GC17. The real story?

[AFL is Number One]

Guys, it occurred to me while reading the very good article in today's Age with Cameron Shwab...that the AFL granted the GC17 license, as a backup should one of the current AFL 16 team fold....namely the MFC

Hear me out...

I didn't realise how bad the financial plight is at present for the MFC until I read the article.

Remember that we are in fact going to report a further $2million loss this year...even after $3 Mill injection from Debt demolition and some further $$$ AFL handouts.

Cameron Shwab said as much...in fact he went as far as saying that Jimmy Stynes SAVED the MFC. Thats a big statement. Thank Christ for Jimmy Stynes, if this is true.

...thats how close we are to folding as a viable entity in the AFL.

I always thought having a club named "Melbourne" gave us eternal security. I'm not so sure.

Further, the AFL does not want an odd numbered competition be it a 15 or 17 team comp . It attracts a bye each week., its just too "messy"

Therefore, I wonder if the AFL started planning ahead by the granting of that 17th license to cover for the MFC, if we were to go.

The 18th West Sydney license is a not a real option in my book ...and would only be a second option , if MFC were to stick around and the AFL wanted to get away from an odd numbered, 17 team competition.

The more I think about it....GC17 all along was planned to be our replacement.

Left field you say?.....hmmmm....I don't take anything for granted anymore.

 

[RUNVS]

I know you guys dont want to hear this but a professional competition the costs required to run a AFL team is extremely high (i think its atleast 30 million a year) and the fact of the matter that there isnt enough money in Victorian sport to run 10 AFL teams.

Costs are ALOT higher than they were 20 years ago and i just dont think 10 teams is sustainable. Teams in Victoria will fold (or merge) but it is still unknown if your team will be one of them.

 

[whelan=legend]

and the fact of the matter that there isnt enough money in Victorian sport to run 10 AFL teams.

This is said all the time but it is not a fact. It's the opposite, it's a myth.

 

[Bartram_Class]

I know you guys dont want to hear this but a professional competition the costs required to run a AFL team is extremely high (i think its atleast 30 million a year) and the fact of the matter that there isnt enough money in Victorian sport to run 10 AFL teams.

Costs are ALOT higher than they were 20 years ago and i just dont think 10 teams is sustainable. Teams in Victoria will fold (or merge) but it is still unknown if your team will be one of them.

To be fair, you could say the same thing about 1 team in Sydney.

The AFL has gone from wanting two teams in Sydney to getting worried about the fate of the existing team in about six months.

And long as we show we are cutting that debt, we are as sure of our place in the competition as any of the big boys.

 

[Trav 20]

I know you guys dont want to hear this but a professional competition the costs required to run a AFL team is extremely high (i think its atleast 30 million a year) and the fact of the matter that there isnt enough money in Victorian sport to run 10 AFL teams.

Costs are ALOT higher than they were 20 years ago and i just dont think 10 teams is sustainable. Teams in Victoria will fold (or merge) but it is still unknown if your team will be one of them.

That's great mate, and we often hear the word 'inevitable', but we've been here for 150 years and whilst we're by no means complacent, we won't be going anywhere.

 

[Stereophonic]

This is said all the time but it is not a fact. It's the opposite, it's a myth.

Whels is right - the AFL cares not about 17 team structure.

Im sure at the end of the day, the AFL would like to keep Melbourne, and the competition, notwithstanding all the jokes directed at your club, would be happy to see Melbourne stay in the comp.

The fact is whilst it has been what 20 years since your last premiership?, Melbourne have been one of the most competitive teams since that time.

Relax, your club aint going no-where and whilst Jimmy Stynes may not have 'saved' your club, he gave it the swift kick up the ass it needed to get going again.

 

[stabler]

'The fact is whilst it has been what 20 years since your last premiership?,'


I wish.

 

[Stereophonic]

Didnt you win one in the 80's or did you lose to Hawthorn? otherwise, I have the date 1964 in my head, but perhaps I will wiki it for my own knowledge

 

[Bartram_Class]

Didnt you win one in the 80's or did you lose to Hawthorn? otherwise, I have the date 1964 in my head, but perhaps I will wiki it for my own knowledge

44 years and 2 GF thumpings to be exact.

 

[whelan=legend]

Didnt you win one in the 80's or did you lose to Hawthorn? otherwise, I have the date 1964 in my head, but perhaps I will wiki it for my own knowledge

Lost a grand final to Hawthorn in 88. Last premiership was 64.

 

[Supermercado]

Didnt you win one in the 80's or did you lose to Hawthorn? otherwise, I have the date 1964 in my head, but perhaps I will wiki it for my own knowledge

Just decided to start watching the sport have we?

 

[Stereophonic]

Just decided to start watching the sport have we?

So I dont know the exact history of your club

 

[The Demon]

It is unfair and incorrect to say MFC hasn't been competitive in the last 20 years.

The fact is that they have one of the highest finals participation rates in the comp over the last 20 years.Unfortunately we haven't picked up a flag in that time.

The key to MFC's revival is to having the right mix of dynamic and intelligent administrative and football personnel at the club.Also greater inclusiveness of members and supporters(The "Demon Summit" was a good step in the right direction!) is very important.

Don't believe the Doomsayers,our club definitely has a bright future.

 

[saj_21]

It is unfair and incorrect to say MFC hasn't been competitive in the last 20 years.

The fact is that they have one of the highest finals participation rates in the comp over the last 20 years.Unfortunately we haven't picked up a flag in that time.

The key to MFC's revival is to having the right mix of dynamic and intelligent administrative and football personnel at the club.Also greater inclusiveness of members and supporters(The "Demon Summit" was a good step in the right direction!) is very important.

Don't believe the Doomsayers,our club definitely has a bright future.

Only Essendon and WCE have made more finals appearences than melbourne since 1990.

 

[eliasd82]

Remember that we are in fact going to report a further $2million loss this year...even after $3 Mill injection from Debt demolition and some further $$$ AFL handouts.

Nah, thats not correct.
We are not putting the Debt Demolishion on the books as a profit.
That 2 million dollar loss DOESN"T include 3 million Debt Demolishion.

So if you included DD in the profit/loss, it would be a profit of around 1 million.

 

[AFL is Number One]

OK . Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Beats]

Nah, thats not correct.
We are not putting the Debt Demolishion on the books as a profit.
That 2 million dollar loss DOESN"T include 3 million Debt Demolishion.

So if you included DD in the profit/loss, it would be a profit of around 1 million.

I thought we were looking at a forecast debt of 5million overall including this year and that the DD took it back to 2 million...

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

I thought we were looking at a forecast debt of 5million overall including this year and that the DD took it back to 2 million...

Same difference. Our carry-over debt prior to this year was about (just under) $3 million. On top of that this year we had an operating loss of $2million, bringing our debt to a total of $5million. Less the $3million from the debt demolition, so we now still have a total debt of $2million.

In effect, we are now $1million better off then we were at this time last year.