I haven't seen this topic covered elsewhere (but if it is, please merge or delete as necessary), but there was an interesting article in The Age yesterday which showed that Melbourne nearly went under in 1986. In fact, as the article shows, seven clubs nearly died because they were all "technically insolvent" and only survived because the VFL expanded interstate. Worth a read and a watch of the video, too.

the debt has been transferred and magnified many times over. we are now beholden to the gambling industry, otherwise many clubs reliant on head office to stay afloat. the cream of victorian talent is running around in fluoro, power shirts at spotless stadium and cararra coliseum. the s.a and w.a local competitions have been decimated and their  best players have to fly across the country every second week meaning it is hard for those states to win premierships. 

so what if the vfl curled up in 1986. At least it was real football on real football grounds. despite these prophesies, the game would have re-emerged and the government would have come to the party, no matter what is said in this article. oh, and fitzroy would still be with us. so would south. 

11 minutes ago, bush demon said:

the debt has been transferred and magnified many times over. we are now beholden to the gambling industry, otherwise many clubs reliant on head office to stay afloat. the cream of victorian talent is running around in fluoro, power shirts at spotless stadium and cararra coliseum. the s.a and w.a local competitions have been decimated and their  best players have to fly across the country every second week meaning it is hard for those states to win premierships. 

so what if the vfl curled up in 1986. At least it was real football on real football grounds. despite these prophesies, the game would have re-emerged and the government would have come to the party, no matter what is said in this article. oh, and fitzroy would still be with us. so would south. 

Bush Demon, I think you're dreaming of glory days which had died. By my reading the only reason the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs didn't wind up the seven clubs was because of the expansion plans. If the expansion (read: extra licensing dollars) hadn't happened 7 clubs, including Collingwood, would have been terminated. And with that, so would have football.

The VFL was broke in 1986

the Book VFL inc. ( could be called Football Inc. i have it at home somewhere) explains it all very well 

worth finding a copy if you haven't read it

Edited May 8, 20169 yr by Sir Why You Little

45 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Bush Demon, I think you're dreaming of glory days which had died. By my reading the only reason the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs didn't wind up the seven clubs was because of the expansion plans. If the expansion (read: extra licensing dollars) hadn't happened 7 clubs, including Collingwood, would have been terminated. And with that, so would have football.

I am hearing you, but I am saying that football would have been re-constitued. You can't legislate against people kicking a pig-skin.