MFC - Where are we honestly at

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

I said the MCC didn't know how to Win. Didn't seemingly know how to be a power.

They/We imported the Huff & Puff Knowhow to Inspire greatness, Hughes.

He handed that spirit onto Smith.

He taught it to Barassi, who took it to Carlton with him.

Smith was sacked, & that as they say is that... Barassi brought it back in the '80's but it needed longer. But he planted the seeds in some there at the time. Who are around abouts, atmo.

My 'gist' is the MCC don't know how to have a successful club under they're umbrella.

Since TV replays started it became a full time job to run the stadium. The MFC were left alone. I concur that was a huge kick in the guts

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

Yes. Get along like siblings, not a Father/Son arrangement.

It's time to make amends & move into our Own House, then visit, &/or go back Home, for Sunday Roasts!!!

I would love the Idea if we had a Social Venue, H/Q, Training Facility around Elsternwick or East Brighton/Moorabbin area, near the trains and trams.

IMO the amateur ground at Glenhuntly Rd Elsternwick would have been a fantastic Locality for a central place close to fantastic Public Transport... Trams, Buses & 2 Train lines in close Proximity, catering for all Melbourne supporters whether they live on the Frankston line or the D/denong line.

We need a place where supporters can go to watch an away game & have a meal, drink... Or just play the One Arm Bandit, or have a movie night or something. a place to be, & talk all things Demons...

Docklands, too far away... needs to be close to supporters homes.

I live about 2 minutes from Elsternwick park. It could have been a training venue with millions spent. But is not good for a boutique stadium. No parking.

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

Yes. The ONLY ground I have never been to more than once is Darwin - due to work commitments I've never been able to get to Darwin. I will never forget my first trips to AAMI & Subi. AAMI was 12 hours in the old Ford Cortina - Subi the lady actually asked me - "What is an away membership discount?" The train trip back to where I was staying in Perth was an eye opener for me. I truly for the first time in my life understood the passion the West Australians had for our game - since that day I've welcomed them into the AFL before that I had my doubts. I was the only person on the whole train wearing my then funny red & blue demons scarf. I copped heaps but took it on the chin - after I left the carriage I'm sure I left a few with the thought - "these Melbourne supporters are passionate buggers" - they respect that trust me few on the carriage did not acknowledge me with a wave and a smile.

Now I dont expect every supporter to be like me - hell far from it. But dont knock my team without first quoting the cause. Shivers I couldn't care less if I was the only person at the ground as long as my team gets the chance to play on a level playing field.

Well i respect that Doc, i don't get the chance to travel the country to follow every game. I get to 10-15 a season and financially assist the club. So i do my slice. And i do know the football Dept must continue to grow.

I am concerned at our recruiting over the last 4-5 years though after the AFL gave us our chance. We can't keep dipping. But i like Neeld & his University.

[Crompton's the man 635]

Just to start at the beginning ......

Does anything else ( at all ) count except winning ?

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Where are we at Honestly?

We are where we are. A club learning a totally new game plan and I don't just mean players.

The coaches are learning a new game plan as well.

Throw all these learning mistakes together and we must just be patient with the results.

If the game plan is correct it will work, but not overnight.

If it doesn't then god help us.

Do not talk about making the finals. I don't want to make the finals. I want to win the Damn thing nothing less.

[Demon Dynasty 15,684]

Well , what was clear .

Ian Ridley and his committee were pro merger .

The committee held many , many proxy votes . The exact number , we're unsure . How many were used , we're also unsure .

So , in the end , you and I have differing opinions on the outcome of those votes . Fair enough .

It wasn't just creative use of proxy votes. It was how they derived them as well If my memory serves me correct.

At a late stage, just prior to the vote, there was talk of one or more board members handing out free memberships to staff members at their work place (who weren't even MFC supporters) on the privoso they voted for the merger by proxy. Seem to recall this happened in a rush, just prior to the official close off of memberships.

Probably only talking a small number but every little bit helps when votes are in the balance.

I'm sure those who received them are still with us, supporting the club through thick & thin!

[bing181 8,176]

Agreed.

This is almost all laughable.

Almost?

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

It wasn't just creative use of proxy votes. It was how they derived them as well If my memory serves me correct.

At a late stage, just prior to the vote, there was talk of one or more board members handing out free memberships to staff members at their work place (who weren't even MFC supporters) on the privoso they voted for the merger by proxy. Seem to recall this happened in a rush, just prior to the official close off of memberships.

Probably only talking a small number but every little bit helps when votes are in the balance.

I'm sure those who received them are still with us, supporting the club through thick & thin!

It was a certain furniture franchaise i recall.

[Guest Dr Who]

I am concerned at our recruiting over the last 4-5 years though after the AFL gave us our chance.

I am concerned that you think our recruiting is the problem over the last 4-5years. But such is life - I'm sure you are not alone. Some people think Elvis is alive.

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

I am concerned that you think our recruiting is the problem over the last 4-5years. But such is life - I'm sure you are not alone. Some people think Elvis is alive.

Well time will give us the answer. Once again patience is needed again....

[Macca 16,173]

It wasn't just creative use of proxy votes. It was how they derived them as well If my memory serves me correct.

At a late stage, just prior to the vote, there was talk of one or more board members handing out free memberships to staff members at their work place (who weren't even MFC supporters) on the privoso they voted for the merger by proxy. Seem to recall this happened in a rush, just prior to the official close off of memberships.

Probably only talking a small number but every little bit helps when votes are in the balance.

I'm sure those who received them are still with us, supporting the club through thick & thin!

And in the end we're all here today . The original club with all it's rich history , playing at the same ground as we did over 150 years ago .

And we're now doing much better off the field . We need to get better on the field . That will happen .

I really do believe we punch above our weight in some areas . We don't have hundreds of thousands of fans like a lot of other clubs , though we do have relatively good membership numbers . The ratio from "fans" to "members" is possibly the best .

Cheers

Edited March 17, 2012 by Macca

[dee-luded 2,958]

I live about 2 minutes from Elsternwick park. It could have been a training venue with millions spent. But is not good for a boutique stadium. No parking.

Wouldn't have to be a boutique stadium, Casey is still necessary, but as a, say, Thursday or Friday night training session, pre selection News, with dinner & drinks available in the bistro, there, or up the corner Demons Bar.

Or after a family day @Luna Park, some would come back to the Social Club.

We need a Hub...

[BIG JIM 508]

Yep, agree we're a bottom 4 team. Outside of Trengove and Grimes, not much for two years on the bottom, out draft selections appear very poor. Watts a half-forward at best. Morton weak. Blease and Gysbetts poor.

You can see Neeld's opinion. He canned our recruiter.

I don't see the talent on the list -let alone desire- to be top 4. Midfield too weak for a start. Only Jones has my respect from NAB cup form. So Neeld will need to rebuild. I expect some serious moves at the trade table in coming years. People ranking us above Richmond need a serious rethink.

At least our coach is clear-eyed. That's the good news. Bad news is that we as supporters are likely to endure more lean times.

No he is not. He has made up allegations that you also made that IR & the committe made up proxy votes or as I colloquially put "pulled out his bum". Your allegations are merely that - unsubstantiated allegations from a clearly biased point of view. You also do understand the online defamation laws - ironically tested in court by Joe Gutnick.

Is it possible, that this may be the very root of our problem? I have never considered it till today. Do we have a membership that just continually fails to "buy in"?

Preferring always to blame others? Is our football club merely a refection of ourselves?

DR. who you really are like one of my kids in the back seat crying for more milk. I buy in all the time and will always do so but the players and mark neeld have control not me so you are talking crap mate go get some milk and cheer up. I put all my passion and love into this club and always buy in and your saying that we dont. Thinking you can talk for all MFC fans very funny . Let it be known I BIG JIM will buy in more for dr who.

[Hells Gates 505]

Agreed.

This is almost all laughable.

Well why dont you tell us all what a bunch of superstars we have and a flag is guaranteed then. If you think this current crop with dredful disposal and pea hearts will bring us success or even top 4 then you need to get off the weed.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Oh yes. Beaking down that first hurdle will be the hardest. No doubt. Which is why i wish we had recruited some ready made kids as well as all these project stick insect athletes!!

We need positive exposure now, if not soon.

No WYL, I think they're successful because they're base is away from the 'G'...

They still have their Real Identity, with real supporters being themselves. Let the hair down atmosphere. A footy club. Not a Hoity Toity club.

This is where it goes soft. Their (our young players) Red Blood turns to cool Blue Blood & they get Nice little careers with nice little cars and a nice little life, but lose the ability to Win Premierships! The Hardness is Rounded Off them like a sheeps coat.

Edited March 17, 2012 by dee-luded

[Guest Dr Who]

DR. who you really are like one of my kids in the back seat crying for more milk. I buy in all the time and will always do so but the players and mark neeld have control not me so you are talking crap mate go get some milk and cheer up. I put all my passion and love into this club and always buy in and your saying that we dont. Thinking you can talk for all MFC fans very funny . Let it be known I BIG JIM will buy in more for dr who.

I understand the truth will hurt for some. I understand your ignorance I deal with it ever day. You and your like will continue to blame the players, blame the coach, blame the recruiting staff - blame whoever you want. Players come and go, coaches come and go, recruiting staff come and go, football department staff come and go. There is a reason we have not won a flag in modern day AFL football - there is one constant. If you cant see no big deal little Jim.

Now back to where we HONESTLY are - a long way away from where we want to get. But we have made many improvements investing in our footy department. Thank the Lord for Jimmy Stynes & co for addressing the real problems.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Dr Who

[Hells Gates 505]

Well i respect that Doc, i don't get the chance to travel the country to follow every game. I get to 10-15 a season and financially assist the club. So i do my slice. And i do know the football Dept must continue to grow.

I am concerned at our recruiting over the last 4-5 years though after the AFL gave us our chance. We can't keep dipping. But i like Neeld & his University.

Me too. The whole point of this thread!!

If you do travel to Darwin, I will have a beer or two with you.

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

Me too. The whole point of this thread!!

If you do travel to Darwin, I will have a beer or two with you.

You are on HG. Been to Broome. Not darwin yet

[BIG JIM 508]

I understand the truth will hurt for some. I understand your ignorance I deal with it ever day. You and your like will continue to blame the players, blame the coach, blame the recruiting staff - blame whoever you want. Players come and go, coaches come and go, recruiting staff come and go, football department staff come and go. There is a reason we have not won a flag in modern day AFL football - there is one constant. If you cant see no big deal little Jim.

Now back to where we HONESTLY are - a long way away from where we want to get. But we have made many improvements investing in our footy department. Thank the Lord for Jimmy Stynes & co for addressing the real problems.

Sorry Dr lets blame the fans for how we play what a joke. Are you taking patients pills? if you think the fans are why we dont win thats a cop out. It's because we have had bailey as a coach with no game plan and we have no leadership and a crap culture and are the third youngest team. One thing we do have is very loyal fans who got rid of 5 million debt and a great board and great young talent we all need to let neeld have his time with the list to wave his magic and put in some hard work we will get there i have no worry saying we will be great in 3 years.

P.S we also have a very bad DR who blames the fans for NAB cup form and thinks the players cant win because of all the fans. BIG JIM is now your DR

Edited March 17, 2012 by BIG JIM

[Guest Dr Who]

Sorry Dr lets blame the fans for how we play what a joke. Are you smoking something or taking patients pills? if you think the fans are why we dont win thats a cop out. It's because we have had bailey as a coach with no game plan and we have no leadership and a crap culture. One thing we do have is very loyal fans who got rid of 5 million debt and a great board and great young talent we all need to let neeld have his time with the list to wave his magic and hard work.

P.S we also have a very bad DR who blames the fans for NAB cub form and thinks the players cant win because of all the fans. BIG JIM is now your DR

No problems little Jim. Best of luck with solving the problems. Clearly you fail to grasp modern day AFL reality.

No I dont blame ALL of the fans.

I'd point out some of your "loyal fans" that cant even be bothered to turn up to watch the games.

• The same "loyal fans" where we were actually losing money due to our attendance. Did those "loyal fans" sort that one? Oh the truth hurts.
  
• Sure the same "loyal fans" that took years to react and only moved when we where on deaths door.
  
• The same "loyal fans" that spent more time infighting "claiming he did this he said that" - failed to move forward.
  
• The same "loyal fans" that let the very situation happen in the first place - maybe the root of the problem does sit at the feet of the failed merger - I'm not sure on that.
  
• The same "loyal fans" the want success and want others to do the work.
  
• The same "loyal fans" that are ignorant to the very workings of our own football club.
  

But I'm sure you will blame the players, blame the coach, blame blah blah blah - negative garbage.

Our last few years have been sensational and finally we have some "fans" that understand the path to modern day success. Finally we have a CEO that understands our short-comings and solves our attendance $$$$ losing problem by quality upfront negotiations with the MCG.

Many are here among this forum, thats great. Finally we have a board with a quality passion for increasing our investment inside our football department without going into debt. Finally we have a board that understand you need alternative income because you can't really on these some of these "loyal fans" they are short term fickle thinkers.

So little Jim best of luck. Your "loyal fans" will let you down I can promise you that. (Their history tells me that.) Pat your "loyal fans" on the back little Jim the job is only half done.

Edited March 19, 2012 by Dr Who

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Equal first, no wins, no lossess.

[Guest melbman]

It wasn't just creative use of proxy votes. It was how they derived them as well If my memory serves me correct.

At a late stage, just prior to the vote, there was talk of one or more board members handing out free memberships to staff members at their work place (who weren't even MFC supporters) on the privoso they voted for the merger by proxy. Seem to recall this happened in a rush, just prior to the official close off of memberships.

Probably only talking a small number but every little bit helps when votes are in the balance.

I'm sure those who received them are still with us, supporting the club through thick & thin!

Found this at http://demonwiki.org/Mergers

Aided by a large number proxies, the chaotic Melbourne meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall endorsed the merger by a vote of 4679 to 4229 amongst angry scenes directed at President Ian Ridley. However with the Hawks rejection the proposal was dead in the water. The meeting had originally been scheduled to be at Melbourne Park but the venue was already booked by the Dalai Lama and the club were forced to hold it amongst chaotic scenes in the much smaller hall. It should have been ok, in the history of the club there had never been an election with a higher turnout than 30%. Dallas Brookes Hall allowed for 50% to turn up, but many more stacked into the hall and it was almost midnight until a verdict was announced.

Demon Alternative leader Joseph Gutnick flagged a legal challenge to the vote in the days after the meeting but it did not eventuate. Controversy had erupted before the vote over director Bill Guest signing up members of his family and staff before the cut-off vote for memberships so they could vote in favour of the merger. Despite the claims there were just 800 late membership purchases, and it was widely acknowledged that they came from both sides of the argument. In addition to the vote the night before 200 "yes" proxy votes arrived the day after but couldn't be counted.

[Guest melbman]

I understand the truth will hurt for some. I understand your ignorance I deal with it ever day. You and your like will continue to blame the players, blame the coach, blame the recruiting staff - blame whoever you want. Players come and go, coaches come and go, recruiting staff come and go, football department staff come and go. There is a reason we have not won a flag in modern day AFL football - there is one constant. If you cant see no big deal little Jim.

Now back to where we HONESTLY are - a long way away from where we want to get. But we have made many improvements investing in our footy department. Thank the Lord for Jimmy Stynes & co for addressing the real problems.

I feel for you having to put up with our ignorance. I really though that the coach and players were important. Thanks for sorting that out, it's the supporters who are to blame. I bet that's a load off Neeld's mind. I guess we're lucky that we the fans weren't sacked after 186, thanks bails for taking the hit.

Reminds me of the time I saw a really crap film that I blamed the script writers, actors and producers for. I clearly see now that had more people attended, the movie would have been much better. I can now blame my brother for the bad film cos he didn't come to watch it with me and support it.

ed: spulling

Edited March 17, 2012 by melbman

[Macca 16,173]

Found this at http://demonwiki.org/Mergers

Aided by a large number proxies, the chaotic Melbourne meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall endorsed the merger by a vote of 4679 to 4229 amongst angry scenes directed at President Ian Ridley. However with the Hawks rejection the proposal was dead in the water. The meeting had originally been scheduled to be at Melbourne Park but the venue was already booked by the Dalai Lama and the club were forced to hold it amongst chaotic scenes in the much smaller hall. It should have been ok, in the history of the club there had never been an election with a higher turnout than 30%. Dallas Brookes Hall allowed for 50% to turn up, but many more stacked into the hall and it was almost midnight until a verdict was announced.

Demon Alternative leader Joseph Gutnick flagged a legal challenge to the vote in the days after the meeting but it did not eventuate. Controversy had erupted before the vote over director Bill Guest signing up members of his family and staff before the cut-off vote for memberships so they could vote in favour of the merger. Despite the claims there were just 800 late membership purchases, and it was widely acknowledged that they came from both sides of the argument. In addition to the vote the night before 200 "yes" proxy votes arrived the day after but couldn't be counted.

Thanks for posting that 'melbman'

Bit more than circumstantial evidence hey . The whole thing stunk to high heaven . I've never met one person who voted for the merger . The other ridiculous thing about the vote was how on earth a "simple" majority of votes can end the life of a club . It should always be more like 3/4 of a vote to get something as major as that through .

A lot of us knew about these "sus" proxy votes before the infamous meeting . Not losers blaming a possible rigged vote "after" the event . Before the event is more to the point . 'Wyl' has reminded me of the phone calls I was getting as well . It was dirty business IMO .

Sometimes foresight is a wonderful thing .

Cheers .

[Guest Dr Who]

I feel for you having to put up with our ignorance. I really though that the coach and players were important. Thanks for sorting that out, it's the supporters who are to blame. I bet that's a load off Neeld's mind. I guess we're lucky that we the fans weren't sacked after 186, thanks bails for taking the hit.

Reminds me of the time I saw a really crap film that I blamed the script writers, actors and producers for. I clearly see now that had more people attended, the movie would have been much better. I can now blame my brother for the bad film cos he didn't come to watch it with me and support it.

ed: spulling

Melbman its the lack of money being invested into our football department that is the root of the blame. Where should the money come from? The coach and players are important if they are allowed to compete on a level playing field. Is the MFC on a level playing field with all other AFL clubs? I dont expect you to answer that by the way.

Oh thats right thats the players fault! Oh thats right its the coaches fault. Oh thats right its the drafting team fault! But wait a minute coaches come & go, players come and go , footy department personnel come and go. Boards come and go.

Do we have one constant at the MFC? Again I dont expect you to answer that either. Just think about it. Is it possible we as "fans" are responsible for our own destiny? Are we responsible for our own "culture"?

Just a thought.