iv'a worn smith

We have a number of sponsors on various tiers, looking to increase their stakeholding. Our new commercial manager will be all over this, as is his brief. I am very confident we will get a lot more bang for our buck following an extensive commercial restructure, which is long overdue. Forget the departing sponsor. There are a lot more opportunities opening up.

Some of the latter posts on this topic are anything but eloquent and enlightening. Go to the naughty corner or I'll throw a bucket of water over you both

I have heard exactly that Bubs. That said, the thing I am liking about the MFC at the moment is that we are not leaking like a sieve, as in past years. I reckon over the next few weeks we might be in for some pleasant surprises

He's not going to accept any offer if his current employer won't release him. Becomes moot in that case.

Successful clubs take no prisoners. It is not about chest thumping or grandstanding, it is about staking your rightful claim within the AFL. Colless may have looked like a clown over recent weeks, but I would take that any time, if it gives me 2 flags in 10 years. I am with you on this BB. You are on the money. Time for the MFC to slam its fist on the negotiating table and not be pushed around anymore. Marquee players go to strong clubs. We have to be perceived that way to attract such players.

Is that you Paul Keating? Please come back, all is forgiven

Paul Roos is just not that sort of bloke. Not to underestimate the challenge ahead of him, he was never going to do it for a 'standard' coaches contract. Roos has a knack of identifying talent in players not previously displayed and getting the best out of them. After this protracted trade period, you may very well be pleasantly surprised.

Aish senior!!!

I reckon one thing is for certain. Ross Lyon will not tolerate a near enough is good enough attitude. Lyon won't tolerate players believing that just on reputation and natural skill alone, they will be guaranteed a game. Freo has a fair list. I just pose this, not as a given but just as a question. If Col continues with the on field - and sometimes off field attitude at Freo, as he has displayed to MFC supporters, then I reckon he can expect a fair bit a game time in the WAFL. Certainly, I would rather have kept Col, but I will not be as fussed as I would have been if the other Col wanted to leave Thanks Colin Sylvia. You were a 10 year Dees player and they will never take that away from you.

Great get BD. Made me tear up a bit actually. In short the prophetic warnings of Norm Smith were never taken on board by the tweed jacket and corduroy brigade. The game changed quickly and forever. The MCG was no longer our sole domain and money paid to players (although obviously nowhere near as big as today) started to speak more loudly. We were hoisted well and truly on the petard of the old school tie.

Selective analysis of my post. i was responding to BB and his claim that the game has never been in better shape. The AFL industry in general in a better position than it was historically, due to one reason and one reason alone. The mega bucks paid for TV rights. As WJ rightly pointed out, the ground work for this revenue was well and truly done before Demetriou took the reins.

So Jackson, Hamilton, Oakley and Aylett had nothing to do with that? They were not pioneers in "establishing" the code interstate. All the hard work had been done when AD inherited the holy grail.

Hawthorn star Lance Franklin set to join Sydney Swans after GWS withdraws offer After GWS have reportedly withdrawn the offer to Buddy, it would seem the Swans are now in the van to pick him up. Given Colless' recent out burst against Roos, seems he is more than comfortable to use the salary cap concessions Sydney has long been afforded by the AFL, to gasump GWS, right under their noses. Gooses and ganders come to mind here

The point missed here is that the entire competition is almost entirely reliant on TV revenue. Ipso facto, it is TV that grows the brand. That is the only feather in Vlad's ample cap. As such, there will always be poorer clubs, which will suffer on a cyclical basis as their performances do not garner TV ratings. I do not doubt we have had mismanagement issues, but, for instance, the entire so-called "tanking" saga was seminal in the AFL's very own rules and structures. A framework of the AFL's own invention. In attempts to get off the bottom and thereby be a more attractive proposition for TV air time, we went for draft picks. Ill advised I have no doubt, but it occurred because the AFL set the framework. On several occasions, Demetriou publicly stated he did not believe there was the slightest trace of evidence that we tankedThe AFL is a a socialist organisation in the true sense of the word. Yet it's CEO gets a salary which is not commensurate with other CEO's in a similar size businesses. Simple as that.

This may explain it OD

$500 and agree PM, won't see it again, but we may get into heaven.

As I heard it, he said he had tried to contact PR in various ways, phone, text and email and had not had a response. It seemed to me that he considers the ball to be PR's court now to respond. Colless also said the article concerned, penned by Cordy, had taken one comment out of context and that Roos' reputation would be tarnished if Roos did try to lure players from the Swans Academy. Really did seem like he was bumbling though, as quoted above.

A team in 2014 with more spirit and confidence, several players taking the next step - hopefully - and some astute trading and drafting, along with our gun coach, may see a very different footy team. Col could be the perfect link man. He's a keeper for mine, unless luck would have it that we happen to get something for him, which as an UFA is not likely.

Of course Sydney's hands are totally clean after the Tippett deal????????

I see him playing an on-field role, similar to James Hird in his playing days. Not dissimilar in build. I just hope jack can be even half as good.

As Buffalo said, the inescapable fact is that the official AFL decision was that the MFC was found not guilty of tanking. You simply can't have it both ways.

Interesting that Doc Reid showed the way to fight city hall, even when the powers that be are hell bent on saving face.

Perhaps seeing the joy on his little boy's face is just the tonic he needed. If cynicism is your first option, perhaps you are best off just saying nothing. To me your words are totally redundant in this instance. Well done Nugget and Jack and I trust Sydney and his dad will see more Dees wins next year and well into the future.

Peter Smith, son of Norm

I'd say the so-called ad is still in pre-production phase and there will be more meat on the bones after the new year. Understandably, the club wanted to get as much mileage out of the Roos announcement, as soon as possible. More to come I reckon.