Club History Merger 20 years on

[Dinsdale]

The merger talks in 96 are what drove me stop being a "supporter" and to pay up and get a membership to Hawks so I could vote NO. I'm glad for both our clubs sakes that it didn't happen.

As to the game, myself and 2 mates drove down to Melbourne from Canberra, just in case it was the last time we got to see Hawthorn play.

It was a fantastic game, with Neitz and Dunstall dominating their own forward lines, and when Dunstall kicked his 9th for his 100th for the season is was awesome to run amock on the ground!.

Hawks only just held on to the 1 point margin with around 3 minutes to go, I just sat there at the end, emotionally drained!

 

[Headless]

^Great post. Good thread darthsidusfan.

 

[PerfectFooty]

That's the one, Brian Dixon brought it up on the night and Tiger said that he hadn't broken any rules

I'd very much like to see a Brian Dixon Open Mike

 

[DrEvil_]

Found a few things off the internet.
View attachment 252971

F*** Ross Oakley.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

 

[givemethecure]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

Until last year I'd completely forgotten that shootout. Vague memories of the crowd running on the ground though.

 

[DrEvil_]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

I think we needed a win to make the finals as well

 

[PerfectFooty]

I think we needed a win to make the finals as well

Correct, you needed to win to play finals and north to beat Richmond the next day, i think you banner that night said something like;
"How's this for a proposition, tomorrow we barrack for the opposition. Go Roos!"

Having rewatched the match recently i think the commentators said a draw wouldn't be good enough either as richmond had a better percentage

 

[Spirit of 26]

The rationale for the merger was that the MFC was relatively debt free but talent poor with a foreseeable future of not being able to compete. The only problems with this strategy was the fact that Hawthorn at the time was a basketcase in regard to their financial position. The merger would have resulted in a stagnant club combine with a fiscally dubious club. The bastard child of this union would have been a long term failure, albeit with some short term success due to Hawthorn's stronger player list.

The vote was legally questionable, as stated earlier, employees of directors companies were being signed up to shore up the Yes vote via proxies. The No vote lodged on the night outweighed the Yes vote lodged on the night.

The other issue was that the MFC board had stated that they had exhausted all options to resurrect the club, when it was blatant that they hadn't. Ridley and some directors addressed the Redlegs after a match to put their position to us. When questioned about due diligence, and other options e.g. developing a unified training, social, office complex near the MCC or in a demon heartland, they were brushed aside with contempt. Basically they stated these options were all too hard, they tried before but could get it done - it was impossible. Funny how Collingwood could make it happen.

Basically, the merger was the soft option to take as it ticked a lot of boxes without too much effort. Plus the AFL was underwriting it.

At the time the media coverage was deplorable. The Herald Sun under the auspices of their chief football writer Mike Sheehan were peddling the pro merger AFL position - whereas The Age was more questioning.

The treatment of Ridley on the night was deplorable. it was actually distressing to witness.

Brian Dixon , no matter what he is thought off, was genuine in his efforts to stave off the merger. He was the only individual I saw cry over his distress about the future of the MFC. Unfortunately bringing a white knight in with his millions come with strings attached. The implosion of Gutnick 3 or so years latter was spectacular in its melodrama. However, it did appear to kick start the club to some semblance of success with Daniher at the coaching helm.

Unfortunately it also resulted in a fractured board of Gutnick appointments working with pro merger board members, which lingered after Gutnick's departure and didn't put us on a good footing going forward.

 

[Higgs Boson]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

Same, I distinctly remember as a young bloke walking out of the ground after the game not even being upset that we'd lost because it was just such an incredible game

 

[Dinsdale]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

I have it and I can send you an invite on where to get it if you like. Just pm me your email address.

 

[SSSSSS]

"The Merger Game" is the best game of footy ive ever watched live. Huge hits, ever going in hard as ****, ferocious takling, Dunstall (kicking his 100th, running onto the ground ) and Neitz going beserk kicking goals galore. We didnt win but i didnt even care. One of the all time classics, the type of match you walk out of the ground proudly despite a loss.

If anyone has a link to it id love a rewatch.

Second this. Will go down as one of the best games (let alone home and away games) of all time. I was only a little one back then but I remember it clear as day.

I'm still looking for a replay of the game but I did find some highlights. Unfortunately for you guys it happens to only contain Hawthorn goals but I'd also be happy to know if anyone has the full replay.

 

[Klyntonius]

Wow, great thread.

I've developed an ability to move on from stuff pretty quick and so I really don't remember details well at all, only really broad emotions. As such, I don't remember any details about what happened during the game at all. What I do remember was feeling numb at the end of the match, that possibly the last match I'd ever see my team again and we'd lost by a lousy point.

My recollection was of the merger being sold as Melbourne being financially stable but asset poor and Hawthorn being the reverse. The merger would see Hawthorn gain a stable future and Melbourne would gain much needed assets such as Glenferrie as a base and I think they had a couple of pubs.
I remember at school (I was 16) chatting with a Hawthorn supporting friend and picking a best team out of our two lists. Despite this, neither of us wanted the merger.

My Dad and I managed to get into the meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall and I remember it being pretty horrible. Unbridled emotions ran high with a strong sentiment against the merger. I particularly remember Ridley's passion and though I disagreed with his stance, I admired his conviction. I was stunned to hear the result and pissed off to hear of the rigging of the vote. Hopefully we never have to deal with such a divisive situation again.

 

[Viney]

Not sure if your story is true, but Bill Guest was a board member with a furniture store.

It's absolutely true

A lot of opposition supporters choose to ignore this fact when having a stab at Dees supporters for "voting their club out of existence"

Without the rigged voting it would've been a resounding NO Vote from Dees supporters

 

[Dinsdale]

I'm still looking for a replay of the game but I did find some highlights. Unfortunately for you guys it happens to only contain Hawthorn goals but I'd also be happy to know if anyone has the full replay.

I have it and I can send you an invite on where to get it if you like. Just pm me your email address.

 

[Praetorian]

Makes me pissed that it was so rigged and now we have a rep as the club that voted itself out of existence..

I was only a wee lad at the time so I only have vague memories of merger talks and Joe Gutnick etc, but I certainly wasn't keen on being the Melbourne Hawks

 

[Marc_Remillard]

The rationale for the merger was that the MFC was relatively debt free but talent poor with a foreseeable future of not being able to compete. The only problems with this strategy was the fact that Hawthorn at the time was a basketcase in regard to their financial position. The merger would have resulted in a stagnant club combine with a fiscally dubious club. The bastard child of this union would have been a long term failure, albeit with some short term success due to Hawthorn's stronger player list.

The vote was legally questionable, as stated earlier, employees of directors companies were being signed up to shore up the Yes vote via proxies. The No vote lodged on the night outweighed the Yes vote lodged on the night.

The other issue was that the MFC board had stated that they had exhausted all options to resurrect the club, when it was blatant that they hadn't. Ridley and some directors addressed the Redlegs after a match to put their position to us. When questioned about due diligence, and other options e.g. developing a unified training, social, office complex near the MCC or in a demon heartland, they were brushed aside with contempt. Basically they stated these options were all too hard, they tried before but could get it done - it was impossible. Funny how Collingwood could make it happen.

Basically, the merger was the soft option to take as it ticked a lot of boxes without too much effort. Plus the AFL was underwriting it.

At the time the media coverage was deplorable. The Herald Sun under the auspices of their chief football writer Mike Sheehan were peddling the pro merger AFL position - whereas The Age was more questioning.

The treatment of Ridley on the night was deplorable. it was actually distressing to witness.

Brian Dixon , no matter what he is thought off, was genuine in his efforts to stave off the merger. He was the only individual I saw cry over his distress about the future of the MFC. Unfortunately bringing a white knight in with his millions come with strings attached. The implosion of Gutnick 3 or so years latter was spectacular in its melodrama. However, it did appear to kick start the club to some semblance of success with Daniher at the coaching helm.

Unfortunately it also resulted in a fractured board of Gutnick appointments working with pro merger board members, which lingered after Gutnick's departure and didn't put us on a good footing going forward.

Good post.

The Gutnick era drove a wedge into the club that lasted long after he departed. I think the main bit that Ridley and co got wrong was how the VFL/AFL changed their stance on club survival. At the time they were hell bent of reducing the total number of clubs, now obviously it's a completely different landscape. But to be fair no one could have predicted the change with any major certainty.