News 2021 NMFC AGM - Wednesday, 3 March 2021 - 6pm @ Arden St.

[Roogal]

The "deal" did not include draft picks coming out of our wazoo. As we had a full, competitive list already (preliminary finalists that year), the AFL only offered a single, early second round pick if I remember correctly. It may have been 2x second rounders, but certainly not the bumper crop that the Gold Coast Suns received.

Yep that's my vernacular, yours is a more concise description. My understanding was that that option was on table as the AFL were offering all sorts of sweeteners to win over the club's board and support of its broader membership. I think the AFL and media thought that because we were so beleagured that by offering us Rock-candy Mountain that we'd just finally roll over. I suspect that the AFL, Melbourne's media, the teams that were packing our bags (Essendon, Melbourne, Saint Kilda, Hawthorn and the Dogs), and the NMFC board members who supported the move were genuinely shocked and angered by the resounding pushback that came from our club. We certainly weren't South Melbourne or a Fitzroy.

 

[Roman Roy]

Snake and I agree here and are essentially arguing the same position re Aylett.

I appreciate Snake's point as I can NOW empathise with board members Andrew Carter, Stephen Head, and John Magowan for the difficult decision they arrived at back in 2007. Whilst I vehemently disagreed at the time, I can now appreciate that they genuinely believed the Gold Coast was the only way to preserve the heritage of the club. History shows that they were wrong, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they were doing the best they knew how. I am a little more reserved when it comes to Aylett, mainly as I understood his motive for supporting relocation was not entirely related to the best outcome for the club. I believed at the time, and I am not yet convinced otherwise, that he was motivated to reinforce his legacy as the architect of the national league, the status of which had been usurped by Jack Hamilton and the AFL Commission. If Aylett was able to relocate his own club to QLD, then there would be no disputing his legacy. This is something I believed at the time to be true, and I am not interested in seeking out evidence to prove this point. My judgement of Aylett may be considered harsh, but that's how I feel. As for his record in the 50s, 60s and 70s, I have nothing but respect for the blood, sweat and tears that he gave for our club and his role in delivering our first flag.

 

[Roman Roy]

Yep that's a more concise description, my understanding was that that option was on table as the AFL were offering all sorts of sweeteners to win over the club's board and support of its broader membership. I think the AFL and media thought that because we were so beleagured that by offering us Rock-candy Mountain that we'd just finally roll over. I suspect that the AFL, Melbourne's media, the teams that were packing our bags (Essendon, Melbourne, Saint Kilda, Hawthorn and the Dogs), and a few NMFC board members were genuinely shocked and angered by the resounding pushback that came from our club.

Certainly, the genius of James Brayshaw's response to the AFL was to avoid any sort of horse trading (as they clearly had more money to offer and any number of draft enticements) and instead, call their bluff on the stadium rebuild that they simply could not promise. Pull out that foundation stone and the rest of their promises evaporated.

 

[Roogal]

I appreciate Snake's point as I can NOW empathise with board members Andrew Carter, Stephen Head, and John Magowan for the difficult decision they arrived at back in 2007. Whilst I vehemently disagreed at the time, I can now appreciate that they genuinely believed the Gold Coast was the only way to preserve the heritage of the club. History shows that they were wrong, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they were doing the best they knew how. I am a little more reserved when it comes to Aylett, mainly as I understood his motive for supporting relocation was not entirely related to the best outcome for the club. I believed at the time, and I am not yet convinced otherwise, that he was motivated to reinforce his legacy as the architect of the national league, the status of which had been usurped by Jack Hamilton and the AFL Commission. If Aylett was able to relocate his own club to QLD, then there would be no disputing his legacy. This is something I believed at the time to be true, and I am not interested in seeking out evidence to prove this point. My judgement of Aylett may be considered harsh, but that's how I feel. As for his record in the 50s, 60s and 70s, I have nothing but respect for the blood, sweat and tears that he gave for our club and his role in delivering our first flag.

Yes 20/20 hindsight vision is a marvellous thing. The temptation to move would have been great but I disagree that it would have preserved any of our history in any meaningful way. Yes the club colours would have survived, club song totally reworded, and four Premiership Flags and Cups won and earned in Melbourne permanently sitting in Queensland. It'd have broken too many hearts.

I also wonder whether North's resistance to stay in Victoria in 08 had any effect on the AFLs decision not to endorse us for Ballarat despite our 10 year association with North Ballarat in 2014, instead endorsing the Dogs who had no association with Ballarat. I do appreciate that North were playing games in Hobart at that time but were happy to cede Hobart after 2016. When they lost Ballarat they immediately committed to Hobart for five more years, which means that that contract must be up for renewal sometime soon.

 

[ferball]

Whether there's any validity to that or not, in fairness, the Sydney Swans were his pet project and legacy from his time in the VFL Commission in the 80s and the VFL back at that time had thrown a lot of money and effort into trying to establish Aussie Rules in the hearts of those who dwell above the Barrassi Line. It took nearly twenty years for the Swans to be accepted in NSW as a genuine Sydney team that could stand legitimately as a sustainable team. Some may even fairly argue that they still aren't. It leaves me to ponder the great "What if"?

What would have become of North had we allowed our team to be exported back in 07? How many of the existing 2007 membership (18,000) would have stuck ... I suspect not many. Yes we'd have had loads of money thrown our way, a great new exclusive home ground (which has only ever been filled for the Comm Games and BBL Cricket), draft picks coming out of our wazoo, but probably bugger all support. Yes we might have made the 2026 GF and ironically have Andrew Demetiou sitting on the sideline barracking for us too. It'd almost be history repeating.

The Swans are an accepted NSW sporting team. League fans go for them but don't know much about the game. Its not like it was when I first arrived in NSW in 1994.

 

[SimpkinByTheDockOfTheBay]

I appreciate Snake's point as I can NOW empathise with board members Andrew Carter, Stephen Head, and John Magowan for the difficult decision they arrived at back in 2007. Whilst I vehemently disagreed at the time, I can now appreciate that they genuinely believed the Gold Coast was the only way to preserve the heritage of the club. History shows that they were wrong, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they were doing the best they knew how. I am a little more reserved when it comes to Aylett, mainly as I understood his motive for supporting relocation was not entirely related to the best outcome for the club. I believed at the time, and I am not yet convinced otherwise, that he was motivated to reinforce his legacy as the architect of the national league, the status of which had been usurped by Jack Hamilton and the AFL Commission. If Aylett was able to relocate his own club to QLD, then there would be no disputing his legacy. This is something I believed at the time to be true, and I am not interested in seeking out evidence to prove this point. My judgement of Aylett may be considered harsh, but that's how I feel. As for his record in the 50s, 60s and 70s, I have nothing but respect for the blood, sweat and tears that he gave for our club and his role in delivering our first flag.

Great post.

We took a real punt in 2007 by choosing to stay in Melbourne and many, even Arch, were sceptical we could actually do it, despite supporting the move so wholeheartedly. I myself was pretty worried that we'd chosen a death or glory option, even though I was 100 per cent behind it. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. I could never have supported the bastardised entity.

Is why anyone who now bags the way we have survived in Melbourne, well, all I say is how else were we going to do it.

There weren't a huge range of options for survival on the table and the one we've chosen has worked, so by default it was the right option.

 

[SimpkinByTheDockOfTheBay]

Certainly, the genius of James Brayshaw's response to the AFL was to avoid any sort of horse trading (as they clearly had more money to offer and any number of draft enticements) and instead, call their bluff on the stadium rebuild that they simply could not promise. Pull out that foundation stone and the rest of their promises evaporated.

Damo Barrett played a big role exposing the stadium bullshit too

 

[Roman Roy]

Great post.

We took a real punt in 2007 by choosing to stay in Melbourne and many, even Arch, were sceptical we could actually do it, despite supporting the move so wholeheartedly. I myself was pretty worried that we'd chosen a death or glory option, even though I was 100 per cent behind it. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. I could never have supported the bastardised entity.

Is why anyone who now bags the way we have survived in Melbourne, well, all I say is how else were we going to do it.

There weren't a huge range of options for survival on the table and the one we've chosen has worked, so by default it was the right option.

The other interesting thing about the 2007 punt is that James Brayshaw's only alternative to relocation was the pie-in-the-sky White Knights plan that blew up in his face a few months later with the global financial crisis.

What's often forgotten about 2007 is that the Brayshaws had little confidence that the club could survive in Melbourne until Ron Joseph convinced them it could be done. And yet, when RJ was elected to the board in early 2007, even he thought the club needed to look seriously at the Gold Coast option. Little did he know at that time, Graham Duff had already done a secret deal with Andrew Demetriou. Also, RJ thought Duff was a dud from the get-go, and he publicly called for Peter Scanlon to become club chairman. That was before the 2007 season had even started. Ironically, Peter Scanlon became James Brayshaw's sole white knight. Almost as if Ron Joseph had a crystal ball.

 

[SimpkinByTheDockOfTheBay]

The other interesting thing about the 2007 punt is that James Brayshaw's only alternative to relocation was the pie-in-the-sky White Knights plan that blew up in his face a few months later with the global financial crisis.

What's often forgotten about 2007 is that the Brayshaws had little confidence that the club could survive in Melbourne until Ron Joseph convinced them it could be done. And yet, when RJ was elected to the board in early 2007, even he thought the club needed to look seriously at the Gold Coast option. Little did he know at that time, Graham Duff had already done a secret deal with Andrew Demetriou. Also, RJ thought Duff was a dud from the get-go, and he publicly called for Peter Scanlon to become club chairman. That was before the 2007 season had even started. Ironically, Peter Scanlon became James Brayshaw's sole white knight. Almost as if Ron Joseph had a crystal ball.

Yep. Remember the sh*t we used to cop about the white knights.

 

[The Anvil]

It is largely because we don't sell out our games.

This could easily change if covid restrictions have us at 50% capacity max stadiums in 2021.


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[The Anvil]

Club president 1971-1976 his better years but in the early 2000s when we did nothing to capitalise on the back of two flags in the late 90s, our membership was struggling to make 18,000, club debt at $10 mil, listed as junk shares on the stock exchange, the club HQ and facilities the worst in both the VFL and AFL, and that weird hopping mixomatosed looking rabbit logo. Two years after his final departure from the club, the entire AFL community and half our board had our bags packed for Queensland.

You're right, a raging success. sh*te ... what was I thinking.

Sometimes I wonder where our membership numbers would be as well as our finances if the merger with Fitzroy had happened.

TBH I didn’t want the merger at the time but 20+ years later we’d likely be 11 home games in Melbourne with just our players that we love to watch rather than half of ours and half of theirs which would have been the case at the time.

On a sad note for several of my previously disillusioned mates who went for the Roys are not adopted into the Tigers rabid family.


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[Snake_Baker]

Ironically, Peter Scanlon became James Brayshaw's sole white knight. Almost as if Ron Joseph had a crystal ball.

Peter Scanlon appeared at the appropriate time when things were getting desperate, and never let it be forgotten that he demanded that the NMFC become a vessel for his socio-political philanthropic interests as an absolute condition of his financial input.

In other words, if his demands were not met, then he was not prepared to have any part in saving the football club.

This standover tactic utilised against a sporting club on its knees still resonates today with the board (controlled) appointments of his son and Sonja Hood, who I have little doubt was fully aware about what was actually transpiring in the background of the so called creation of the NMFC as a "member controlled" club. It is no such thing. 2007 was a lie.

 

[Gasometer]

Yep. Remember the sh*t we used to cop about the white knights.

 

[Roogal]

Peter Scanlon appeared at the appropriate time when things were getting desperate, and never let it be forgotten that he demanded that the NMFC become a vessel for his socio-political philanthropic interests as an absolute condition of his financial input.

In other words, if his demands were not met, then he was not prepared to have any part in saving the football club.

This standover tactic utilised against a sporting club on its knees still resonates today with the board (controlled) appointments of his son and Sonja Hood, who I have little doubt was fully aware about what was actually transpiring in the background of the so called creation of the NMFC as a "member controlled" club. It is no such thing. 2007 was a lie.

... Well nobody likes being emotionally blackmailed, particularly against the backdrop of a club or organisation facing potential oblivion or exile. People don't forget or forgive that kind of behaviour, even if they learn to co-exist with those who use those tactics to manipulate others. There's always an underlying tension and resentment that those who have been manipulated feel toward the manipulator. Whether or not this occurred as you describe, it may explain a lot of the problems with the club that came to a head in 2020.

We can all remember the depth of emotions which we all felt which would have been greatly magnified and multiplied for those either running the club or seeking to run and save the club during the years 2005-2011. I think that the experience left all who were associated with North Melbourne ie. the fans, members, team members, administration and board members with varying degrees of psychological battle scars. There were no doubt those closest to the club then and now who remain traumatised from it.

 

[Soft Downhill Skier]

Peter Scanlon appeared at the appropriate time when things were getting desperate, and never let it be forgotten that he demanded that the NMFC become a vessel for his socio-political philanthropic interests as an absolute condition of his financial input.

In other words, if his demands were not met, then he was not prepared to have any part in saving the football club.

This standover tactic utilised against a sporting club on its knees still resonates today with the board (controlled) appointments of his son and Sonja Hood, who I have little doubt was fully aware about what was actually transpiring in the background of the so called creation of the NMFC as a "member controlled" club. It is no such thing. 2007 was a lie.

This conspiracy this dribbler refers to is having a womens team and the community program.

 

[The Anvil]

... Well nobody likes being emotionally blackmailed, particularly against the backdrop of a club or organisation facing potential oblivion or exile. People don't forget or forgive that kind of behaviour, even if they learn to co-exist with those who use those tactics to manipulate others. There's always an underlying tension and resentment that those who have been manipulated feel toward the manipulator. Whether or not this occurred as you describe, it may explain a lot of the problems with the club that came to a head in 2020.

We can all remember the depth of emotions which we all felt which would have been greatly magnified and multiplied for those either running the club or seeking to run and save the club during the years 2005-2011. I think that the experience left all who were associated with North Melbourne ie. the fans, members, team members, administration and board members with varying degrees of psychological battle scars. There were no doubt those closest to the club then and now who remain traumatised from it.

Surely the Scanlons didn’t need the North Melbourne FC to start the Huddle?

There’s plenty of similar organizations to the Huddle which have no sporting alignment.

As a side note, my wife encourages my kids to follow NMFC due to our social initiatives like the Huddle and no gambling. It’s an important selling point to some. End of the day they would have been Roos supporters anyway as I brainwash them daily and I was a supporter way before when we still had Kanga Kasino and our social initiatives were bumping into players at the Tunnel and Amber Lounge!


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[Snake_Baker]

Surely the Scanlons didn’t need the North Melbourne FC to start the Huddle?

As in a vessel attached to an AFL club to give it significant exposure?

It was a very rare opportunity at the time, and you wonder why the idea was never presented until the existence of the club was in its most perilous position.

It was as opportunistic as a Mafia power play. Straight out of the pages of Machiavelli.

 

[Soft Downhill Skier]

As in a vessel attached to an AFL club to give it significant exposure?

It was a very rare opportunity at the time, and you wonder why the idea was never presented until the existence of the club was in its most perilous position.

It was as opportunistic as a Mafia power play. Straight out of the pages of Machiavelli.

If you actually engaged Sonja in a meaningful discussion rather than you hurling pissweak insults, she'd fold you like a chair.

And, buy a membership or fu** off.

 

[Roogal]

Surely the Scanlons didn’t need the North Melbourne FC to start the Huddle?

There’s plenty of similar organizations to the Huddle which have no sporting alignment.

As a side note, my wife encourages my kids to follow NMFC due to our social initiatives like the Huddle and no gambling. It’s an important selling point to some. End of the day they would have been Roos supporters anyway as I brainwash them daily and I was a supporter way before when we still had Kanga Kasino and our social initiatives were bumping into players at the Tunnel and Amber Lounge!


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I keep an open mind to the turmoil that has evidently plagued the club's board recently. That is I don't think that any blame rests with one individual alone. A club's board must work together and be prepared to check their egos at the doors of club. Theirs must always be a single and unified focus, because only clubs with focussed and cohesive boards win Premierships. That's a fact. If we consider when Collingwood and Richmond were ripping themselves apart a decade ago, that all played out for them on the field. More recently Adelaide have done exactly the same. Perhaps if Helen Keller was alive, even she would see that things aren't right at North Melborne FC from the very top down.

I certainly know that the North Ballarat Roosters experienced a dramatic decline in their onfield performance and subsequent and humiliating ousting from the VFL because of the infighting and factionalism of its Board. What happens in the executive often seriously transpires onto the playing field. The players really notice when their board members can't bring themslves down to the change rooms to offer encouragement or words of inspiration and support when they are losing. The players can also see when their coaches aren't being supported.

I agree that The Huddle is a marvellous thing, but that is more representative of the underlying strength of the club ... its supporters. The Scanlons aren't the Huddle, it's the supporters who sustain it.

 

[SimpkinByTheDockOfTheBay]

What board turmoil?

 

[The Anvil]

As in a vessel attached to an AFL club to give it significant exposure?

It was a very rare opportunity at the time, and you wonder why the idea was never presented until the existence of the club was in its most perilous position.

It was as opportunistic as a Mafia power play. Straight out of the pages of Machiavelli.

No doubt that the attachment to the club would increase exposure, I probably wouldn’t know it existed otherwise.

To be honest I don’t generally hold onto things of the past, I’m old enough as it is and ideally don’t want to age faster.

With this in mind, I would look at it in terms of is it beneficial now to the club? This will differ for everyone depending on where they think the club’s priorities should lie.

We likely don’t have a club without the Scanalon family so for this I am grateful, but I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to hear how it went down in terms of their expectations. Members of this board would know significantly more than me about it so I do find these discussions interesting even though I’m not ITK.


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[Zondor]

If you actually engaged Sonja in a meaningful discussion rather than you hurling pissweak insults, she'd fold you like a chair.

And, buy a membership or fu** off.

What’s this? Snakes isn’t a Member? How will he be able to run for the Board and implement his brilliant ideas in progressing the NMFC without being a member? :stern look

 

[The Anvil]

I keep an open mind to the turmoil that has evidently plagued the club's board recently. That is I don't think that any blame rests with one individual alone. A club's board must work together and be prepared to check their egos at the doors of club. Theirs must always be a single and unified focus, because only clubs with focussed and cohesive boards win Premierships. That's a fact. If we consider when Collingwood and Richmond were ripping themselves apart a decade ago, that all played out for them on the field. More recently Adelaide have done exactly the same. Perhaps if Helen Keller was alive, even she would see that things aren't right at North Melborne FC from the very top down.

I certainly know that the North Ballarat Roosters experienced a dramatic decline in their onfield performance and subsequent and humiliating ousting from the VFL because of the infighting and factionalism of its Board. What happens in the executive often seriously transpires onto the playing field. The players really notice when their board members can't bring themslves down to the change rooms to offer encouragement or words of inspiration and support when they are losing. The players can also see when their coaches aren't being supported.

I agree that The Huddle is a marvellous thing, but that is more representative of the underlying strength of the club ... its supporters. The Scanlons aren't the Huddle, it's the supporters who sustain it.

A focused board is important as you mentioned, and we might actually have that at the moment (if you listen to the commentary that our primary goal is our 5th premiership).

What we do have that the Pies and Tigers do not is an incoming revenue that doesn't match those clubs. Things like the Tassie venture to increase revenue is something they would never have to face. It becomes a balancing act which potentially detracts from increased membership in Melbourne and then a lack of numbers in Melbourne means our home games feel like away games at times in terms of crowd support (and a reduction in influence on game time umpiring decisions).

 

[Roman Roy]

I keep an open mind to the turmoil that has evidently plagued the club's board recently. That is I don't think that any blame rests with one individual alone. A club's board must work together and be prepared to check their egos at the doors of club. Theirs must always be a single and unified focus, because only clubs with focussed and cohesive boards win Premierships. That's a fact. If we consider when Collingwood and Richmond were ripping themselves apart a decade ago, that all played out for them on the field. More recently Adelaide have done exactly the same. Perhaps if Helen Keller was alive, even she would see that things aren't right at North Melborne FC from the very top down.

I certainly know that the North Ballarat Roosters experienced a dramatic decline in their onfield performance and subsequent and humiliating ousting from the VFL because of the infighting and factionalism of its Board. What happens in the executive often seriously transpires onto the playing field. The players really notice when their board members can't bring themslves down to the change rooms to offer encouragement or words of inspiration and support when they are losing. The players can also see when their coaches aren't being supported.

I agree that The Huddle is a marvellous thing, but that is more representative of the underlying strength of the club ... its supporters. The Scanlons aren't the Huddle, it's the supporters who sustain it.

What board turmoil?

Yes I too would like to hear more about all this board turmoil of which you speak.

 

[SimpkinByTheDockOfTheBay]

Yes I too would like to hear more about all this board turmoil of which you speak.

Suspect it is from the classic right wing online playbook of make something up so you can get angry about it.