DaveyDee

Interesting I always thought the Tigers where a "basketcase" before his tenure but after his tenure they were a powerhouse again. Interesting how others see things.

Only an opinion - I felt we where under resourced in the CC & BP recruiting eras due to a lack of finances compared to our opposition clubs. Then to top that all off, again due to a lack of resources and finances we had a near non-existent players development programme. I'm not sure CC and BP ever got a fair chance at the MFC - so hence I thought he did a brilliant job with what he had to work with.

CC Melbourne - did a brilliant job taking into account the situation CC Richmond - passionate Tiger and got head-hunted by them, rebuilt the whole FD department to be a force in AFL football again. CC BC3 - followed another passion and was lied too like 99% of the other investors in BC3 CC GWS - logical choice to go to GWS but they got him cheap due to BC3 debacle CC GC - If I was Mark Evans he is exactly the type of person I would have gone after and hang the expense Just my thoughts I always respected the positions inside a FD and its easy to criticise with no knowledge

Interesting, CC moving to the Suns, good on him, very talented and a great communicator. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-13/giants-cut-ties-with-list-manager-craig-cameron

It is all relative, so yes suppose you could say back in the 60's the MFC was the dominant $$$ club. However, today 5-6 teams in Victoria alone have gone past us. Plus some of the interstate teams are $$$ financial powerhouses of the AFL on a national level. As a football club our core supporters/members have shown an amazing amount of resilience - but we have failed time after time to invest in our football departments. Resilience is great but that does not win you premierships. All I can say is thank god for Andrew Demetriou, The AFL and Peter Jackson who stood strong against a "supporter/members" based board running the MFC. We are now stabilising - but are we ready to stand on our own two feet? Time will tell.

My order would be 2 obviously, 31 and maybe the forgot jumper for me 9 with special mentions to 3, 4, 11 - ah stuff it - on second thoughts I luv them all. Go Dees

Much bigger picture in play here. Carlton need to be secured financially for a shot at the 3rd stadium deal. And ironically contrary to popular belief if the AFL is ever going to merge teams again it will not make the mistake of merging two weak teams ie Lions & Bears. Next merger will be a strong financial team and a weaker financial team or better known as a takeover.

Interesting set of results so far. Not a whole lot of enthusiasm for our 2018 draw.

Our saviour the Bentleigh Club????? - but wait a minute - (tongue planted firmly in cheek) "Of course we were inept ... we all witnessed the debacle." But I must confess I'm more like you "things that happened more than 3 years ago do matter." And they were not all bad. PJ has admitted on a number of occasions he inherited a club with a very sound financial business plan.

I think we have a number of potential AA graders in our side - Lever, Petracca, Oliver, Hogan, Viney and Gawn This gives you the core of a premiership team. ( to add to Hibbo) We have come along way in a very short time period - exciting times ahead. Yes, you should 100% be adding a GF guarantee to your membership now.... before you miss out. I will give you a tip, if we do make it what would you rather do a/ Come on here and say I got my grand final ticket thanks to the GFG or b/ Come on here and complain you missed out? Ball is in your court

hahaha - move on big boy. Its OK we will be alright for the short term. Long term is a tad more challenging but I'm sure the AFL and PJ will work something out.

Bulldust - If anything we lacked focus on football. Not that you may have noticed we are a football club first and foremost.

GCS, GWS, Brisbane, & Freo - Are interstate teams and are not our concern - we dont compete for the same dollars. North & Saints - it will come down to our ability to not out run the Tiger that wants to consume us, more to our ability to out run the Roos, Saints & Bulldogs that under-pins our survival. Think it clear from the fixture the AFL is strengthening the financial positions of Collingwood, Carlton & Tigers.

Our club does not give a F about other clubs it has its own problems to solve - a point clearly lost on many in the thread. After we win a premiership - that way of thinking may change. But one step at a time.

There is no doubt our last 3-4 years have been solid years predicated on 3 business fundamentals 1/ AFL "recommend" CEO who is a professional AFL football administrator 2/ AFL approved Board 3/ Poker Machines Revenues As you said earlier can PJ install a stable legacy. Can PJ or the "next CEO" derive sources of revenues to grow our club in a period of escalating costs and relatively stagnate incomes. Will the next CEO be AFL "recommended" - this year will tell - its over to our supporters and members now - ball is in our court if we can stand on our own two feet. Point 3 is the game changer, Project Fruit ( whoever thought of the name at least has a sense of humour) is underway - its no longer a matter of if we are going to lose the revenues its a matter of when. We have been co-opted onto the Project due to our reliance on the revenues for our survival. Fun times ahead

Well said - if this was delivered in real life, think you would get real traction, but sadly on social media it may be lost on many. AFL cops more than its fair share of criticism & blame, you cant be everything to everybody.

Nice post - I would like to add one thing the game is not always won by the player dealt the "best hand" there is an element of luck, skill and probabilities to calculate. However, mostly importantly time is a vital resource - dont bog yourself down worrying about details you cant change - complain all you want, blame others all you want but the keys to success is to find your ways over and around road blocks. The "world" and others are not out to get you stay positive, stay focused and stay on track. Dont let others control you thinking - if it is to be its up to me.

Thank-you for posting. I liked this post because think it supports the notion from a football perspective our draw is tough but fair. I like that - if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. I'm sticking with my earlier comment - this is a type of draw if we make the finals we could win the whole damn lot - premiership included. However, I will concede this article does not cover the financial implications of the fixture - but as a club PJ has talked about that on so many occasions I'm not going to repeat it. Cant wait for 2018 to start - we have a very bright future.

Granted, I also did the same. So we are all in agreement. I just asked a few simple questions - no need to answer them. I was just trying to follow your logic and get an understanding of why you think we should bite the hand that feeds us. Why we should complain.

I apologise to you and Dr Gonzo - best of luck putting your suggestion into action.

Interesting post. Can I ask ... Why feel aggrieved or complain about blatant favouritism in the fixture? Where does it get you? How do you think it makes you appear? Why not just live with it deal with it and make the best of it you can?

Does this mean you are not going to bring your idea forward at the next AGM? Dont let me stop you. Dash it would have been very amusing its such a well thought out idea.

Would we all sing Kum ba yah at the start or the end of the bloc meetings? Maybe we could run the meetings at Centrelink. Lets name the bloc - The Brotherhood of St Lawrence. Why dont you put forward this suggestion at the next AGM? I would much prefer we spend our time working on ways we can stand on our own two feet. .

I agree with you. However, the massive game changer is coming - the removal of poker machines. "Instigating a succession plan that cements his great work" may prove to be the biggest under statement of all time in an era of rising costs and one of your major revenue streams days being numbered.

Im stick with my conspiracy theory - the AFL is sending the MFC members and supporters a clear message - stand on your own two feet or we will remain in control. With all due respect Blind Freddy could see it just some MFC members and supporters cant. Smart move by the AFL - they are ensuring 3 strong bids for the 3rd Stadium in Melbourne - so they are strengthening the financial position of Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond. May I add at the expense of the non-bidding clubs is Bulldogs, North etc So either way which ever bid they select will have strong financial backing - smart