I received an email Last night.

Have we had one before?

MCC Dining Room. 3 course meal and top shelf beverages $250 all incl.

Lounge suit is the dress attire.

Who goes to these functions?

A few on here usually do.

I can't pay that sort of cash, especially as I don't drink.

A few on here usually do.

I can't pay that sort of cash, especially as I don't drink.

I know it is a fund raiser G but I cannot imagine how I could drink enough.

Too rich for me unfortunately.

We have had one in different guises the last few years. They are genuinely a good night.

Not happy about it being on a Monday night though.

I'm an hour and a half from the G now, so being a Monday would have meant no even if I could splash that cash on a dinner.

I'm an hour and a half from the G now, so being a Monday would have meant no even if I could splash that cash on a dinner.

I notice the Rams had another big one!

I know it is a fund raiser G but I cannot imagine how I could drink enough.

Too rich for me unfortunately.

obviously setup for the clints and bbo's of the world, od

obviously setup for the clints and bbo's of the world, od

Yes dc the wealthier end of Demonland

Always disappointed about the price of these functions. Similar to MCC functions. Excludes the rank and file supporter who simply cant afford these prices. I may be wrong but I rarely see functions advertised that are affordable to most supporters even the passionate ones.

I notice the Rams had another big one!

11 years straight with no winning season...

I love sport...

FMD.

obviously setup for the clints and bbo's of the world, od

Actually I wouldn't mind going. I'll be back on the booze with a terrible thirst so I might knock the fundraising aspect around. Then again .... I'd probably get [censored] and make a [censored] of myself. Mmmm second thoughts needed maybe. I'll see if Biffen can come up with the cash - he's currently running some scam against the health system so he may be good for it.

Always disappointed about the price of these functions. Similar to MCC functions. Excludes the rank and file supporter who simply cant afford these prices. I may be wrong but I rarely see functions advertised that are affordable to most supporters even the passionate ones.

It is called Supply and demand Ernie.

I have no problem with the idea or the cost.

Just too expensive for me

I've been to a few now and they all pretty much the same - the coaches talk about how much we have improved over the summer but that we must limit expectations. The best part is the introduction of the new players.

Shame it's on a Monday night though

It is called Supply and demand Ernie.

I have no problem with the idea or the cost.

Just too expensive for me

Yes it is Old Dee, but still a pity. Don't think it has to be that way and it just cuts out a lot of supporters. Lose the support of the common people and the game is dead.

Also too expensive for me. My only spending these days is on whisky.

Yes it is Old Dee, but still a pity. Don't think it has to be that way and it just cuts out a lot of supporters. Lose the support of the common people and the game is dead.

Also too expensive for me. My only spending these days is on whisky.

IMO you have it correct Ernie

I usually spill more than $250 worth of drinks over a weekend.

This is fantastic value.

it's like mad Monday but at the START of the year.

I usually spill more than $250 worth of drinks over a weekend.

This is fantastic value.

it's like mad Monday but at the START of the year

You give little thought for the poor bastards whose drinks you spill.

Geez!

The missus has already paid up front for me.

She wants another night out with the girls but not at the "G"

So I may see a few D'Landers there.

Who sets the tables or is just pot luck?

Anything new happen here or just more of the usual?

Anything new happen here or just more of the usual?

CHIEF executive Peter Jackson says the club's overall aim was to win back respect in 2014 and he believes it can be “satisfied” that it achieved that last year.

Speaking at Melbourne’s season launch at the MCG on Monday night, Jackson said the club had done “a complete overall of the club” and it was now “on the right path” even if there was some way to go.

“We righted the ship in a financial sense and have built the foundation for a sustainable future,” he said.

“We have changed the football department quite dramatically.We have 22 new players, including some exciting talent but also some mature depth.

“[We have] a new coaching panel, including the succession plan for Paul Roos – that Paul and the club committed to – through to the appointment of Simon Goodwin. [We have] increased development resources with Brendan McCartney, as well as a much stronger development relationship with Casey Scorpions, through to the appointment of Justin Plapp and Shannon Byrnes.”

Jackson said the culture of the club was also making “some real ground”.

“I think it’s fair to say that it took most of 2014 for players and staff alike to realise that it will be them that have the greatest impact on the success of this club. Those of you here last year heard Paul Roos say this directly to the players,” he said.

“My own view though was that most people in the club, players included, thought Paul was a messiah or saviour and like Moses would somehow perform a miracle like parting the waters.

“This is no longer the case – I think we have achieved more on this front since the new football year started in November. Both players and staff alike do fully understand they are the people who will drive success. I see this in the actions and attitudes on a daily basis of everyone around the club.”

But Jackson said the club still had some areas it needs to work on.

“We still have what I have coined our ‘Petracca moments’ – sorry Christian and I will pay you the royalties from that – but what I mean by that is we do sometimes fall back into a feeling of pessimism when confronted by individual moments of anguish or challenge. We must rid ourselves of these by believing that we are on the right path,” he said.

“Being on the right path does not ensure instant success, and it certainly does not mean we won’t have times of challenge or failure to achieve what we hope for. We just need to fight through these moments and keep focused on the journey down the path.

“Achieving what we did in 2014 allowed us the freedom to look a bit further into the future. We prepared an initial three-year strategic plan that the board endorsed and the whole club is now focused on.”

Jackson said that Melbourne will continually do everything to not compromise the team.

“Football success will drive all else. It will drive the number of supporters and members; it will drive increased crowds; it will drive sponsors to be involved with us; it will drive financial success; it will ensure long term sustainability,” he said.

“It is not the only strategy we have but right now it is the most important. The rest won’t amount to much if we don’t get football right.”

Jackson said it was critical that the club achieves 50,000 members by 2017.

“We aim to achieve 50,000 members and 350,000 home game attendees by 2017. Winning football games will help. So will re-connecting with our heartland. We appreciate the support of City of Casey in our fan development and we will continue to work in that region. However we need to balance it up by not forsaking our heartland – those people and families that built this club,” he said.

“I am on the record that we have lost a lot of members over recent years because the club on and off the field breached their trust. When that happens, we can’t just wave a magic wand and get them back – we need to win back the trust we lost. I’m sure we have started to do that, but we must improve onfield and start to win football games. They must believe in the future.”

Jackson said the club must also know what it stands for as a club.

“We have also looked at what we stand for as a club and what our brand should represent to people,” he said.

“We have some very strong brand truths – we started the game/wrote the rules, the MCG is our spiritual home, we share the name Melbourne with the city in which play.

“We have a great opportunity, provided we are a good football team, to connect strongly with Melbourne and win the hearts and minds of all those who live in Melbourne and those who come to Melbourne.

“You will see us position the brand of the club over 2015 to be closer aligned to Melbourne.”

PRESIDENT Glen Bartlett says the club has now secured and locked in “great people” across every area of the club.

Speaking at Melbourne’s season launch at the MCG on Monday night, Bartlett said the club was now settled, with a stable board, following the appointment of directors Jane Martino and David Robb last week.

“A footy club is only as good as its people and I am so pleased with the people who have come to our club in recent times,” he said.

“The two most recent appointments (Martino and Robb) further bolster the calibre and experience of the people who have joined our board in recent times.

“We have a board whose members have significant experience relevant to the activities of the club and it is diverse and united. I know this board will provide a stable platform for our management and football department in the next few years.

“And I know the Demon Army will be pleased to know that David Robb is actually a former member of your group.”

Bartlett said chief executive Peter Jackson and his administration were “doing an outstanding job with the business of our club”.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the strategy Peter and his team have developed,” he said.

“And in our football department, under Roosy’s leadership, we have an outstanding group of coaches and support staff. I was delighted that the club welcomed Simon Goodwin and Brendan McCartney to further add to our group last year. And of course [we’re delighted with] the additions to our playing list.

“Our first game is only 12 sleeps away. I personally cannot wait for the season to start.”

Bartlett said Melbourne was developing its people across all areas of the club.

“The development focus has been an important shift for our club and it isn’t just the players who will be developed, our coaches, our staff and our board are all focused on this,” he said.

“We have great people at our club who we will develop to be the very best they can be and it will be those people that take our club to success.

“Whilst we have great people working on the inside of the club, it extends much more broadly … to every one of you who is here tonight [at the season launch] and to everyone whose heart beats red and blue – you are the lifeblood of our club. Thank you to all of you for everything you do for our club.”

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PR: what you've got to do is give your footy club hope: whether that's winning a premiership, making the top 8 or just showing improvement.

PR: We saw in those 3 games we have the capability to be a very good football team but if we don't do those things, we'll go away from that.

PR: Some things just haven't changed in football: the hardest team generally wins, the teams that's toughest and wins the hard ball.

PR says successful clubs will have role models that drive the success of the group, that drive the standards and behaviour.

PR: Part of a football club is developing players, no matter how long it takes. That's what we're here for as coaches.

Jackson's speech: honest and impressive to read.

PJ says it all...it's all about Football now...The strong will survive.

Always disappointed about the price of these functions. Similar to MCC functions. Excludes the rank and file supporter who simply cant afford these prices. I may be wrong but I rarely see functions advertised that are affordable to most supporters even the passionate ones.

While I understand what you are saying, the family day was last week and was free.

This event is a fundraiser, would cost at least $130 a head before and fund raising takes place. Plus there are limited seats. If it was available at $100 reach the spy would out strip demand.

The market drives the price of the event.