News Brian ****ing Cook?

[Thewlis Dish]

I'm not saying he would be a good get, but this would be a unique challenge for him.

I think that's precisely why he is supposedly interested, and to me that is a positive.

At the end of the day, you can break down his achievements with "oh, but Geelong already had this, and West Coast already had that" logic, but you can only judge a man on what he has accomplished. It would be an absolutely massive coup for the club and I genuinely can't see how anyone could think otherwise.

 

[Tas]

History will view Demetriou in a different light to how he was viewed by many over the previous few years.

I think he has been pitching for us all along.

He knew we were going nowhere with Duff/Aylett and co. You can call it tough love, he forced the club to move in the right direction or die. If he didn't do what he did then would we have changed from the semi-unprofessional run outfit we were? I doubt we would have changed and if we didn't then our demise would have been an inevitability.

I am not sure it was the only way to get the things changed for the better, but it was definitely effective.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

He knew we were going nowhere with Duff/Aylett and co. You can call it tough love, he forced the club to move in the right direction or die. If he didn't do what he did then would we have changed from the semi-unprofessional run outfit we were? I doubt we would have changed and if we didn't then our demise would have been an inevitability.

I am not sure it was the only way to get the things changed for the better, but it was definitely effective.

Maybe. Or you could think the Duff/Aylett era was designed in concert with AD to push the club in the AFL's "right direction", to the Gold Coast.

I don't trust Demetriou or the AFL, now or ever. But I do think after the groundwork of the past five years - by JB and the Board, Eugene and the admin team, Brad and the footy department - the club is in a good spot and with the right leadership could be in a great place. Helping it get there would now be good news for the AFL as well as the NMFC, so if they can work together for good in common interest, that's ok.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

He knew we were going nowhere with Duff/Aylett and co. You can call it tough love, he forced the club to move in the right direction or die. If he didn't do what he did then would we have changed from the semi-unprofessional run outfit we were? I doubt we would have changed and if we didn't then our demise would have been an inevitability.

I am not sure it was the only way to get the things changed for the better, but it was definitely effective.

There's no doubt that the club needed redirection and consolidation.

The AFL helped to provide the impetus.

 

[Mr Reliable]

I think that's precisely why he is supposedly interested, and to me that is a positive.

At the end of the day, you can break down his achievements with "oh, but Geelong already had this, and West Coast already had that" logic, but you can only judge a man on what he has accomplished. It would be an absolutely massive coup for the club and I genuinely can't see how anyone could think otherwise.

Very hard to argue with this. I can only suggest that if he takes up the challenge we add ''and by his actions.''

 

[mark73]

He knew we were going nowhere with Duff/Aylett and co. You can call it tough love, he forced the club to move in the right direction or die. If he didn't do what he did then would we have changed from the semi-unprofessional run outfit we were? I doubt we would have changed and if we didn't then our demise would have been an inevitability.

I am not sure it was the only way to get the things changed for the better, but it was definitely effective.

I agree to an extent, but it's not Demetriou, it's Fitzpatrick that makes those sort of decisions, and he's the one I'd be concerned about.

 

[RoyalBlue]

We;'re better run - already - than ****ing Melbourne or Port. Probably the Bulldogs as well.

Cook - if his focus is on Victoria - is a cherry on top.

 

[Saintly31]

We;'re better run - already - than ******* Melbourne or Port. Probably the Bulldogs as well.

Cook - if his focus is on Victoria - is a cherry on top.

I would suggest focussing on Victoria only is a bad idea and would be surprised if that were the case (if he were to come to the club).

Sure I get that some Vic members get upset when they are personally affected by playing home games elsewhere. But the future and health of the club should be the top priority, and Euge was certainly on the right track in trying to expand the club in other long term markets whether it be Hobart, Ballarat or wherever the club can prosper along with it's Melb home which is undisputed.

 

[Mr Reliable]

I would suggest focussing on Victoria only is a bad idea and would be surprised if that were the case (if he were to come to the club).

Sure I get that some Vic members get upset when they are personally affected by playing home games elsewhere. But the future and health of the club should be the top priority, and Euge was certainly on the right track in trying to expand the club in other long term markets whether it be Hobart, Ballarat or wherever the club can prosper along with it's Melb home which is undisputed.

I assume RB means ''main focus'' not ''Victoria only'' Saintly 31. We're committed to playing a handful of home games in Hobart and we get make up games. I can live with this arrangement.

Any good CEO would have lots of focuseseseses.....(focii?).

 

[Tas]

Maybe. Or you could think the Duff/Aylett era was designed in concert with AD to push the club in the AFL's "right direction", to the Gold Coast.

Duff was courted by Aylett snr, put on the board for a brief time before taking over the reigns... on a part time basis. Aylett jnr was a political appointment. He may have been selected by Aylett snr and the board members who wanted to move us to the GC. I don't know what their thinking was though, but from inside looking in things looked bad, I can only imagine how bad they looked from the outside looking in.

I don't trust Demetriou or the AFL, now or ever. But I do think after the groundwork of the past five years - by JB and the Board, Eugene and the admin team, Brad and the footy department - the club is in a good spot and with the right leadership could be in a great place. Helping it get there would now be good news for the AFL as well as the NMFC, so if they can work together for good in common interest, that's ok.

I do not trust anyone at AFL house. But, there is a difference between trust and if their decision making process is a process that is out to get us. I think they could have done more to put the squeeze on us financially.

We have time to address the issues we face. It is what makes the next appointment critical, we don't know how long we have to get our house in order. We need to stop shuffling to different markets, let our roots settle in and do it properly and build us up so we have 30-40k that turn up to Docklands against the low drawing interstate teams. That is when we solely decide our own fate.

 

[Saintly31]

I assume RB means ''main focus'' not ''Victoria only'' Saintly 31. We're committed to playing a handful of home games in Hobart and we get make up games. I can live with this arrangement.

Any good CEO would have lots of focuseseseses.....(focii?).

If that's the case then yes fair enough - one would hope at CEO level salaries they have more than one focii..... (might not be a word, but i'm going with your suggestion!)

There are probably numerous high priorities on the list, all need to be progressed in a similar manner to what Euge was IMO. We are/were definitely on the right track.

 

[RoyalBlue]

If that's the case then yes fair enough - one would hope at CEO level salaries they have more than one focii..... (might not be a word, but i'm going with your suggestion!)

There are probably numerous high priorities on the list, all need to be progressed in a similar manner to what Euge was IMO. We are/were definitely on the right track.

I specifically mean Cook's history of jive talk about us/a Victorian team relocating.

 

[Saintly31]

I specifically mean Cook's history of jive talk about us/a Victorian team relocating.

Yeah, with you now and doubt that will be recepted well by anyone. Could be the shortest reign of a CEO if he says that after accepting the job!

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

I specifically mean Cook's history of jive talk about us/a Victorian team relocating.

This was more Costa driven.

 

[Limerick]

Cook certainly has the experience that we need. Agree with the comments that we are in a different situation to Geelong and West Coast. My only concern is how much is the AFL involved in this. Are they subsidising his substantial package, and if so what is their motive? The GC and GWS have their attention at the moment and probably for at least the next 5+ years. However after this there will be a serious push to reduce the Melbourne based teams by 2 or more with us and the Bulldogs as the likely targets. The success of our endeavours over the next 5 years will determine our future.

 

[Kimbo]

However after this there will be a serious push to reduce the Melbourne based teams by 2 or more with us and the Bulldogs as the likely targets. The success of our endeavours over the next 5 years will determine our future.

While I would certainly like to bulletproof ourselves by the end of the current TV rights in case something like this happened, it seems to be, more and more, that this is becoming accepted truth (i.e. that there will be a push to reduce the number of Victorian teams). Who says?

 

[Kimbo]

AFL website:

Cook can take his time: Carter

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

Cook certainly has the experience that we need. Agree with the comments that we are in a different situation to Geelong and West Coast. My only concern is how much is the AFL involved in this. Are they subsidising his substantial package, and if so what is their motive? The GC and GWS have their attention at the moment and probably for at least the next 5+ years. However after this there will be a serious push to reduce the Melbourne based teams by 2 or more with us and the Bulldogs as the likely targets. The success of our endeavours over the next 5 years will determine our future.

Cook would already be walking in to a club that has corrected it's ship, has a rising membership base, and has a list that will be top 4.

If he comes to North then any perceived successes must be rated over and above that criteria.

 

[MaddAdam]

However after this there will be a serious push to reduce the Melbourne based teams by 2 or more with us and the Bulldogs as the likely targets. The success of our endeavours over the next 5 years will determine our future.

Why do you say that? Why would the AFL reduce its revenue like that?

 

[jacko57]

While I would certainly like to bulletproof ourselves by the end of the current TV rights in case something like this happened, it seems to be, more and more, that this is becoming accepted truth (i.e. that there will be a push to reduce the number of Victorian teams). Who says?

A variety of half-witted, uninformed, supremely confident idiots on Bay 13.

 

[Kimbo]

A variety of half-witted, uninformed, supremely confident idiots on Bay 13.

Very well. Carry on.

 

[LT Smash]

While I would certainly like to bulletproof ourselves by the end of the current TV rights in case something like this happened, it seems to be, more and more, that this is becoming accepted truth (i.e. that there will be a push to reduce the number of Victorian teams). Who says?

Indeed there are no TV markets left to woo. The dollars and bums on seats are there in Melbourne once the stadium economics are sorted. Decreasing Melbourne teams as AFL policy is presumptuous and based on nothing other than previous aims to establish teams in western Sydney and the Gold Coast. Now that's done, there's no priority.

 

[shintemaster]

Why do you say that? Why would the AFL reduce its revenue like that?

I tend to agree.

Indeed there are no TV markets left to woo. The dollars and bums on seats are there in Melbourne once the stadium economics are sorted. Decreasing Melbourne teams as AFL policy is presumptuous and based on nothing other than previous aims to establish teams in western Sydney and the Gold Coast. Now that's done, there's no priority.

And agree. Disregarding debacles off field the main challenge for smaller Melbourne teams is to remain strong enough to be properly competitive. People need to remember that the stadium economics works both ways. We are looking forward to Etihad being AFL owned as we anticipate a better deal for our back pockets. The AFL will also make more money from more games at the stadium once it is AFL owned. Hard to see why they would want any more games than necessary elsewhere except in order to ensure strong ratings and off field performance for teams. There is a reason the stadiums have deals with minimum game numbers, it is good business to utilise an asset with limited alternative uses as much as possible for it's primary use.

 

[Limerick]

The AFL's corporate objective is for it to be the major football competition in Australia (AFL Mission Statement). It therefore will seek to have a team in all States and Capital cities. Tasmania, Darwin and Northern Queensland would be its medium to long term targets.

AFL ownership of Etihad will not be a huge windfall for the smaller clubs as the returns will be relative to the attendances and TV ratings.

I'm not saying our demise is inevitable but we do need to aware of the hurdles ahead.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

The AFL's corporate objective is for it to be the major football competition in Australia (AFL Mission Statement). It therefore will seek to have a team in all States and Capital cities. Tasmania, Darwin and Northern Queensland would be its medium to long term targets.

AFL ownership of Etihad will not be a huge windfall for the smaller clubs as the returns will be relative to the attendances and TV ratings.

I'm not saying our demise is inevitable but we do need to aware of the hurdles ahead.

Where did you get that from?