MFC Strategic Plan for Next 4 Years

[Skuit 10,026]

Did the foundations of our past really create the 'Demon Spirit', or was this concept recently created by our marketing dept.? 

Never heard of it - but it seems like we're trying to ape the Bloods Culture or Shinboner business. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,032]

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

Did the foundations of our past really create the 'Demon Spirit', or was this concept recently created by our marketing dept.? 

Never heard of it - but it seems like we're trying to ape the Bloods Culture or Shinboner business. 

The Demon Spirit was created by Checker in the 30s and led to our most dominant period (10 flags in 25 years)

We abandoned that when Smith was sacked and went back to the amateur/silvertail/MCC mindset.

[drysdale demon 4,752]

9 hours ago, TGR said:

The simpletons love this; but in the same breath, they most likely laughed at Richmond's strategic plan.

 

So I take it you love it.

[Mach5 4,766]

The problem is that it’s fine to set lofty targets, but you need some a clear strategy to achieve them beyond simply “winning games”.

Clubs like Richmond have been encroaching on our AFL-allocated territory for years under our very noses and we’ve done little to stop it. Their success is no accident - they have a sophisticated plan and are executing it.

Pert is clueless as to how to build the club and membership base, and has only had moderate success at Collingwood where it has already existed.

The rest of our executive are less than impressive. It hurts to see the way the club is operating and know how much better it could all be done, but not have the time to do so yourself.

[Cards13 9,117]

9 hours ago, TGR said:

The simpletons love this; but in the same breath, they most likely laughed at Richmond's strategic plan.

 

You must have had a big laugh then.

[Kent 2,888]

An operating loss of 1.5 million last year is not a great start!

This is simply a wish list with no strategic plan attached.

I hope we see some strategy spoken of soon or this will be just more fluff for the scrapbook.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

8 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I see a lot of aims but I can't see a lot of strategic planning?

What are the actual strategies that are going to give us an edge? 

Richmond were recruiting for speed for a long time and finally got it together in 2017. Their playing group were also incredibly inclusive, something that spread through the whole club. That's an on field and off field example on how they've built themselves.

Without any details it's more strategic aims than strategic plans

Spot on. First thing I thought also, this isn't a "plan"; this is a set of goals. Perhaps they have more details about the actual strategies behind the scenes, but releasing something so low on detail just increases the skepticism among the supporter base.

[chook fowler 19,330]

Seems more like a wish list than a strategic plan. High on rhetoric and low on detail and substance.

[Dante 2,705]

54 minutes ago, Mach5 said:

The problem is that it’s fine to set lofty targets, but you need some a clear strategy to achieve them beyond simply “winning games”.

Clubs like Richmond have been encroaching on our AFL-allocated territory for years under our very noses and we’ve done little to stop it. Their success is no accident - they have a sophisticated plan and are executing it.

Pert is clueless as to how to build the club and membership base, and has only had moderate success at Collingwood where it has already existed.

The rest of our executive are less than impressive. It hurts to see the way the club is operating and know how much better it could all be done, but not have the time to do so yourself.

Unfortunately I have to agree with you about Pert, I had a fairly lengthy conversation with him last year and was less than impressed, he was still talking about the training ground in the precinct when it was already a dead duck and everyone knew it.

We should do whatever possible to get, no nonsense Peter Jackson back, whatever the cost. I trust him and what he says and if he can't do it he won't promise it.

The problem we have is we are still part of the MCC and, whilst that has some financial benefit, it ties us to the Private School culture which we don't need. All the successful clubs have a bit of bastard in them, but we are just too nice and our players become too nice the longer they are with us.

I want results, not just words that are designed to buy time for those in charge. I applaud the club for their statement, but doubt the capacity of those in charge to deliver.

 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Do people really think the club has just done some dot points and have no plan to go with it?  I mean, take this for example:

18 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Seems more like a wish list than a strategic plan. High on rhetoric and low on detail and substance.

You don't think for a second that the club has far more information, direction etc behind closed doors, and that they are just outlining to members and supporters what we want to achieve in the next four years?

[chook fowler 19,330]

8 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Do people really think the club has just done some dot points and have no plan to go with it?  I mean, take this for example:

You don't think for a second that the club has far more information, direction etc behind closed doors, and that they are just outlining to members and supporters what we want to achieve in the next four years?

i hope so. Time will tell.

[Lord Nev 13,512]

7 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Do people really think the club has just done some dot points and have no plan to go with it?  I mean, take this for example:

You don't think for a second that the club has far more information, direction etc behind closed doors, and that they are just outlining to members and supporters what we want to achieve in the next four years?

I'm sure they do, but they also should know by now the mood of the supporter base and provide more clarity around that because sadly we've heard this all before (Red & Blueprint springs to mind) and none of it has come to fruition.

[McQueen 17,864]

40 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Do people really think the club has just done some dot points and have no plan to go with it?  I mean, take this for example:

You don't think for a second that the club has far more information, direction etc behind closed doors, and that they are just outlining to members and supporters what we want to achieve in the next four years?

Walls and walls of whiteboards and post it notes isn’t going to soothe the crowd. ?

[Pulp Fritschon 710]

You can question the club all you like but the plan as I see it is simple - 

Club - win games

Supporters - buy a membership and turn up 

[Demonland 70,902]

[poita 3,889]

I'm surprised they haven't updated the mission statement while they were at it.

That release is essentially smoke and mirrors designed to distract from the fact that we lost $1.5M last year on the back of record membership numbers and dollars, and the board have absolutely no idea how to generate alternative sources of revenue.

Ultimately they will likely do the same thing they always do - gouge long suffering members with the league's highest membership prices (or near enough to) whilst delivering mediocre on field results. Instead of aiming for 75,000 members, perhaps they could work on delivering value to those that are already here.

The main positives I take out of this are:

1. Goodwin is gone at year end if we don't play finals (and presumably those who extended his contract by 3 years will follow him out the door)

2. The board is gone as soon it becomes clear that they can't deliver on the profit goals, likely when they have to pay out Goodwin.

[I'va Worn Smith 971]

The "meat" of the strategic plan will not be publicly released.  It would be folly to divulge our IP in this regard.  The naysayers are already out in force, mainly due to so many long years in the wilderness.  We must trust in the vision and hope that the players truly are buying in.  Again,  I understand the doom and gloom on the injury list, but I am hoping that Burgess et al are taking a cautious health management approach and most injuries are not long term.

My greatest wish for 2020 and beyond is that I can soon sit back with satisfy and smug smile, as we begin to deliver and shove it up those that love to sink the boots into the Dees.

[whatwhat say what 22,427]

loving the lofty aims of it - much as i loved the tigers' bold planning under o'neal and gale as well - but i want to see results, as do all of us i'd imagine

as @poita said, what's in no doubt is that no finals in 2020, no goodwin in 2021 - stinear will hopefully make finals this year given the strong start to the aflw team's season so should be there next season at this stage

ceo and board role is clear too - they must deliver on getting us a home base and finding new revenue opportunities whilst maximising membership otherwise they're gone by 2023; board has essentially bought itself some extra years, while pert has four years of a five year contract left

would love to see them all pull it off

agree with @I'va Worn Smith - anyone expecting any 'detail' on how they aim to achieve it are asking for far too much - it's more 'strategic aims' than 'strategic plans' but that's exactly what a vision / strategy document is all about

we've just done one at my work and it's the same broad-based statement for public consumption

Edited February 17, 2020 by whatwhatsaywhat

[The Stigga 1,090]

Boy o Boy, wowee...has the temperature been turned up or what for this season?

All over the papers today, main topic of discussion on Whateley on SEN this morning, pressure's on big time...

 

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by The Stigga

[drysdale demon 4,752]

4 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

Boy o Boy, wowee...has the temperature been turned up or what for this season?

All over the papers today, main topic of discussion on Whateley on SEN this morning, pressure's on big time...

 

 

Good

[Laughing Goat 308]

Oh dear....

[Youngwilliam 381]

11 hours ago, binman said:

I would have liked a fith goal - show MFC fans respect by communicating properly (eg about injuries and important events like AGMs)

Fan knowing more about a players injury helps more how? I am starting to understand and prefer the NHL's direction on injuries. NHL clubs only specify Upper Body, Lower Body injuries and you don't have the expert doctors at home giving their 2 cents on how the injury should be treated and how long they should be out for. Also stops future teams targeting that players past injury to take him out of a game.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

1 hour ago, McQueen said:

Walls and walls of whiteboards and post it notes isn’t going to soothe the crowd. ?

It wouldn't soothe me either, Steve.

I can understand why some supporters are finding it hard to get behind this one page of dot points, but I have no doubt the club have a clear plan of how they want to achieve these goals that goes far deeper than what they have shared, and I like the fact that we're aiming high.  We are not starting this strategic plan in 2014 when we just wanted to keep our heads above water.  We have the capacity to do much, much more and I'm happy to see that we are setting higher goals than we would have 5,6,7 years ago.

[Captain_Jack 88]

Nothing resembling a 'plan' or 'strategy' anywhere near this.

This is just a bunch of claims that sound great, tied up with a nice little bow in the claim that 'if' it all happens we be flying and a powerhouse, with lot's more members...

Tell us what you're doing right now. How are things going to be different? When Gale and O'Neill rolled out their plan, they at least started by addressing the shift in culture that was required. Followed up by appointing Balme (who was available because he's been fired by Collingwood's CEO at the time...).

That's a plan, that's action, that get's results.

[AllMyTeamsAreWank 564]

I'm guessing this plan is the member facing version. I'm sure the club has a far more detailed document that outlines the strategy and KPIs. 

I'm personally happy to club has made it public, even if it isn't the whole plan. At least they can now be held accountable.