Ryan Bastinac

[rjay 24,950]

he'd continue noegotiations - a la Hurley - not put them on hold

...and Mathew Knights is safe, we haven't spoken to James, Mark who???

[Roost It 1,434]

stones and Glass houses have nothing to do with it...They had the chance.

What to go and play on the GC?

Hardly a great outcome if you're a North supporter.

Not to mention how much ground we have still to travel to grow this club to a size big enough to be self sustaining.

I'm a fan of the Victorian Clubs.

[gsmith12 491]

Sounds like Sheedy, picking the eyes out of the weaker clubs - first class t**d.

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

What to go and play on the GC?

Hardly a great outcome if you're a North supporter.

Not to mention how much ground we have still to travel to grow this club to a size big enough to be self sustaining.

I'm a fan of the Victorian Clubs.

I am a fan of Victorian Clubs who can pay their bills...When North Moved to Etihad Stadium they killed any chance of that.

I have never said we are in a strong position yet-But my God we are in a better position than Nought...

If they had moved to the GC the AFL would have sorted them out-Brayshaw certainly hasn't.

Edited March 2, 2012 by why you little

[Guest gidon]

I still feel for the Lions supporters. The real Lions, the Fitzroy kind. Imagine losing one of the loves of your lives??

Imagine being the melbourne hawks!! We voted for it, I thank the Hawk supporters for not being blinded by the need for instant success. I'll wait another 50 yrs for success to stay the same

North supporters would want their club untouched and that should be respected.

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

I still feel for the Lions supporters. The real Lions, the Fitzroy kind. Imagine losing one of the loves of your lives??

Imagine being the melbourne hawks!! We voted for it, I thank the Hawk supporters for not being blinded by the need for instant success. I'll wait another 50 yrs for success to stay the same

North supporters would want their club untouched and that should be respected.

Sure....But you must be able to pay the Bills, otherwise it is a waste of time....They should never agreed to the terms of Etihad Stadium-But they did.

[Guest gidon]

So it's a one strike and your out policy? If it was our club in the same situation I'm sure you would blame Etihad for highway robbery and defend the club to the hilt.

I hated having to justify our clubs validity in the AFL a few short years ago. Living off the clubs name. Give em a break

[Guest gidon]

So it's a one strike and your out policy? If it was our club in the same situation I'm sure you would blame Etihad for highway robbery and defend the club to the hilt.

I hated having to justify our clubs validity in the AFL a few short years ago. Living off the clubs name. Give em a break

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

So it's a one strike and your out policy? If it was our club in the same situation I'm sure you would blame Etihad for highway robbery and defend the club to the hilt.

I hated having to justify our clubs validity in the AFL a few short years ago. Living off the clubs name. Give em a break

Mate we were that close to dying ourselves....i would rather die than merge.

But Jimmy Woke the joint up & the supporters...Long way to go, but our supporters paid off a large debt...can't see North doing that soon.

North are not going to pay for themselves in Victoria-it is a sad fact...The Chance they had on the GC was the last time the AFL will help them, barring a miracle.

Like Port Adelaide, they are surplus to needs...Port will only have that small % of supporters...should never have been let in.

[gsmith12 491]

I still feel for the Lions supporters. The real Lions, the Fitzroy kind. Imagine losing one of the loves of your lives??

Imagine being the melbourne hawks!! We voted for it, I thank the Hawk supporters for not being blinded by the need for instant success. I'll wait another 50 yrs for success to stay the same

North supporters would want their club untouched and that should be respected.

Couldn't agree more, I had mates in Ballarat who loved Fitzroy like I do Melbourne and they were shattered. The AFL allowed other clubs to take their stars in Pert, Roos and Osborne standing idly by whilst the club folded - disgraceful.

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

Couldn't agree more, I had mates in Ballarat who loved Fitzroy like I do Melbourne and they were shattered. The AFL allowed other clubs to take their stars in Pert, Roos and Osborne standing idly by whilst the club folded - disgraceful.

I agree with that..the treatment of Fitzroy was abhorrent, the AFL watched them die.....North will kill themselves sadly.

[Guest gidon]

I don't know alot of the politics with the Lions gsmith, but I too have a friend who loved Fitzroy, was a member, went every week right to the their death. Watching them being slaughtered each week was better than not watching them at all. She now follows Richmond buf isn't bothered too much by AFL

The fact with the Roos is they are here to stay for the next 5 yrs. The TV rights dictate that. The Dees are not out of the woods as our turn over is around 30 million less than The Pies. Yes the current board and admin dept are doing well, but generating income is still a struggle in comparison to the rich clubs.

I wouldn't get too cocky just yet. We now have a 1.8 million dollar debt. It took 30 years to get rid of the last debt. Footy clubs can't rely on fundraising to pay the bills too much. If at all

[monoccular 17,432]

Basinac instead of Pendlebury or Cloke?

Silvagni needs his head read - he's got no idea.

But Pendlebury is coming to us so they will have to look elsewhere :-)

[dee-luded 2,959]

Couldn't agree more, I had mates in Ballarat who loved Fitzroy like I do Melbourne and they were shattered. The AFL allowed other clubs to take their stars in Pert, Roos and Osborne standing idly by whilst the club folded - disgraceful.

With this National comp, MUCH More money has flowed into the game, supporting more teams.

IF, we didn't go National at the time when Barass suggested more vic teams would have folded, eg: Fitzroy, Saints, Nort'.... Out of a 12 team comp, thats pretty Unhealthy.

Going National has some drawbacks, But has many great things about it making Our indigenous code truly National.

The Saints & Nort' are still kicking, & the Lions live on, with jumper nearly completely intact.

But we still have, @ least One too many sides in Greater Melbourne.

# Edit: sorry for the off topic course.

Edited March 2, 2012 by dee-luded

[Steamin Demon 392]

Couldn't agree more, I had mates in Ballarat who loved Fitzroy like I do Melbourne and they were shattered. The AFL allowed other clubs to take their stars in Pert, Roos and Osborne standing idly by whilst the club folded - disgraceful.

The only reason I follow this game is because The Melbourne DEMONS are in it. If anything happened to my club I simply wouldn't watch.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

I agree with that..the treatment of Fitzroy was abhorrent, the AFL watched them die.....North will kill themselves sadly.

One more voice to say that the AFL's treatment of Fitzroy was shameful.

Whatever else you might think of Freo, they gave Fitzroy a proper send off. Of their own initiative.

It is to the eternal shame and disgrace of the AFL that it was left to Freo to do that.

[Macca 16,980]

I still feel for the Lions supporters. The real Lions, the Fitzroy kind. Imagine losing one of the loves of your lives??

Imagine being the melbourne hawks!! We voted for it, I thank the Hawk supporters for not being blinded by the need for instant success. I'll wait another 50 yrs for success to stay the same

North supporters would want their club untouched and that should be respected.

The 1000's of proxy votes held by our committee at the time got the vote through . These proxy votes were collected way in advance of the infamous meeting . Most of the rank and file members were caught unaware's .

The rank and file Melbourne member generally voted against the merger .

The late Ian Ridley and his committee organised a smallish venue ( Dallas Brooks Hall ) and many members were locked out and couldn't vote . We were railroaded .

Imagine walking into a 3,500 venue (approx) with roughly 3, 000 votes under your belt ? Hard to lose .

By the way 'gidon' , my comment is on your actual words . I thought I'd just fill in the blanks with my take on it . My comments shouldn't be taken as a personal attack . Just trying to set the record straight .

Cheers

Edited March 3, 2012 by Macca

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

The 1000's of proxy votes held by our committee at the time got the vote through .

The rank and file Melbourne member generally voted against the merger .

The late Ian Ridley and his committee organised a smallish venue ( Dallas Brooks Hall ) and many members were locked out and couldn't vote . We were railroaded .

Cheers

I always say there would have been a re-count of our votes if the merger had gone theough. The MFC member has been much maligned on this topic. The venom and passion i saw, heard & felt in that Dallas Brooks Hall that night i shall take to my grave.

I have always thought that IF the merger had gone through to form The Melbourne Hawks both clubs would be dead in victoria by now.

Edited March 3, 2012 by why you little

[Macca 16,980]

I always say there would have been a re-count of our votes if the merger had gone theough. The MFC member has been much maligned on this topic. The venom and passion i saw, heard & felt in that Dallas Brooks Hall that night i shall take to my grave.

I have always thought that IF the merger had gone through to form The Melbourne Hawks both clubs would be dead in victoria by now.

Yep , and the worst bit is that a lot of our fans actually believe that the rank and file member voted for the merger .

It's simply not true . I can understand many not wanting to try and explain the proxy vote system because often the person you're telling it to "roll their eyes" in disbelief . Everybody I know , knows the truth (now).

So , Ridley and his Committee have roughly 3000 votes under their belts ( carefully collected in the preceeding month or 2 ) . They then organise another 600 - 700 to turn up early to a 3,500 capacity venue .

Impossible to lose .

Cheers Wyl

Edited March 3, 2012 by Macca

[Bossdog 2,002]

The 1000's of proxy votes held by our committee at the time got the vote through . These proxy votes were collected way in advance of the infamous meeting . Most of the rank and file members were caught unaware's .

The rank and file Melbourne member generally voted against the merger .

The late Ian Ridley and his committee organised a smallish venue ( Dallas Brooks Hall ) and many members were locked out and couldn't vote . We were railroaded .

Imagine walking into a 3,500 venue (approx) with roughly 3, 000 votes under your belt ? Hard to lose .

Cheers

Also Bill Guest made his employees become members and all voted for the merge

[rpfc 28,525]

Yes, let's retread this.

Happy times.

[Macca 16,980]

Also Bill Guest made his employees become members and all voted for the merge

Yep , there were all sorts of shenanigans going on . I've yet to run into a supporter who voted for the merger .

Not that they'd want to admit it .

Cheers .

[Macca 16,980]

Yes, let's retread this.

Happy times.

It's an important issue , this merger rubbish . All our fans should know the truth .

If it was a fair meeting at the time , the vote would never have got through , in my opinion .

Cheers

Edited March 3, 2012 by Macca

[Sir Why You Little 37,048]

Also Bill Guest made his employees become members and all voted for the merge

The darkest of days they were. This is why Jimma is such a legend. He inspired the MFC to take control of our destiny

I wish "Tiger" Ridley had done the same. The support is there. If the Melbourne Hawks had become reality i would have given up AFL supporting & my MCC Membership. I F$&@kin hate Whorethorn, so how could i support them? Tiger was so wrong on that one, even though he was a great bloke who loved the Demons.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

I agree with that..the treatment of Fitzroy was abhorrent, the AFL watched them die.....North will kill themselves sadly.

I don't think that Demetriou will ever 'kill' clubs off - hence the funds that are available to struggling clubs. He is well aware of the cultural and spiritual loss that happened with the demise of Fitzroy.

Having said that, I think he's happy for some club/s to relocate.