Melbourne powerbroker Geoff Freeman says the stricken club can play finals in three years

New Melbourne powerbroker Geoff Freeman has declared the stricken club can play finals within three years.

Freeman said he would be "staggered" if the club's dramatic rebuild did not reap results.

"If we're not looking at finals football and being inside the final eight within a couple of years - two to three years at maximum - I'll be staggered," Freeman said.

"We will be very competitive. This playing group has the nucleus of a very, very good side.

"And we will be doing everything we can to add to it and enhance the group."

Freeman, 65, is expected to assume the Melbourne presidency on his return from a pre-planned overseas trip in six weeks.

Have I heard this before?

HE can certainly put his hand up for it, but he's simply a continuation of the same group who have run this club into the ground. Bring on the rival ticket I say!

Also, how interesting that he's claiming that the work Neeld did will have us playing finals in two or three years, but they were still happy to sack him.

HE can certainly put his hand up for it, but he's simply a continuation of the same group who have run this club into the ground. Bring on the rival ticket I say!

Also, how interesting that he's claiming that the work Neeld did will have us playing finals in two or three years, but they were still happy to sack him.

Jackson and the AFL are helping us to assemble our Board.

I trust their ideas on that more than the will of Demonland.

No offence everybody.

Well that is about the most lunatic and unimpressive offering from a potential leader I've ever heard.

Its like Churchill coming out after Dunkirk and predicting the date for D.Day.

Two days ago he was off to France and hadnt made up his mind...now this and he still hasnt committed

Geez I hope Neita ,Hopgood and Leoncelli get Kelaher into the mix and shake the joint up even more.

Jackson and the AFL are helping us to assemble our Board.

I trust their ideas on that more than the will of Demonland.

No offence everybody.

No Freeman came on via leadboots McClardy before Jackson started taking action if I remember the timeline correctly.

He's only been there a month, he's Mike Fitzpatrick neighbour, it's all AFL driven.

Kennett has conceded his push to take over the club was fading.

"I'm getting messages from the AFL that they're not prepared to have me there," he said.

"That's probably personality-based more than anything else.

"I will lay you London to a brick that the AFL will appoint people they're comfortable with and therefore the governance issue that is the relationship between the board and its CEO will be forever compromised.

"If in fact the board is sycophants to the AFL or to Peter Jackson, the governance issues at Melbourne will only get worse."

The most interesting part of the article is not Freeman's quotes but Kennett's.

Do we agree with him or do we trust the AFL and Jackson. I'd say for now we probably stick by the AFL because they have the funds to keep us alive.

If Jeff Kennett can promise the financial security of the club then I might change my mind.

No Freeman came on via leadboots McClardy before Jackson started taking action if I remember the timeline correctly.

Yes, but you don't know the circumstances of his arrival. You mention Kelaher but what if Freeman came with a similar proposal and willingness to be involved.

Freeman is hardly tarred by this Board.

The AFL are arranging a Board with their better judgement through the medium of Jackson.

It's happening.

The most interesting part of the article is not Freeman's quotes but Kennett's.

Do we agree with him or do we trust the AFL and Jackson. I'd say for now we probably stick by the AFL because they have the funds to keep us alive.

If Jeff Kennett can promise the financial security of the club then I might change my mind.

If this is a choice between the will of Jeff or the will of the AFL - I don't think it is a difficult decision.

No Freeman came on via leadboots McClardy before Jackson started taking action if I remember the timeline correctly.

Apart from spelling the name incorrectly, is the addition necessary? Means your posts will get ignored by some

If this is a choice between the will of Jeff or the will of the AFL - I don't think it is a difficult decision.

That's true. But our last board was AFL approved and besides Jimmy I'm yet to see any of them actually show any fight or capacity to make a good decision. If the AFL keep draft us people with good credentials but without the true passion for the work required where will it get us. Will we become welfare dependent?

Have you read about the amount of work Ian Dicker put into Hawthorn? He didn't simply turn up to a few meetings and hope the CEO was on top of things.

That's true. But our last board was AFL approved and besides Jimmy I'm yet to see any of them actually show any fight or capacity to make a good decision. If the AFL keep draft us people with good credentials but without the true passion for the work required where will it get us. Will we become welfare dependent?

Have you read about the amount of work Ian Dicker put into Hawthorn? He didn't simply turn up to a few meetings and hope the CEO was on top of things.

Our last Board was AFL approved but the one that Jackson will have up and running will be almost handpicked by the AFL.

They have a direct line to Jackson, and they are placing the make up of the Board one of their conditions for our special 'Firing Squad' fund.

Our last Board was AFL approved but the one that Jackson will have up and running will be almost handpicked by the AFL.

They have a direct line to Jackson, and they are placing the make up of the Board one of their conditions for our special 'Firing Squad' fund.

Love it ( Firing Squad) rpfc

You have my award for today.

If this is a choice between the will of Jeff or the will of the AFL - I don't think it is a difficult decision.

this statement in itself concerns me.. Your prepared to wholsale invest your trustt in the AFL ?

I understand the position of the AFL..our givers of money ( having stole the comp in the first place ) . Sort of a passive aggressive relationship at best.

But youd abjectly bow before your false god ?

Currently its a forced marraige of convenience....no love

this statement in itself concerns me.. Your prepared to wholsale invest your trustt in the AFL ?

I understand the position of the AFL..our givers of money ( having stole the comp in the first place ) . Sort of a passive aggressive relationship at best.

But youd abjectly bow before your false god ?

Currently its a forced marraige of convenience....no love

It's unfortunately what it has to be otherwise...no club.

It's a NO from me.

More of the same, IMO, and we deserve better.

and I was so looking forward to The Ox.