beelzebub

Would be very interested also to know these figures. To see under what guise the other clubs, especially the monied ones, recieve theres !!! thanks

couldnt have put it better. !! Like we could possibly care what Libba thinks.. and he's such the noted "thinker"....thumper more like it !! lol

two words Annus Horribilus

well thats it...hes a lefty...he's a shoe in !! lol

Im sure something like this wouldnt be lost on someone like Sheeds !! Im hoping that if the opportunity should arise that a deserving Chinese could be given the opportunity to don (sic ) the red and blue !! NAB cup 2008 ought to be just about right !!! hehehehe Up there Ya Lee ..in there and fight !!! )) you laugh NOW !!!

Was never worried about the Demon identity going per se just interested to note it had been taken into consideration. Thats fine by me. Good point re red Devils. Any Chinese effect will be slow and steady.. but like a glacier.. it only need move lowly...just dont stand in front of it !! lol. Keep in mind this ol' town has a long History with China... Melbourne was built on the back of the gold rush.. and guess who helped with that !! lol Melbourne is so uniquely placed in the world.. we just dont often appreciate it only now the sleeping dragon ( sic..lol ) of branding starts to awake !!

to those that know...whats the go with a switch to Reebok.. better money.. or Asics not interested any more ?

For some while a few of us here have identified the potential that is associated with the Brand "MELBOURNE" going into larger overseas markets. Others have ..and they are obvously in a position to make hay of it. Hence the formation of Team Melbourne to capitalise on the synergies of admin and marketing whilst also strengthening the brand. Something in my ignorance I hadnt realised til now was the reluctance of many Asian societies to embrace something we hold to be warm and fuzzy...yes folks the good ol' DEMON !! lol...apparently they're bad or something whilst these Dragon thingies are really cool and good. then we have: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E20322,00.html Sort of put things in a different perspective, well it did for me. I cant see for one moment Melbourne fc ever relegating ol' bub to bin but I can see in certain markets and efforts that more emphasis is going to placed on our "Melbourne-Ness " Kind of ironic that we ( Dees followers..as much as many following footy ) can all but raise a blink whilst ready to pack the Roos off to Cooloangatta or such but might baulk at even the hint of our demon going to lesser roles. I am prepared at the moment to see this move as a positve. Its part of a larger and longer forward thinking strategy to place our club in a situation better orientated ( npi ) to capitalise on growing markets and interest. Imagine the exposure an exhibition game would generate in China in Olympic year !!! I see much of this as our club thinking outside the box. Thats fine with me Gong Hee Fat Chow

be easier to say who stayed..lol.. just about a "Flinders Street - all change" really Dean Bailey....new Josh Mahoney - new Sean Wellman -new Paul Wiilams - existing Mark Williams - new Kelly O'Donnell - new Chris Connolly -new Craig Cameron - exisitng Bohdan Babijczuk - exisitng and probably some Ive missed.. 5 out of those 8 are newbies

Whilst a goodly number of memebrs is necessary ...a huge number isnt the most important aspect of corprate survival in todays climate. Yes teh 'power ' clubs hava very good base. listen up folks...they always have. and we NEVER have. To plan the future of Melbourne based upon member tickets is folly and simply naieve. The MFC kknows this. which is why they are attempting to better the Brand, indeed expand the whole nature of the Brand. 23-26 000 will be enough Members.. for one simple reason...we're never going to get many more....short of a miracle. Better sponsorship deals wil help... but they wont come overnight. Better income streams will definitely be the way of the future. If we live or die on the back of 5000 members ..we're doomed. Any club is. You have to have amuch better plan of attak than simply club sales and attendances. Success breeds success. On field will help pave the way for other things etc. The supposed "Dee" supporter is a figment of biased minds. We dont come from our defiined suburban haunts any more. The typical supporter of X club is no richer than that of Y. 5 of my good friends are ( sad to say of the filth variety ) no without means !! Point being its all crap about disposable incomes as stereotypes of todays supporter But this is all a diversion from reality.. Member ship may mean around 3-4 million to most clubs..or 5-6 for the better ones. Turnover of a footy club is much much higher. The REAL money comes from other sources.. the AFL pie .. Sponsorships ; corprate coteries.. and Attendances. I would say that initially getting bums on seats wil impact more than memberships...as it affects TV coverga eetc..and flow on benefits. getthe success and more members sign... but hey still arent the boom or bust item. Success means you can garner another 500G-1m sponsor..etc etc. The real money and survival is the BIG bucks...and people still argue about the little bucks !!

yep..thats right go out a buy a memebership for North.. like that will save them.. go to the benefit concert...like that will save them. Its all very romantic and passionate isnt it. Has nothing to do with reality though; which is that North have been on the road to oblivion for some time...and they are not alone. Some would say we too oght to be careful, crafty and aware of the situation. WE ARE !! Thats why we are developing the brand. To ensure we go nowhere. North have little in the way of support...people like Aylett know it.. and if he is reluctantly contending the move north makes ense ...who am I to argue. Laidley knows the Kangas are firmly planted in the quicksand, hence he reluctance to sign a new deal. Brayshaw is playing with himself if he thinks it not a matter of IF but when . There are going to be casualties in the game as it goes forward. The AFL needs to rationalise the Victorian participation . It knows the populations are moving. Brisbane will easily equal Melbourne for pop and spending inside of 20-25 years and so teh AFL knows that in order to maintain the stabilty of the game and to grow it in the new markets it needs to sew seeds that will be plants come the next generation. Teams like the Kangas can grasp it with two hands and forge ahead..make for themselves a new destiny ..with hope and chance.. or become another Fitzroy!! The Doggies may want to look a bit ahead too. whoever does take teh path less popular wil probably secure the gratitude of the League and be assured cashflow and help. Those that dont see teh writing on the wall are bid doomed by their stuuborness. Melbourne IS different.. there simply has to be a Melbourne of some sort in the league.. there doesnt need to be a North...or a Bulldogs etc. no one wants to say goodbye to an old friend... but would you rather it YOU ???

aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!! lol thought he had been...my bad !! lol the thick plottens !! Despite any stupidity on Cousins part....and he has it in buckets and spades.. It really shows the character of the WCE doesnt it !!

well put sire first thing that popped into my little vacuum when announced that AFL was after him was >> can they? . He isnt contracted to any team so what power do they stil have to act on him ?

You have to wonder if Laidley hasnt smelt a rat all along !!! I reckon he knows the Roos are blowing chunks and scratching to keep their word on anything. This is a team haemoraging badly whilst the directors play violins !!

for starters...Im not anti round ball... Im just observing what has happened over many years. There is a reasoanbly good saturation of soccer at junior levels, has been for quite a while..say last 25 years. Does this translate into wholesale anihalation of other codes.. Strangely not.. You ( I'd ) actually expect more of an impact. It just never seems to come. I know a lot of mums etc prefer socer because they think its 'safer' than league or footy. But even this doesnt end up translating into numbers later in life. I would expect soccer to continue to grow about 10-15 % in real terms and then peak..and plateau. As someone has pointed out...no sooner does anyone get good than they pop off overseas.. . the A league is a brave attempt to rederess this but its still embryonic.. and still very much an experiment in the happening. Ths is not to say teh AFL can be complacent. Indeed much of the thinking in moving teams around is to shore up the code and continue its healthy presence Soccer will grow.. better establish itself. but its never going to be a serious threat to AFL.. As unbiased as I can say this it might be more of a threat to the Rugby codes. now.... where do I put my money down on the Gold Coast Kangas ???

rubbish...it will be a pasing infatuation.. was there a mass exodus to rugby ?? Aussies and Melbournians esp wil get behing whatever it is for the duration...then its Flinders St all return to normal viewing. they've been hyping Soccer since I dont know when.. and its only got them a marginal progression.

awwww Picky Picky !!!

when the A league is still around in its same form in 20 years...then I might get concerned.. Until then.. its justa continual morphing from one idea to another. Are there really any more peopel attending the premier level of soccer this year than say 1o years ago ??. the teams have changed a bit.. the venues a bit better.. but i seriously doubt, despite al the hooopla that soccder is any more entrenched today at all. Its justa bit better presented and marketed. I havent noticed large scale defection to the code ...have you

Very good perspective there Rhino. I must admit ai do have a bit of an internal chuckle when i see those little namby pamby stadia in NSW often half filled with what is to us a paltry attendance. ....and thats good for them !! lol. Both leagues AFL and NFl are propped p by money...media money. The difference i would suggest is that there is far more direct invlovement into NRL by the funder. The AFL to this observer seems more consolidated and its own entity, just an opinion. The face of this nation is changing.. many of our so called "traditional " roots are no more relevant than a 4n 20....i.e...it aint what it used to be ( aussie for a start..lol ). Demographics are movng etc. Just as an observation there is a fair following of NRL that is Kiwi and Islander based...whenether it be first or 3rd generation... Many new spectators to sport dont have these past allegiancies ...they simply want to be entertained..and maybe a feel good warm and fuzzy by winning. Quite simply if Melbourne had a team representing in MahJong we'd probably barrack for them... ( do we?? lol ) If Sydney feels wobbly then I still fervently beleive a second team will bolster ( not detract ) their position. It says to many this game is fair dinkum..not just a bunch of blow ins etc. from the AFL's point there must be economies of scale in development and poromotion.. Also leverage with media. This I have no dount is some of the thinkig also in a GC team establishing. Put it this way....would you rather stand on one leg or two ??

meanwhile....back to the Roos !!! lol my bet...Allegiance to walk when money talks !! http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afl-...3619059519.html the AFL is handing it to them on a platter.. they dont even really leave Melb entirely.. its a pretty good deal really...they'd be fools to knock it back.. Still ...this is footy !! lol

Queen...where do you see the AFL can better things.. what are they doing wrong..or not all ??

quite lol The AFL are a crafty lot though. whatever we put up here has already been done to death in some bopard room at AFL house:). They already know where its going to happen and even the 'who' as most likely candidates !! Its a my toy's better than yours with the AFL.. they WANT a 2nd team in Harbour Town !!. They know it has to happen..as with GC if the game is to evolve and keep pace

I very much doubt it... and so they say why would a 2nd work in Sydney i hear the pundits lining up to question. The AFL is much more succcessful machine than the NRL. it has better strategies for expansion and probably more money to do so.

it might be the heartland of NRL...but League is hardly setting records . . I know its a Victorian outlook... but league can be battled. A lot of mums would rather kids played footy than league !!!!!!!