Diamond_Jim

Can we beat and finish above Carlton? Like us they have lost two marquee players and traded in a few "old soldiers"

12th or higher would be nice. No real reason to think we will end much higher. 12th would probably put Essendon below us. Equalling the Bulldogs would be great but I see them around 8-10

Is that the 4k service FND? I wonder what the story is with these club deals. I assume Kayo think these people would have gone after 6 months and therefore they are giving 12 months for the price of 8. If you assume the club gets say $25 for the referral it's a bigger subsidy. IMO Kayo need another killer sport such as EPL

They are certainly reducing the operating loss but it will be a painful road to profitability. We're simply too small a market for ever increasing sports rights fees

$46 a month is a massive 50% price rise since 2024. For a sports service that only has four "big" sports three of which are non exclusive (AFL, NRL and cricket) that's a big ask. F1 is exclusive but given its time zones is it really that big. I always knew Foxtel/Kayo was a loss leader for Rupert but what worries me is that a back of the envelope calculation shows that even at $46 per month with everyone staying for 12 months it's still a loss operation. Next stop... ban password sharing and bring on more ads.

The future fund is an attempt to "future proof" our finances. Spending it on an unsaleable training facility defeats the purpose somewhat. Ask North Melbourne whether their leasehold improvements at Arden Street have any real value. Have a look at Collingwood's future fund if you want to get an idea of a well financed club in the modern era. We really stuffed up leveraging off that 2021 win from a financial viewpoint.

Unlike onfield success, memberships etc the training ground issue is one that is firmly within the bailiwick of the Board. So many wasted years but more damning directionless

Windsor has the goods to take some big steps. Langford perhaps top 50 in the comp. Unfortunately we will still end up around 14th

An aside but how did we miss singing "That's Petracca" while we had him... Fans would sing about players they loved (or hated), things that happened on the pitch (or off it), adapting melodies from popular songs or full chants from other teams while simply tweaking the lyrics to suit the subject. One of many, many such examples: Dean Martin’s That’s Amore became a tribute by Brighton fans to Bobby Zamora. From a great article in the Age about why the Barmy Army are streets ahead of Aussie cricket fans when it comes to match day singing. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/why-don-t-aussie-sporting-crowds-sing-like-the-brits-do-blame-the-beatles-20251229-p5nqh1.html

Soccer is tougher Try a world cup qualifier.... One leg in the cold and then fly for twenty hours before another game in the heat and humidity two days later. African Cup is on at present.... It's serious world class football

Only $2.25M... worth that for the jumper alone !!

Thanks for that. So he's a "list strategist". Useful appointment. Will be interested to see if we keep offering 7 year plus contracts.

Article in today's Age on the relative finances of the AFL clubs. While we're not a basket case suffice to say we're still on Struggle Street. Of Victorian clubs we were ranked second last both in members and revenue beating only North. On AFL handouts we scored a little better with North Saints and the Bulldogs getting higher handouts. This was a year to forget for the Demons. There was major on-field upheaval, while they also recorded a $4.45 million loss, significantly impacted by the decision to axe Goodwin and move on Oliver. This came a year after the Demons had to factor in a $3.1 million payout to Angus Brayshaw for his medical retirement. While they had a drop in membership to 58,563, the Demons insist their balance sheet is strong. They have net assets of $24.4 million, a Future Fund of $23.7 million and combined cash and financial assets of $6.9 million. Their membership and gate receipts were $18.3 million. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/pokies-handouts-and-membership-records-inside-the-finances-of-the-afl-s-victorian-clubs-20251208-p5nlqd.html

Not great to have a leased facility which is open to rent increases/redevelopment adjacent to our rent free ovals. Hopefully it's a very long lease on the admin facility. Ideally the whole facility would be one parcel but we aren't exactly in a wonderful bargaining position. Would it not be amusing if MRC and co also opened the project up to bids by Collingwood

Why would you want to play for any AFL aligned club when you know you will be dropped for fringe AFL players who may not be as good as you. As a comp it has produced very few players at VFL level who get promoted to an AFL list. It simply doesn't work anymore on so many levels. With the inclusion of interstate teams it has also lost what little community feeling it had. I liked going to Coburg, Port etc but now we are lucky to get to play at the old grounds

Wait till we see what happens when we all add Demonland to our social media links for the US ETSA

The first test will be whether the GF guarantee is open again. IIIRC it has been full since 2021. TBH I have always found the GF guarantee for struggling teams a little sus but there's always optimists.

Not sure how Oliver's move puts us in the red. The subsidy we are paying is inside the salary cap which amount we pay anyway. I think it's an accounting entry akin to the new CEO and Chairman writing everything down so future years look good

Lever and Viney are probably the only candidates. Lever is fraught with injury issues and Viney is in his twilight. I'm for keeping Gawn for one more year and then perhaps Rivers. I wouldn't be averse to Rivers moving up to VC in 2026 if the explanation to Viney and Lever can be managed but probably not worth the angst.

I love it that we ask the big questions on this Board. Must say I'm worried what will happen if I hand out my DL user name as part of my next ESTA application for USA. Then again Satanic Worship is probably a recognised religion over there so Demonland might not ring any of the wrong bells.

I wonder why Kalani is in Melbourne for 2026. With a structured training plan and some hands on mentoring from his father he could benefit from another year in the QAFL or whatever it's called. He would be on the MFC list. I suspect it's just too hard from a liability viewpoint but given that he's 3 year minimum from a senior game what is the hurry to drag him away from family and support etc.

The two Tier 1 players is a conundrum to say the least. It was designed to encourage movement from the founding clubs and it's still working

Ditch the jingoistic US theme song. While they're at it the Fitzroy/Brisbane song is indefensible.

In simple terms the tax is up to 75% so no one does it. It's only a matter of time for the mega clubs though. The problem is demonstrating the on field benefit of the extra payment. You are seeing more and more clubs complain about the soft cap but they frame it in terms of having to cut back on player welfare. Of course if you paid less to coaches etc you'd have more for player welfare. In 2023 Collingwood suggested they would pay the tax in order that they could pay coaches at the same level as pre-covid. They were going to fund it by selling a game to Queensland. Soon after the soft cap was relaxed marginally and Collingwood stayed home.

It would be reasonably paid but not overwhelmingly paid. Life after recruiting would be limited but perhaps you can transfer the skills to other areas. With the soft salary cap the AFL is full of "underpaid jobs" that really do not reward success. What would the Eagles or the Pies pay him but for that "cursed cap."