BUT I FOLLOW FOOTSCRAY NOT THE WESTERN BULLDOGS - members boycott!

[Hellacopters]

why would supporters renew memberships after the club has ditched it's name and history

FFC on the back of the jumper indeed! WOT CRAP!

maybe if they went back to grass roots and stopped all the marketting bullshit and hype the supporters might come back



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HELL aint a bad place to be!

 

[Jethro Q Walrustitty]

Originally posted by Hellacopters:
WOT CRAP!

Which is exactly what your post is.

[This message has been edited by Jethro Q Walrustitty (edited 28 April 2001).]

 

[Stealth bomber]

The president and management seem to be trying to bully people more than anything else. I don't think that tactic is very smart. Smorgan goes on TV and lambastes all the people who didn't renew for 2001, which I think is quite arrogant and shows a lot of contempt towards paying customers. Would you renew your membership if the president told you off on national television?

Many of the acquaintances I've made down here are FOOTSCRAY supporters and a lot of them are ex-members who felt like the club really didn't make an effort to keep them on.

 

[AlfAndrews]

The name change was all done without a vote of the members. A total disgrace. When Smorgon took over he insulted the suburb of Footscray and called its people "tenth rate losers". He was lucky they had a good year in 1997 because he would have been thrown out on his ear if they'd failed.

Smorgon and his corporate thug mates set out to re-invent the club, turning their back on the very thing that made Footscray unique.

Of course, Wayne Jackson had a lot to do with it as well. If Smorgon hadn't taken over I'm sure Jackson would have shafted them.

Of course, there's no going back now. Footscray Football Club ceased to exist at the end of 1996. Now they are just 3 letters on the back of another club's jumper.

Now, I suppose Dan will get on here and tell us that it's the same club.

Save your breath, Dan.

When they changed the club's name they were defying the Footscray Football Club's constitution. Therefore the club we call the Western Bulldogs is operating outside the parameters of the F.F.C.

Therefore it is a completely different club. A club that was stolen from the members of the old Footscray F.C.



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**floreat pica**

[This message has been edited by AlfAndrews (edited 29 April 2001).]

 

[Chicago1]

What a joke! The original post was written by a supporter of a club that no longer exists - the Fitzroy Football Club!
Smorgo is doing EXACTLY the right thing. I can't believe how many people still think they live in the last century. The Footscray Football Club still exists. The only difference I see is that the REAL supporters are still as passionate as ever and the namby pamby ones are the ones who haven't renewed their memberships. They remind me of those Richmond and Melbourne supporters who went missing in the '80s and the "chardonnay" supporters of today's Swans who only show up when they're winning. Anyone who thinks that the Bulldogs would still have been in the AFL competition today without Smorgo and the board, is living in la la land. Strange how I'm a member of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, even though I live on the other side of the world and can't attend any matches!

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"Sons of the West, red, white and blue..."
"Oh say, can you see..."
"California dreamin'..."
THE TRINITY OF SONGS

 

[Guest]

Footscray football club is dead.

If you don't like the reincarnation as the western bulldogs too bad. In the end it doesn't matter how they bacame the western bulldogs, it's done.

I can't seem to tell the difference between bulldogs and kangaroo supporters these days, whinging whining about where their clubs are today. Complaining about how the AFL 'did them wrong' and the like.

If some of you so called supporters actually did support your team in all aspects instead of complaining about the past, your teams might in be in a better position today.

Maybe Smorgon's actions smell a little desperate, it's because things at the bulldogs are desperate. The dogs need every supporter to put up or shut up which just might happen to the western bulldogs in the future.

So if you like watching soccer or rugby in the winter go ahead and have a members boycott, then you won't have anything to whinge about again.

[This message has been edited by happy hawker (edited 29 April 2001).]

 

[Dan26]

• This is the first bulleted item.
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• This is the first bulleted item.
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  [/list=a]
  
  
  
  
  
  

   hello all.How are we?

 

[Chicago1]

Originally posted by happy hawker:
Footscray football club is dead.

If you don't like the reincarnation as the western bulldogs too bad. In the end it doesn't matter how they bacame the western bulldogs, it's done.

I can't seem to tell the difference between bulldogs and kangaroo supporters these days, whinging whining about where their clubs are today. Complaining about how the AFL 'did them wrong' and the like.

If some of you so called supporters actually did support your team in all aspects instead of complaining about the past, your teams might in be in a better position today.

Maybe Smorgon's actions smell a little desperate, it's because things at the bulldogs are desperate. The dogs need every supporter to put up or shut up which just might happen to the western bulldogs in the future.

So if you like watching soccer or rugby in the winter go ahead and have a members boycott, then you won't have anything to whinge about again.

[This message has been edited by happy hawker (edited 29 April 2001).]

The original post was written by a Fitzroy Football Club supporter whose club died last century, happy hawker! Some of them really are bitter, aren't they.

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"Sons of the West, red, white and blue..."
"Oh say, can you see..."
"California dreamin'..."
THE TRINITY OF SONGS

[This message has been edited by Chicago1 (edited 29 April 2001).]

 

[Guest]

They sure are.

 

[Chicago1]

Originally posted by happy hawker:
They sure are.

Sounds like you had a good win against us, happy hawker. Congratulations. There was no net radio coverage so I had to be content with Sportswatch's 'matchlet'(I HATE that name!). Didn't realise that we just surpassed our record longest quarter until I read it in the Age online a few minutes ago. I guess y'all got value for money! Good luck for the rest of the year - but watch out for us next round!!!



------------------
"Sons of the West, red, white and blue..."
"Oh say, can you see..."
"California dreamin'..."
THE TRINITY OF SONGS

 

[Westy Boy]

Originally posted by Hellacopters:
why would supporters renew memberships after the club has ditched it's name and history

Well they actually did just that.... and plenty more 'jumped on' AFTER the name change, in 97, and even more in 98. So your argument is pretty stupid.

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by Chicago1:
The original post was written by a Fitzroy Football Club supporter whose club died last century, happy hawker! Some of them really are bitter, aren't they.

Wow, quick, jot us down as the only folks who now may never comment on anything outside our own ghost.

Apologies to the rest of the football world for my not dying along with my AFL club.

(THAT'S bitter)

Perhaps Hellacopters, in his/her candid opinion, is scared for the hearts of Scraggers fans.


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Hallowed be thy Roy

 

[bulldogs1]

The only negative posts here are from non-Doggies supporters. Add one more in support here from me. So exactly who are the whining, whingeing Dogs supporters?

I'm pretty happy with the club administration. The past four years have seen us in the finals, which had never happened for that period before, so I would say they and the coach are doing a pretty good job. I would say our membership is down where it was when they started, and the year hasn't finished yet. I bought another one for a family member yesterday, and I wasn't the only one, I can tell you.

The usual tripe in the one or two of the previous comments about class/money/education. So what is new. Seems every other club has its experts on our finances and membership woes. Frankly, its the other Doggies opinions I care about.

 

[AlfAndrews]

So, Dan. Which of the bulletted items would you like us to bullet first ... Sheedy or Hird.

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**floreat pica**

 

[SydneyBomber]

Originally posted by AlfAndrews:
So, Dan. Which of the bulletted items would you like us to bullet first ... Sheedy or Hird.

Haha - very funny. I was waiting for someone to say something like that.

Dan, why did you post this here?!

Post it on the Essendon board where we can enjoy it and look forward to it all happening again in 2001!!!!

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"We are blind to the worlds within us, waiting to be born"
ATG (R.I.P)

 

[Roylion]

Originally posted by AlfAndrews:
The name change was all done without a vote of the members. A total disgrace.

Footscray Football Club ceased to exist at the end of 1996. Now they are just 3 letters on the back of another club's jumper.

When they changed the club's name they were defying the Footscray Football Club's constitution. Therefore the club we call the Western Bulldogs is operating outside the parameters of the F.F.C.

Therefore it is a completely different club. A club that was stolen from the members of the old Footscray F.C.

Absolute codswallop. The Footscray Football Club Ltd., was registered on the 12th August 1976. A search on the website of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission shows quite clearly that this 'Footscray Football Club Ltd.' still exists. It's ACN number is 005 226 595. If you don't believe me, go and look it up for yourself.

The Footscray Football Club Ltd.'s last submission to the ASIC was on 30th January 2001, so unless the company has folded since then, the club known publicly as the Western Bulldogs, that holds the AFL licence is still officially known as the 'Footscray Football Club Ltd'. Now, not being a member of the Western Bulldogs I have little knowledge of the exact wording of the Footscray FC Ltd. constitution. My guess would be (some Bulldogs fans could perhaps enlighten us here), is that no vote of the members was needed because the name of the company was not changed. Therefore, if that is the case there is no question that the Western Bulldogs and the Footscray Football Club are one and the same. Unlike Brisbane's case the members of the Brisbane Bears needed to vote on an official change to the company name to reflect that of Fitzroy to which they voted 'yes'. Even so there is no doubt that the Brisbane Lions and the Fitzroy Football Club Ltd are different clubs.

It is true that between 1996 and March 1999 a number of submissions were made to the ASIC for the reservation of a name change for the company. However twice this name change was withdrawn. My guess is that the name 'Western Bulldogs' was reserved, but whatever the case the name of the company was definitely not changed. Therefore whenever anyone refers to the Western Bulldogs FC playing in the AFL, they are in fact referring to the current 'Footscray Football Club Ltd.'

 

[Red Devil]

A boycott - How pathetic!! If it were not for a change of trading name, admnistration & home ground at the end of 1996, the club would not be here today.
It is this very weak & insipid type of supporter that has helped cement the club as one of the most mediocre in VFL/AFL history.
Call them Westerm, call them Footscray, they're still our Bulldogs, for now! Sign up today or piss off forever. But should the club fold in the future, those of you who didn't sign up can wear that guilt for life!

[This message has been edited by Red Devil (edited 29 April 2001).]

 

[AlfAndrews]

Interesting post, Roylion.

And if what you say is true, as I've no reason to believe it isn't, then what we have here is a very, very sad case indeed. A club that is ashamed of its own name.

Dear, dear.

What do you do with a club that is ashamed of its own name?

LET 'EM ROT!!!

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**floreat pica**

 

[Blues_Brat]

Originally posted by SydneyBomber:
Haha - very funny. I was waiting for someone to say something like that.

Dan, why did you post this here?!

Post it on the Essendon board where we can enjoy it and look forward to it all happening again in 2001!!!!

Dan is probably trying to fire up the Doggies supporters by showing them what they threw away in 97 and 98.

If he really wanted to stir, he should have posted the results of those years prelim finals.

 

[Westy Boy]

Originally posted by AlfAndrews:

LET 'EM ROT!!!

Like we should with the unemployed/socially weaker types that you so strongly defend?

You know something Alf, for someone with compassionate (socialist) views, it's quite ironic that you tend to have quite a "hurdle the dead" (capitalist) line of thinking for football clubs. You have a whinge when rival supporters kick your club while you're down, but don't afford others the same courtesy. Add to this the fact that your post on the other page showed some ignorance towards the issues at hand, but this didn't stop you from firing some more cheap shots, trying to belittle my club.

I saw your comments about the Roos when they looked in trouble, and if i remember correctly, you said that they should die if they couldn't afford to be in the comp, and you seem to be saying the same here.

Well, let those who can't afford to live/pay their own way in today's society ROT ALF!!!.... or as you so elequently put it last time.... F*CK 'EM!!!

(I don't think that way btw Alf- just trying show how your line of thinking about the poorer football clubs would apply in society as a whole)

Roylion,
I grealty appreciated that post. I feel almost embarrassed that I'm not fully aware of the corporate goings on involved in the club. The constitution isn't something that's sent out with memberships (is that the same for all clubs?), and as such, I haven't read it and can't answer your questions, but I will make sure that I do when I get a chance.

BTW: Is there anywhere in the western suburbs I can buy a Fitzroy Reds membership?

[This message has been edited by Westy Boy (edited 30 April 2001).]

 

[GoEagles]

Would of Footscray survived the way it was going? Or did they make the right move in giving it a name change and a bit of a facelift?

I really admire the Bulldogs spirit and passion and sometimes wish we could bring some of that into our club - If I was in Melbourne I would buy a membership for your club.

However don't feel dischanted and out in the cold. WA members of the Eagles/Dockers don't get a say in the runnings of the club. We didn't get to vote on Judge or Drum being appointed as coaches. That is just one reason why we're struggling, the life blood of the club is just contributing their dollars but not being able to voice their say in how their club operates.

 

[Westy Boy]

Originally posted by GoEagles:
Would of Footscray survived the way it was going?

Go Eagles,

Frankly, no, we wouldn't have. We only had in the vicinity of 8,000 members, a run down home ground to which minimal supporters turned up because of the conditions (I loved the place though), sponsorship was laughable compared to all the other teams. We were gone. We were not viable, and the previous administration had exhausted all avenues to try and do something about it. Enter Smorgon and the new administration. Changing the name to make the team more marketable, and instill a sense of a new beginning, which considering our results on and off the field in this time, has worked. If, as Alf reckons, we were a new club in 97 (which Roylion has rightly deemed nonsense), we have been one of the most successful (top 4), in terms of matches won, and increases in membership, revenue and attendance in percentage terms over that period. Until now, it has been a "new beginning", and we have rid ourselves of that losing culture that has been niggling this club for so long. Is a name change worth it? Well, I've had this argument with Alf Andrews before, and he conceded as much.

What would most people expect our supporters rather see:

a) the Western Bulldogs live

b) the Footscray Bulldogs die.

I would think the answer is quite simple. Go Eagles, thanks for the support, and thanks for the perspective from an Eagles/Freo point of view. The thing with us is that it's not so much a "our administration doesn't listen" problem, as Smorgon regularly gets on to our offical forum to discuss issues we may have (as he does at family days), but more a minority who feel hard done by. They have every right to feel that way, but in this topic, it has only been rival supporters who have had a problem with it, and even in the other topic, we aren't sure if it was a bulldogs supporter either. To my knowledge, there isn't a Western Bulldogs supporter in the state that feels that the administration hasn't been anything short of fantastic. Sure, issues do come up, but all in all, most people are happy.

Go Eagles, get someone to take it up lack of interaction with your administration. In their case, since a full membership list is almost guaranteed despite results, they may have become complacent. I'm not trying to stir, I'm just stating what would be naturally going through their heads- "why spend more resources on something that wont provide more revenues?". But you have to tell 'em your feelings, and that you wanted to be treated better as a supporter. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

BTW:- If you get a chance, take out Year Of the Dog , it doesn't show the administration side of things all that much, but you'll get a perspective of what we were dealing with, and the conditions we were working in. It wasn't pretty, and if you see the professionalism of the club now, playing out of Colonial Stadium etc, it has been nothing short of a miracle. That said, we are still behind almost every single club in that regard, but if we had of continued on that path at the end of 96, and it wasn't for the 'corporates' getting involved, we would not be around today.

[This message has been edited by Westy Boy (edited 30 April 2001).]

 

[Chicago1]

Originally posted by AlfAndrews:
Interesting post, Roylion.

And if what you say is true, as I've no reason to believe it isn't, then what we have here is a very, very sad case indeed. A club that is ashamed of its own name.

Dear, dear.

What do you do with a club that is ashamed of its own name?

LET 'EM ROT!!!

Hmmm..... don't I seem to remember a few years back when Collingwood was in financial trouble? Also, at one point wasn't there talk of Collingwood and Fitzroy merging? Methinks some people have short memories... or is that just SELECTIVE memories?

I remember siting with some Collingwood supporters in the Whitten stand nearly 12 years ago when our club was in financial trouble then. Strange how I remember and respect those little old Collingwood ladies more than AlfAndrews at THIS moment in time.




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"Sons of the West, red, white and blue..."
"Oh say, can you see..."
"California dreamin'..."
THE TRINITY OF SONGS

 

[Mobbs]

Originally posted by Westy Boy:
BTW: Is there anywhere in the western suburbs I can buy a Fitzroy Reds membership?

If you have a post office over there, then, yes.

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Hallowed be thy Roy

 

[FitzroyJamesDio]

I think Footscray supporters should be jumping up and down about losing their name..what's next a move to Canberra?

or like the Kangaroos a possible second Sydney side?

FIGHT TO SURVIVE!!

Bring back FOOTSCRAY!!!

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Fitzroy James Dio II