george_on_the_outer

Scores from turnovers: 59 to 23!!!

There are a couple of other positives outside of the "debt free" thrust of the article. Firstly, the sale of the Leighoak and the Bentleigh club pokie licences has been probably at the most fortuitous time, given the Covid situation. Both closed, with no income. We really picked the right time to sell. Secondly, the generosity of the MFC supporters & sponsors. With only 100 or so wanting their money back , it means the Club has the cash-flow to continue operations during the footy season. And with the sponsors committing to next year, that provides surety to continuing operations. Without that support, we would be on AFL largesse, both this year and next and maybe beyond. The Club has been very forthright about not being under AFL financial control, and so it puts us on equal footing with the larger clubs. For those who think that on-field success and performance is their motivator to join as a member, then they need to listen to "The Merger" : https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-i-was-never-given-a-name-a-43053728/ and see how not taking out memberships nearly bankrupted Hawthorn, after 4 premierships in the previous 10 years! Thirdly, as Redleg has pointed out...we can thank our lucky stars for what the Gutnick/Mann board did in purchasing the Bentleigh Club. It has provided continuous profit to plow back into football operations for 20 years, and now its sale will probably provide the basis for a permanent training facility.

Exactly, but the term "debt free" is a bit of a misnomer in the sense that assets are being sold to pay down the same debt, with a fair bit of that debt associated with the remaining pokies licence fees. From the article: "The sale of the Leighoak gaming venue – following the 2018 decision of president Glen Bartlett's board to withdraw from gaming – had netted more than $10 million, which was used to create a $7.5 million investment portfolio that the club can draw down on." So I would think the other $2.5 M is used to pay down debt. .....voila debt free! Trouble is with the sale of Bentleigh and Leigoak, the revenue bases have/will also disappear. What is going to replace them?

From that video, I can see she will love to be able to tackle in the AFLW.....and yes, has some dash!

$619,842 today....

I am keeping an eye on Geelong's set up at centre bounces. Only noticed it this week against Power. Basically they have 2 players set up either side along the goal to goal line, but 5metres + from the edge of the centre circle. When the ball is bounced they sprint to either side of the circle. The effect is that one of them will hit the ball at full pace, or the opponent if they get the ball first. It also takes 2 of the opposition out of the centre congestion. Port didn't react to it all night, but then Hinckley didn't react to much at all. It was the worst coaching example I have seen. It was pointed out in the match commentary, when he left Clurey ( undersized) on Hawkins for the whole match, but worse still was that he left him 1 on 1. No zone defence, no 3rd man in. Hawkins had a field day. 6 goals mostly from just pushing Clurey aside as the ball came in.

This Club only has 1 player ever to play 300 games. In Jones, we now have the chance to double that. People talk about Club culture, and this is the way to achieve it. i.e everything in OUR power to get him to that milestone after he has given so much to US. If it means another year on the list, then so be it. I could name 4 players who will not be there next year. I could name another 4 who will probably be moved on, or never make the grade. Yet Nathan is playing in our first 22 at the moment. We will not be heavily involved in the draft this year, it is compromised and we have given away our first round pick. Keeping Jones on the list will not affect our draft or trading position in any way. As a club we have to make it happen.

Yes.....Patterson gives a full rundown on why we went so hard for draft picks this year. We only lost 1 player who finished in the top 10 of the B+F, in O'Dea. But in terms of list re-generation losing players in their late 20's and replacing them with others likely to be around for 10 years is the right thing to do. Particularly as this year is the first uncompromised draft due to expansion sides, with further compromised drafts in the future. And as Patterson notes, this is the first group of players to " come through the system", since AFLW has been possible. The talent is there this year, grab it while we can.

Bruce has got to get into the side first....

Finally over 40K!.......40,005

We have already traded out of the 2020 compromised draft to get Pickett. It would be pointless to trade in draft picks this year, particularly since the absence of lower level and under age competitions has made player assessment more of a gamble. We will be looking for player swap type arrangements, plus 2021 draft picks.

A week and a bit later the total is now: $584,548.50

And if we can't beat North without Brown, Ziebel, Cunnington and possibly Daw..ditto.!

For those who haven't heard him in action: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/790074/rd-10-match-highlights?videoId=790074&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1596632647001 At 00.56..01.00 02.55..02.56 05.10..05.11

Someone has got their wires crossed: This is from Michael Gleeson's article in the AGE today: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/chairman-s-criticism-was-fair-goodwin-20200804-p55ih8.html ...."Melbourne are one of the AFL-assisted clubs required to provide weekly updates on their profit and loss so they would require AFL approval to make a large payout to cover a sacking - were it to come to that."... As Lucifers Hero says...the Balance sheet is OK because of the Bentleigh Club ( which hasn't been revalued in donkeys years ) but a Balance sheet doesn't put food on the table i.e money to run the show......unless you sell an asset. Or as LH says: "The only way we can get cash from the Bentleigh Club without selling is to borrow against it. But where would we get the cash to fund the borrowing? Pokies money is all but gone." ....

Good summation there DeeSpencer. Really sorry to see O'Dea going, as she was just a solid rock in telling times during the game. I think the style of play and the strength and shape of players required to be successful changed dramatically last year. The arrival of players like Greisner and Prespakis and their ability to just push others away signals where the game is going. The best way to get these types is through the draft, since they will never be traded. I hope the Irish girls come back, or can come back. Goldrick was a standout, and had adapted well to our game, and she provided the tough "at it" approach needed now in the game.

Love your work also. Puts some facts behind what we are seeing on the ground.

Go to the "Give" icon at the top of the MFC home page....

$514,449 to date. approx $100,000 donated since last weekend.

People are going to be disappointed during trade period this year. It is doubtful that Melbourne will be heavily involved. Why? Compromised draft: we have already given away our 1st round this year to be able to select Pickett last year. At the time the club said that the compromised draft in 2020 meant picks were not in equivalent value to 2019. Why would we then try to trade back into the same compromised draft? If the 2021 draft is less compromised, then we may try to trade for future picks...leave that to Jason Taylor and the experts. Existing list: There are players who we haven't seen or barely sighted to this point. Jordon, Sparrow, Rivers, Nietschke, Baker, Petty, Chandler all look to have something to offer, but can't get a game, because of the strength of the list ( or injury). If list sizes are reduced, there are a good number of others outside this group who can be discarded, so apart from the required number of draftees ( 3 at the moment) we really don't need any more. Since it is difficult for players outside our top 22 to get a run at the moment, there would be a chance that other clubs may be interested. However, you are not going to get a high draft pick for those players. e.g Sam Frost got Pick 50 and Hawks’ future second-round pick - GAVE AWAY Picks 42, 61 and Demons’ future fourth-round pick. Again, what is the point of 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds picks in a compromised draft, and which we probably don't need or want in any case. Unless a really good player comes to your club under FA arrangements, you have to give up the equivalent or more to get them. Gone are the days of "stealing" talent from other clubs. Even Gold Coast are keeping their high end talent these days.

$449,949 to date

$416,611 donated to date.

Also " The MFC, an illustrated History" published after 150 years

For a true history of the MFC there are 2 to recommend: 100 years of Football. Naturally only covers up to 1958 And Lynda Carroll's "The Grand Old Flag"

Don't remove them too early...BBO and friends would be enjoying the offers they are seeing. Anyhow, have put some loot in the account to make sure this site keeps going. We all need it in these times.....