Rhino Richards

No by you it seems. This list is younger than MFC lists of the past three years. Its far younger than any other list in the competition. Bailey has said continuously its about getting at least 50 games into young players. Your expectation that this year is not about development is naive. We would all like more wins on the board. But it may, may not be the case. And if injuries mount like they are to key players then MFC are going have a set back. Its not about "Righto boys you have had your year of development, now go out and win some games". You say you understand the issue of PATIENCE but your point of view does not reflect it.

Do you actually know the facts behind it? And the moneys involved? If think MFC can do that, call the Club and give them the wisdom. See lack of success. Any sponsorship we can get is good. But the Volvo deal is small beer against the Tassie deal that the Hawks get. Its all bottom line revenue and its significant. Volvo is not in their league $$$ wise and MFC does not have the brand power to demand more. China is pie in the sky...It might hold something for MFC...then again it might not....Dont hold your breath on it.

In reflection given the 43 years of drought and the 3 years of hell we have endured our membership has grown steadily. The Hawks even at their darkest moments of the past decade had: 1. A terrific legacy of success from 1971 to 1991 (8 Flags, 11 GFs) where they developed and matured a galaxy of stars. All the supporters they would have pulled then are now affluent 30+/40+ something who are the backbone of their membership today. Even at their worst they have always had at least 30,000 members. 2. They were blessed by the Saints on two occassions. a) When the Saints pulled out of Waverley to go to Darklands and Moorabbin. Hawks handed toop class training venue on a platter. b ) When the Saints (again!) pulled out of playing games in Tassie that the Hawks got 100% of a goldmine of sponsorship deal (with no sponosrs contras) which has yielded them Tassie members (5k). 3. List management - Generous PP system that has since changed. Good draft picks in quality years (99,01 and 04). Two excellent trades. The websites are owned by Telstra(?) and I find the websites about as informative as a Hun front page. Unfortunately the club is tied to that deal. I think given the difficult parameters that MFC is in, the Club realise there aren't ready breakout opportunities but a number of smaller initiatives that will take time to pay dividends. Next time try a get to a Club function and see if you can corner a MFC director and enquire of the challenges and the strategies going forward. I hardly think their strategy is something they will blaze in public.

Our membership support has improved in recent years but for some time and as a legacy of this the level of viable member facilities given we are part user/tenant of the MCG.My comments are not meant to be a criticism of the current membership team who to the best of my knowledge do perform a good job. I have had no issue. MFC is not a prime (or premier) brand and we have struggled to obtain sizeable and lucrative sponsors. Sponsor both provide profile for the brand, revenue for the Club which in turn can be used to improve financial stability, player support and facilities, membership facilities and alignment etc..........

You assume the Club (both current and previous) aren't looking at all avenues. My understanding they have looked at a number of proposals (Some with potential, some that are not viable). There are a number of issues (in no particular order) for MFC both present and in the past: 1. Lack of success....46 years of drought...Almost 2 generations of supporters can say they have never seen a flag 2. Lack of regional or demographic representation. 3. Mediocre brand and profile. 4. Lack of infrastructure and poor non match facilities. 5. Poor membership and membership support arrangements. 6. Poor sponsorship history. 7. Historical legacy. (Both good and bad) 8. Lack of brand penetration interstate. 9. Divisive and unprofessional Boards / administration (at times) 10. Poor financial management There are possibly other The natural advantage MFC had in the 1950s and 1960s has been eroded by the changing face of the game. MFC has traditionally been slow to realise that. MFC are in a difficult predicament where there are no low lying fruit opportunites to quickly turn it around. Schwab and co have taken some of the good initiatives from the old administration and add a few of their own. This will take time. If you have suggestions then let the Club know

The AFL commissioned an extenisve survey of AFL supporters throughout Australia through one of the major research companies. One of the outcomes was the MFC was one of the least supported brands throughout Australia. Collingwood being one of the highest (Ugh!). MFC's conversion of supporters to members is one of the highest. It would be more if some of the chaps in the leather patched jackets also sign up.

You missed the point. Its not a body size issue making a contest Its both. As a defender he cant be one directional player. Defenders need to be able to be both. He has the chance to improve over his career. I have already said he may improve and he may not. But I dont think he's exempted from the requirements. They also know how to defend when required. *ping* Your question about Bate should be applied to Bennell on the same basis. BTW, I guess Gary Lyon would not know how to rate a player.

You worry too much and are too easily pleased. Body on body work is a state of mind not weight. Its not an issue of being too light to be pushed off the contest. He does not get himself into those contests when he should particularly as a defender.If he is going to take the small forwards he is going to have to be able to man up at the contest. Junior at 75kgs, Wonna at 76kgs and McKenzie at 71 kgs have no trouble committing to the contest. I think the coaching staff recognise Bates worth by his two years of top 4 B&F placings. Hmmm maybe you missed something.

Now what did Cam Schwab say about Patience and rebuilding? Inner Demon and High Tower are spot on with their observations.

How can it be when they cant even get on the track? How can you assess their playing ability when they dont play?

While I agree on McKenzie out of a strong field of potentials, I was confused how Jurrah, Wonna and Garland all with LTIs are maturing nicely when their individual dispositions put them very much in the work in progress category.

When we have had a wealth of C graders on our list over the past three years, being a B grader will be better than what many other recruits will achieve. You must get disappointed the way some recruits dont become A graders. If he cant better handle the physical side of the game as a defender he will struggle. He has alot of potential but at the moment that all he has. I watch his development with interest.

Fair assessment. I worry about his defensive body on body skills. A case of putting the cart well ahead of the horse. He shows potential but little to suggest he is above a B grader. He could ultimately be better than that. Equally he could worse. At present he is just potential at the moment.

Common sense. Only way to deal with a crisis! B)

I reckon Smith is ready notwithstanding White's claims. I cant think of a better test to debut him in. As for the Vics I forgot how much firepower they have out. Yikes. Its gonna be closer than I thought but Vics for mine.

I am not sure why Dermie needed to way in at all. I guess this low level schlock is what he does best. Given his personal history I dont why he should be saying anything or need to be some moral bastion. I dont care about either of them. I dont hold either in particular high stead at all. Dermie is a ditz as well... I am not sure Mrs Fev is so much a victim out of this but a quieter participant in the same pool of life as the others. Given Fevs notoriety and past behaviour she should be hardly blushing at this episode. If she was so appalled she would have left him after the B'low. Now back to the cricket.....Australia 2-0.

I have no sympathy for Lara. IMO she is a ditz and has been very poorly advised by Markson to speak to the WDay. She should not have had the shameful photo released and the AFL and the police should be exploring this further. I am not sure who is telling the truth and I dont care but Brereton's effort to weigh in was unnecessary and self serving from a boofhead who trolls the same smelly cesspool as Fevola. Of all people to make comments about infidelity!! My understanding is that Clarke and Bingle have been on the rocks for some time. This incident only hastened the inevitable. He should have done it sooner. He should put it behind him and get on with spanking the Kiwis. I trust he chooses more aptly for his partners in the future.

Theft was it??

A very good point...often overlooked. And clean up they did. They had the good picks in the right spots in 2001 and 2004. And they also were able to trade a couple of senior players for a premium price. Although Thorp at pick 6(?) has been a dud for them.

No kidding??? The Club knows where the side is at and what is required to turn things around. Its a pity that supporters dont realise it. Good idea. Lets throw caution to the wind and put a players rehabilitation from a nasty injury at risk. None of White nor Yze or Farmer was consistent enough over their careers to be classed as champions. Each had their good years but were not at the level that would have taken us the next step passed making up numbers in the 8.

Agree with that. Absolutely. Some of the santimonious outcry on this issue in the media has been self serving and a tad hypocrtical. Not as tough as Lara Bingle. He has had it sooo easy compared to her. The AFL/media treatment and public humiliation of her is part of the appalling lowgrade morals of a free press. Agree Cant think of a position more hypocritical statement than an Australian cricketer saying dont sledge me over a personal incident? Hussey is the sort of person to keep away from the media. I am not for open slather on sledging either.

Most sensible MFC supportrs will have heard and realise the need for PATIENCE with such a young group of talented footballers. Membership numbers have steadily grown as the members have seen the Committee undertaken a number of on and off field initiatives to get MFC back on the right track. As a number of posters have said numbers will swell when we have the main H&A numbers coming through. A couple of wins will be nice but given the where the list is at with injuries, this may be more of a stretch than getting 30K members by rd 1. And if we dont have 30k members by rd 1? The end of the world is nigh. Growing membership is important but we are getting steamed up over an ambitious metric. Where is that storm in a teacup picture when you need it?

Sought after?? Really??? More so than Deledio, Buddy, Roughy, Lewis, Williams etc. Beyond the first seven picks, the 2004 draft has been an ordinary year. None of the players you mention are sought after at all. After six years, Meesen and Newton are not up to it and its amazing posters still see a Coleman medallist in the making based on the 2007 MOTY. For Dunn, the issue is not where he plays.....its how he plays. Bate is still part of our future but our rise up the ladder wont be on the vintage of 2004.

I think the issue with the camera is correct. No evidence. Without it you are only speculating on what you think happened. Unfortunate. Grinter did his brain fade in front of the camera. If he did it today, he would probably get a year for it.

A chicken and egg situation.... I think its more that clubs that get more than their fair share of injuries wont be successful on the field. How many times have we seen clubs who have successful seasons have few if any injuries (eg Sydney 2005). The young bodies is definitely a consideration as is the ability to handle the physical pressure in a game.