5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I don’t want to remember it

The Dorks

The whole thing was a disgrace. 

17 minutes ago, dl4e said:

The whole thing was a disgrace. 

Goes to show that our Mfc Boards had little idea how to grow the cub,  because they were all inside the old-club thinking,  that we were the MCGclub,  and that was all we were.   Beholden to the 'G' and to handouts,  because of this.

Even later with Diamond Joe,  we still couldn't decide what,  and/or where we could be based. Caulfield or where.?

 

The Bentleigh club facilities would have been fantastic if located at the Gosch's paddock ovals.

Dave-o’s just itching for a merger. 

1 minute ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Dave-o’s just itching for a merger. 

 

Is this Ohio usa - David's jacket.?

5 minutes ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

 

Is this Ohio usa - David's jacket.?

Oh god, I can’t un-see that now

Edited April 17, 20205 yr by Deemented Are Go!

6 hours ago, Demonland said:

Had the merger gone ahead do you think we would have had the ultimate success?

If we would have had Luke Hodge and Buddy Franklin then yes. Although first we need Croad to trade to Freo.

Edited April 17, 20205 yr by John Demonic

7 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Oh god, I can’t un-see that now

HaHa.  I know exactly what you mean.  Stark isn't he.

Aren't we lucky,  Re Don Scott.   We ought congratulate him...   and get him a Knighthood at the  Queen E's pleasure,  before she caves.

10 minutes ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

HaHa.  I know exactly what you mean.  Stark isn't he.

Aren't we lucky,  Re Don Scott.   We ought congratulate him...   and get him a Knighthood at the  Queen E's pleasure,  before she caves.

And condemn those who railroaded us members with their proxy votes and rigged system (Dallas Brooks hall being far too small for starters)

Ridley was at the helm too which made the whole fiasco even harder to understand.

A Demon great who probably should have stepped aside to let others try and make a go of it.  As it was,  he was eventually replaced and we did make a go of it.

And we're still here. 

7 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

You have to remember that it was an MFC lead merger where Hawks were the target club.It is reasonable to think we would have had the usual suspects leading the club and we would have been the basket case we are anyway. (MFCSS requires no other response.)

 

Exactly.  I thought the merger was a no-brainer to be honest, and history has and will prove this correct from an MFC perspective.  The only issue I ever had was that it would have been the MFC 'we know best mob' that would have moved forward making the same rubbish amateur decisions and hence contaminating any brown and gold.  The real winner really was Hawthorn.  They should thank Donald Scott every minute of the every day.  Legend status is understating his input to that club, on-field, on the board, and stopping the merger.

 

Interesting to note in the latest Newman/Sheahan/Scott, podcast that Kennett was serious with the Melbourne Presidency.  He wanted the "mother of all challenges" and his parents were Melbourne supporters.

18 minutes ago, Macca said:

And condemn those who railroaded us members with their proxy votes and rigged system (Dallas Brooks hall being far too small for starters)

Ridley was at the helm too which made the whole fiasco even harder to understand.

A Demon great who probably should have stepped aside to let others try and make a go of it.  As it was,  he was eventually replaced and we did make a go of it.

And we're still here. 

Our failure is inward thinking,  imv.

Just thinking inside the square and inside the parameters that has always been at the Mfc.  This is why we have mfcss.

 

Our club has to get free of the  'G'.  And build our home base.  Our own HQ,  for the training, offices,  and for the supporters,  to know and feel at home, and feel they belong.... This = Identity.

Its a big part of what we lack.

And it would be ours for all important events,  including those Dallas Brooks Hall type meetings etc.  Which grow to form the history and the fabric of the club.

It's where our historical Photos would be,  our Premiership cups would be,  and our,  hopefully,  Boards would meet. 

This in-turn would alter the style of the Boards,  and would hope we would become a bit more  'Footy Savvy',  from this change of address. 

The stuffiness would get a breath of fresh airing.

 

I believe this would make us more attractive to a wider group of footy minded people,  to get on board the Dee train.

Edited April 17, 20205 yr by MyFavouriteMartian

5 minutes ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

Our failure is inward thinking,  imv.

Just thinking inside the square and inside the parameters that has always been at the Mfc.  This is why we have mfcss.

 

Our club has to get free of the  'G'.  And build our home base.  Our own HQ,  for the training, offices,  and for the supporters,  to know and feel at home, and feel they belong.... This = Identity.

Its a big part of what we lack.

And it would be ours for all important events,  including those Dallas Brooks Hall type meetings etc.  Which grow to form the history and the fabric of the club.

It's where our historical Photos would be,  our Premiership cups would be,  and our,  hopefully,  Boards would meet. 

This in-turn would alter the style of the Boards,  and would hope we would become a bit more  'Footy Savvy',  from this change of address. 

The stuffiness would get a breath of fresh airing.

 

I believe this would make us more attractive to a wider group of footy minded people,  to get on board the Dee train.

Perhaps we just need to win more games dl.

Financially we've posted up profit's in 11 of the last 13 seasons.  With 1 finals appearance in that same time frame.

But to win more games we need to excel at list building.  And to be honest,  we've been amateurish at list building for long periods of time (from the Smith years until when Barassi took over and from about 2004 (or thereabouts) through to when Roos took over)

The latest bout of poor list building still lingers ... we have a dearth of hard-nosed experienced & talented players (late 20's) who can lead by example and show the way.

In 3 or 4 years the current early to mid 20's group (that have talent) will be in their late 20's.  And if we continue to recruit well we'll end up with a more balanced list that can contend.

All the rest of it falls into place if we're run well from the top.

39 minutes ago, Macca said:

And condemn those who railroaded us members with their proxy votes and rigged system (Dallas Brooks hall being far too small for starters)

Ridley was at the helm too which made the whole fiasco even harder to understand.

A Demon great who probably should have stepped aside to let others try and make a go of it.  As it was,  he was eventually replaced and we did make a go of it.

And we're still here. 

It was Hassa Mann and Billy Guest who was driving the merger, Ian Ridley was very concerned By the whole process. I had many conversations with him regarding it and he use to ring me regarding the thoughts and feelings amongst the Redlegs members group.

5 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

It was Hassa Mann and Billy Guest who was driving the merger, Ian Ridley was very concerned By the whole process. I had many conversations with him regarding it and he use to ring me regarding the thoughts and feelings amongst the Redlegs members group.

I remember Ridley being quite vocal and passionate about the merger.  He was all-in on it.

So why would he have a public persona of being the front man of the merger yet have doubts about it and the process?

Doesn't make sense. 

4 minutes ago, Macca said:

I remember Ridley being quite vocal and passionate about the merger.  He was all-in on it.

So why would he have a public persona of being the front man of the merger yet have doubts about it and the process?

Doesn't make sense. 

I am only telling you what I know of the situation and I do not recall him being vocal about it.

Just now, drysdale demon said:

I am only telling you what I know of the situation and I do not recall him being vocal about it.

Ridley was the front man of the merger

And he was quite vocal about it all.  Passionate in fact. 

You've either got a poor memory or you are talking rot.

 

2 minutes ago, Macca said:

Ridley was the front man of the merger

And he was quite vocal about it all.  Passionate in fact. 

You've either got a poor memory or you are talking rot.

 

Not talking rot, as I said Mann and Guest were the main culprits, in the conversations I had with Ridley he was very concerned for the members. I don't really care what you think of that.

Ridley was driving the Merger

I remember the Phone calls from the Club...

5 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Ridley was driving the Merger

I remember the Phone calls from the Club...

No he wasn't. Did you have any conversations with Ridley?

23 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

No he wasn't. Did you have any conversations with Ridley?

Read his book mate, it's called "Urge to Merge"

23 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

No he wasn't. Did you have any conversations with Ridley?

Have a look at any of the News Footage of the day. 
Tiger was Front and Centre. I will bet you a Few $100 on that one dry

i cut many of the ABC News Stories that year on the Merger

The Club rang me at least 3 times over the 96 season to try and get me to vote for a Merger

Bill Guest is a disgrace 

Ridley was very much pro-merger. I remember loads of vision of him urging members to support it. No doubt about that.

3 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Ridley was very much pro-merger. I remember loads of vision of him urging members to support it. No doubt about that.

At Dallas Brooks Ridley was strident in his demand that there be a merger. Bill Guest and "the suits"

 had the numbers and were arrogant and dismissive in their confidence.

Brian Dixon and Joe Gutnick had the passion and the simple response to Ridleys comment that the board had tried to get support from everyone. The simple line "you didn't ask me" and his presentation of a plan completely blind sided the board and the overflowing crowd were rapturous in their support. 

Ridley had the numbers and won the night but lost the fight. This meeting established divisions that soured the club for years and created an impression that was often displayed on the field. Confusion and disconnect were traits that have been carried on to this date.

We need to acknowledge this blight and spur the current generation to display the best attributes of a united cohesive club that will reap the success it deserves.

11 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Can anyone recall the money offer from AFL for a merged team? 

6 million

11 hours ago, TGR said:

Interesting to note in the latest Newman/Sheahan/Scott, podcast that Kennett was serious with the Melbourne Presidency.  He wanted the "mother of all challenges" and his parents were Melbourne supporters.

I often wonder how Kennett would’ve gone as MFC president if the AFL gave it the green light.

During 2013 we were an absolute basket case and things couldn’t get any worse for us.