Damien Barrett's scathing assessment of the MFC

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

There's perception and there's reality and how we react to both is a choice of our own making. I'll leave the fugazi to those that earn a living from it for that's their choice and who am I to argue with that. 

[Pates 9,660]

I've read a couple of pages and from the jist of things it appears no one knows for certain for Barrett is on about, only making educated guesses.

Financial loss is a certain, losing QB the same year we don't have ANAZAC even puts a massive dent in our bottom line coupled with significantly lower crowds. I really wish the AFL had stepped in with Collingwood's request for the gates to be shared to make it interchange with ANZAC eve. Makes it very difficult for this year when two of our blockbusters go begging.

Players unhappy is not a massive surprise as well, there doesn't appear to be harmony among the playing group. You only need to look at the way they've been bickering to know that our poor form has created fractures, but "big names" requesting trades will be an interesting one to see if there's any substance. That meeting Petracca's manager had with the footy club, pretty much all the reports on it highlighted that he doesn't want out he would just like more time in the middle.

Of the players I could perhaps picture "wanting out" MAYBE Brayshaw by his down year, could be playing him as a winger and naturally resulting in a poorer year might've frustrated him. As others have mentioned ties west are appearing, but he is also Vic born and bred, we also stood by him during his concussion issues and I'd like to think that would earn us a bit of loyalty back.

We had so many injuries this year I can't imagine any player being frustrated at lack of being picked, except perhaps Pruess. There were rumblings that Jones wasn't happy with the offer we made him but frankly he should be happy that we are asking him to go around again.

I agree with a few others that sometimes there are issues that can be coming out of a club that are not good but all it needs to be turned into a "crisis" is a journo like Barrett labeling exactly that and pouring gasoline on the fire.

Having said all that this off-season is absolutely critical. To back up such a pathetic 2019 with another poor 2020 will send us back into the cycle that we're all familiar with, we can't afford to be terrible next year.

[dworship 3,342]

1 hour ago, Superunknown said:

It does not make sense

Pls, Pls, Pls Andy I've asked for a face palm emoji so many times!!!

[Lou C. Fur 1,009]

11 hours ago, binman said:

Spot on. I mean talk about an over reaction to a single line indicating the AFL are worried. As an example of an over reaction you only need to read the thread title. Talk about poetic licence.

Similar over the top reaction to some random caller to 3aw's rumor file that some jumped on evidence of goody being a poor coach and other hoping it was true and that he was going to be sacked

Praha, on the money front of course we lost money this year. How could we have failed to give our home crowds and QB or ANZAC day were both away games (which by the by the AFL could have avoided by simply staggering).

Agree this off season and next season is critical. And have said as much myself. But the most important preseason in the clubs history? More critical than during the years where ceasing to exist as club was a very real possibility?  C'mon.

Are their issues? Yes, it would seem to be the case. Perhaps a fracture between young and older players and conflict with the FD and the younger players (who Lewis suggested did not come back in great nick)? Maybe. But losing 17 games will inevitably create and heighten tensions. 

Such hyperbole and over reaction from fans is in my opinion not helpful. Plays into the hands of the gossip mongers in footy media that masquerade as journalists. 

The club have been proactive thus far and have not sat on their hands. For the first time in long time i have faith in the current administration and FD to get things right. 

 

Well said Binman.

[Lou C. Fur 1,009]

9 hours ago, chookrat said:

Barrett is just salty because of the time Bernie Vince took his glasses at the urinal while at the Brownlow. 

Onya Bernie! Ha Ha. Did Bernie also challenge Damien to a chicken egg eating comp at this auspicious historical event?

[Lou C. Fur 1,009]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

I've read a couple of pages and from the jist of things it appears no one knows for certain for Barrett is on about, only making educated guesses.

Financial loss is a certain, losing QB the same year we don't have ANAZAC even puts a massive dent in our bottom line coupled with significantly lower crowds. I really wish the AFL had stepped in with Collingwood's request for the gates to be shared to make it interchange with ANZAC eve. Makes it very difficult for this year when two of our blockbusters go begging.

Players unhappy is not a massive surprise as well, there doesn't appear to be harmony among the playing group. You only need to look at the way they've been bickering to know that our poor form has created fractures, but "big names" requesting trades will be an interesting one to see if there's any substance. That meeting Petracca's manager had with the footy club, pretty much all the reports on it highlighted that he doesn't want out he would just like more time in the middle.

Of the players I could perhaps picture "wanting out" MAYBE Brayshaw by his down year, could be playing him as a winger and naturally resulting in a poorer year might've frustrated him. As others have mentioned ties west are appearing, but he is also Vic born and bred, we also stood by him during his concussion issues and I'd like to think that would earn us a bit of loyalty back.

We had so many injuries this year I can't imagine any player being frustrated at lack of being picked, except perhaps Pruess. There were rumblings that Jones wasn't happy with the offer we made him but frankly he should be happy that we are asking him to go around again.

I agree with a few others that sometimes there are issues that can be coming out of a club that are not good but all it needs to be turned into a "crisis" is a journo like Barrett labeling exactly that and pouring gasoline on the fire.

Having said all that this off-season is absolutely critical. To back up such a pathetic 2019 with another poor 2020 will send us back into the cycle that we're all familiar with, we can't afford to be terrible next year.

Well said Pates.

[SFebes 4,884]

6 hours ago, drysdale demon said:

Hyperbole

Like every single one of your posts. Still yet to see anything productive from you troll

[Dirts 429]

6 hours ago, Dame Gaga said:

There is no longer any room left for sentiment in the sports we love. The corporations which run them have become insatiable monsters. No matter how much money is thrown at them it seems it will never be enough.

Hate to say it but the Hobart Demons May be happening during my lifetime 

[Pipefitter 2,159]

Barret is a [censored] that much is for sure. But I’d really love some transparency from the club regarding the visit to the commission. 

[Superunknown 4,217]

7 hours ago, dworship said:

Pls, Pls, Pls Andy I've asked for a face palm emoji so many times!!!

??‍♂️

[Dee Watcher 71]

We'll post a big loss after following the AFL's advice and selling the pokies venues! (Lets not forget the money the make of bookies etc but do as i say not as i do when it comes to AFL house!)

Second we are pitching to keep pick 2 as the decade long results support us as the worst clubs in the AFL with last year the exception rather than the rule so hence don't push us further down the draft order.

 

 

[Forest Demon 4,681]

The AFL and Barrett are always pushing some sort of agenda. They are trying to soften us up to the inevitable news of GC getting pick 2 imo.

However, no doubt we will post a big loss this year, which is a massive blow after working so hard to get back in the black.

Just have to pray it has nothing to do with player discontent and trade requests. Financial losses we can come back from, but if the players aren’t up for the fight, we are in big trouble.

[Macca 16,963]

3 hours ago, Forest Demon said:

The AFL and Barrett are always pushing some sort of agenda. They are trying to soften us up to the inevitable news of GC getting pick 2 imo.

However, no doubt we will post a big loss this year, which is a massive blow after working so hard to get back in the black.

Just have to pray it has nothing to do with player discontent and trade requests. Financial losses we can come back from, but if the players aren’t up for the fight, we are in big trouble.

I'm not as convinced as some that the club will post a big loss.  Our income streams have taken a hit but the NT & Pokies revenue is/was still flowing through.

At a guess we might post a loss of 500k - $800k which can be corrected going forward.  But there again,  we might not post a loss at all.  I'm more concerned with our on-field fortunes (which effects the bottom line)

The list needs a make-over/do-over ... specifically outside run,  general pace,  kicking skills,  goal-kicking forwards and experience. 

And we almost certainly will need to give up something to get what we need.  If a player or 2 wants out,  we need to use that to our own advantage (rather than viewing that as an automatic loss)  Turn a negative into a positive can always be the mantra when it comes to trading.

There's always a lot of needless speculation when a team goes 5 & 17 but it's my belief that we were only one decent forward short of winning 10 games.  Or if our forward line was functional,  same story.

Our list isn't top 4 material but more so in that area of 9 - 10 wins.  But that 9 - 10 win season is dependant on a forward line that isn't dysfuntional.

If we want to be better than a 9 - 10 win club,  we're going to have to make a number of personnel changes.  Which includes the Football Dept.

 

Footnote:  It should always be remembered that despite the club being largely unsuccessful on the field from 2007 onwards,  the club continued to post profits every year bar one season (2013) 

For confirmation go and read our annual reports (which are readily available) 

Edited August 31, 2019 by Macca

[Deemented Are Go! 3,677]

For those fretting about lost pokies revenue: 

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2018/04/04/melbourne-demons-afl-poker-machines/amp/

We still have 88 machines in operation until 2022; it’s a staggered phase out. 

Of course revenue will be down this year, but the notion that this particular revenue stream is completely gone is incorrect. 

FWIW, I fully support the move away from these insidious financial misery traps. 

 

To digress, Barrett must be having a jolly good laugh reading this thread. His vaguely worded ‘scathing assessment’ in his naff little weekly ‘column’ has stirred things up a treat! ???

 

 

[Sorry kids 635]

25 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

For those fretting about lost pokies revenue: 

https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2018/04/04/melbourne-demons-afl-poker-machines/amp/

We still have 88 machines in operation until 2022; it’s a staggered phase out. 

Of course revenue will be down this year, but the notion that this particular revenue stream is completely gone is incorrect. 

FWIW, I fully support the move away from these insidious financial misery traps. 

 

To digress, Barrett must be having a jolly good laugh reading this thread. His vaguely worded ‘scathing assessment’ in his naff little weekly ‘column’ has stirred things up a treat! ???

 

 

The club’s 2017 financial report put revenue for the year ending October 31 at $51,988,711 and reported ‘social and gaming revenue’ of $11,641,049.

Barrett also said the Club will need to claw back 10 per cent of its revenue once pokies are finished. Am I missing something in the maths here?

Flow on effect will be Bentleigh Club, our assett will be bankrupt and collapse within a year. 

[Redleg 40,903]

37 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

The club’s 2017 financial report put revenue for the year ending October 31 at $51,988,711 and reported ‘social and gaming revenue’ of $11,641,049.

Barrett also said the Club will need to claw back 10 per cent of its revenue once pokies are finished. Am I missing something in the maths here?

Flow on effect will be Bentleigh Club, our assett will be bankrupt and collapse within a year. 

Don't forget what it sits on, which we own. 

[Sorry kids 635]

20 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Don't forget what it sits on, which we own. 

As someone else pointed out, it would likely need rezoning to be sold for housing to realise a decent price. Otherwise it is a useless venue. You ignored the revenue aspect of my post while defending the Bentleigh Club.? 

[Marty 419]

18 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Damien Barret: “I know that there are 3 MFC stars that are going to request a trade in the coming week, the club will post a massive financial loss, key sponsors are fleeing the club, everyone hates the Viney family and Simon Goodwin is going to be sacked before his new contract even starts... I won’t actually write any of this though, I’ll just post a little cryptic note on my weekly run-down.”

Spot on, if Damo even had the slightest whiff of any of this stuff, even from his most unreliable source. That is exactly what he would print. He wouldn’t want to be beaten to the punch by another journalist (sensationalist).

The AFL would not have been happy with our poor effort this year. Had we been battling for top 4 with Rich and Coll. Round 20 and 21 would have been blockbusters. 

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

The rule of thumb for the past decade is that most negative rumours about MFC turn out to be true. 

Edited August 31, 2019 by america de cali

[Mental Demons 136]

while everybodies' the denial is very loyal, the reality is MFC is a basketcase. The club has been totally mismanaged all the time since the last GF. Except for the short period when our mismanagement was so extreme that we went into virtual receivership and were placed under AFL administration. We have managed to revert to our usual style in a matter of months. We do not deserve a priority pick and should lose pick 2 to a team that is in genuine trouble. Poor management should not be rewarded. Nobody here seems to think that theses issues here are tied to poor management. Teams are businesses, no matter how poor the team, the management standards should not fluctuate, that is how businesses go broke. In my opinion MFC is broken and we do not have the skill to pull ourselves out of our troubles. I have been a supporter all my life and my father was a player in the golden age of the mid fifties. It makes me feel like an idiot to support such incompetence. It does not take much of a reporter to compare our reality with other teams' performance. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

10 minutes ago, Mental Demons said:

while everybodies' the denial is very loyal, the reality is MFC is a basketcase. The club has been totally mismanaged all the time since the last GF. Except for the short period when our mismanagement was so extreme that we went into virtual receivership and were placed under AFL administration. We have managed to revert to our usual style in a matter of months. We do not deserve a priority pick and should lose pick 2 to a team that is in genuine trouble. Poor management should not be rewarded. Nobody here seems to think that theses issues here are tied to poor management. Teams are businesses, no matter how poor the team, the management standards should not fluctuate, that is how businesses go broke. In my opinion MFC is broken and we do not have the skill to pull ourselves out of our troubles. I have been a supporter all my life and my father was a player in the golden age of the mid fifties. It makes me feel like an idiot to support such incompetence. It does not take much of a reporter to compare our reality with other teams' performance. 

Of course it is poor management, the whole place fell over as soon as PJ left the building, i do agree it is not a popular view around here and insults do get thrown, but you are entirely correct. Which is exactly why i am against an internal review 

i am looking forward to the AGM. Could get very fiery

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

50 minutes ago, Mental Demons said:

while everybodies' the denial is very loyal, the reality is MFC is a basketcase. The club has been totally mismanaged all the time since the last GF. Except for the short period when our mismanagement was so extreme that we went into virtual receivership and were placed under AFL administration. We have managed to revert to our usual style in a matter of months. We do not deserve a priority pick and should lose pick 2 to a team that is in genuine trouble. Poor management should not be rewarded. Nobody here seems to think that theses issues here are tied to poor management. Teams are businesses, no matter how poor the team, the management standards should not fluctuate, that is how businesses go broke. In my opinion MFC is broken and we do not have the skill to pull ourselves out of our troubles. I have been a supporter all my life and my father was a player in the golden age of the mid fifties. It makes me feel like an idiot to support such incompetence. It does not take much of a reporter to compare our reality with other teams' performance. 

With such a scathing attack (and I am presuming you are targeting the administration) what are the areas where we have fallen down in a matter of months. Is it marketing, memberships or sponsorships? You forget that all targets/budgets would have been based on 2018's performance. Would you or the AFL have seen the car crash coming. Absolutely not and if we had have achieved another finals shot everybody would have been congratulating the Admin. for doing a great job. What did the Admin. do or not do that has you claiming that we "have reverted to our usual style". I can see no reason to blame our current woes on the Administration of the Club. Their membership target should have been achievable if there had been early wins. New sponsors were signed up and old sponsors resigned. New staff were employed to reflect the Club's ambitions for 2019. What more could they have done? Where is the incompetence?

I do believe that there will be significant changes made in the Football Department. However I will look at these changes as necessary after our mind numbing performance and not as ruptured relations within the FD. Everyone will be held accountable and maybe there will be a few heads roll and some resignations but we need fresh eyes and new voices to come in. I had a discussion with other supporters about the fact that at any time during the season did the first 22 play together. We tend to forget that not only did we have the worst list of injuries of all the Clubs but there was never a time that the team really had a chance to play together without playing out of position to fill a hole of another injured player. My other observation is that we have to be able to call on better players outside the 22. Collingwood/GWS has been able to do it and we need to have that capacity as well. With all player operations out of the way, we should be able to bounce back having full preseasons. Could we do a Brisbane in 2020. With a little help from the AFL (as they received) there is no reason why not. (I am though doubtful that the AFL has the same view of a successful Brisbane as they would of a successful MFC.)  I don't think we are broken but at this time the Club will be aware that the more successful Clubs and some journalists will see us being vulnerable and hope to exploit the position we have found ourselves.

[Redleg 40,903]

7 hours ago, Sorry kids said:

As someone else pointed out, it would likely need rezoning to be sold for housing to realise a decent price. Otherwise it is a useless venue. You ignored the revenue aspect of my post while defending the Bentleigh Club.? 

I wasn’t defending the Bentleigh Club and it doesn’t need rezoning. It is ripe for housing development when we pull the trigger.

So, wrong on both points.

Edited August 31, 2019 by Redleg

[Sorry kids 635]

25 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I wasn’t defending the Bentleigh Club and it doesn’t need rezoning. It is ripe for housing development when we pull the trigger.

So, wrong on both points.

The club’s 2017 financial report put revenue for the year ending October 31 at $51,988,711 and reported ‘social and gaming revenue’ of $11,641,049.

Barrett also said the Club will need to claw back 10 per cent of its revenue once pokies are finished. Am I missing something in the maths here?

 

As I said, you refused to deal with the main part of my post. Maybe you cannot work out the contradiction in the two paragraphs above. Clue:  51 and 11. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,449]

I believe Barrett is what plumbers refer to as “sewerage that gets stuck and just smells putrid”.  That’s about right.