
Everything posted by Lucifers Hero
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
Yes, they want the government to take a 'broad view' in applying the meaning of 'close contact'. But, I just don't see how the Health Department can allow that as Ess train, live and shop right in the middle of the major hot spots of recent outbreaks. Ditto other people in their households. If the incubation period is 1-2 weeks then there is a risk to the wider community and not just other AFL teams. The government must put community concerns before AFL games. The government has already messed up with Cedar Meats, Hotel quarantines, and the BLM rally (a fourth protester has now tested positive). They just can't afford any more risks. Time to take a firm stand and stop pandering to causes/vested interests.
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
Will round 5 be completed? Rich are scheduled to play WCE in Queensland. Presumably the AFL negotiated an exemption from Qld's 14 day quarantine for AFL teams. But with the fresh outbreaks across Melbourne, Queensland has identified 31 Local Government 'hot spots' in Greater Melbourne. If it gets worse and knowing that covid has hit the AFL will the Qld gov't withdraw the quarantine exemption and Rich can't play WCE? Then round 5 becomes compromised. And the WA government doubling down on its 14 day hotel quarantine requirements even for returning AFL players. So Every chance there will be a 'catch-up' round at some stage with some teams having a bye. That will help bring the season back into sync.
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
We could have if Ess players were tested on Saturday and cleared by today but no someone decided to test them today instead. Ess buying time!!
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
Nothing will surprise. The AFL will do anything to help Ess climb the ladder, after all they are a 'big' club and need to be looked after, right. As usual the AFL will mitigate any EFC sins and sweep them under the carpet. If the club has mishandled any of this ie ignored the protocols, surely they should also be penalised.
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
Unless the Vic Premier, an ardent Ess fan, makes a 'captain's call' claiming 'flexibility' and find a reason for them to not play on. But that would mean virtually jettison the whole competition and given the covid situation in victoria I can't believe he would be that reckless - altho he did roll the dice with Cedar Meats and lost. So who knows when it comes to his football club.
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
When we play Ess later in the season, if it is on short turnarounds before/after the game we are further disadvantages vs at least one of the other teams we play who will have a longer break. So that potentially is 4 games in which we will be disadvantaged to finish higher up the ladder.
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Melbourne vs Essendon Postponed
That means rnd 4 Ess v Carlton and then rnd 5 Ess v Coll would go ahead. Whereas our game has been postponed to later in the season. This seems grossly unfair to us as 1) Carl and Coll would play a depleted Ess team whereas we play them when back to full strength. 2) the postponement means playing Geelong next week when they will be more match fit having played to consecutive games after the long break to our one. These 2 things will make it harder for us to finish above Carlton, Coll and Geel. I don't know what the answer is but I feel we get a double penalty. That implicitly annoys me. But also I was looking forward to a season where we had 'no excuses' if we perform poorly. It is no longer a level playing field and we can't afford the appearance of a poor season (memberships, sponsors etc) even if circumstances and lady luck is stacked against us. No one wants excuses, again.
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Weideman's Future?
In Thursday's press conf Goodwin was asked about Weideman. He danced around the question a bit but at one point said: "...its different at AFL level, tho". And a few sentences later said something like: "...we are looking for talls to really compete, bring the ball to ground and influence the game..." Not overly encouraging. Nonetheless, my interpretation is that Sam has some things to work on. That Jackson is not in the team this week suggests the spot for a tall forward is still wide open. I reckon Sam will be back. He may not become a star or win a Coleman but if he kicks about 35-40 goals a season and does the competitive things well he will be doing his job.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
Social distancing may be scrambling people's minds... Time for me to have a self imposed holiday from DL...
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
I don't read all the DL threads so haven't seen Max's or Jake's comments. Would be grateful if you could provide a bit more info or a link. Thanks.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
I have emails from the club dated March 15 to explain the separation of players/staff and one on March 19 thanking members for their support and asking for them to get more people to sign up. Both were: we are in 'business-as-usual' type messages. The AFL is now in crisis mode: On March 22 the season was suspended. It is no long 'business-as-usual'. Nothing from the club since then. So yeah, I and perhaps the majority of the other 37,000 members, want to here that we will also survive and like the other clubs outline why they think that can happen.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
Another entity comes out to assure sports fans. Foxtel: We feel secure Apologies for quoting my own post but I would like to track how long it takes mfc to come out and reassure us.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
Outrageous if the AFLPA and contracted players allow that to happen. The minimum wage players are rookies and 1st and 2nd year draftees some of whom have moved interstate to play. I would really like to see some senior AFL players do a 'Chris Scott'; take a more compassionate stand - more compassionate to their non-playing club colleagues and to their junior playing colleagues. For Reiwoldt to argue that playrers have rent, mortgages and families to support is incredibly unaware of what is happening to millions of Australians losing their jobs who also have rent, mortgages and families to support.
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DEBT DEMOLITION
It would be a brave or maybe brash move right now. There are members who may be looking for membership refunds rather than chipping in some more coin. And it would make more business sense to wait until the AFL package is known and piggy-back off it. At least a DD program would have some context. And it would be useful if they announce some reduction in senior management salary packages at the same time. Btw, didn't Pert say that at EOFY 2019 we only $2.0m in Debt - has it ballooned since then? If @Palace Deesis correct there is a lot the club has to get right to avoid a PR disaster and broader member discontent despite the willingness of DL to chip in. We are the diehards. There are about 35,000 members out there that may not see it as we do. A time for the club to tread carefully.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
Other clubs identified as potential casualties have come out to reassure members: North Will Survive Suns: We Are Not folding! St Kilda's Return to Moorabbin could save the Club (Scroll down page to get to Saints story) Good to see they are on the 'front foot' and communicated with members and fans. Meanwhile, we wait.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
Don't get me wrong, I'm no leftie! Players often claim the AFL is a 'family'. In reality players are a fraternity within that 'family'. Its time they 'walk the talk' and take care of that family, especially the more vulnerable within it as well as their own blood families. If I was a player under the average pay and have already lost match payments I would be fast losing respect for the so called leaders. Dangerfield etal are letting their teflon coated egos get the better of them.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
They have one. It has $120m but it is nowhere near enough to survive this crisis.
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
I find it reprehensible that players led by Dangerfield and mouthpiece Nick Riewoldt are digging their heals in on pay cuts. Their seemingly reasonable offer (reasonable to them) to take a 50% cut till end of May actually equates to just 8% per annum! Meanwhile, those they rely on the most to earn any income at all: coaches, football, fitness, medical staff and even admin staff have lost their jobs or work cut back. Realistically, players (about 400 of them) earning less than the average of about $350,000 is already taking a massive pay cut because their contracts would have a large 'matches played' component. It is Dangerfield, Riewoldt and the like that have the big guaranteed contracts. Where is their care for their younger, less experienced colleagues? I would have a bit sympathy if the 'leaders' said any player with a contract less than (eg) $100,000 was protected from any reduction. Note: this player would have already lost income by loss of 'match payments'. This would cover Rookies, first and second year draftees. Then a sliding scale % increase with size of contract so the bigger the contract the bigger the hair cut in $ terms. Right now, Dangerfield and Riewoldt look like greedy and stubborn plicks!!
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Coronavirus: AFL & MFC
This post in another thread has a bit of a run down on our financial situation. imv it is not strong. We had a massive cash shortfall this year to the tune of about $10.0m so we used up all our cash reserves (incl sale of Leighoak cash) to cover it and cover expenses and to avoid debt. No idea what the 'fiancial investments' are and there is no 'Note' to explain them.
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IT’S OVER FOR NOW
I agree dc. Was just indicating all options will be looked at so folks don't assume that shutting down gws and gcs will solve the financial problems ahead. Just can't see an 18 team comp.
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IT’S OVER FOR NOW
It may be bye bye to those teams but will a Vic team be relocated to/merged with GWS or GCS? I have little doubt all options will be on the table.
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IT’S OVER FOR NOW
Hmmm. You know nothing of my background so it isn't wise to make claims like 'you clearly have no idea'. To address your comments: 'Money in the bank'? $225k isn't very much. 'Substantial assets can be made liquid'. Our only asset is the Bentleigh Club while worth more than $8.7m value in the Balance Sheet, it is not easily 'made liquid' . We don't have debt because we used up the $10.0m in Cash at the end of 2018 (a large part was the sale of Leighoak. Money that had been earmarked for our new Club facilities). Without the $10.0m we would be deeply in debt. For more detail, the 2019 Annual Report shows: Total Assets: $21.2m of which only $2.7m are 'Current Assets' (ie Cash or easily converted to 'Cash'). At the end of 2018 the 'Current Asset' figure was $11.2m with over $10.m in the bank in part from the sale of Leighoak. Total Liabilities: $10.1m of which $7.9m are 'Current Liabilities' ie due in the next 12 months. Note: That our Current Liabilities are 3.5 times our Current Assets is not a good sign! Net Assets: $11.133m - primarily the Bentleigh Club valued at $8.700m altho worth a lot more but not easily 'made liquid'. A Loss of just on $2.000m That does not look financially sound to me. That we used up $10m in cash in 2019 to pay bills shows how poor our cash flows were in 2019. We are one of the very vulnerable Victorian clubs, not just financially but also poor on-field performance over many years, small membership, fluctuating sponsorships (we may be the only club that does not have a long term 'anchor' sponsor). You may like to think we are we are not vulnerable, that is up to you. Media Rights agreements has gone up in smoke. It is now meaningless - Fox and Ch7 have stopped paying the AFL. No games, no broadcasts, no money. Any new Broadcasting agreement will match the landscape of the AFL at the time: 18 teams? 16 teams? 14 teams? Who knows. I will but money on 14 or 16 teams after shutdowns, mergers and relocations. Tbh, selfishly I just want mfc to be one of them. Time will tell if we survive.
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IT’S OVER FOR NOW
Staff Reductions Update The league has effectively taken control of all clubs and ordered the measures as they renegotiate with banks to secure lines of credit to keep the competition operating. Players are paid after work is completed and are certain to be paid up until March 27, the end of the current pay period. What happens after that is uncertain, given no games will be played. Up to 80 per cent of staff at the AFL and clubs have been stood down without pay Gold Coast and GWS had already told staff they were being cut back to the bare minimum and further meetings were being held at all clubs throughout the day.
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IT’S OVER FOR NOW
Has the axe already fallen on the Suns? "Gold Coast Suns football department staff have been stood down indefinitely and advised to explore their employment options". That sounds rather permanent. Source: Suns-football-department The article doesn't say if coaching staff are also stood down. Players must be feeling very restless. The dozen top 10 draftees of the last few years will find homes quickly but who knows for the rest if the worst comes to pass. While we would all agree that the Suns have been the least viable both on-field and off-field it is still sad if they go and terrible for the families. Realistically, 18 teams just can't survive post 2020.
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2020 Contracts and List Details
It seems the AFL has stopped clubs re-signing players out of contract this year. footy-s-over-and-getting-it-back-will-be-hard From the Table in post #9 above we have 23 players OOC this year. Obviously many will be re-contracted but how many have played their last game for our beloved Demons... There will be many nervous AFL players and this may include those with contracts but are long-term injury players. Difficult and sad times ahead.