titan_uranus

Maths might be slightly out here @Redleg . 30,000 members would have to pay an additional $1,000 to get $30 million. $100 a pop would only generate $3m.

Hawthorn was 8-19 in their 27 games leading into 2024, in which they started 0-5, before making finals. Brisbane won 17 games in four complete seasons (2015-18) before making top 4 in 2019 (and not missing finals since). Sydney was 13-26 in their 39 games leading into 2021, in which they made finals. It can turn quickly.

We won 7 games in 2025 with Trac and Oliver. We lose Trac. We “cover” Oliver to an extent with Steele. We gain in some other areas (Mihocek and CJ, another (full) pre-season for Langford and Lindsay). We also get to see what the rest of the list does when freed from whatever the previous administration had hanging over them. With all that said, I don’t see us making finals but I’d be more surprised at us winning 6 games or fewer as I would at us winning 10+ games.

Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers

He mentioned it at the AGM. What else should he say? We, like a few other AFL clubs and a stack of big companies, plus the government, got sucked in. No need to dwell on that failure.

Patriots, Seahawks, Rams

Hard agree, didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/embattled-security-firm-haemorrhaging-high-profile-clients-amid-growing-scandals-20251219-p5np28.html We’ve terminated our sponsorship agreement with MA Services. Won’t be on our guernsey. Wonder how much this will cost us.

It's not that we're not able to announce at the AGM. There's plenty of reasons why that might be the case. It's that Guerra buttered us up to be ready to hear all about it tonight at the AGM. He's trying very hard to impress, Guerra, but I don't want him overpromising and underdelivering, which unfortunately he's done in this instance.

Eagles, Bills, 49ers

Ravens, Chargers, Packers

I only like the second one, of the three. The club's major shift of late in relation to social media, communication and engagement with the fans is a major improvement. I love that they're asking us to vote on the Gather Round guernsey (because it's otherwise totally meaningless - I doubt we'll be asked for input on the ANZAC or SDN guernseys). It's a shame, though, that the designs aren't great.

Gee we timed this sponsorship well, didn’t we. First bikies, now tax troubles. https://www.theage.com.au/national/blue-chip-companies-used-security-firm-facing-massive-tax-workplace-probes-20251203-p5nkez.html

Rams, Broncos, Seahawks

Jags, Rams, Broncos

We actually haven’t played GWS in NSW since 2014. We’ve only ever had 6 away games against them in their 14 year history, and 4 of those have been at Manuka. Not sure if it’s a record but we’ve only played them at Giants Stadium twice ever.

It is on the website - https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1932463/notice-of-annual-general-meeting

A stack of completely uninformed opinions in here, which mine would be too if I tried to discuss accounting with any authority. “Creative accounting”, “poorly run business”, etc - are those having a crack at the club paid up members? On my reading of the documents, we lost $1M compared to 2024 in our membership drop off alone. That might be a sign of a bad season on field, but is it necessarily a sign of a poorly run club off field? And the club repeatedly says that we have to list the Goodwin and Oliver payments up front this year even though we are paying them spread out over the next 1-4 years. I have no idea what the rules are but I can at least appreciate why this might be the case. That we have to make the payments may again be a sign of bad football department decision making but is it bad corporate governance or accounting?

Patriots, Seahawks, Falcons

So are we taking Sharp if he’s the one Essendon pass on?

As others have said, it's pointless analysing difficulty based on double ups by 2025 ladder position. Someone next year will be this year's Adelaide/GC, or Port Adelaide/Sydney. There are other metrics I'm far more interested in. The timeslots are to be expected, but at least Sunday 3.15pm games are on FTA which helps. We lose the Geelong game but it's "traded" for another interstate game, effectively Hawthorn in Tasmania. Our Melbourne games remain 15 (12 at the G, 3 at Marvel). Our travel feels spaced out much better this year - no 6 road trips in 10 weeks this time. On the flipside, the longest span we go without travel is 3 weeks (Rounds 9-11, albeit two of those are Marvel, and Rounds 18-20, another one of which is Marvel). We never play more than two straight games at the MCG. On a related note, St Kilda doesn't travel after Round 13 on 7 June. One game in Geelong and every other game in Melbourne from Rounds 14-24. Double-ups are never going to be equal. Travel also can't be equal with 8 non-Victorian sides. But this is completely within the AFL's control. It's beyond a joke that any side gets the best part of three months in their own beds. Don't worry about how we, or any other Victorian club feels, how would any non-Victorian club feel travelling every second week in winter whilst St Kilda go absolutely nowhere?

Texans, Packers, Ravens

Meanwhile Sam Edmund reporting that Carlton have 7 Thursday or Friday night games in the first 16 weeks. So for some, poor performance equals a poor fixture. But clearly not for others. Hell, this is more than Collingwood are getting! https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/11/12/afl-fixture-hawthorn-prime-time-games/

A bad draw commercially is to be expected. Playing Hawthorn in Launceston is not, though. Our number of MCG games next year might be a record low.

Haven’t played Essendon twice in a season since 2004, which AFAIK is the longest active such streak in the competition.