I'va Worn Smith

Have I missed it? Or does the CEO's B&F address NOT feature on the MFC websiste?

Clickbait Kornes' recipe is a basic and simple one. Proffer football stories, which are unsubstantiated, with no basis in fact. Never admit you're wrong and rely on the old axiom of 'Don't shoot the messenger'. Nudge the snowball at the top of the hill and let it grow as it rolls and watch the tabloids give it weight. All care and no responsibility. The bloke is as dry as a chip and will eventually become stale. Channel 7 may well rue the day they hired him.

I hope his health is OK. I wish him no grief. But how on earth the man was ever chief football reporter for the Hun and on 360 remains a mystery. The man is almost illiterate.

Neither has ANYTHING that has be reported PROVEN to be CORRECT. All there has been is scandalous hyperbole. Support your club, not the media hacks champ.

Ahhhh. That old chestnut. We used to have journos that checked their facts before 'reporting' messages, for which they checked the facts first, rather than rely on suspect 'leaks', social media and being clickbait junkies, all for the sake of ratings. The likes of Morris are no more than mercenaries.

Look at Tom Morris' record, since he was at the MFC as a junior journalist. Maybe sour grapes, maybe the compelling need to be mercenary. Either way, it was he who started the rapid descent of the snowball. Why?

The best form of revenge, is a comprehensive defeat next season.

What does that mean?

The kid will be a gun. He has a bit of footy smarts and mongrel about him. With a full pre-season under his belt and a bit more weight, he could be another Gus. Let's hope so.

Concise, but bloody spot on. Well said. My only problem with the Dees and our leadership is that the media clearly see us as easy clickbait targets at the moment. MFC, time to get well and truly on the front foot and call these media trolls out, for what they actually are. Let's be ruthless with the media for a change.

Russell Blew? I think you mean umpire, Don Blew. Russell was his brother and played for Essendon.

Just listened to Malcolm Speed's take on our review/s on Whately this morning. For those that don't know, Speed is an extremely well credentialled senior sports administrator, with a very long and comprehensive CV in this area, after previously practicing as a Barrister. His insights are enlightening, calm and realistic. Journos would do well to listen to this man who knows what he's talking about, rather than spewing their own editorial opinion. You can listen here: https://dcs-spotify.megaphone.fm/NTETP8079870429.mp3?key=be5acad3312a69988c017a2deec15a7d&request_event_id=a792b98b-c882-4c28-93e9-ec35d197f616&source=3&timetoken=1726028409_4E1C7760D0A139A5FA97C1816C5585D7

Seriously? I mean, seriously?

As old as this is and regardless of age, if possible, every current day Dees supporter should watch this historic broadcast. I was 8 years old when this was aired. Having watched it, I sobbed for the rest of the afternoon. My late father could not console me at the time. The only other time I cried at the footy was as an adult, in 1987, when our Jimma ran across the mark in that final But how prophetic were Smith's words, when interviewed by Charlton? "Melbourne are slipping Tony. Melbourne are slipping and I've told the committee that". The game has certainly changed since 1965. It is basically fully professional now, as opposed to back in the'60's, but having principled people in any endeavour remains as salient now, as it did in Norm's time. As the old saying goes, if we don't learn from history, then we are bound to repeat it. Finally, to paraphrase Norm Smith's words in that interview with Charlton. Right now I'm Melbourne Tony. I'm Melbourne through and through. Geez, that's what the committee then [censored] up against the wall and we are still trying to recover----- even now. Without digitisation, satellites and stunts, what a damn good broadcaster was Tony Charlton? The current, so-called sports journos could do well to watch and learn from such a pro. Go you mighty Demons, Go Redlegs. Let's never forget our rich history. A history which should swell every chest with pride.

Trac and Petracca?

Love the thought of that, but no chance I'm afraid.

The problem we have is that the info that Morris et al ran with was leaked from within the MFC. That is when leadership from the top is required. I have no beef at all with Kate and whether she kept her "nose out of the football department or not, is not the issue. Our leaders should have been across the brief and cut if off at the source. Simple!!!!!

Surely, you're not that naive.

I cannot think of any organisation, sporting club, place of employment or even family, where there will some form of dissent, disagreement, disgruntlement, debate or even downright hostility from time to time. Such is the way of the 'body corporate' and the human condition. In fact, some organisational behavior specialists will tell you conflict, if handled constructively, can end up being beneficial to a group. Clearly, Trac has had a traumatic experience, which understandably, has had a significant affect on both his physical and psychological well being. It would appear - at least from the outside - that he has expressed his concerns after suffering such trauma. Surely, no surprise there. However, no one will convince me that similar discontent does not exist within every AFL club from time to time. But generally, such disputes remain in-house and are not subject to the media's glare and editorial licence. The difference in this case is that it seems clear to me that Trac's issue, along with other issues, which according to some, exist within the MFC, have been systematically leaked from within. To me, this is of even greater concern, as the party or parties who may be involved are being destructive, for what would seem to be for their own vested self interest/s. This is what is toxic and needs to be weeded out and therefore, in my view an external review, which is comprehensive, should be undertaken. Any good 'business' would do so, for the sake of their shareholders (us), if for no other reason.

You clearly have no idea about club, internal mateship and culture.

So well said................ your letter brought tears to my eyes. And guess what? He is staying. Like you, Trac remains a Demon through and through. Also, thinking about just how Max might have played a part. What a leader, what a man, what a legend.

McClure and Morris can only thank the INTERNAL leaks for their so-called 'news'. This is what the club really needs to sort out.

You may well be spot on. What concerns me most, regardless of whether the media is beating this stuff up, or not, it is doing damage to our band. Membership attraction and retention, sponsor attraction and retention and players wanting to come to this club. Even more importantly to me is that this bile is being leaked from WITHIN the club. Why? BTW, Trac's partner is a Lawyer and already taken over a substantial slab of his business dealings, away from Connors Sports Management Team, to set up their own brand. At the very least, the head of our club needs to deal with this head on. Seems to me, Max has been the only one to be brave, front the media and be upfront. In such cases, it should not fall entirely to him. Our President, in particular and the CEO, need to jump on internal leaks as soon as possible and be assertive. They need to find out the source of these leaks and deal with the perpetrator/s. ASAP.

Also, maybe I am totally off target, but it seems to me that a source or sources, within the club are intent on leaking to the media. That, in and of itself suggests disunity and disconnection.

Given the Petracca issue, as well as a number of others, for a considerable period, any "leader" would have known what the agenda would be during an interview, to which she was invited to and clearly accepted. I can think of no other club president, which would handle an interview in such a shocking way. Roffey should not have been surprised at the questions asked of her and for a senior person, she should have been far better prepared.