In regards to Melbourne merging or moving, the one ace we have is that there'll always be a team named Melbourne, so we won't ever be relocated. We also have probably the largest dormant supporter base, even if it has been eroded somewhat by decades of failure.

The goal can't just be survival though, it has to be to thrive, and that takes success on and off field.

Remember, of the top 10 crowds last year, Melbourne were involved with two - vs Collingwood and vs Richmond, the Richmond game being the only non-Collingwood game in the top 10 in 06.

Our woodwork is full to the brim, and the bandwagon gets to be standing room only very quickly when we're rolling. I wouldn't get too despondant in this bad year that we are having.

In regards to Melbourne merging or moving, the one ace we have is that there'll always be a team named Melbourne, so we won't ever be relocated. We also have probably the largest dormant supporter base, even if it has been eroded somewhat by decades of failure.

The goal can't just be survival though, it has to be to thrive, and that takes success on and off field.

Remember, of the top 10 crowds last year, Melbourne were involved with two - vs Collingwood and vs Richmond, the Richmond game being the only non-Collingwood game in the top 10 in 06.

Our woodwork is full to the brim, and the bandwagon gets to be standing room only very quickly when we're rolling. I wouldn't get too despondant in this bad year that we are having.

DD 's intial threat does have merit in regard to the long term position of the MFC. Whilst the current poor on filed results and resulting poor attendances in recent matters adds to the financial and political pressure an improvement inthe on field results alone will not solve or eliminate the risk. Only sustained higher memberships and a larger evident passionate membership will save MFC in long term.

The MFC Administrations back to the start of the 80's worked on the premise that the name Melbourne was MFCs greatest asset and would prevent MFC being merged or relocated. As long as MFC broke even it would outlast clubs like Fitzroy, Nth Melb and Footscray and so would survive the reductionof Vic clubs to 8 ( which is regarded as viable). That view is no longer sustainable especially with amount of dollars in TV rights etc.

The very poor administration prior to the current Admin exposed MFC's position quite dangerously. The current Admin has restored the positon but the underlying weakness in MFC's financial position remains a serious threat.

The major issue is that MFC's viability is entirely dependant on the good will of other parties including the AFL and MCC. As a result of the financial assistance package MFC needed to recover from the debts accumulated by previous Administration and the amount of funds which the AFL will need to kick in to the new home base ( the new square one) will mean that the MFC will be more beholding to the AFL and obliged to do whatever the AFL dictates.

It was a no brainer that when the Roos pulled out of Manuka to be dragged off to the goldcoast which clubs the AFL would make fill the gap. Bulldogs and MFC.

The MFC does not have any restrictions which would prevent the AFL pushing the club to relocate such as the Nth Melbourne shareholders. To that degree MFC is more vulnerable then Nth Melb FC if AFL does not overcome that restriction (as evidenced by Andrew D former N Melb player and lately of the AFL wanting to buy the shares). After all they can take the Melbourne out of the MFC just as they took in out of Sth Melb and Roos and the "scray" out of Footscray FC.

MFC is regarded as having one of the smallest supporter bases. (as noted above wrongly and dormant due to MCC overlap and lack of a premiership for 43 years!)

I share DD's concern and the lack of regular fellow MFC supporters in the reserved seating area (old red seats) in last 4 weeks is very worrying. If the players start winning we may not see them as only next 2 games and last round v Blues are MFC home games at the G!

MFC needs to remain active on all fronts not just on field improvement. Otherwise if mergers arise again the MFC may well be a potential "mergee" and not a "mergor" as it has always been in the past ( re Hawks, N Melb, Fitzroy and Footsc.)

I am firmly of the belief that no more mergers will occur in the AFL...relocations by design or defacto will be the path of choice.

And we are safe...after all how can you relocate melbourne ?? :-))

We have a black-hole in our drafting history around 2000-02.

salary cap punishment anyone?

these punishments don't just hurt you in the short term, we were hit so hard that we wont recover until 10 years after the punishments...we are paying for it now, i think if we had 2 extra key players we would be in a great position but as it stands we have 16-18 good players before we start playing kids and players who should be depth. CAC and ND should be congratulated for how well they've done with list management to have gotten us so close without those players over the past few years...

Come on mate. We're only 5 games out of the 8 with 13 games to go and we were within a kick of beating 2 teams on 2nd highest number of wins. And we've got Whelan, Rivers, Bartram, Bate, Moloney, Yze, Picket, Jamar & Silvia to come back (did I miss anyone?). That's like replacing the half back, centre and half forward lines. (Oh, Ferguson!). And we still might see Newton.

Jamar is no good

So....

At the end of the year before last we all thought we were on a good wicket, then we had last year where it was revealed we had problems, but had a good list, with a fair amount of healthy development in it. I was relatively pleased with the direction of the club, but I have always been fearful for what might eventuate when we have our obligatory "down" period.

Alright, so the fall we had to have came a season or two before it was scheduled to come...

What I would like to hear is peoples' thoughts on the following... My great fear is that MFC is not financially strong enough, and doesn't have the wherewithal to fight off a negatively balanced merger, or even a move interstate. If this is true, over the next few years we may find a new coach, a bit of rebuilding, and you'd think at least 2 more seasons on top of this one where we'll be bottom 4, before we start winning games and winning back fans.

The depression has hit, can MFC survive the swings?

Discuss....

I hate to admit it but over the last couple of weeks this thought has reared its ugly head in my mind to, and i suspect a few others. We have good membership numbers this year but they don't turn up to the games. We have a fickle supporter base. We can't keep paying the AFL 50 large every time we play an interstate team at the MCG. We are struggling as it is. The mere thought of a merger almost makes me do my nut, we helped found the bloody league.