mo64

Remembering that the Victory are always playing against interstate teams with very few travelling supporters, I'd suggest that the attendances of actual Victory fans at Telstra Dome games would surpass that of MFC supporters at our home games. Just look at our attendances when we play fellow Vic clubs like the Bulldogs and Carlton. If MFC had better support, there would be no need to sell home games interstate. As for membership numbers, the Victory memberships have been sold on the basis of playing home games at Olympic Park, and the culture of buying memberships to soccer clubs is probably at the level where the AFL was 10 years ago. As far as the 'pecking order', if you look at the media coverage that the Victory get, whether it be press, radio or Pay per view, I'd suggest that it far outweighs most individual Melbourne clubs are getting during the AFL season. MFC definitely don't receive daily coverage in the Age and The HS during the AFL season. And we have yet to see what impact the Asian club championships will have on the Victory brand.

Firstly I'm a MFC and Victory member. It may pain of few people to read this, particularly the 'Soccerphobes', but despite MFC being the oldest football club in the country, the Victory have surpassed it in the pecking order of sporting clubs in this city, and would sit just behind Collingwood and Essendon. They would also have more clout within the chambers of Spring St. The stadium won't proceed without the Victory signing on as a tenant. And why would they, when the proposed 20k seating is 10k less than their average crowds. The only reason why we don't have a home is because past administrations sat on their hands, and allowed Collingwood to get the jump on us with the Lexus centre.

In the words of John McEnroe, 'You can't be serious'!!!! During the off season I've been watching replays of games from last year, and it makes me sick that Godfrey is still on our list. I've never seen a midfielder who is so slow in mind and body when it comes to disposing of the ball. And that is during the home and away season. How would he be in a Grand Final when the tempo is quicker! Old, I gather by this post that you don't rate Sylvia?

We deserve to be treated with scepticism by the football media, public and fans alike. For the past 3 seasons we've been in a position to make the top 4 and have blown it! The excuses and or reasons thrown up by our football department for our failures during the business end of the season are starting to wear a bit thin with the football media. We have achieved nothing since the year I was born. It annoys the crap out off me to read posts on this website about indiscretions by players from other clubs. At the end of the day, it's the deeds of the players on the field that matter. Ben Cousins is testament to that. Talk is cheap. Being the best Victorian club means diddly squat to me. We need to have higher expections, and be more ruthless. As much as it pains me, Essendon has as much chance of winning a flag in the foreseeable future as we have. This is not based on current lists, but of club culture. We sell 2 home games interstate for short term financial gain. If our window of opportunity is now, why are we doing this? At least the Bulldogs have shown the gumption to recruit for the present, ie; Aker and Macdougall, which explains why they're budgeting for a membership of 30k, and receive all the media hype.

Other glaring ommission is dual best and fairest Laurie Fowler. Agree that Alves and Hardeman don't qualify, although they would both in the best 22 during my lifetime. My best 22 in the last 30 years wouldn't be too different to the Ox: B Laurie Fowler Stephen Smith Sean Wight HB Brett Lovett David Neitz Steven Febey C Stephen Tingay Greg Wells Robert Flower HF Cameron Bruce David Schwarz Adem Yze F Jeff Farmer Garry Lyon Gerard Healy Foll Jim Stynes Todd Viney Brian Wilson IC Alan Johnson Jeff White Travis Johnstone Greg Healy