I wrote the below on another thread which covers it for me.

With the exception of the debt reduction under JS the MFC has lurched from one disaster to another continuously over the last decade.
In 2103 we find ourselves staring at another huge debt, the poorest team in the competition, no president and zero prospects for 2014.
We have clearly shown we cannot run an AFL club.
Under these circumstances I do not care if the AFL takes over.
IMO it is the only way we will survive.
If it takes five years to emerge from AFL control so be it.
I want a strong well run MFC.
Beyond that the rest are ideals we cannot afford as far as I am concerned.

I'm usually a strong believer of the democratic process but I'll take the alternative at a time when the vultures are circling and there's been so much misinformation and speculation and the past, the present and the future. In those circumstances, an administration of the type that we have with Jackson running the show under the imprimatur of the AFL and our board sitting in the background rubber stamping the decisions that are being made. At least we know that we'll survive and we won't have to put up with challenges from main chancers like Kennett and his crew who are probably more interested in their egos than anything else.

At least this way, I'm more confident of us getting the best possible coach, retaining who we want and recruiting the best possible players at the end of the year.

In any event, it's been 11 years since we voted anybody in and look at where we are today?

You have my vote WJ.

lets get on with rescuing the club we all love dearly

I think it's more the lost revenue for other clubs who have home games against us that would be driving it as much as the $$$$$ we need. PJ said as much the other day when he said we were an 'impediment' on the competition.

Excellent point. Take this weekend for example. I'm going with the kids whereas there is no way i'd be shelling out to see an away game under Neeld. The Saints will make mor out of this match than if it had been last week.

The AFL is now controlling the appointment of the President (Chairman) and members of the Board as well as the appointment and hand picking of the coach.

As members I think we can forget about voting. It looks as though it has been taken out of our hands.

Is this what members really want? No say?

We do have rights HG, they are laid out in the constitution.

Personally, I think they (the AFL) are saving us from ourselves.

Would much rather let the AFL sort it out, as long as we get our club back. Or we could let our current board fix it.

We do have rights HG, they are laid out in the constitution.

Personally, I think they (Edit: the AFL) are saving us from ourselves.

Ain't that the truth

Would much rather let the AFL sort it out, as long as we get our club back. Or we could let our current board fix it.

I almost fell in!

The AFL is now controlling the appointment of the President (Chairman) and members of the Board as well as the appointment and hand picking of the coach.

As members I think we can forget about voting. It looks as though it has been taken out of our hands.

Is this what members really want? No say?

It isn’t quite that simple. The AFL can't just appoint the board. They can influence so that their nomination is the successful nomination for a casual vacancy. For there to be a casual vacancy someone has to stand aside.

So we are in the hands of the board that was returned unopposed at the last General Meeting. If those members stand aside then others can fill the positions.

Bit of a mute point really as the AFL will get what they want.

My suggestion is we see what unfolds, and if we really don't like the board they put together we raise the correct number of member names on a petition to force an extraordinary general meeting. We would also need to find suitable alternates that could do a better job than the AFL puts up!

For the last year I have posted that we need to be under AFL administration to sort out the club and this is effectively what we have. It really is our only way through.

For the last year I have posted that we need to be under AFL administration to sort out the club and this is effectively what we have. It really is our only way through.

Do you feel vindicate rjay

It isn’t quite that simple. The AFL can't just appoint the board. They can influence so that their nomination is the successful nomination for a casual vacancy. For there to be a casual vacancy someone has to stand aside.

So we are in the hands of the board that was returned unopposed at the last General Meeting. If those members stand aside then others can fill the positions.

Bit of a mute point really as the AFL will get what they want.

My suggestion is we see what unfolds, and if we really don't like the board they put together we raise the correct number of member names on a petition to force an extraordinary general meeting. We would also need to find suitable alternates that could do a better job than the AFL puts up!

I'm no lawyer but I found no mention of scope to call these EGM's anywhere in the constitution...happy to have that explained to me.

The positions can be put to vote at the AGM, that is clear.

Also, we would need to be prepared to turn our back on the AFL's rescue fund, and have a replacement for Action Jackson,

I wrote the below on another thread which covers it for me.

With the exception of the debt reduction under JS the MFC has lurched from one disaster to another continuously over the last decade.

In 2103 we find ourselves staring at another huge debt, the poorest team in the competition, no president and zero prospects for 2014.

We have clearly shown we cannot run an AFL club.

Under these circumstances I do not care if the AFL takes over.

IMO it is the only way we will survive.

If it takes five years to emerge from AFL control so be it.

I want a strong well run MFC.

Beyond that the rest are ideals we cannot afford as far as I am concerned.

Or the increase in FD spending, or the new facilities (Casey and Aami Park), or the improved relationship with the MCC, or the consecutive membership growth bar this year, or getting staff such as Misson and Craig...

Also remember debt demolition also occurred under Don.

However they have had catestrophic failures regarding appointing important staff such as coaches, and CEO.

Credit where credit is due old dee.

Do you feel vindicate rjay

I think we have done the right thing or had it done for us 'old dee', I will feel vindicated when we start seeing the club turn around its on field performances. As a few of us have been saying for a while now, including you I think, the only KPI that counts is the scoreboard.

Or the increase in FD spending, or the new facilities (Casey and Aami Park), or the improved relationship with the MCC, or the consecutive membership growth bar this year, or getting staff such as Misson and Craig...

Also remember debt demolition also occurred under Don.

However they have had catestrophic failures regarding appointing important staff such as coaches, and CEO.

Credit where credit is due old dee.

You are correct I missed a couple but I have not seen anything yet that suggests these two have had much effect.

The win loss ratio has been worse and the losing margin increasing since their arrival.

I think we have done the right thing or had it done for us 'old dee', I will feel vindicated when we start seeing the club turn around its on field performances. As a few of us have been saying for a while now, including you I think, the only KPI that counts is the scoreboard.

You have my 100% agreement

I am not really happy with the degree of influence the AFl has on the club at the moment, But understand the position we are in. What concerns me is what happens if this scenario fails. Will the AFL take ownership and bail us out again or will the club be left to try and pick up whatever pieces are left, if any are left after another 3+ million. Remember the AFL doesn't run clubs normally and has no experience in this matter. They are taking a best guess with our money just as all the other previous boards have done.

Our previous Boards increase football department spending, brought new high draft pick talents in, new coaches and got better facilities but this didn't work.

As you sow...

In this instance I am more than happy for the AFL to step in and save this club from sinking.

Despite the apologists for the board, our problems are of our own making and we should all be grateful for the broadcasting agreement.

It does seem the AFL are tipping in more than is being publicized, and want to make sure that we don't stuff up yet again.

Once we are sailing smoothly again, we can poke our tongues out at AFL again - but we'd better wait 'til we're sure we're ok.

Let's hope that they're a good judge of coaches.

I'm no lawyer but I found no mention of scope to call these EGM's anywhere in the constitution...happy to have that explained to me.

The positions can be put to vote at the AGM, that is clear.

Also, we would need to be prepared to turn our back on the AFL's rescue fund, and have a replacement for Action Jackson,

Haven't looked at the constitution Tricky, so I expect you are right, but I am a little surprised. However, from memory I think the AGM has to be held later in the year if there are more nominations for the board than there are positions, otherwise it can be held early in the new year as has occured in the last few years. So in theory the AFL board could be voted out in 6 months time.

The point of my post was to say we do have rights and that this is not a takeover, close, but not.

For me I would only consider seeking to vote them out in the short term if there was suggestions of merger, disbanding or relocation.

Again, read in the newspaper so it must be right, can we just wait and see what eventuates, the Club needs assistance, the AFL cannot afford to get the membership offside, so it will be advisory from them, like they advise every club, witht the NRL taking a stand, do you think the AFL didn't say to the Saints to stand Milne down

No problems with me

as long as we get a good president, board, ceo, coach, fd, draft benefits and money

what's there not to like?

i doubt the members could do a better job given our current circumstances

sit back and enjoy

(and it keeps out the factions)

The boards failure for me is their inability to appoint effective people - primarily coaches and CEO.

Whilst they have shown they can reduce debt significantly and are competent with the financial aspect, the pockets of generous supports are getting smaller and smaller - unfortunately an AFL bailout is needed.

That will come with conditions - ie AFL endorsed board members and coach. How this will help the clubs actual problem of backing the wrong people still beats me.

I think what the board needs most are members with football experience and background. Jim was supposed to be that for this board.

Stuck between a hard place and a rock:

We need AFL funding but it will come with conditions, and we need board members with football experience which the AFL conditions might hinder. One or the other wont fix it, we need both.

You are correct I missed a couple but I have not seen anything yet that suggests these two have had much effect.

The win loss ratio has been worse and the losing margin increasing since their arrival.

Very true, but that relates to the people they have appointed and overall their inability to elect effective staff.

Or the increase in FD spending, or the new facilities (Casey and Aami Park), or the improved relationship with the MCC, or the consecutive membership growth bar this year, or getting staff such as Misson and Craig...

Also remember debt demolition also occurred under Don.

However they have had catestrophic failures regarding appointing important staff such as coaches, and CEO.

Credit where credit is due old dee.

I wouldn't put "the increase in FD spending" down as a win given the results of the last 18 months and the hefty payouts that eventuated!

I, for one, welcome our new football overlords..

I, for one, welcome our new football overlords..

And I would like to remind them that as a respected poster on this fan site - I can be helpful in the rounding up of others to repeat their talking points.

Edited June 21, 201312 yr by rpfc