Choko's modest but some of the most intelligent, smart and handsome people in the room sat at his table

I have to say, it's a hard gig for all concerned doing a FH dinner with the season we have had. Peter Jackson was blunt and articulate, and comes across as others have previously said as impressive and ruthless. He said something along the lines that we need to rebuild our brand. He made the comment that for too long, we have focused on logos and history as a way to build our brand, and the brand had to be built around nothing but winning games of football and being uncompromising in all decisions we make to ensure that we never compromise winning games of football. He said that we have rested on the laurels of the draft, and thought that early draft picks meant success, but we have to get far more ruthless about player development. I think the quote was that there are 3 key priorities at MFC: 1. Player Development, 2. Player Development, 3. Player Development.

PJ also spoke about getting the fabric back into the club, and specifically mentioned Junior. So maybe he will come back! Here's hoping.

My other observation is that compared to previous years, the players who are the leaders amongst the boys present as a very professional bunch of driven young men. I am very impressed by the calibre of person we have, having spoken for some time to Bail, Gawn, Frawley, Grimes, Dawes, N Jones and Howe.

The final thing I would add is that looking at the donor list, we are very lucky that the board members who recently resigned have been extremely generous towards the club. They are not alone, but just given the stick they cop on here, I thought I should note it. Don McLardy accepted an award for his service, and he just clearly loves the club unconditionally and gives a lot of support. Karen Hayes was also recognised for an immense contribution.

So what did he exactly say about Junior?

He is so right what he says about our brand and using logos and history. Im guessing he isnt a fan of the blazers.

Have the players contributed to this? Because they bloody well should

Choko's modest but some of the most intelligent, smart and handsome people in the room sat at his table

I don't quite remember it that way W_J.....!!

I read just now that the dinner raised $500,000

If that is correct it is an outstanding effort by the FH Members.

$450,000

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-08-15/foundation-heroes-raise-450000

That's a great result - just makes you wander what the club does with this money.

The Foundation of Heroes pockets are very deep but i wonder how long it can last if we don't lift.

That can be put towards paying Roos for a couple months. (I wonder if that was the main drive behind the night - collecting money to snare a good coach)

Anybody who donates their hard earned to the club, is a hero.

Thank you to all of our foundation heroes.

$450,000

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-08-15/foundation-heroes-raise-450000

That's a great result - just makes you wander what the club does with this money.

The Foundation of Heroes pockets are very deep but i wonder how long it can last if we don't lift.

That can be put towards paying Roos for a couple months. (I wonder if that was the main drive behind the night - collecting money to snare a good coach)

This really is an amazing result given our performances (more the lack of) over the last SEVEN LONG years.

Congrats to all

There is something wonderful about this club , that it wont lay down, that it wont concede, even when all seems somewhat futile it will rally and raise the flag.

I applaud those in a position to help not just because they can but because they believe there will be a better year ahead.

What has been may yet be again, go dees

I have to say, it's a hard gig for all concerned doing a FH dinner with the season we have had. Peter Jackson was blunt and articulate, and comes across as others have previously said as impressive and ruthless. He said something along the lines that we need to rebuild our brand. He made the comment that for too long, we have focused on logos and history as a way to build our brand, and the brand had to be built around nothing but winning games of football and being uncompromising in all decisions we make to ensure that we never compromise winning games of football. He said that we have rested on the laurels of the draft, and thought that early draft picks meant success, but we have to get far more ruthless about player development. I think the quote was that there are 3 key priorities at MFC: 1. Player Development, 2. Player Development, 3. Player Development.

I was hoping he might have said 1. Mid Field 2. MidField/Pace/Skills & a small or two up forward 3. Player Development

$450,000

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-08-15/foundation-heroes-raise-450000

That's a great result - just makes you wander what the club does with this money.

The Foundation of Heroes pockets are very deep but i wonder how long it can last if we don't lift.

That can be put towards paying Roos for a couple months. (I wonder if that was the main drive behind the night - collecting money to snare a good coach)

By my calculations that would only pay Roosy to the 22 min mark of the 1st Qtr

Just shows how passionate our supporters are. With or without money. Congrats to those foundation heroes. They are true heroes of the MFC

So what did he exactly say about Junior?

He is so right what he says about our brand and using logos and history. Im guessing he isnt a fan of the blazers.

Have the players contributed to this? Because they bloody well should

Cheap shots by Peter Jackson. I like the logo and the blazers. Yep we should be able to acknowledge our history and improve on and off the field.Not an either/or.

Did anyone ask him about Essendon's decline into mediocrity in his term as CEO? He was their CEO from 1997 to 2009. The slide is on after 2000 Flag and 2001 Grand Final as their ladder position in the last 8 years of his tenure demonstrates: 02 - 5th, 03 - 6th, 04 - 6th, 05 - 13th, 06 - 15th, 07 - 12th, 08 - 12th, 09 - 8th.

In summary thats 5th - once, 6th - twice, 8th - once, 12th - twice, 13th - once and 15th - once.

I have my fingers crossed that he can do better than that at the Dees and that given the only senior coach he has been involved in selecting is Matty Knights he does a much better this time. I always thought at Essendon that he seemed to sometimes not realise that he was the CEO of a footy club. Hope he has learnt from the mistakes of the second half of term as CEO of the Bombers and makes a positive contribution to the MFC.

And now I've got that off my chest well done to the Foundation Heroes.

So what did he exactly say about Junior?

He is so right what he says about our brand and using logos and history. Im guessing he isnt a fan of the blazers.

Have the players contributed to this? Because they bloody well should

I think it was when he was a guest on On The Couch, that he said he'd gone around to see Junior, to have a couple of beers and have a chat.

He didn't really say anything beyond that, but I don't think he needed to.

He'd said enough to give a clear idea of what he was working towards.

Cheap shots by Peter Jackson. I like the logo and the blazers. Yep we should be able to acknowledge our history and improve on and off the field.Not an either/or.

Did anyone ask him about Essendon's decline into mediocrity in his term as CEO? He was their CEO from 1997 to 2009. The slide is on after 2000 Flag and 2001 Grand Final as their ladder position in the last 8 years of his tenure demonstrates: 02 - 5th, 03 - 6th, 04 - 6th, 05 - 13th, 06 - 15th, 07 - 12th, 08 - 12th, 09 - 8th.

In summary thats 5th - once, 6th - twice, 8th - once, 12th - twice, 13th - once and 15th - once.

I have my fingers crossed that he can do better than that at the Dees and that given the only senior coach he has been involved in selecting is Matty Knights he does a much better this time. I always thought at Essendon that he seemed to sometimes not realise that he was the CEO of a footy club. Hope he has learnt from the mistakes of the second half of term as CEO of the Bombers and makes a positive contribution to the MFC.

And now I've got that off my chest well done to the Foundation Heroes.

I'd take their decline with a flag over our years.

Besides, he is right, CS should, have been fixing the club, not designing logos. (Ps, I do think the logo is good)

Cheap shots by Peter Jackson. I like the logo and the blazers. Yep we should be able to acknowledge our history and improve on and off the field.Not an either/or.

Did anyone ask him about Essendon's decline into mediocrity in his term as CEO? He was their CEO from 1997 to 2009. The slide is on after 2000 Flag and 2001 Grand Final as their ladder position in the last 8 years of his tenure demonstrates: 02 - 5th, 03 - 6th, 04 - 6th, 05 - 13th, 06 - 15th, 07 - 12th, 08 - 12th, 09 - 8th.

In summary thats 5th - once, 6th - twice, 8th - once, 12th - twice, 13th - once and 15th - once.

I have my fingers crossed that he can do better than that at the Dees and that given the only senior coach he has been involved in selecting is Matty Knights he does a much better this time. I always thought at Essendon that he seemed to sometimes not realise that he was the CEO of a footy club. Hope he has learnt from the mistakes of the second half of term as CEO of the Bombers and makes a positive contribution to the MFC.

And now I've got that off my chest well done to the Foundation Heroes.

I partly agree with you, I think it shouldn't be an either/or scenario, we should be developing the brand using logos etc, WITH player development and winning games. At the end of the day what he's saying is a kids is not going to choose a team because of a logo, he/she will choose them because they are winning.

Well done to all FH, and a special thank you to those outed board members who dug deep. It would be easy for them to hold a grudge but their generosity is inspiring. Maybe some day the club will give all FH reward for digging deep with success.

I would love it if we brought Junior back in some capacity at the club. Make it happen.

Cheap shots by Peter Jackson. I like the logo and the blazers. Yep we should be able to acknowledge our history and improve on and off the field.Not an either/or.

Did anyone ask him about Essendon's decline into mediocrity in his term as CEO? He was their CEO from 1997 to 2009. The slide is on after 2000 Flag and 2001 Grand Final as their ladder position in the last 8 years of his tenure demonstrates: 02 - 5th, 03 - 6th, 04 - 6th, 05 - 13th, 06 - 15th, 07 - 12th, 08 - 12th, 09 - 8th.

In summary thats 5th - once, 6th - twice, 8th - once, 12th - twice, 13th - once and 15th - once.

I have my fingers crossed that he can do better than that at the Dees and that given the only senior coach he has been involved in selecting is Matty Knights he does a much better this time. I always thought at Essendon that he seemed to sometimes not realise that he was the CEO of a footy club. Hope he has learnt from the mistakes of the second half of term as CEO of the Bombers and makes a positive contribution to the MFC.

And now I've got that off my chest well done to the Foundation Heroes.

You blame him for outcomes the coach is responsible for. He was responsible for managing the club strategy, putting systems in place to keep the club strong. The difference between him and CS could be debated there.

Sounds like you're not a fan.

100% agree that player development is the main issue to be faced. But it can't be done without money and I think the marketing side (which includes a mix of good and bad - bugler anyone?) needs to be attended to to keep the dollars rolling in.

I really do admire the Foundation Heroes.

Aside from the fact that I'm a money-less student, I wouldn't give them a cent.

I really do admire the Foundation Heroes.

Aside from the fact that I'm a money-less student, I wouldn't give them a cent.

If I had the money I would happily give it, I'm a fool.

If I had the money I would happily give it, I'm a fool.

I agree CB

But a lot of people would suggest that I am a delusional fool.

I would love it if we brought Junior back in some capacity at the club. Make it happen.

We will probably win the flag next year because we will have Voss, Simpson, Ratten, Junior, Laidley, O'Loughlin, Kirk, Kelly and about 10 more as Assistant Coaches.

We will probably win the flag next year because we will have Voss, Simpson, Ratten, Junior, Laidley, O'Loughlin, Kirk, Kelly and about 10 more as Assistant Coaches.

I reckon we should play that lot, could only improve us.

If I had the money I would happily give it, I'm a fool.

I also thank the FH but I'd like to make a couple of points.

• I'd particularly like to thank those FH whose commitment meant they gave up tangible and important quality of life alternatives. I'm aware of one person in particular whose contribution meant they sacrificed a meaningful "other". I'm sure there are others. $10,000 to someone earning $80,000 per annum is a significantly greater commitment than someone who has $10 million and donates $100,000.
• Whilst the FH are extraordinarily generous there are other financial supporters of the club who commit significant cash to the club on an ongoing basis who are not recognized in the same way. Good on you I say.
• PJ is an interesting character. One of my criticisms of Cameron Schwab was his obsession on the past - all the functions I went to were full of our significant past history. He introduced the blazers. He made a big deal of giving Norm Smith's number to Watts, Barassi's to Scully and I'd bet my bottom dollar he was behind Grimes changing his number to 31 this year. It was a way of hiding from our current issues and making ourselves feel comfortable. PJ is not doing that and recognizes the importance of creating a current "history". I fully support that.
• Those questioning PJ are quite right. Too often have we put our faith in messiah's who've failed. I support him, I've got no choice, but I'll also scrutinize all he does in the same way I did to Schwab and McLardy.

You blame him for outcomes the coach is responsible for. He was responsible for managing the club strategy, putting systems in place to keep the club strong. The difference between him and CS could be debated there.

Sounds like you're not a fan.

While he was CEO their deplorable governance was in evolution.

Is it fair to implicate him in this?

Can the CEO indicate to the Board that the governance is poor?

Does he just accept that and do what they say?

He certainly hasn't been shy in commenting on OUR governance in his role at the MFC.

I hope and pray PJ is as good as everyone seems to assume he is.

The MFC can't survive any more body blows.

I also thank the FH but I'd like to make a couple of points.

• I'd particularly like to thank those FH whose commitment meant they gave up tangible and important quality of life alternatives. I'm aware of one person in particular whose contribution meant they sacrificed a meaningful "other". I'm sure there are others. $10,000 to someone earning $80,000 per annum is a significantly greater commitment than someone who has $10 million and donates $100,000.
• Whilst the FH are extraordinarily generous there are other financial supporters of the club who commit significant cash to the club on an ongoing basis who are not recognized in the same way. Good on you I say.
• PJ is an interesting character. One of my criticisms of Cameron Schwab was his obsession on the past - all the functions I went to were full of our significant past history. He introduced the blazers. He made a big deal of giving Norm Smith's number to Watts, Barassi's to Scully and I'd bet my bottom dollar he was behind Grimes changing his number to 31 this year. It was a way of hiding from our current issues and making ourselves feel comfortable. PJ is not doing that and recognizes the importance of creating a current "history". I fully support that.
• Those questioning PJ are quite right. Too often have we put our faith in messiah's who've failed. I support him, I've got no choice, but I'll also scrutinize all he does in the same way I did to Schwab and McLardy.

Totally agree Bob with all those sentiments.

Given the rubbish the Club has served up to us in the past seven years the FH deserve the recognition and accolades they get for digging that bit deeper.