Earlier this week, the Essendon Football Club unveiled their five-year blueprint to deliver a breakthrough premiership and boost membership to 125,000. They outlined their five strategic pillars starting with premierships and then focusing their attention on such concepts as “people, heartland, national footprint and commercial strength”.

But had the framers of this plan — and there’s nothing novel about it because we’ve heard it all before from a number of clubs including our own — attended last night’s Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy presentation, they might have realised that premierships don’t simply materialize out of thin air or merely through the introduction into a club of bells and whistles. 

The common thread of nearly everything that was said throughout the evening, from President Kate Roffey, to Hall of Fame inductee Neale Daniher, to retiring heroes Neville Jetta and Nathan Jones, to coach Simon Goodwin, skipper Max Gawn and the award winning players and all of it was spontaneous, not contrived, was that it’s not just about winning premierships or acquiring 125,000 members. It’s about bringing the right people together to the club through a lot of hard effort and once you do that, then the final by product might bring you a premiership. 

It’s all about developing a culture first.
 

It took a while to get there but we finally did.  Melbourne finally had top people in so many positions. in recruitment, development, fitness and tactics, we seemed to have top people in those positions. Allied to those were a dose of luck with injuries (less for us and more to some of our opponents) and the introduction of an x-factor in Choco Williams to keep people on their toes and introduce a different (in my opinion) point of view. They all came together last year and provided us with players that can now be called Premiership Players.  It was more about getting the right people in, then the end result will hopefully  follow. Seems simple but it took us a long time to get there ....

I think Nibbler, McDonald and Pickett completing our B&F Top Ten is also quite fitting. They are there because of their contribution to the overall result rather than individually stellar season.

Most of our B&F are there because of their teamwork commitment, I'm sure, but it is harder to tell that is the reason when the individual players are also mind-meltingly brilliant!

Meanwhile, the Age reports that about 5000 of the 11,500 eligible Collingwood members voted at their election which decided their next president after more than a year of upheaval. They boast they have an actual membership of more than 80,000 and yet, such a low number are able to vote and a much lower number actually bother to do so. 

I watched the live stream of the B&F for the first time. I reckon as an event, there are a number of things they could improve. But it was great to hear a consistent message, and such personal devotion to the club from one and all. I credit Max and Jonesy with the emergence of this as a cultural foundation.

Clarry is a standout player (I rate him as the best MFC midfielder I have seen) and deserves all the accolades. 

In the post-premiership, post B&F glow, sitting down with toast and coffee after volunteering at Parkrun this morning, I can feel a huge admiration and respect emerging for Alex Neal-Bullen. He has massive respect from the entire 45 player squad, is loved by coaches and the football dept, and is finally leaving behind the whipping boy status that fans repeatedly hung around his neck. 

I really feel like 2021 is behind me now. I will enjoy Christmas and New Year and then switch into the sweat and tears of preparing for the 2022 campaign. I will have my eye firmly fixed non Sparrow - who I think will explode next year, and Sam Weideman who is working harder than ever to take TMac's spot.

Stuff me, I could get used to this Premiers feeling!

 

  On 17/12/2021 at 20:03, Whispering_Jack said:

They outlined their five strategic pillars starting with premierships and then focusing their attention on such concepts as “people, heartland, national footprint and commercial strength”.

 premierships don’t simply materialize out of thin air or merely through the introduction into a club of bells and whistles. 

 it’s not just about winning premierships or acquiring 125,000 members. It’s about bringing the right people together to the club through a lot of hard effort and once you do that, then the final by product might bring you a premiership. 

It’s all about developing a culture first.
 

Something a club that makes it's players sign confidentiality agreements while injecting them with performance enhancing substances should look outside its own walls in order to find.

Despise this lot and its aggressive, arrogant supporters. Would not feel anything but disgust once they finally break the drought.

Heres hoping for a century long wait.

If there's anything that this premiership has shown us all it's that there are many elements that firstly have to be planned then executed correctly over a number of years by many people to taste the ultimate success. They've got the large fan base and training facility but it remains to be seen if they have all the right people inside their four walls to take them all the way. 

I don't know how they are going to get 125,000 members considering they can only realistically get 40,000 members into their home ground each week and like every other club an allocation of 17,500 finals tickets for any final they play in. Where are they going to find an extra 75,000 people to stump up money but not get access to watch them play? Maybe they can introduce an incarcerated supporter package with all the correctional facilities around the state to direct debit a portion of their work money and in return they get a day release visit to The Hangar and a signed Xmas card from Jake Stringer. 

  On 18/12/2021 at 01:07, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I don't know how they are going to get 125,000 members considering they can only realistically get 40,000 members into their home ground each week and like every other club an allocation of 17,500 finals tickets for any final they play in

Interesting figure 125k members.

Only 3 years ago we were amazed by Richmond hitting 100k members.

Memberships have become such a rubbery concept over the years I don't really put much stock in those numbers.

A far better measure would possibly be "reserved seat holders"

  On 18/12/2021 at 01:27, Diamond_Jim said:

Interesting figure 125k members.

Only 3 years ago we were amazed by Richmond hitting 100k members.

Memberships have become such a rubbery concept over the years I don't really put much stock in those numbers.

A far better measure would possibly be "reserved seat holders"

Why would you want to be a member of a club with 125k members? 

  On 17/12/2021 at 23:53, faultydet said:

Something a club that makes it's players sign confidentiality agreements while injecting them with performance enhancing substances should look outside its own walls in order to find.

Despise this lot and its aggressive, arrogant supporters. Would not feel anything but disgust once they finally break the drought.

Heres hoping for a century long wait.

Why just a century?

  On 18/12/2021 at 02:35, Demon Head said:

Why just a century?

My 3 make it 4 most hated clubs in order are

JEERLONG

INJECTIONDON

CARLTANK 

MAGPIES DENTAL CLINIC

  On 18/12/2021 at 03:10, picket fence said:

My 3 make it 4 most hated clubs in order are

JEERLONG

INJECTIONDON

CARLTANK 

MAGPIES DENTAL CLINIC

You left out HAWFORLORN

  On 17/12/2021 at 22:51, Elwood 3184 said:

Meanwhile, the Age reports that about 5000 of the 11,500 eligible Collingwood members voted at their election which decided their next president after more than a year of upheaval. They boast they have an actual membership of more than 80,000 and yet, such a low number are able to vote and a much lower number actually bother to do so. 

Hardly seems like democracy at work. 6%

Edited December 18, 20213 yr by old dee

  On 18/12/2021 at 01:48, old dee said:

Why would you want to be a member of a club with 125k members? 

Eagles and Crows closed off their membership lists at various stages over the years.

Of those 125k members my guess is that 50k will never see one game for the season

  On 18/12/2021 at 04:02, Diamond_Jim said:

Eagles and Crows closed off their membership lists at various stages over the years.

Of those 125k members my guess is that 50k will never see one game for the season

Agree DJ I reckon the number is probably higher. I have a few Tigers members who are friends and they say without their reserved seats they would only be able to attend a few games a year. Their prices keep rising every year. If the Dees get to 65-70k I will be seriously considering my membership, the only alternative will be to go to a higher membership. For an old guy I am not going to watch from Level 4. Just too difficult.

  On 17/12/2021 at 23:53, faultydet said:

Something a club that makes it's players sign confidentiality agreements while injecting them with performance enhancing substances should look outside its own walls in order to find.

Despise this lot and its aggressive, arrogant supporters. Would not feel anything but disgust once they finally break the drought.

Heres hoping for a century long wait.

A century is too short - from someone who stood in Windy Hill terraces

Now there are ramifications and penalties for cheating - look how Carlton have done

The culture of the clubs has become far more paramount since Demetriou left the scene. Under his boy’s club regime, certain clubs were more powerful than others and so the weaker clubs were treated differently. There was a time when if Eddie wanted something, he could muster support from that boys club and he would get things done. The “culture” didn’t inhabit the AFL.

Was that the demetriou that got Jackson in, funded his $$$ requests, then told the MFC board to go sack themselves and got Bartlett in?  If so I am glad we were treated differently.

Ultimately players make the culture of a club.  The club can facilitate cultural growth but some cant distinguish between cow pats and dynamic lifter.

  On 18/12/2021 at 22:25, Jontee said:

Was that the demetriou that got Jackson in, funded his $$$ requests, then told the MFC board to go sack themselves and got Bartlett in?  If so I am glad we were treated differently.

Ultimately players make the culture of a club.  The club can facilitate cultural growth but some cant distinguish between cow pats and dynamic lifter.

I seem to recall that before Demetriou installed Jackson and funded his $$$ requests he knocked back several other requests for help from us and other lowly clubs at the behest of Eddie and Hawthorn and Geelong Presidents that helped their clubs remain at the top while the lower clubs struggled, particularly to allow GWS and GC17 get off the ground. The assistance to us only came when the situation was dire.

  On 18/12/2021 at 01:27, Diamond_Jim said:

Interesting figure 125k members.

Only 3 years ago we were amazed by Richmond hitting 100k members.

Memberships have become such a rubbery concept over the years I don't really put much stock in those numbers.

A far better measure would possibly be "reserved seat holders"

I was a GA member for a number of years and didn't bother with a reserved seat as I liked to stand. When Mrs Dw started attending more than the occasional game I knew we had to move to Level 2 to provide separation from her and opposing fans.

Try buying a Redleg membership now. I agree reserved seat numbers are a better measure than raw member numbers but game day attendance and ultimately revenue is what really counts in being a Big Club. If you look at how much merchandise was sold during and after the finals we are on our way and the likes of Essendon can  go ..........  please themselves.

  On 18/12/2021 at 22:38, Freddy Fuschia said:

I seem to recall that before Demetriou installed Jackson and funded his $$$ requests he knocked back several other requests for help from us and other lowly clubs at the behest of Eddie and Hawthorn and Geelong Presidents that helped their clubs remain at the top while the lower clubs struggled, particularly to allow GWS and GC17 get off the ground. The assistance to us only came when the situation was dire.

With hindsight, excellent call by the AFL

  On 17/12/2021 at 22:51, Elwood 3184 said:

Meanwhile, the Age reports that about 5000 of the 11,500 eligible Collingwood members voted at their election which decided their next president after more than a year of upheaval. They boast they have an actual membership of more than 80,000 and yet, such a low number are able to vote and a much lower number actually bother to do so. 

You gotta be able to read to vote.

Couldn't help myself....