jnrmac

The AFL spin seems to be : NSW and Sth QLD are important markets for us to expand. Its revenue neutral at the moment but in future when these teams are embedded then the pie increases... The price of failure will be very high however....

Its non-negotiable. We will get to finals and we will win at least one.

For those that don't have access to the Fin Review an interesting article about club finances..some snippets... West Coast is the most profitable club. $5.4m profit on $64m revenue. Bombers $5m profit (including $3.97m in donations). WCE has paid $137m in dividends & rent to the West Australian Football commission since 1987. WCE has $21.8m of cash and $42m of fixed income and share investments. They are a seriously powerful club on the back of great stadium deals and sponsorship. Richmond has a cash balance of $10m generating $8.6m from is Aligned Leisure Community Health Centre. GWS and GC received $48m in funding from the AFL which according the AFL is equivalent to the extra $50m in broadcast rights it receives for having two extra teams in the comp. If anyone is wondering why get stuffed on fixturing (including friday night games), travel (6 day breaks) or home ground against larger drawing clubs (we have been the home team against Ess once since 2005, Carl 5 times since 2005, Geel 5 times since 2005, Rich 6 times since 2005! This is largely because we are 'given' the QB game - don't ever tell me its a gift from Eddie because we pay for it in other areas such as this) its because the powerful clubs have much greater pull than we do. Until we start winning it is difficult for us to demand better terms on these areas,. But make no mistake they are a prime cause of the disparity between rich and poor clubs. And just as importantly when we start winning we need to ensure we change the dynamics of our revenue. Secure good stadium deal, get serious sponsors, grow membership and demand better fixturing. We need to embed this in the future to stop Melbourne ever being a pauper again.

Loved this comment from a rabid Geelong supporter... "I like the Dees for top 4 this season and possibly even premiers. I think they will beat us first up, and I'm tipping a Melb-Tiges GF with melb to win. I think between them two, and us, that's where the winner will come from."

Was just about to say the same. The treatment would be pretty much the same bt if the injury was worse than initially thought would just be longer... He would already be re-habbing, icing etc since the game..

I think they distinguish between match practice and miles in the legs. They appear less worried (to me at least) about 'match' fitness....

If we aren't one of the best 8 teams in the comp this year then we might as well give the club away.

Grow up.

This is a guy that was complicit in Trengove getting 3 weeks for a sling tackle. Claimed concussion then came out the very next week to kick 6. I hope it's a 6 week injury.

Greg Wells

This would have to be one of the most incorrect/misguided statements I have read on this forum.

Congrats to the lad!

I hope so...

All the people currently on bigger deals would be peeved and quite rightly. Anyone without Foxtel now (and that includes me) has been holding out for a long time and will need a better/special deal to get on board. I just don't think it will get much cheaper than the above deal though.

He might but he has played 4 games in total and there is nothing to suggest he is best 22.

He is a very smart footballer. I think his footballing IQ is under-rated...

Why do you care what he gets paid? Petty minded jealousy by the sound of it.

FFS Its a pre-season game. Lot of experimenting going on. Lighten up.

Don't care what time we win the Granny........

November 1963 he had an accident of sorts......

He has a fair way to go I reckon. Pick 38 who has played 4 games. Not sure why anyone thinks he would be a walk up start. Highly speculative IMO.

Wagner and Frost both have limitations but Frost's strengths are so much greater than Wagner's.

The less that external commentators talk about Melbourne the better. For some it might make them feel good or provide some validation about their support for an under-performing club but no good comes from it. Best just to let the on-field do the talking.

Momentum is incredibly important. History shows that teams in the top 8 after round 8 usually make finals. We need to get off to a good start, fuel belief and keep the pressure on through depth at Casey that will keep our players focused on getting a game. Oh, and no injuries is a huge factor as well.

Jeremy McGovern offered $7m for a 6 year deal. Very good player. Kudos to the club for locking up Lever on a very good deal.