North debt free for the first time since 1987

Aug 14, 2011
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First comment in 🤣🤣🤣 Jesus christ some people are sour

Dont go the early crow. Check to see if the AFL guarantee is still in place ..... sour you reckon, I'd call it realistic.

how they got debt free is kind of relevant

Can they stay debt free, living within their means like every other club.
 
Good on them but Most other clubs don’t sell 3-4 home games a season though if they loose there Tasmanian deal over coming seasons things might change
Gotta make a business model work somehow and if it means not having pokies then it's a good thing that they do.
 
Apr 13, 2006
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The Bitter End
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It would be interesting to know how they did it. Im not even trolling here.

The only thing that stands out as a point of difference for them is the money they make from flogging games to Hobart. In virtually every other metric they are at the bottom of the table. The last 2 years have been COVID. No fans or spectators at grounds. Most clubs have said they are bleeding. So what could it be?

The Vic Governement has poured in loads of dough into their ARden St Development. Have they leveraged off that? Have they misappropriated funds into their own coffers?
Has Peter Scanlon tipped in millions?
Has Covid actually been good for them, in so much as nobody comes to their games any way so the loss in match day revenue hasn't hurt them?
They don't really have any other revenue streams. Maybe once again COVID has been a blessing in diguise? A low cost base.
Have they simply not spent money except the bare minimum? For years?

It's intriguing.
 
Feb 4, 2008
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1637287007576.png

Great to see Laidley back in the fold. I am dreading the possibility of news of her being arrested on a bender while scandalously dressed as a man. 😁

Genuinely though there is something heartwarming about seeing Dean Laidley there and looking happy. Brad Scott on the other hand….chilling vision.
 

B4Bear

Norm Smith Medallist
Jul 6, 2011
8,215
16,492
Melbourne
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North Melbourne
View attachment 1283321
Great to see Laidley back in the fold. I am dreading the possibility of news of her being arrested on a bender while scandalously dressed as a man. 😁

Genuinely though there is something heartwarming about seeing Dean Laidley there and looking happy. Brad Scott on the other hand….chilling vision.
Happy to see BS there. He helped stabilise the club on the field in our darkest hour off the field. They are all part of the reason the club is still in Melbourne and more viable than we have been in decades.

Just hoping, but knowing it won't, that is puts the 'poverty stricken North Melbourne, relocate, blah, blah, blah' to bed.

The massive redevelopment of the Arden St precinct will be a boost for the club that will likely last for decades to come.
 

Also worth noting that these do not include "development grants". The AFL gives money to AFL ACT who give it to GWS to buy home games, they used to hide money going to the Swans this way a long time ago, not sure if any NSW grants go the Swans any longer, they probably don't need it. I think there would be some non arms-length money on the GWS and GC books that come from the AFL development grants.

Both WAFC and SANFL didn't want the AFL involved with grass roots development in those states so I am not sure what if any the AFL provides to these states via grants. I am also not sure what the AFL gives to the VFL goes towards the AFL clubs involved with that. I think we pay an annual VFL free to contribute towards the administration, I don't think we receive anything from the VFL, but not certain.

Our distribution from the AFL includes a future fund payment, the AFL was talking about phasing that out but there is currently an issue with the way the AFL schedules FTA games to maximise AFL broadcasting and gate revenue, it is inherently a restraint of trade because the allocation isn't predetermined on a fair or equitable distribution, like most other sports around the world. I think the Dogs and Saints in particular have been the most vocal about having a fair and equitable playing field and whilst it doesn't exist there needs to be balancing mechanisms in place.

I am fine with GC and GWS getting upwards towards 20-25m distribution because they are adversely impacted by being in a restrictive new market, but it should be transparent and the AFL should refrain from unnecessary withholding of broadcasting revenue. That represents half their annual revenue and it should all go towards the clubs, they withhold far too much of it and it in turn makes it harder for the players to get a larger share of the revenue.
 
Aug 13, 2018
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Doesnt factor in a few things - the base distribution all clubs are entitled to, plus additional funds for playing at Docklands that are distributed back from central revenue including AFLW, AFL membership and Docklands signage and other things. North actually break it down in their reports - most clubs dont.
To cut a long story short, gold coast are costing a fortune.
 
Jul 25, 2019
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Well done North Melbourne. Terrific effort from so many passionate and hard working people and stalwarts who have put their heart and soul in making The Shinboners are self-sustaining football club.

Kudos to everyone at #NMFC.
 
Oct 4, 2006
15,813
33,667
The hood
AFL Club
North Melbourne
It would be interesting to know how they did it. Im not even trolling here.

The only thing that stands out as a point of difference for them is the money they make from flogging games to Hobart. In virtually every other metric they are at the bottom of the table. The last 2 years have been COVID. No fans or spectators at grounds. Most clubs have said they are bleeding. So what could it be?

The Vic Governement has poured in loads of dough into their ARden St Development. Have they leveraged off that? Have they misappropriated funds into their own coffers?
Has Peter Scanlon tipped in millions?
Has Covid actually been good for them, in so much as nobody comes to their games any way so the loss in match day revenue hasn't hurt them?
They don't really have any other revenue streams. Maybe once again COVID has been a blessing in diguise? A low cost base.
Have they simply not spent money except the bare minimum? For years?

It's intriguing.

I know this is a sad day for you.

It will be ok though. You’ll have decades to come of being irritated and triggered by the survival of the NMFC.

Chin up muppet.
 
Oct 17, 2000
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To cut a long story short, gold coast are costing a fortune.

Excellent decision by North not to relocate to the Gold Coast in 2008. Debt free thirteen years later. Great day for the AFL.
 
Last edited:

hilly

Brownlow Medallist
Nov 27, 2000
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It would be interesting to know how they did it. Im not even trolling here.

The only thing that stands out as a point of difference for them is the money they make from flogging games to Hobart. In virtually every other metric they are at the bottom of the table. The last 2 years have been COVID. No fans or spectators at grounds. Most clubs have said they are bleeding. So what could it be?

The Vic Governement has poured in loads of dough into their ARden St Development. Have they leveraged off that? Have they misappropriated funds into their own coffers?
Has Peter Scanlon tipped in millions?
Has Covid actually been good for them, in so much as nobody comes to their games any way so the loss in match day revenue hasn't hurt them?
They don't really have any other revenue streams. Maybe once again COVID has been a blessing in diguise? A low cost base.
Have they simply not spent money except the bare minimum? For years?

It's intriguing.

Get well soon nuff.
 
Jan 2, 2009
12,963
20,910
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
how they got debt free is kind of relevant

Yes but the fact it's being directed towards one particular reason is a bit unfair and short sighted imo. There's been a lot of shrewd financial decisions being made at the club over the journey that is probably more important for discussion.
 

GroggSquad

Club Legend
Oct 2, 2014
1,321
2,690
AFL Club
Richmond
It would be interesting to know how they did it. Im not even trolling here.

The only thing that stands out as a point of difference for them is the money they make from flogging games to Hobart. In virtually every other metric they are at the bottom of the table. The last 2 years have been COVID. No fans or spectators at grounds. Most clubs have said they are bleeding. So what could it be?

The Vic Governement has poured in loads of dough into their ARden St Development. Have they leveraged off that? Have they misappropriated funds into their own coffers?
Has Peter Scanlon tipped in millions?
Has Covid actually been good for them, in so much as nobody comes to their games any way so the loss in match day revenue hasn't hurt them?
They don't really have any other revenue streams. Maybe once again COVID has been a blessing in diguise? A low cost base.
Have they simply not spent money except the bare minimum? For years?

It's intriguing.

Also nobody comes to their games - but no tarps?

It's intriguing.
 
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