Paul Gardener pre-match speech

[Guest MFC4Life]

I draw your attention to:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/D...px?newsid=57037

and in particular the paragraph:

'We had finished 14th and were still recovering from a 1996 vote where our members agreed to join with Hawthorn and become the Melbourne Hawks … that’s right, as opposed to what the valiant Bulldogs did and North have just decided, we voted to put ourselves out of existence, for a merger or takeover or whatever spin you’d like to put on it...'

Should he have not said instead: 'where our members, who were physically able to vote on the matter, agreed to join with Hawthorn...'?

[Redleg 41,431]

I draw your attention to:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/D...px?newsid=57037

and in particular the paragraph:

'We had finished 14th and were still recovering from a 1996 vote where our members agreed to join with Hawthorn and become the Melbourne Hawks … that’s right, as opposed to what the valiant Bulldogs did and North have just decided, we voted to put ourselves out of existence, for a merger or takeover or whatever spin you’d like to put on it...'

Should he have not said instead: 'where our members, who were physically able to vote on the matter, agreed to join with Hawthorn...'?

If true, I find that statement from our President offensive.

As anyone who was there will attest, the meeting was a shambles, with many members unable to get inside and vote. In addition many votes were cast by people who allegedly had no interest in the club, don't support the club or probably football at all, and were merely named people on memberships purchased allegedly by a Director of the club.

Considering the importance of the vote and the decision sought to be affirmed I found this allegation at the time disgusting and still do.

It was not a proper vote and should not be referred to again in my view. It is used in the context of belittling Melbourne members.

I have often heard that we should look forward and I agree, but especially not look in the past to a shameful meeting/vote.