Rodney (Balls) Grinter

It would look to be a fairly real possibility at the moment, but I actually hope GC do survive and go on to bigger and better things. I think there lack of membership numbers at the moment would be related to their poor onfeild performance, but also possibly another hang over from last season, when the didn't play many games at Carrara due to the Comm Games. I do think it would be good for the growth Aussie Rules footy in general in Qld for the Suns to be successful, because living in Brisbane, I know there is a genuinely strong presence of grass roots footy on the Gold Coast, although I also understand that top level teams from different codes have also successively failed and folded there. One differentiator though I think is that the other codes (soccer and rugby league) haven't had either the finacial resources or long term commitment to keep unfinancial teams going there more than a few years. If the AFL can hang in there long enough for the Suns to have some on feild sucess, it could be key to growth and more established presence of Aussie Rules in this part of Queensland, by being the dominant locally present professional team.

Interesting strategy, though I'd rather buy a GC membership myself for several reasons.

Some might be just interstate, 3 game members etc and not every member will want to go to every game (except during finals) but you certainly have a point. The problem of popularity and sucess I guess. The club's might need to look at preallocating particular games between its members, although games against interstate clubs wouldn’t be so bad. Still I'd like us to be in that position, because as some have pointed out, I see it panning out as a bit of an arms race in this respect at the moment, which could result in one of the lesser Vic sides be squeezed out of the,competition and/or being forced to relocate. At the end of the day, being an interstate member, the purpose of my membership these days is more or less altruistic, I just want to see the club do well ...oh and I want to be there when we win a flag, which is why I purchased one of the grand final garentee memberships at the start of this season. I do think that the strategy PJ started of trying to attract the new arrivals to Melbourne to the club is a good idea and an area where the MFC should have a small natural advantage through the name Melbourne. It would be interesting to know how much fruit this campaign might have brought us, but I think it's something that would require quite alot of nurturing of those being brought along to games, because you are not only trying to sell them the club, but also introduce them to the game it's self.

We at least need to get above Carlton. Must say, I'm a little suprised to see GWS now have more members than Brisbane as for a long time GWS had figures more like the Suns. Could easily change if the on-feild fortunes of these sides respectively change. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/afl-membership-ladder-tigers-set-to-reach-100-000-once-again-as-suns-bottom-out-20181207-p50ktp.html MEMBERSHIP LADDER Adelaide (77,504)* Richmond (74,110) Hawthorn (60,007) West Coast (59,800) Essendon (51,011) Fremantle (44,293) Port Adelaide (42,723) Geelong (41,034) Carlton (38,965) Melbourne (30,096) Sydney (29,046) North Melbourne (26,921) Western Bulldogs (26,855) St Kilda (25,500) Greater Western Sydney (13,814) Brisbane (12,974) Gold Coast (5894) * Includes non-financial "We Fly as One" members. ** Collingwood refused to divulge their figures

Talking personally, it's not that I have any professional concerns with him in that capacity and I agree entirely with your remarks on him leaving etc, doesn't really bother me and I thought the way he addressed that question in his interview with Wheatly was very convincing (as he was on most topics). It's more that because he was with Collingwood for so long and along with Eddy often had a very public and parochial pro Collingwood, stuff the rest of the competition stance on things it takes a bit to get that out of your head. It will be a bit different at Melbourne, because obviously we don't quite have the same power base as he had at Collingwood, but thinking about what I just stated, I'm somewhat looking forward to now having him on our side and for GP going in to bat hard for the MFC.

Why put down that kind of endeavor? I love it that this guy is near the end, still fighting and not wanting to give it up. We seem to have please of good young talent all of a sudden, which is good, but I think it's equally good that our young guys both have to fight for a spot in the side, at the same time as benifiting from the experience and leadership that a guy like Lewis brings to the table. You can have experience around the place in a non playing capacity, but at the end of the day, I don't think it's the same. Whilst I'm somewhat disappointed that Bernie didn't go out in a blaze of glory, I think he was still a more than worthy contributor for the vast majority of game he played this year and that he had earned a leave pass over the years for the few he might have under performed in. Still such a thing as respect in football and whilst the talks that we will treat Lewis like any first year rookie, the reality is that he isn't and we will treat him accordingly.

Just goes to show that every player has their failings and strengths. Lewis is a four time premiership player and still has the occational moment when he looks like a complete unco. Pitty the average player in a poor side that suffers the same fate. So many observers are prepared to write off players, based on one or two moments in a game and ignore/be ignorant to the complete package. Jack Fitzpatrick, Lynden Dunn and probably many others have suffered this fate in the past (even absolute guns like T Mac have copped this kind of flack). As a MFC supporter I've certainly seen Lewy crap himself and fumble the heck out of it on a number of occations, but also seen him do some brilliant stuff, show the sort of leadership that has undoubtedly won us games in the past few years. I hope the twilight years of his career are the best and most dignifying that he has spent as an AFL footballer (wearing red and blue, compared to poo brown and yellow is a good start). I'd love it, to turn out that we had written off this guy as a has been prematurely and for him to pull out a rip snorter of a season.

I like how he pretty emphatically stated that the moment he got the job he became a 100% Melbourne supporter and didn't really give much attention to any other clubs. I think the stench of the filth of his Collingwood days has been hanging around Pert for many Melbourne supporters (I count myself in this boat to some small extent). Something that I try to think of whenever the thought of Pert as a filthy ex Collingwood person enters my mind is that Pert is Roosy's mate from Fitzroy and helps the black and white [censored] go away. Anyway, Gary Pert is our man now, his heart beating true for the Red and Blue and we need to get behind him and by extension the club as Demons supporters.

Yeah cool, that rings a bell. On reflection, it wouldn't be that hard of a choice would it. Full tine real estate agent Vs hanging around a few days a week with your mates and a group of young new footballers embarking on their career. I dare say it, a contunued association and maintenance of his public profile within the MFC could be good for his business too. Probably a good transition from full time professional sportsman back into the real World all round.

To me I heard it more as the later, that we shouldn't be aiming to mimic any of the other clubs. There wasn't any Collingwood this and Hawthorn that, this is what those clubs do well and we want to become like that... History is obviously part of the uniqueness of a club, but I agree it can be overemphasized at times. On reflection, I actually think PJ started the ball rolling in the right direction on this topic, but Pert has made the right impression on me as well.

“I don’t want Melbourne to be more like any other club. I want Melbourne to be more like Melbourne – it’s a great club with a great history, but we need to re-engage the people.” I love it. I know in some respects these are just cheap words, a bit of a throw away line and that the real test is can it be turned into actions that make a lasting positive difference, but I do really like the sentiment and substance behind the statement as well. Time to rebuild some pride and respect back for the MFC and stop living in the shadow of the 'power clubs' of the AFL.

This was hinted at around the club B&F or there abouts. So good to see the club just getting on with sealing the deal on these things. Bernie would be such a great asset to have around the club and is such an all round top bloke. I recall reciently watching one of the Fox Footy shows which had a feature on David Rodan and his role as a goal umpire. Someone made the comment how umpiring could be fairly soul destroying at times and one of the biggest things that D-Rod bought to the umpiring group was his irrepressible positive attitude and fun loving outlook on life. Can't what under rate character traits like these bring to a team environment and I think Bernie would be similar.

It wasn't that long ago that we would be limping over the line to crack the 30K mark in July or August or whenever the cut-off date is. Great work MFC and Demons supporters keep them coming. Always good to welcome new and returning members on board the D- train.

Agree and plus this - https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/12/03/are-hinkley-and-pyke-the-coaches-under-the-most-pressure-in-2019/ Now, I don't think Goodwin has show any signs of wanting out/go home, but if we don't get this extension right, then the hungry crow eaters could well come a knocking on his door.

Much has been made of Corey getting the locker next to brother Josh, but getting a locker next to brother Neville is a pretty good outcome as well.

Leaves 41 as the only unused playing No. Please bring back Peter Rohde, best custodian of this number that I can recall. 41 is also 14 backwards.

Max Gawn to get back to his best and produce the most dominant season for a ruckman in the modern era, but miss out on a Brownlow medal to some seagul midfielder. ... oh wait, that was this year!

So if all of the MFC, Geelong and Hawthorn miss finals who do you have making finals in their place, given many have also put Sydney as a team on the slide and at rusk of missing?

Oooooh, that would be sweet.

Wow. From clearly missing the top 8 with the aid of the leagues easiest draw to now making top 4. What's he smoking in his pipe?

Lol. Love the analogy Colin. Inspector Gadget - now that takes me back! I must say I'm being a bit of fence sitter on this one. But I also sense where you and others are comming from. It's almost like the club needs to do something with Pert to break the ice, because there almost seems to be a bit of an awkward silence. ...but at the same time, the more that is made of this situation, the bigger it becomes when I really don't think there is much to see, except for some past clumsiness in announcing that he had the job as CEO. I'm quite happy to wait it out and see how it all pans out in good time. So long as we keep winning and the club makes a profit , I suspect Melbourne supporters will warm to Pert in due course. Will probably love the bloke if he can pull off the right deal and get the job done, delivering our new headquarters. Similarly if we win a flag with him as CEO, I think we will all look back and think what was the fuss about his appointment at the start.

Did Santa Claus bring you all the toys you asked for as a kid Werridee? ?

Jacka has been great at re-engaging with fans and the MFC of late. Why not get Jacka and Pert on to do a joint podcast and have them talk us through this game? In all seriousness, I'm guessing thathat whilst engaging with fans would be somewhere in Pert's KPIs, I'd recon that would be for the club to be engaging with them rather than him personally... but worth a try.

Really hope they do. Has good news story written all over it: * Queensland boy; * Hard luck story who never quite cracked it in his previous attempt; I personally think this could work for Gold Coast. Liked Spencer. Big tough guy that alway gave 100% effort within the somewhat average ability he had. Was just starting to find a bit of a place within the MFC team when Max went down at the start of 2017, only to then get injured himself. I'm not sure that Spencer offers quite the same impact as Mumford, but I think he could have a similar influence by being that big bodied mature player that clears a path and looks after a young group of team mates comming through.

Here's one - Jordan Lewis to retire at the end of the season receiving accolades from all corners of the footy globe. Jordan announces that despite the lack of a fifth premiership medallion, that the three years he has spent with the Melbourne Footy Club have been the most satisfying of his career and upon confirming that he will remain with the club as an assistant, states that he is now "a Demon for life".