Jump to content

The Spectre of Private Ownership Looming Over AFL

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

Whoever ensured our survival.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Whilst I don't think private ownership is anything more than a media driven rabbit hole at this stage in a world of privately owned clubs I'd still like to think we'd be the Green Bay Packers of the competition. Supporter owned and not the latest plaything of some oligarch or middle east state that's big on oil but poor on human rights. Would we end up with a competition that's dominated by the rich or would it be like the A League where owners are disgruntled and frustrated by salary caps and a lack of a say in it's running? 

  • Quote
    •  

    We could be Geoffrey Edelsten’s plaything or maybe Clive Palmer’s!

    No Thanks

    I like the idea of being a member of a publically owned footy club!

  • Quote

    •  

    The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

    One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

     

    A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

     

    Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    8 minutes ago, TGR said:

    The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

    One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

     

    A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

     

    Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

    Just lie back on your bed and admire that moniker of yours o your bedroom ceiling  and dream away.

  • Quote

    There's as much chance of a privately owned AFL club as there is of Geoffrey Edelsten inventing a cure for Corona Virus and bringing Christopher Skase back to life.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2
    • Haha 2
    12 minutes ago, Tony Tea said:

    There's as much chance of a privately owned AFL club as there is of Geoffrey Edelsten inventing a cure for Corona Virus and bringing Christopher Skase back to life.

    Funny you say that, I heard

  • Quote

    Recipe for disaster and the end of the AFL. Australia doesn’t have enough billionaires with the discretionary money and the few who might take it on will be like most business luminaries, around for the good times but go missing in action as soon as things get tough. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    17 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

    Recipe for disaster and the end of the AFL. Australia doesn’t have enough billionaires with the discretionary money and the few who might take it on will be like most business luminaries, around for the good times but go missing in action as soon as things get tough. 

    When the Tough get going...  the Rich't have already left.

    Edited by MyFavouriteMartian

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Private ownership is the one big thing I hate about US sports. I just don't get it. We would no longer be members but season ticket holders. If you get saddled with a bad owner (like Woody Johnson and his sons for my NY Jets) or one who thinks he can dictate to the coach and GM like Jerry Jones at the Cowboys you're absolutely screwed and there's nothing the supporters can do about it. Not only that but they'll be looking at more and more ways to gouge money from supporters, say goodbye to GA tickets.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Could you imagine an owner listening to a  MMalthouse  who wanted 12 interchange bench,  and 5 mermaids per team.

    The game would change,  to some unwanted alien thing for international tv alone.

  • Quote

    it's just a beat up news story with zero foundation

    come back when some billionaire actually makes a move....then, it might be newsworthy

  • Quote
    2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

    or one who thinks he can dictate to the coach and GM like Jerry Jones at the Cowboys you're absolutely screwed and there's nothing the supporters can do about it. Not only that but they'll be looking at more and more ways to gouge money from supporters, say goodbye to GA tickets.

    Agree Doc.

    Do the Cowboys even need a GM with old mate Jerry running the show?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    17 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Agree Doc.

    Do the Cowboys even need a GM with old mate Jerry running the show?

    Jerry Jones is the GM for the Cowboys BBP ... doesn't work either.  And he won't be relinquishing the role in a hurry.

    On the other hand Belichick is the GM for the Patriots as well as the head coach.  And that does work.

    As for private ownership in Oz.  It's just the wrong fit.

    Even if we had enough billionaires who might be interested,  it would be more like a hobby for them rather than an entity that makes lots of money.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    15 hours ago, TGR said:

    The spectre of mergers is looming over the AFL.

    One club will merge with GC.  One with GWS.  One might link with Tassy.

     

    A game person to punt on the Melbourne Demons, North Kangas, St.Kilda Saints and Western Bulldogs existing as they are in 2023.

     

    Don Scott better grab that velco hawk from his bottom drawer.

    Careful Tugger.

    Heard of the phrase 'the bigger they are the harder they fall'?

    Your beloved Tigers might hit the bottom hard.

  • Quote
    • 2 weeks later...
     
    35 minutes ago, Demonland said:

     

    I'm not sure who would want to invest in a club that's losing money and never likely to turn a profit but I guess stranger things have happened.

    At least the AFL won't have to sink any more money in.

    People mistake their current on ground success with ongoing viability.

    Once this success, their window closes, then it's a tough road for GWS.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: West Coast

      It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 198 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Thanks
      • 181 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 563 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All