Whatever you might want to say about Patrick Smith, he appears on the button when he says that Steve Harris' replacement will have a Demon of a job.

As hard as it might be to take, we have to face up to the fact that we remain at a crucial stage in our history in this our 150th year.

"In this birthday year, Melbourne must decide whether it is 150 years old or 150 years young. The new CEO must be innovative, for the traditional money streams have been locked away by other clubs.

China is a risk but it may pay off some time deep into the future. More immediate money must be raised. Melbourne must squeeze more out of its games at the MCG. Everything fundamental has to be done correctly.

The football department must be run at full capacity. The salary cap paid to the full, every player improve, every coach contribute. It must toughen its culture, must demand respect. A new direction for the club must be charted, boldly but safely.

Melbourne might be 150 years old but it remains just one more mistake away from misery."

Whatever you might want to say about Patrick Smith, he appears on the button when he says that Steve Harris' replacement will have a Demon of a job.

As hard as it might be to take, we have to face up to the fact that we remain at a crucial stage in our history in this our 150th year.

"In this birthday year, Melbourne must decide whether it is 150 years old or 150 years young. The new CEO must be innovative, for the traditional money streams have been locked away by other clubs.

China is a risk but it may pay off some time deep into the future. More immediate money must be raised. Melbourne must squeeze more out of its games at the MCG. Everything fundamental has to be done correctly.

The football department must be run at full capacity. The salary cap paid to the full, every player improve, every coach contribute. It must toughen its culture, must demand respect. A new direction for the club must be charted, boldly but safely.

Melbourne might be 150 years old but it remains just one more mistake away from misery."

Fair call by Patrick Smith. Now is not the time for spin-doctoring by those at the top. Now's the time for Paul Gardiner to come out and say it as it is.

Certainly a sobering article.

So if Brayshaw and the Roos are out seeking sponsorship, travelling Australia for donations and setting up an $8 million investment fund, why aren't we resorting to similar desperate measures. I hope our board isn't one of complacency who simply believe that we have the divine right to be in the AFL just because our name is 'Melbourne' and rely on the handout from the AFL for the next 20 years.

Certainly a sobering article.

So if Brayshaw and the Roos are out seeking sponsorship, travelling Australia for donations and setting up an $8 million investment fund, why aren't we resorting to similar desperate measures. I hope our board isn't one of complacency who simply believe that we have the divine right to be in the AFL just because our name is 'Melbourne' and rely on the handout from the AFL for the next 20 years.

I dont think the Board believes that unlike some of MFC's supporters.

How do you MFC are out there seeking sponsorships like the Roos.

BTW, there is alot of spin surrounding the Roos, they are along way off being self suffiicient and they are barely scraping the surface of what has to be done.

I think every CEO appointment has been important for MFC for the last 13 years or so when it was realised by the Board back then how unfinancial we were. It would appear we have not got the CEO appointments right. We need to get the right choice now.

Well I for one am going to have faith..

Ol Preacher did a plodders job.. neither here nor there in the end.. it was deemed time for him to move on and the club went about its job of finding a new coach.. wasnt rushed.. they thought about it..and seemingly have got a good'en in Bailey.

They ave instigated the search for a new CEO weeks ago..they are already looking.. I expect a similar result in a new Dynamcally thinking CEO.

People write this club off a bit quick !!

Its not by accident we've been here the longest !!!

Smith article is full of fluff really... bit like saying a swimmer it going to get wet...all statements of the obvious. What is he saying that the reasoned aongst us dont already understand.

picture a journalist who knew nothing about the demons and re-read the quotes above.

Patrick Smith is a tool and is just writing to fill space on this one. Could he fit in any more general motherhood statements?

I think we need to get ship shape, pull up our socks, go full steam ahead...blah blah blah.

I believe in free speech except for that [censored] and wish he could never publish.

I happened to hear a snippet of Greg Denham on KB's show yesterday.

He said that a side issue of Harris' departure was Paul Gardners idea to remove the Demons logo by way of the supposed china link but was more correctly due to being proactive in getting ready for a merger. He said that it was clever thinking by PG.

He then immediatley said it was a large topic for another day. KB let it go with that. They then went to talkback about the Harris departure and I had to turn off.

Im surprised no-one else has brought it up or else they have and I missed that topic

I happened to hear a snippet of Greg Denham on KB's show yesterday.

He said that a side issue of Harris' departure was Paul Gardners idea to remove the Demons logo by way of the supposed china link but was more correctly due to being proactive in getting ready for a merger. He said that it was clever thinking by PG.

He then immediatley said it was a large topic for another day. KB let it go with that. They then went to talkback about the Harris departure and I had to turn off.

Im surprised no-one else has brought it up or else they have and I missed that topic

I heard everything Greg Denham had to say, and his ' logo merger' comment was a mischievous attempt at humour. He was actually very positive about our new football department.

"In this birthday year . . ."

Sorry to nitpick, but isn't every year a birthday year?

picture a journalist who knew nothing about the demons and re-read the quotes above.

Patrick Smith is a tool and is just writing to fill space on this one. Could he fit in any more general motherhood statements?

I think we need to get ship shape, pull up our socks, go full steam ahead...blah blah blah.

I believe in free speech except for that [censored] and wish he could never publish.

agree, he's the most arrogant tossbag going around

agree, he's the most arrogant tossbag going around

Speaking of "....the most arrogant [censored] around " , I wonder if Ian Johnson's name is being mooted again to head the club he loves .

Sorry to nitpick, but isn't every year a birthday year?

Ha - that made me laugh...