A player like Buddy Franklin would do it!

I chose the demons because they were called the demons and i thought that sounded cool at the tender age of three - i dont remember this, I just asked mum whether she remembered why I chose the road of dashed hope When i was old enough to understand the history of the club that added to the resolve.

Totally, I think Jeremy Howe being the best high flyer in the game and Sam Blease being one of the fastest in the league will do it. Jurrah too if we can get him playing again and up to somewhere near the best he can be. Kids just need someone they can post on their facebook wall.

MFC needs to TARGET INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- These kids regularly spend half a grand a night when clubbing

- Many of these kids have had there folks buy them an apartment in MELBOURNE so therefore they have high disposable income

- Many of these kids choose to stay in MELBOURNE at the end of there studies and work here

- Many of these kids have big families who they can also co-erce into supporting MELBOURNE

- Many of these kids have rich influential parents in China

- AFL is trying to expand to China

- Easy access to the MCG

- Large volume

- Untapped Market

Honestly why are we beating around the bush in Casey when their is ^^

MFC needs to TARGET INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- These kids regularly spend half a grand a night when clubbing

- Many of these kids have had there folks buy them an apartment in MELBOURNE so therefore they have high disposable income

- Many of these kids choose to stay in MELBOURNE at the end of there studies and work here

- Many of these kids have big families who they can also co-erce into supporting MELBOURNE

- Many of these kids have rich influential parents in China

- AFL is trying to expand to China

- Easy access to the MCG

- Large volume

- Untapped Market

Honestly why are we beating around the bush in Casey when their is ^^

On memory we are or were marketing to the chinese students, giving them free tickets etc. Not sure of the results.

The heartland program is the best initiative, take them to the footy for free. Not sure how much more they put into it, but also meeting the players as part of the trip pre-game will cement them in the dee's camp. That why if the game is crap they can talk to their mate, including on the ride home how they met Howe, Watts etc. Makes it personal.

Otherwise just breed faster with more kids I've added three.

MFC needs to TARGET INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- These kids regularly spend half a grand a night when clubbing

- Many of these kids have had there folks buy them an apartment in MELBOURNE so therefore they have high disposable income

- Many of these kids choose to stay in MELBOURNE at the end of there studies and work here

- Many of these kids have big families who they can also co-erce into supporting MELBOURNE

- Many of these kids have rich influential parents in China

- AFL is trying to expand to China

- Easy access to the MCG

- Large volume

- Untapped Market

Honestly why are we beating around the bush in Casey when their is ^^

Further to this i will add...i have spent the last 3 months getting on & off planes in foriegn countries. When walking off a plane particularly new places i have not been to, i always read what is on those airport walls. Some of it sticks.

Is it possible to have some presence inside the MELBOURNE Airport as passengers disembark of the MELBOURNE Football Club..?

Think outside the square.

Further to this i will add...i have spent the last 3 months getting on & off planes in foriegn countries. When walking off a plane particularly new places i have not been to, i always read what is on those airport walls. Some of it sticks.

Is it possible to have some presence inside the MELBOURNE Airport as passengers disembark of the MELBOURNE Football Club..?

Think outside the square.

Totally agree, throw them next to the Jackie Chan posters supporting whatever credit card he's supporting now. Sounds dumb but is a great idea. I'm always looking out for the local sports team whenever I go into a new city in a new country.

Totally agree, throw them next to the Jackie Chan posters supporting whatever credit card he's supporting now. Sounds dumb but is a great idea. I'm always looking out for the local sports team whenever I go into a new city in a new country.

Exactly. What is the rental on those iluminated signs next to the Marriot hotel etc...I even wrote some of the stuff down in the iphone notepad. Peoples senses are wide open when walking into foriegn countries.

Exactly. What is the rental on those iluminated signs next to the Marriot hotel etc...I even wrote some of the stuff down in the iphone notepad. Peoples senses are wide open when walking into foriegn countries.

Going up that walkway when your mind is zapped I mean. Probably pretty pricey but provides great exposure to our sponsors while we're at it.

MFC needs to TARGET INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- These kids regularly spend half a grand a night when clubbing

- Many of these kids have had there folks buy them an apartment in MELBOURNE so therefore they have high disposable income

- Many of these kids choose to stay in MELBOURNE at the end of there studies and work here

- Many of these kids have big families who they can also co-erce into supporting MELBOURNE

- Many of these kids have rich influential parents in China

- AFL is trying to expand to China

- Easy access to the MCG

- Large volume

- Untapped Market

Honestly why are we beating around the bush in Casey when their is ^^

Like the idea but would be a tough sell, the international students I went to school and go to University with, aren't passionate about anything to do with the Australian culture.

Going up that walkway when your mind is zapped I mean. Probably pretty pricey but provides great exposure to our sponsors while we're at it.

Airports are huge now, including Melbourne. The new Bangkok airport is brilliant. It's big business out there.

I just don't think we use our name well enough. Never have. We are the same name as a big vibrant city.

..................... Think me and a mate are the only people under 30 in Canberra that go for the Dees. (I can't back that up)

Not quite young fella. I can name a few in their 20s, and several of those I mentioned in post #2 are in their early 30s.

Not quite young fella. I can name a few in their 20s, and several of those I mentioned in post #2 are in their early 30s.

Where do you watch the games?

MFC needs to TARGET INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- These kids regularly spend half a grand a night when clubbing

- Many of these kids have had there folks buy them an apartment in MELBOURNE so therefore they have high disposable income

- Many of these kids choose to stay in MELBOURNE at the end of there studies and work here

- Many of these kids have big families who they can also co-erce into supporting MELBOURNE

- Many of these kids have rich influential parents in China

- AFL is trying to expand to China

- Easy access to the MCG

- Large volume

- Untapped Market

Honestly why are we beating around the bush in Casey when their is ^^

International student numbers are shrinking rapidly in Australia. Most come from SE Asia, India and China. Combination of GFC (no, not the football club), inflated AU$ and perceived racism of Australians overseas by non western countries have contributed o this. While a quick look at some universities or some parts of the CBD may lead people to think that there are young international students everywhere, the numbers show that is not the case. Most international students don't get involved in Australian cultural activities, sports, local social groups, etc. We have made some inroads to the Chinese community, both here and in Asia, and this should certainly be continued. But i have had it said to me numerous times by international students that they don't see the AFL as being accepting or including of Asians. Also that the game is not internationally played and difficult to understand make it hard to accept. Whether these are true or not, it is the response I have had. Not sure how to overcome this, but I'd thought I'd put it forward.

We should target Indian immigrants/international students by bundling a Bushrangers and MFC membership together (or something similar). If we play on one of their interests (cricket), perhaps we'll create another (footy).

The point of this post was hopefully to flesh out my theory that the membership in fact is not dying.

Given our bad 2012 and even an underwhelming 2013 preseason and trade period what will happen - we will shrink from 35k to 32K ? Bad I know but not the death knell of the club - all we need is an ounce of excitement in the offseason and lots of promise that suckers us all in and we should hopefully remain around 35K. Any half sign of improvement and 2014 could see us pushing up to 40K members.

Currently trying to get my gf across to the dees, shes a richmond fan and her response is 'why would I support you losers' my response is 'because im giving you the beef injections'.

Will probably sign her up regardless because she comes to the games anyway.

Still attempting to get Mr & Mrs bag to resign.

I still think we will be around the mark with our members next year though... Im predicting 33,000

Where do you watch the games?

Varies a bit, but more often than not at home (Fox). We get to the G, or interstate games as often as we can. Only occasionally with the Canberra Demons.

International student numbers are shrinking rapidly in Australia. Most come from SE Asia, India and China. Combination of GFC (no, not the football club), inflated AU$ and perceived racism of Australians overseas by non western countries have contributed o this. While a quick look at some universities or some parts of the CBD may lead people to think that there are young international students everywhere, the numbers show that is not the case. Most international students don't get involved in Australian cultural activities, sports, local social groups, etc. We have made some inroads to the Chinese community, both here and in Asia, and this should certainly be continued. But i have had it said to me numerous times by international students that they don't see the AFL as being accepting or including of Asians. Also that the game is not internationally played and difficult to understand make it hard to accept. Whether these are true or not, it is the response I have had. Not sure how to overcome this, but I'd thought I'd put it forward.

This is it exactly. From first-hand experience, International enrolments are down 40% over previous years.

Main reasons:

• Strong $AU
  
• Perceived racism
  
• Horrible agents
  
• Universities popping up all over Asia
  
• No promises re: PR.
  

osilisk, I'm not sure which International students you've been talking to, but from first-hand experience they are some of the cheapest people I've ever met. Which is saying something, given my housemate and I will take a hipflask to the pub to save money. No chance we'd spend $500 on a night out.

Edit: clarity

Start to play better footy and we push up to 45,000 members, unfortunately we had a drop of this year, I think it was about 7,500 members from last year didn't re-sign, you would expect on our performances that number would be around the same, our pre-season form and early season form needs to be extremely good to even maintain our current total.