Our Board....

[DemonTux 97]

This probably getting ahead of my self but I would like to thank Gardner Harris and Co for how they have conducted themselves since coming to power.

From a management perspective I cant fault anything that they have done. Obviously the jury is out on the results of some decisions but the in devour an how they have handled them selfs has been outstanding.

Thoughtful methodical and to a point daring and outside the box approach to our 2 most recent recruits (Dean and Chris) from an out sider's perspective not only seems to be an exciting right fit but also something that would not be expected from previous administrations.

This hand in hand with "Team Melbourne" trying to get an exhibition match in asia just leaves me excited about what they have in store for us in our 150th b-day celebration year!

Again, Gardner Harris and Co keep up the good work and I wish you (us) many stable years to come!

[mikeod 21]

Something else that gets me excited is the Chinese initiative.

The club needs to recruit new support, and this is doing it.

Did anyone else see the hundreds of Chinese students, with there Australia Post showbags attending the game - many wearing Melbourne 07 scarfs?

[Gorgoroth 12,950]

Sorry i didn't see them, i was too inrtersted in the car wreck, i mean game that was being massacred, i mean played in front of me.

[AzzKikA 2,371]

Many many many games this year there have been Chinese people that look to be tourist at the game.

[sickto 0]

Yes it is good to priase but please don't just gloss over the board's less than great record in other areas.

When looking at performance you can't ignore the abnormally high staff turnover in the adminsistration area. In any business this would be ringing alarm bells regarding a level of incompetence in either the management of the staff once employed or the recruitment process. And from what I hear another staff member quit this week.

Another glaring issue is the financial position of the club. It appears that we will either be in the negative or just in the positive at the end of this year - and that includes over 2 mil from the AFL. So in reality we have gone backwards to the tune of approximately $2 mil.

IF the report on Sunday is true we have also asked the AFL for an advance on our projected earning for 2008 to help prop us up this year so we can meet some of our commitments.

All the financial issues illustrate a reliance on on field performance to support the club financially. What is going to happen to us in the next couple of years while the new coach is rebuiding? Noone is predicting ultimate success in the next coupleof years so does that mean another couple of years of financial probelms? Until steps are taken to ensure the financial strength of the club independant of the on field situation we will continue to struggle with good years and bad years. One step forward and two steps backwards. This does not promote stability for the club.

This board has had political stability for years and yet they have not managed the club efficiently to provide it with financial stability - which should have been a priority. The club is seen as a basket case within the AFL. We only survive because of handouts from the AFL. Gardner and many others were on the board when Zsondy lost 2 mil. There was an uproar of members but ultimately they were toothless as they voted back the same incompetents to continue running the club in the name of stability. Well it's happening again and I guarantee some membrs will be angry and worried but the conservative majority will reward the incompetence and the club will continue to struggle into financial oblivion.

[Geddy Lee 582]

Many many many games this year there have been Chinese people that look to be tourist at the game.

Spoken like a Chinese tourist!

[deanox 9,915]

Spoken like a Chinese tourist!

haha i thought the same thing!

[deanox 9,915]

...

interesting but i think you are taking a very pessimistic look at things. gardner and co havnt lost us 2 mil this year. we are down about a mil on expected profit, but there are heaps of factors involved including injuries, player payments and poor crowds.

you say we need our financial stability to be independent of our on field performance? i agree, but unfortunately we are currently in debt. you need to spend money to make money - you need capital. at the moment we havnt got capital to spend. once we get in a position with a positive bank balance, we will see an improvement in the clubs position as it can then afford to invest.

the 'handout' from the afl is interesting. collingwood get 17 games at the g. interstate clubs have sell outs at their grounds every week. geelong can sell seats at skilled for exorbitant prices. we dont have those high income streams. in this way the afl helps even it out.

i am concerned about the staff turnover however.

[AzzKikA 2,371]

You no likely the way i talkie????

I knew what i meant and thats the important thing

[_becks_ 35]

Reply to sickto

As we are not an Essendon, Collingwood, Richmond or Hawthorn it is hard to have constant financial success.

These clubs have massive memeberships, probably around 10,000 more than what we do, even Carlton had around 35,000 members this year i think.

When you have that many members it means that more people attend the games and that the sponsors can reach a larger audience. Therefore the big clubs would most likely recieve better or more sponsorship deals.

The club had a shite year of course that is going to effect the bottom line.

On the Plus side they've finally got us a administrative home and have started new initiatives such as China and the breast cancer game. By doing this they are trying to reach a larger audience using Gardners marketing skills.

I'm sorry but i think you are being far too harsh on Gardner and co.

In saying this i am also a little concerned by staff turnover.

[sutti 0]

started new initiatives such as China

Good on them for the initiative but is it really going to make us any money at all, maybe a little - China is not an AFL market, Chinese people arn't going to fly to Melbourne to watch us play every week. I highly doubt that it will make us any huge money in the long run.

The bottom line is we wouldn't survive unless the AFL gave as that $2 mil each year, oh and everyone should be worried because I remember reading in one of the AFL's reports that they are slowly planning to cut that amount in the future.

If it wasn't for our name - the "Melbourne Football Club" I'm sure we would be up on the sunny Goald Coast at the moment.

The only people we can really blame for our financial troubles is our supporters who are not members. 28K is a shocking figure for the oldest club in the league and the second oldest footy club in the world. I can't believe we didn't get more MCC members sign up with the $50 deal. I understand that some people struggle with money, but surely if you can set a side $550 for MCC membership you can let go $50. We really should have around 35 - 40K in members. How can a guy like PG not get our numbers up like this, especially when we did all right in 04/05 - with all his *marketing skills* he should have got it up to 30K shouldn't he? I can't remember any awesome new marketing initiatives that the club introduced ... remember those Hawthorn adds with Pete Rosethorn .... we never had any campaigns like that. Or are my expections of our Pres to high?

On the Plus side they've finally got us a administrative home

Very true, can't wait to this place actually starts to get build.

Gardner and many others were on the board when Zsondy lost 2 mil.

Serious? How the hell does that happen. I don't even know/remember what happened with the how Snozzy thing ... I was only about 12 I think.

Sorry if I'm sounding too harsh and negative but these are just my opinions.

Thoughts?

Go Dees :D

[Zinko 0]

Yes it is good to priase but please don't just gloss over the board's less than great record in other areas.

When looking at performance you can't ignore the abnormally high staff turnover in the adminsistration area. In any business this would be ringing alarm bells regarding a level of incompetence in either the management of the staff once employed or the recruitment process. And from what I hear another staff member quit this week.

Another glaring issue is the financial position of the club. It appears that we will either be in the negative or just in the positive at the end of this year - and that includes over 2 mil from the AFL. So in reality we have gone backwards to the tune of approximately $2 mil.

IF the report on Sunday is true we have also asked the AFL for an advance on our projected earning for 2008 to help prop us up this year so we can meet some of our commitments.

All the financial issues illustrate a reliance on on field performance to support the club financially. What is going to happen to us in the next couple of years while the new coach is rebuiding? Noone is predicting ultimate success in the next coupleof years so does that mean another couple of years of financial probelms? Until steps are taken to ensure the financial strength of the club independant of the on field situation we will continue to struggle with good years and bad years. One step forward and two steps backwards. This does not promote stability for the club.

This board has had political stability for years and yet they have not managed the club efficiently to provide it with financial stability - which should have been a priority. The club is seen as a basket case within the AFL. We only survive because of handouts from the AFL. Gardner and many others were on the board when Zsondy lost 2 mil. There was an uproar of members but ultimately they were toothless as they voted back the same incompetents to continue running the club in the name of stability. Well it's happening again and I guarantee some membrs will be angry and worried but the conservative majority will reward the incompetence and the club will continue to struggle into financial oblivion.

Seconded.

[mikeod 21]

Seconded.

Disagree.

Its not about getting Chinese people in China coming over.

Its about getting the massive Chinese community IN AUSTRALIA behind the Demons...

There are 182,550 people of Chinese descent living in Victoria alone - this is a supporter base the club is trying to tap and I think it would be a fantastic thing. After they get interested in the game, they start buying merchandise and hopefully membership.

It is a step in the right direction.

[deanox 9,915]

How can a guy like PG not get our numbers up like this, especially when we did all right in 04/05 - with all his *marketing skills* he should have got it up to 30K shouldn't he?

disagree with those statements regarding membership. we have record membership, and would have cracked 30K this year if we had of one one or two early games.

our membership had an increase of something like 16%. do you expect it to double in 12 months?

[beelzebub 23,369]

Something else that gets me excited is the Chinese initiative.

The club needs to recruit new support, and this is doing it.

Did anyone else see the hundreds of Chinese students, with there Australia Post showbags attending the game - many wearing Melbourne 07 scarfs?

I must admit this is indeed intriguing. A few of us we re discussing this a few years back on this forum. funny thing was most thought it a joke.. but its not.

I dont know who it is ( from MFC ) thats reading all this.. but you're more than welcome to continue to nick our ideas !! hehehe.

I still reckon there is somethig to be had with a sort of "International" membership. All sorts of things you could include.

A sshowbag of sorts. The usual stuff..( probably made in China...lol ) Scarf / Hat.. that sort of thing. maybe even a cheapy ball.?? Give them a voucher for one or two home games should they get to our shores. Give them a decent discount on some Offical goodies.. Seats, tops...trackies etc. .

This needs to be aimed at the new markets...These being China.. Japan ( never a wackier sporting nation to be had !! ). Africa needs to be looked at.. but in a more sponsoring manner.

There are only 21 Million in Oz...there are f'n Billions out there !!!!. The internet can bring target audiences and potential markets to your doorstep.

Melbourne has a Unique Brand.... we are Melbourne ))))))) no one else ever can be. This is our leverage going forward. With the Melbourne consortium coming online its really looking exciting.

love to know what the club is cooking up.

Keep up the efforts MFC !!

[Choko 493]

I think it has to be seen as one of the best administrations we have had in our history. I think the following are some of the great achievements:

We will have a home - they promised it, they will deliver it. And it will be state of the art. By 2010.

Team Melbourne is a great branding initiative from which we will see fruits into the future.

Stability at board and executive level.

Having an ex-senior coach as head of footy is a major get.

Record membership

Chinese initiative

Inclusion of formerly disenfranchised members

I think the next challenges are financial independence (especially with a view to never having to sell home games ever again), 10K more members and the right supports in the footy dept.

[sickto 0]

I think it has to be seen as one of the best administrations we have had in our history. I think the following are some of the great achievements:

We will have a home - they promised it, they will deliver it. And it will be state of the art. By 2010.

Team Melbourne is a great branding initiative from which we will see fruits into the future.

Stability at board and executive level.

Having an ex-senior coach as head of footy is a major get.

Record membership

Chinese initiative

Inclusion of formerly disenfranchised members

I think the next challenges are financial independence (especially with a view to never having to sell home games ever again), 10K more members and the right supports in the footy dept.

Choko I think history will view it a little differently.

Yes we will have a new home - but at what cost? Presently we pay concessional rates of rent to the MCC for our facilities. When we move into our new home we will have to pay full rent for the facilities which means we wil have to make sure we have the increased annual revenue to afford the high rent on the office space and of course the money up front to help pay for the facilities.

As far as increasing membership from the Team Melbourne marketing strategy the figures from the other codes will be limited. Most of the supporters of Netball, Soccer and Rugby living in Melbourne will already have an AFL team they support and will therefore, not change to become an MFC member. Some of our members may become more involved in the Storm or the Victory but very unlikely that will be recriprocated.

The Chinese initiative is also interesting. Yes there are many Chinese students living in Melbourne that does not mean they will become interested enough in football to become a part of the MFC. Part of the culture is to only invest in things that will bring a return. They will spend money on education as they see a return on their investment. Membership of a football club is not seen in the same way. The parents of these students are spending thousands of dollars to send their children here to be educated, do you think they'll gladly give them more money to join a football club that isn't even soccer? They may purchase a bit of merchanise but that's not repeat, committed business.

Yes we have stability at board level but that's because we have not had an election for over 3 years. We have board appointments not democracy. And we have financial instability still even though we have had political stability. What does this say about the people running the club? So far we have a lot of future could be's and limited present certainties except financial problems.

[sutti 0]

disagree with those statements regarding membership. we have record membership, and would have cracked 30K this year if we had of one one or two early games.

our membership had an increase of something like 16%. do you expect it to double in 12 months?

No, not at all. I'm saying how wasn't this capatalized in 04/05/06 when we had relatively good seasons?

2004 25,252

2005 24,220

2006 24,698

I'm not trying to blame it on PG ... its the supporters fault in the first place but its up to the club to attract the supporters with campaigns and the like.

Yes there are many Chinese students living in Melbourne that does not mean they will become interested enough in football to become a part of the MFC.

Exactly, how many people down at Springvale will really get interested and become members of MFC. You hardly see any Chinese people at the footy anyway - hows a club that finished 14th and hasn't won a premiership meant to entice this anyway? - They struggle to sign up Victorian footy followers that have been watching the game for their whole life.

[beelzebub 23,369]

I think you'l lfind the Chinese initiative is aimed far beyond the thousands of Chinese students here. its aimed at....CHINA !! you know that place with more than a handful of people ...lol

MFC have tours lined up for commercially orientated types. They are looking forward to th exhibition game to be played at some stage in China..in Shaghai I think.

The Chinese are sport mad ( spectating etc as well) if you could even get a little bit, of a little bit, of a little bit of the Chinese market for following sports of foreign codes etc ...then you are looking at a sizable number. The city of Melbourne has a reasonable profile in China ..as big if not bigger than Sydneys actually. If the club can piggy back this in some manner, well it could generate a bit of interest and a bit of moula !! :-)

[Choko 493]

No, not at all. I'm saying how wasn't this capatalized in 04/05/06 when we had relatively good seasons?

2004 25,252

2005 24,220

2006 24,698

I'm not trying to blame it on PG ... its the supporters fault in the first place but its up to the club to attract the supporters with campaigns and the like.

Exactly, how many people down at Springvale will really get interested and become members of MFC. You hardly see any Chinese people at the footy anyway - hows a club that finished 14th and hasn't won a premiership meant to entice this anyway? - They struggle to sign up Victorian footy followers that have been watching the game for their whole life.

It's very easy to bag ideas from the sidelines.

I think the Chinese initiative has to only have limited success for it to be beneficial. And I would always take a board that did something and made some mistakes over one that did nothing. And the fact you don't see many Chinese at the footy is proof of the growth opportunity. Second generation Chinese maybe, etc...

If you personally have better ideas, the club has always been open to receiving them in my experience.

In terms of Team Melbourne, it's not just about supporters of the other codes coming across. It's about the marketing presence of a few teams contributing to a brand, and the possibility to leverage both the name of our great town and the memberships of all the organisations involved. It is a fabulous idea, and high time we capitalised on the name of our club.

[sutti 0]

It's very easy to bag ideas from the sidelines.

I think the Chinese initiative has to only have limited success for it to be beneficial. And I would always take a board that did something and made some mistakes over one that did nothing. And the fact you don't see many Chinese at the footy is proof of the growth opportunity. Second generation Chinese maybe, etc..

So you really think that this whole Chinese thing will be sucessfull? Do you really think that this will turn our financial troubles around? Because I can't see anything else that will if this fails. Good luck to them to try and make it a success though.

If you personally have better ideas, the club has always been open to receiving them in my experience.

Yep, I've done that before - sent an email to PG, never heard anything back.

[beelzebub 23,369]

Part of the team Melbourne objective and benefits is vastly reduced overheads due to shared resouces.

Yes we pay a pittance at moment for our facilities.. given the facilities thats ALL you'd pay surely !!!!

You want to go forward...you invest ..simple as that.

The MFC board wil no doubt make a few furphies.. bound to... any organisation will hit fouls as well as homers. But if you dont make a concerted effort to address shortcomings ( and incomings..lol ) then you are dead in the water.. all over red rover !! The board has seen some semblance of opportunity and I will imagine have done some looking into it before committing...and well are rolling the dice.

nothing ventured , nothing gained

I dont think the board seeteh Chinese experiment being tehe be al and save all solution.. .just part of set of endeavours and initiatives.

[Jonesy is the next captain 0]

I didnt agree with the board's handling of Rev, however regarding the financial side it is too early to tell. For those who dont know footy clubs have an altered financial year so their year doesnt end until 31 October so at this point there is some way to go. The auditors then have to get in there and check everything is in order which generally means we are working Melb Cup day, then the financials will be released about mid November so lets not get ahead of ourselves.

I am interested to see this years considering we had a rubbish year and compare it to this year. Hopefully we can build some $$$ and make some investments, lot of the other clubs even those with not so much dough have their fingers in lots of different pies.

[Dalrot 85]

The Chinese thing will get us nowhere at all. Waste of time and money.

Im not sure why so many posters give it a chance.

[sutti 0]

however regarding the financial side it is too early to tell. For those who dont know footy clubs have an altered financial year so their year doesnt end until 31 October so at this point there is some way to go.

I don't think its to early to tell at all ... we had a shocking season on the field this year which is ultimately were all our money comes from. I get that the club's reporting season goes to October, but how and where would the money come from after the seasons is finished? Late membership fees?

Anyway I remember PG saying mid season that we would properly make around $200K for the year ... which I think is pretty good looking at our crap season.

Im not sure why so many posters give it a chance.

Same here, waste of time.