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Simple Maths Winning increases Memberships

Certainly not something to be sneezed at.

Weid got 20+ touches playing in the ruck and is smashed on here. Frost is spotted in Hawthorn colors and Omac gets whipped on here. It's not great.

I swung by for a brief time late Monday morning. Only a handful still there.Gawn, Brayshaw, Hannan, C Wagner and Chandler completing some fairly serious repetive 100m run thoughs. Bennell was basically alone but fortifying to see him really striding out along the wing with numerous repeat efforts followed by multiple raking 50+ metre drop punts to one of the fitness staff. All class.One can live in hope!

On a non-MFC note, great to see Majak back playing footy!

Not the whole story. Richmond moved to the MCG in 1965 due to Punt road widening and reduction in ground capacity to 22,000. It signalled the start of the professional era, which included pre-season training. Barassi when he returned in the 1980's got the MFC out of the MCC, simply because the MCC refused to provide enough money to run the club in the professional era. ( I don't know that much has changed with the MCC today). Since cricket occupied the ground for 6 months of the year, the MFC was training at all manner of suburban ovals. We weren't thrown off, it was just that the MCC did not recognise that the amateur era was over, and that we needed proper training facilities. Stynes then re-negotiated with the MCC to provide some financial support since 25K of the MCC members indicated that they were Melbourne supporters. They still to this day get to turn up at Melbourne matches " for free". Pert indicated at the AGM that at least 5K of them attend 4 or more Melbourne matches and still do not take out the MFC/MCC option. Or to look at it another way, they probably go to more MFC games than cricket games for their membership, but the MFC gets nothing from them.

I'm going along and being a local resident here's a few tips for food and bevvies. A new Woolies supermarket opened recently three minutes walk away under the new high rise units (which you can't miss) which has a cafe, sushi station, hot pre-prepared food down the back section, a bakery with all the usual stuff you'd find at Bakers Delight and a bottle shop. If that's not enough there's a dog park opposite the supermarket which has a cafe across the road. Further down Macaulay Rd, one minute further, past the Boundary Rd intersection, there's a caf that does burgers, chips, salads etc. You won't go hungry or dry depending on your need. As far as access is concerned, I've always just walked into Arden St.

I still haven’t forgiven Christopher Columbus for discovering America and bringing back syphilis to the civilised world. They could play games in empty stadiums like they do in Europe sometimes. Imagine round one at Optus and no partisan hordes to scream, yell and intimidate umpires. Should put WC right off their game

I like how his initials are RB for Red and Blue with a D in the middle for Demon.

Hope? Not for me. He really does have these great skills and I see him using them in the red'nblue to our great advantage; currently, he is just in a 'refresher' mode at present after re-energising his commitment to football. I'd just like to think that he is relishing and enjoying his new home, and the dwellers within. Recuperation is past, it was just in a timeframe outside the end of one season and the beginning of another. He's going to shock the naysayers and us, as well.

We set the precedent last year which is why there's more attention/awareness about a similar situation this year. Haven't seen many media types that haven't tipped us to bounce back, so clearly it has been seen as an excuse for us. Also, Bombers haven't even played a game yet, let alone finish 17th.

Half the media are Bomber fans.

I remember at the time I had been travelling in India and I was without funds. I found a rotten Durian fruit ,that was hidden under a dog that had been dead for several days in the hot sun.The Durian asked me about Melbourne under Mark Neeld and how we reached such a place in our journey.I explained to the durian that karma had visited us since the sacking of our great guru Norm Smith and that all attempts at re-incarnation since that time had failed.The Durian looked upon me sorrowfully and said with a kind and sincere expression-"You guys stink so bad that all you have left to talk about is the Flower with the enormous heart". The Durian then boarded a very overcrowded bus. "Where are you heading Durian ,with your fecund knowledge?" "To Hawthorn Biff-the reality bus journeys to all places in time".

I have absolutely no facts to base this on so take with a grain of salt but I believe that many people who took out a new, or very lapsed, membership in 2019 did so on the back of 2018 and not being able to secure someone's membership to have access to tickets for the Elimination and Semi Finals (and potentially go into the lottery for GF tickets). I assume many of these new (or lapsed) members took out a membership in 2019 to avoid missing out on the Demon Train. 2019 derailed that train and as a result many people got off at the next station and that will obviously effect 2020 numbers regardless of the year we have. Now 2020 could be a repeat of the 2018 success and there will be people without access to finals tickets. This is good news for 2021 but then there's the old adage of Once Bitten Twice Shy and that's where the sustained success (or Premierships) will need to come into play in order to build towards 70,000 plus. If 2020 is another disaster then ....

Even if we have a good start to 2020 it will be difficult to repair the damage done by 2019 that was gained in 2018. A good finals showing this year will go a long way to restoring the numbers. The only way to reach the numbers Pert is throwing out there is sustained success with at the very least a Premiership (or 2).

Gus says he is playing in the practice match tomorrow Source: horse’s mouth

Only need to ask the NRL if playing games in empty stadiums has controlled any potential outbreaks in their (ir)relevant states.

I’m guessing by “climate cult” you’re referring to the people who side with the 3% of the world’s climate scientists?

The club went with the narrative eventually, as it was a legit excuse, but we a - didn't want to use it as an excuse in the beginning and b - aren't the Bombers, who after the drugs scandal get plenty of love from the media to make up for it. I just see them as a team we should dispatch of easily and move on from in 2020.

Still feel like he is capable of giving us something in the forward pocket.

Soilent Green is on the way

I made this Joke 3 weeks ago.....got nothing

Squad named for North Melbourne practice match 9. C.Spargo 10. A.Brayshaw 12. T.Bedford 18. J.Melksham 20. A.Tomlinson 23. J.Jordon 24. T.Rivers 28. O.McDonald 29. J.Hunt 31. B.Fritsch 32. T.Sparrow 33. O.Baker 34. M.Hore 36. K.Pickett 38. M.Brown 40. C.Wagner 41. J.Lockhart 42. J.Wagner 46. A.Bradtke Eight VFL players to top up the squad. Names in bold played last week. Good to see Brayshaw over his elbow injury and ready to play. Max has said he will be ready for Marsh02. But no sign of May getting a preseason workout. Otherwise our injury list is looking quite good re the top 22-26 players. North Melbourne squad 1. M.Daw 2. M.Williams 3. J.Anderson 6. T.Garner 8. B.Scott 14. T.Dumont 15. P.Ahern 16. A.Bonar 17. J.Pittard 18. S.Atley 19. J.Walker 21. D.Tyson 23. B.McKay 24. S.Durdin 25. R.Tarrant 30. C.Comben 31. C.Taylor 32. M.Wood 34. J.MacMillan 36. J.Crocker 38. T.Xerri 40. T.Murphy 41. M.McGuinness 42. T.Campbell 43. A.Hall 44. C.Zurhaar 46. L.Hosie VFL-listed player Adam Tipungwuti will also be part of the North Melbourne squad, wearing no. 28.

Let's hope it's their only chance as it means both Gawn and Viney stay injury free. And I'm proud to be called Moonie. Like the captains, might be the only chance I get.

I vote for captain Oscar

It isn't the Reserved Seat with GFG members that haven't renewed. These memberships have been 'Wait Listed' (I assume means 'sold out') for a month or two. https://am.ticketmaster.com/melbournefc/reserved-seats#/ I've no idea where our membership will end up but with the Family Day sales yet to kick in, Max as Captain and Petracca starting to fire all bode well for the 'undecided' members from 2019 to re-sign. And ANZAC Eve and QB are Home games this year which should encourage a few extra 3-game memberships. A few good early wins and who knows. Let's wait a few months before making verdicts on 2020 membership level.

I also noticed the highlight reel for Kade Chandler - this is the first time I have seen him in the jumper. I recognised quite a bit about his game, albeit a reel of 'seconds' football or two, nothing in the senior team as yet. Still, my recognition, amongst his peer group of opponents - and with his interaction with teammates, particularly up forward - is distinct in my mind to be very similar to that of Leigh Matthews early on. Except, he has greater pace, is a more accurate kick for goal and seems to run on with the ball in good opportunities up forward. I hope these qualities are being nurtured, and can be seen more easily by regular viewers of his performances to date.

Nah sorry, I get told things that I am trusted to keep to myself, unlike some, so don't like to spoil the arrangement

Agreed, but if we are playing Top Form football from now to, say Round 5 then i think Memberships will be bought. if last Saturday was an aberration then we will struggle, but it didn’t feel that way

Best moment of the ep for me!

Agree, he has a contract, the whole club behind him, proper rehabilitation, everybody just keeping a lid on

Que? Up until Round 5 last year the memberships were flying out the door, they ground to a shuddering halt. Pert is correct, a few wins by Round 5 and the number would have increased, 60000 would have been an easy target by the end of June

And I suppose you great grandfather blamed Spain for the Spanish flu and expected Spainiards to live in poverty forever. (Actually the Spainsh flu is a slander on Spain since news of it was supressed in the UK USA and Germany because of wartime censorship in WWI - didn't want to affect morale in that pointless war. Spain wasn't involved and freely published info about it so they got stuck with the name.)

There is absolutely no doubt that we will be flying and premiership favourites when they cancel the season...

It's the perfect place to superimpose one if and when we do. For now we'll just have to settle for the AFLX Trophy.

It's all Don non-speak for "we're in a rebuild", just don't tell our long suffering fans... If ever a team has earned the Norm Smith curse, it's Essendon. May it be over 50 years till they taste the fruit again...

The start of the new season (yet another). How inspiring is this photograph of Ronald Dale? He is canonised in our hearts, minds and hopes. 'Carna Dees!

Well. There I was thinking this thread was going to be about me.

Forget about this coronavirus. I've heard there's a new threat called influenza that they reckon will kill 3000 Australians in the next 12 months.

I think the fact that they haven't hidden the extent of the injuries has driven the current narrative. If I recall correctly, it was some time before we knew the full extent of the number of injuries/surgeries we had last year that had much to do with our performance. Further, a few close observers who post on this site mused that everything at the time was going ok and we were ready to go at the advent of last years premiership season, when clearly we weren't...

Couldn't get a priority pick though.

Like us sharing a sleeping bag with a homeless drunk on a cold windy night camped under the Bolte Bridge flyover. The only comfort and pleasure is from us sleeping on the lee side of the wind.

At some stage I hope Christian gets questioned by someone that really knows how to put the spotlight on the fuzzy logic he uses. "Mr Christian please explain your definition of a player who is or isn't inconvenienced when being struck on the jaw via illegal contact. In particular would you find a player to have been inconvenienced if they fell to their knees and retched up blood or would they need to spit out teeth? "

Way to go !! really pleased, Go Dees 2020

I work in Docklands, so will finish up at lunchtime, walk to Arden street for the scratch match, then head back to Marvel for our AFLW game vs the Filth and State of Origin after that. Big day!

I reckon he'd be running on empty.

The Kangaroos match will be live streamed.