To the Dees fans, Firstly, please accept my apology for the schadenfreude that brought me to your website in the first place. I do not intend to gloat (not after one round of footy anyway!).
I've been reading this thread with interest and, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to throw my two bobs worth in as a Hawthorn supporter. Tough times come to all footy clubs, and mine has been no exception as you all know. I love hating the Dees and this competition would be poorer without you. My concern is that so many people at your club have this notion that 'there will always be a Melbourne'. I even read some bloke saying that in a thread on this website about how grateful Sandringham supporters should be to be aligned with Melbourne FC. There WILL always be a Melbourne, but there might not always be a 'Demons' or a team in red and blue with the Grand Old Flag as their theme song.
Pre-1996, we Hawthorn supporters thought that merger talk and bankruptcy talk was a nonsense. We'd been the most successful club of the modern professional era! How could we be broke?! Footy is more than a business and it requires unrelenting loyalty from its 'customers' that other businesses cannot command. A footy club needs you much more when your struggling than when your winning. I know I'm preaching to the converted here, and not telling you anything that you don't already know, but you blokes need more bums on seats regardless of what's happening on the park. Harrass your friends to get to the game. We did, and we still do. 10 years ago I watched the footy on my own. Now I have 11 family and friends who have reserved seats and we all sit in a row. No. matter. what.
Good luck for the rest of year, except for round 9 of course!