to be beginning to snowball for them as an organization. How long til they have some kind of a debt eradication plan along the lines of "Hop Up" or similar...

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by stuie

Couldn't manage a win today despite all their huff and puff about being the attention starved but more deserving (North of) brother... Anyone else get the feeling they could eventually end up being South Melbourne.... VERRRRRRY South... sipping apple cider and spotting tigers?

Anyways, hopefully it shuts them up for a while...

I don't feel sorry for them at all. After all, when was the last time we beat the b#ggers. Sadly, there is also no certainty that we will beat them this year.

Their youngsters are a tad overrated methinks.

Ziebell's a plodder with just OK skills.

Guys like Greenwood, Atley, Cunnington can find the pill but have kicking deficiencies. And i dont rate Hansen at all.

It was the Nab Cup. I'll wait till the real deal before writing them off.

However they would have to be pretty upset by there performance today.

^^^

Hansen is the one I disagree on.

He is actually good.

To an extent I agree on their others mentioned.

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate.

We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster.

That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate.

We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster.

That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

Fair enough. But we are Melbourne, they are not. The Kangas should have gone to the Gold coast-They didn't, so the AFL have created 2 new teams to make retaining our players even harder.

North Melbourne have a lot to answer for. The supporters better rock up this year....

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate.

We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster.

That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

Just to clarify for you Sir High n Mighty, my original post was a bit lighthearted in case it wasn't clear enough, fair enough tho, it's hard to detect sarcasm just in written form. My main point is that I was happy to see them lose 2 games of footy compared to our 2 wins only because of their persistent need to piggy back our good fortune and improving form.

Fair enough. But we are Melbourne, they are not. The Kangas should have gone to the Gold coast-They didn't, so the AFL have created 2 new teams to make retaining our players even harder.

North Melbourne have a lot to answer for. The supporters better rock up this year....

I'm not saying they haven't made mistakes, but many people thought we should have merged back in the day, and many also suggested relocation as late as 2009. We didn't want to peruse those options and you cannot blame North Melbourne for not wanting to do the same thing we stood firm on.

I very much hope they can rebuild their club financially and get back on their feet. I'd hate for any club to fold or have to relocate (Carlton not included, I hope they get shredded at a Visy factory), especially because the AFL would rather support these new franchises who mean nothing to no one, and have a traditional club just fall by the wayside.

On field they are fair game and I hope they struggle and I hope we smash them at every opportunity, but that doesn't mean I want to see them disappear from the competition.

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by Jaded

Poor Kangaroos? So's your aunt Minnie! That will happen when we turn them into road kill. Then we can have pity on them.

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by america de cali

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate.

We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster.

That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

I understand where you are coming from and I agree mostly. But Norf supporters (and their coach) have continually bleated about their lack of attention when compared with us. The last time they beat us their coach blagged on about how their list was better than ours etc so I understand why our supporters have heard enough from them.

And they were offered $100m from the AFL to relocate. They would have played 10-11 games in Melbourne anyway but chose not to. We were offered $6m to merge with the Dorks.

Actually now I really think about it I couldn't care less about them.

I don't think their youngsters are overrated. I think people are overrating the importance of a pre-season competition. Remember, Carlton won 2 Pre-season cups during the 2000s, one of which came in the same year they finished last.

North will be alright (onfield).

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by Cudi_420

North Melbourne have a lot to answer for. The supporters better rock up this year....

A few years ago the Roos got 22,000 to an elimination final against Port , when the media asked Laidley why the supporters didn't show up

he replied that they were all there in reference to the clubs low member numbers .

I'm not saying they haven't made mistakes, but many people thought we should have merged back in the day, and many also suggested relocation as late as 2009. We didn't want to peruse those options and you cannot blame North Melbourne for not wanting to do the same thing we stood firm on.

I very much hope they can rebuild their club financially and get back on their feet. I'd hate for any club to fold or have to relocate (Carlton not included, I hope they get shredded at a Visy factory), especially because the AFL would rather support these new franchises who mean nothing to no one, and have a traditional club just fall by the wayside.

On field they are fair game and I hope they struggle and I hope we smash them at every opportunity, but that doesn't mean I want to see them disappear from the competition.

Look i do not particulairly want North to fold either, i have mates who follow them. But there comes a time when you have to say...Enough is Enough.

Yes we were challenged a few years back but our so called apathetic Volvo driving supporters have so far wiped off a $5million + debt. This year i expect big crowds.

Do you think North Melbourne supporters will do that?? i have my doubts-I admire Brayshaw for having a crack but his backers do not exist it seems.

But i do agree we must smash them on field.

But please remember the GC suns exist (and they will be evil) because Norf knocked back a $100 million deal, and they still whinge.

I don't feel sorry for them at all. After all, when was the last time we beat the b#ggers. Sadly, there is also no certainty that we will beat them this year.

I did a little research to answer my own question. The last time we beat North was round 5, 2006 (by 4 points). They have won the last 8 games straight against us with some big winning margins. So 'Stuie' don't feel too sorry for the Shinboners. Can we break their run this year? We don't seem to respect NM as a footy team and each year many posters, predicting the oncoming season, have put the games against North as certain wins. They probably will again this year and I hope they are right this time for a change!

Edited February 20, 201114 yr by bobby mckenzie

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate.

We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster.

That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

I agree. The only difference between us and them is our connection with a socially privileged supporter base (a generalisation, I know), an establishment heritage, and the good fortune to have Jimmy and his ticket come along at the right time. I would like North to survive, just as I would hope that non Melbourne supporters would like us to survive.

And I agree, its only the preseason. Real form will emerge in the season proper.

Look i do not particulairly want North to fold either, i have mates who follow them. But there comes a time when you have to say...Enough is Enough.

Ok so you want them to fold.

Yes we were challenged a few years back but our so called apathetic Volvo driving supporters have so far wiped off a $5million + debt. This year i expect big crowds.

But do we have a viable sustainable business plan beyond the goodwill of generous supporters. We are that far removed from the North situation at all. With the exception of the debt and some charismatic leadership, MFC are in a similar position.

But please remember the GC suns exist (and they will be evil) because Norf knocked back a $100 million deal, and they still whinge.

And GC are evil. I will remember that....

The only difference between us and them is our connection with a socially privileged supporter base (a generalisation, I know), an establishment heritage, and the good fortune to have Jimmy and his ticket come along at the right time. I would like North to survive, just as I would hope that non Melbourne supporters would like us to survive.

And I agree, its only the preseason. Real form will emerge in the season proper.

Good summation with a few facts forgotten by many.

But do we have a viable sustainable business plan beyond the goodwill of generous supporters.

Hope so. I haven't ploughed through all those Whiteboard Wednesdays for nothing.

Ok so you want them to fold.

No i do not wish them to fold RR, i just do not believe they can survive in melbourne. Don't put your words in my mouth.

But do we have a viable sustainable business plan beyond the goodwill of generous supporters. We are that far removed from the North situation at all. With the exception of the debt and some charismatic leadership, MFC are in a similar position.

I would hope we would have sorted out some very strong ongoing Business plans over the last 3 years, it is now important for the players to start winning on the field to increase interest in this club on a wider scale.

The MFC was in a similiar situation to the Kangaroos but i wouldn't say that now.

That is not to say we do not have to be VERY careful....Things could change very quickly. But i believe every club is in that situation.

newsflash: North Melbourne is an opposition club, opposition clubs are the enemy

if they were to disappear it makes our future more secure, simple as that

I would hope we would have sorted out some very strong ongoing Business plans over the last 3 years, it is now important for the players to start winning on the field to increase interest in this club on a wider scale.

The MFC was in a similiar situation to the Kangaroos but i wouldn't say that now.

That is not to say we do not have to be VERY careful....Things could change very quickly. But i believe every club is in that situation.

North have had two chances to establish themselves over the last 30 or so years, the 70's and the 90's but they didn't. They had a great team in the 90's in particular and if they had done what Hawthorn did they may not need the AFL assistance they do now. How could they not attract supporters with players like Carey and Archer running around every week? They should have a whole heap of kids that went through that time who are just now becoming North supporters and members but sadly for them they don't.

They have got very little in the way of corporate backing, the AFL treat them like, as someone else said, “filler” they get the last spot in the TV pecking order and no one, other that their own supporters, cares about them. Most other club’s supporters disregard them and know nothing about their talent or their list and as mentioned above just pencil them in as a win. I don’t think anyone takes them seriously when they frame their top eight each year and are surprised when North makes it. The problem is they don’t have the talent to go all the way and they are therefore stuck in that area known as no man’s land, neither here nor there.

Problem is they don’t have the supporter base to drag themselves out of the mire and they don’t have the profile that will make them attractive to corporations, so where do they go? I would say they will wither and die if they don’t relocate, they are shrinking not growing and their siege mentality has frightened people off and not too them. Kids don't care about the "Shinboner Spirit" most wouldn't have a clue what it is, they need to make themselves relevant and clinging to the past tradition of a working man’s club just doesn’t cut it any more.