"The MFC members voted for the merger".

I am sick to death of this statement being made in the media. It is used to denigrate the club and members.

The truth is that many MFC members were denied a vote on the issue, many were refused entry to the meeting and the vote, if one can call it that, was carried by proxy votes, kept in a safe, for a time they were needed to stack a vote.

The people who provided thoses proxies, had absolutely no idea they would be used in a merger vote. They were obtained from people who were given free memberships and told to sign over proxies.

To call that a proper vote, on the most contentious issue in the club's history, is nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the members of the club at the time.

I wish someone would make this perfectly clear to the media and get this stopped once and for all. We should not allow this denigration to continue.

Thanks Redleg.

It's bordering on harassment how the media continue to write degenerative issues about the club. Journalists using phrases like "when the club were fined for tanking" or "moneyball recruitment strategy"

These statements are invalid and incorrect, and don't cover the true context. Now we all know the club was fined, and yes rodan, sellar, pederson, gillies and Byrnes were bought in last year. But they fail to mention how we added toumpas, viney, hogan, Kent and Barry in that time. It's so frustrating when they blame the current footy department on "losing 4 top 14 draft picks" instead of pointing to the previous administration butchering training and development standards.

Along with merger and relocation talk, thee dis continue to rubbish our club and tarnish our already suffering ability to attract supporters and sponsors. I've had a gut full of it. Damien Barrett has probably blocked my email address due to me emailing him correcting him on the false and poorly researched "facts" that he slanders in his usual weekly tirades aimed at this club.

Redleg, is there any source of information where one can get full details happened at that time, like a book or an independent researched article, our only word of mouth?

Redleg, is there any source of information where one can get full details happened at that time, like a book or an independent researched article, our only word of mouth?

I am not sure about books, but there were articles at the time. They of course may not discuss this aspect.

I was at the meeting. I spoke to people outside who were furious at being not allowed in as the place was supposedly full and who were denied a vote.

There were several discussions at the time about the source of many of the proxies. I recall a pro merger Director admitting that he bought memberships for his staff and got proxies from them. He was not alone in doing this.

Some of the older members should be able to add more information.

While I wholeheartedly agree with the need for the information to be out there Redleg, the truth has never stopped the bashing before and it never will. The fact is, the football media and the general football public prefer a version of events that gets people talking and winds us up. I can't see that ever changing.

While I wholeheartedly agree with the need for the information to be out there Redleg, the truth has never stopped the bashing before and it never will. The fact is, the football media and the general football public prefer a version of events that gets people talking and winds us up. I can't see that ever changing.

Nor can I.

We tried to eat Hawthorn whole - it didn't happen.

Hawthorn have moved on - we should do the same.

In the spirit of our new banner - let's look forward.

Its really hard to change perception with facts when nobody cares to listen

We all know what the truth really is and that's as good as we can expect

I still have sympathy for Fitzroy and South Melbourne supporters

" The MFC members voted for the merger".

I am sick to death of this statement being made in the media. It is used to denigrate the club and members.

The truth is that many MFC members were denied a vote on the issue, many were refused entry to the meeting and the vote, if one can call it that, was carried by proxy votes, kept in a safe, for a time they were needed to stack a vote.

The people who provided thoses proxies, had absolutely no idea they would be used in a merger vote. They were obtained from people who were given free memberships and told to sign over proxies.

To call that a proper vote, on the most contentious issue in the club's history, is nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the members of the club at the time.

I wish someone would make this perfectly clear to the media and get this stopped once and for all. We should not allow this denigration to continue.

Totally agree with you, every time someone says it to me l lose it and tell them it was a stitch-up. Bill Guest had all his workers vote for it, and as you said most people didn't get into the

Dallas Brooks Hall that night to vote. I got in and at least 80 % of the people in there voted against the merger so how they came to the decision that we voted for it was crap. It was as dodgy as hell and we DID NOT VOTE FOR IT.

Mfc did not vote to merge we voted to a take over the hawks, just like brisbane voted to take over fitzroo

I agree wholeheartedly but think its a futile exercise to try and change people's perceptions - look at how many people still think Iraq had WMD.

Th only way I could really see it changing is if a book or documentary on the whole saga came out. I always thought it would make a great doco in the vein of ESPN's 30 for 30 series especially considering the round 22 merger match. Would need more raw footage and news clips of the time than is currently publicly available though.

"The MFC members voted for the merger".

I am sick to death of this statement being made in the media. It is used to denigrate the club and members.

The truth is that many MFC members were denied a vote on the issue, many were refused entry to the meeting and the vote, if one can call it that, was carried by proxy votes, kept in a safe, for a time they were needed to stack a vote.

The people who provided thoses proxies, had absolutely no idea they would be used in a merger vote. They were obtained from people who were given free memberships and told to sign over proxies.

To call that a proper vote, on the most contentious issue in the club's history, is nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the members of the club at the time.

I wish someone would make this perfectly clear to the media and get this stopped once and for all. We should not allow this denigration to continue.

Amen brother!! You are absolutely spot on. The fix was in on the proxy and the voting circumstances regarding venue etc. was extremely dubious. It was my understanding that if the merger vote was successful that Joe G had legal heavyweights ready to go the next day in regards to the way shifty way the whole merger business was conducted.

It was a very sad time in the history of the MFC and as you can tell (because we are still posting about it) some wounds take a long time to heal.

Whichever way you look at it the merger was doomed to fail. The vote never got up , but even if it did it would have been destroyed in the courts afterwards.

It just pisses me off no end, when people like Dermie this week on SEN, say "oh well dont have sympathy for the Dees they voted to merge themselves out of existence" . It is so easy to attack us with this lie.

It is completely untrue and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

I feel that the club or someone, needs to set the record straight once and for all.

Its OK Red...some of us will never forget that day,

The truth is remembered and understood...if not by the masses.

It just pisses me off no end, when people like Dermie this week on SEN, say "oh well dont have sympathy for the Dees they voted to merge themselves out of existence" . It is so easy to attack us with this lie.

It is completely untrue and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

I feel that the club or someone, needs to set the record straight once and for all.

I don't know enough about the facts you talk of Redleg re the proxy vote, but IMO I think you should call into SEN when Dermie is on and put him on the spot re this issue, he would if the shoe were on the other foot

In actuality is a scandal . I dont think some have ever been truly brought to "justice' for their part in this treachery and thats plainly what it was,bordering on criminal.

In actuality is a scandal . I dont think some have ever been truly brought to "justice' for their part in this treachery and thats plainly what it was,bordering on criminal.

Oh, you need to move on. You need to let it go.

It was 17 years ago.

You want to punish traitors after all this time? Traitors?

Oh, you need to move on. You need to let it go.

It was 17 years ago.

You want to punish traitors after all this time? Traitors?

why... and I mean thgis seriously. There was a lot of seriously underhanded shenaningans that evening. There was effectively illegal misrepresentation of intent.

Actually RPFC get back in your box If you dont understand the rage that exists in some dont mock it.

Were you there ? Were you I [censored] was !!

I don't know enough about the facts you talk of Redleg re the proxy vote, but IMO I think you should call into SEN when Dermie is on and put him on the spot re this issue, he would if the shoe were on the other foot

I think so too 'Redleg', Derm likes the sound of his own voice but it would be good to hear someone with the facts at hand take him up on it. For a tough footballer I find Derm to be a bit of a wimp when someone fronts him, he likes to be everyones mate. He takes shots but never when he's face to face or person to person.

why... and I mean thgis seriously. There was a lot of seriously underhanded shenaningans that evening. There was effectively illegal misrepresentation of intent.

Actually RPFC get back in your box If you dont understand the rage that exists in some dont mock it.

Were you there ? Were you I [censored] was !!

Don't think that because I am young I didn't have family in that sh!tfight.

I had family and friends working for the merger for the club - how about that?

I am supposed to see them as traitors?

Mike Sheahan wrote a couple years back that the MFC tried to "eat the HFC whole." That's what these pro-merger Demons were trying to do, they were as nefarious as you would hope them to be. They wanted "Crawford, Waverley, 10k members and be back to the Demons in 5 years" - that is a direct quote.

I don't need you to tell me whether I have to see anyone in a different light because of what happened so long ago.

Myth has been wrapped up in truth and we are stuck in the history again.

In a week where Demonland has embraced the future without being so wrapped in its glorious past, we should be able to move on from our inglorious past.

I shall never forget that night. The members were betrayed.

We must demand better.

Possibly keep in mind Dermie is a squawker after all. He might only know "A": version of what happened. Not, possibly what DID happen.

Don't think that because I am young I didn't have family in that sh!tfight.

I had family and friends working for the merger for the club - how about that?

I am supposed to see them as traitors?

Mike Sheahan wrote a couple years back that the MFC tried to "eat the HFC whole." That's what these pro-merger Demons were trying to do, they were as nefarious as you would hope them to be. They wanted "Crawford, Waverley, 10k members and be back to the Demons in 5 years" - that is a direct quote.

I don't need you to tell me whether I have to see anyone in a different light because of what happened so long ago.

Myth has been wrapped up in truth and we are stuck in the history again.

In a week where Demonland has embraced the future without being so wrapped in its glorious past, we should be able to move on from our inglorious past.

mate if you were working for a MERGER,,,then we shall desist talkng RIGHT NOW !!

If we had merged our would have hurt at the time but I wonder how much it would still be hurting if we had won 3 flags like Fitzroy/Brisbane? The team would have been in our state, we could have been active members etc.

Not saying we should have but it would be an interesting sliding doors scenario.

I think it will be sweeter this way when we do rise again!

I shall never forget that night. The members were betrayed.

We must demand better.

I blame Schwab, Don, and 186, I know you're with me WYL...

I never voted for merger!

I never will vote for merger!

! vote foe a 13 and beyond Premiership for the MFC.

I vote for all the deadwood in the MCF to PO!

I vote for Peter Jackson has he is my new GOD and I have a man crush on him!