sutti

Sorry mate, didn't see this question. We are a corporate advisory house basically advising company's on strategy they should take and give advice on M&A and restructuring activity. We do not maintain a website. Cheers.

Sorry guys, haven't logged on for a few days. No the report is not been officially sanctioned by the MFC. The report basically is being done to analyse the current situation the club is in and to outline strategies that are required to move the club forward as well as providing possible solutions to the problems the club faces. Nothing saying that we should move up to the Gold Coast or to hold a EGM that would cause a up raw. I don't really want to discuss it in such a public forum, but if anyone wants to talk more please feel free to email me (ks[at]sutcliffehutton.com) and I will give you my mobile number if you like. Cheers.

No worries mate. When the report is released there will obviously be a lot more information. Cheers.

Properly still another 12 to 18 months before the Rio takeover rounds to a close. We need someone to come in now, not then.

Hi guys, Our company is currently putting a report together outlining the problems the club faces and the strategy that is required to move forward. If anyone would like to receive a copy, you can email us at ks(at)sutcliffehutton.com (take out the (at) and put a proper @ in) and we will send a copy to you when it's finished (2 - 3 weeks at the most). Would love to hear any opinions or thoughts. Cheers, Sutti.

Are you a fool or what? You can't blame Gary Lion for what happens on the field. Get real.

I always have thought that it was strange that our Chairman is the head of Australia's biggest advertising company but we hardly see anything advertising MFC. Wouldn't you think that our chairman would chuck in a few tv / billboard ads here or there .... sponsorship????? Theres been so many rumors about PG .... don't think anything will come out of it.

Got an email back today from membership ...

Well we all know he can write ... he was the Editor in Chief of The Age in the 90's.

I might get down there .... but there usually pretty boring so not sure yet.

Because they did not capalise on there winnings. I remember a friend of ours, about 65 years old told us a story how one year he volunteered for the Roo's in their membership department. It was about December and they were just starting to plan there drive for the next year. They couldn't though - they had only 1/4 of the membership list of people who were members the prior year. The club, in the past had shocking admin and they didn't have the right people running the place. The first key is winning, the second is a good brand and a clear message. The Roo's obviously didn't have the second part right.

The idea in principal is a good one. Taking big risks can pay off big time. But .... do you think people make up there mind on who there going to barrack for because of their nick name? In most situations not. I believe our bigger value with our name is the "Melbourne" part - not Demons or United or any other nickname. You would think that our name, saying that we are the team of Melbourne would attract people who come to live in Melbourne from other countries. But, in the end it comes down to success on the field. You can have a fantastic brand but if the good or service your providing is not that great, in our case "playing football" you arn't going to win over customers. The first key to the Demons becoming successful off the field is success on the field. We all know that.

What ... its gone for ever?

Just because it's called "trade week" doesn't mean that it is the only time clubs talk about trades. Every club (bar the ones who were in the Granni yesterday) would, I reckon be talking to each other about trades at the moment - doesn't mean that we know about it. I think his name was Ben Crowe ... the guy who owns that Gemba company with Jimmy Hird said that the football, along with the entertainment industry are like a different world to work in, very weird he says. I bet a few clubs would be talking about trades with other clubs weeks before the seasons over.

Saying he is the coach of the year is a bit too soon don't you think? Season 2007 just ended and 2008 is still months a way. Yes it will be great to get Judd, but I think I'll hold my judgement until a few rounds are completed in '08. In saying that I can't wait till Round 1 of '08 though.

Patience ... there still another 2 weeks in September.

I doubt he would move on. He said in some news paper article that he was committed and still wanted to be apart of the Dee's. But if he did, he's not worth a 1st round draft pick. Your serious? Basically every single possession he gets goes to the opposition or goes out on the full

Hmmm ... I don't think it is. "The requested document was not found ..."

I don't think its to early to tell at all ... we had a shocking season on the field this year which is ultimately were all our money comes from. I get that the club's reporting season goes to October, but how and where would the money come from after the seasons is finished? Late membership fees? Anyway I remember PG saying mid season that we would properly make around $200K for the year ... which I think is pretty good looking at our crap season. Same here, waste of time.

So you really think that this whole Chinese thing will be sucessfull? Do you really think that this will turn our financial troubles around? Because I can't see anything else that will if this fails. Good luck to them to try and make it a success though. Yep, I've done that before - sent an email to PG, never heard anything back.

No, not at all. I'm saying how wasn't this capatalized in 04/05/06 when we had relatively good seasons? 2004 25,252 2005 24,220 2006 24,698 I'm not trying to blame it on PG ... its the supporters fault in the first place but its up to the club to attract the supporters with campaigns and the like. Exactly, how many people down at Springvale will really get interested and become members of MFC. You hardly see any Chinese people at the footy anyway - hows a club that finished 14th and hasn't won a premiership meant to entice this anyway? - They struggle to sign up Victorian footy followers that have been watching the game for their whole life.

Well hopefully he do to the Dees what he did for Freo. When he started they had around 30K members (I think) and when he left they had around 45K members .... they didn't perform very well in those 5 years and he still did this ... hopefully he can do it with the Dees :D

HAHA yep, but I'm pretty suret that was a joke mate He said at the end that your heros never live up to their status in person as they do in your mind.

CC was on SEN a few minutes ago, great to hear - bring on 08 :D Notes from Choock in Perth on Demonology: Said he's been away for 16 years and he can't wait to impart what he learnt in that time on "his club, the club he loves". Said he's been staying at the Hilton and has been walking around the G and it brought back so many memories. Said he is quite emotional to be going home. Sees the list as exciting, particularly in the under 23 area. Thinks Dean Bailey can really coach and will do great work with the kids. The biggest hurdle was the misconception that he wanted Bailey's job. Said he would NEVER coach Melbourne now, and he had to get that point across before he went forward. Said Penny and the kids were staying in Perth for a year so his oldest could finish Year 12. Said he would be able to do the long hours. Said he was willing to sacrifice his family life in the short term because he has seen it first hand at Fremantle with Stephen Icke and Robert Shaw going through the same thing. His number one goal: HOPE. for the club, for the team. If all the components do their part it builds passion. Needs to get everything right and the people will return. Said we have too much pessimism, and that needs to change, and then we can celebrate 150 years and then be arround for another 150. Said its a very special club and Ox knows it. He's a brilliant speaker. Fantastic. Ox said he reckons CC will get ex players involved and he is happy to get down there and help. Go Dees :D

Good on them for the initiative but is it really going to make us any money at all, maybe a little - China is not an AFL market, Chinese people arn't going to fly to Melbourne to watch us play every week. I highly doubt that it will make us any huge money in the long run. The bottom line is we wouldn't survive unless the AFL gave as that $2 mil each year, oh and everyone should be worried because I remember reading in one of the AFL's reports that they are slowly planning to cut that amount in the future. If it wasn't for our name - the "Melbourne Football Club" I'm sure we would be up on the sunny Goald Coast at the moment. The only people we can really blame for our financial troubles is our supporters who are not members. 28K is a shocking figure for the oldest club in the league and the second oldest footy club in the world. I can't believe we didn't get more MCC members sign up with the $50 deal. I understand that some people struggle with money, but surely if you can set a side $550 for MCC membership you can let go $50. We really should have around 35 - 40K in members. How can a guy like PG not get our numbers up like this, especially when we did all right in 04/05 - with all his *marketing skills* he should have got it up to 30K shouldn't he? I can't remember any awesome new marketing initiatives that the club introduced ... remember those Hawthorn adds with Pete Rosethorn .... we never had any campaigns like that. Or are my expections of our Pres to high? Very true, can't wait to this place actually starts to get build. Serious? How the hell does that happen. I don't even know/remember what happened with the how Snozzy thing ... I was only about 12 I think. Sorry if I'm sounding too harsh and negative but these are just my opinions. Thoughts? Go Dees :D