I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong, but my feeling was our greatest restriction on revenue improvement is the Etihad deal. We get absolutely butchered financially every game we host there.

The sooner that deal finishes and we move all games to the G we'll be far better placed. When is that? For some reason the year 2013 rings a bell to me.

Also, don't underestimate the anger last year of members at both Fev's dismissal and the booze cruise. That had a major impact on our membership numbers.

Essentially I support the way the club has approached the debt, but it would be encouraging to see some real impact made in that area soon (ie this year). It seems most of the significant investment in the footy dept has been completed, so major strides on debt reduction should be priority #1.

If I had one criticism of the board (inc Sticks) it would be we seem to lack creativity in supporter and sponsor engagement. I know some posters here have had problems with the marketing slogans, but I think they've been fantastic and one area we did lead the way.

However in other areas, such as membership packages we trail other clubs. The MCC club option was years behind other clubs. Do we even have a 3 game membership? The point is I don't think we present ourselves as terribly flexible and/or accommodating with changes in our supporters' ability/willingness to follow our club.

Sponsors - there's no reason we shouldn't be #2 in sponsorship income for Melbourne clubs (expecting to overtake Collingwood is unrealistic if we are honest). The facts are we are the most FTA games, and our attendances are #2. Anything less than a 2nd place result in sponsorship income would be a major fail by Swann and the commercial team. How far down the track did we get on the small-mid size sponsorships (the $50-$200k)? That was an area we had board members on this very site promising improvements in. Have we seen them? Some transparency in this regard would be good.

great post TheGame.

You may reach where you aim, you may reach below what you aim. But if you aim to be 2nd best or 3rd best, thats the most you'll ever do.

We have to look at being leaders in every field. Anything else and we are setting ourselves to fail.

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T E A M

Thanks Bondi. Presumably that means I should stay away from complex messages?!

I'd love to join the Board of the Carlton Football Club. I'd love to lead it in one form or another. I'd have loved to have been a halfway useful footballer too.

I do not bring any dollars to the table and don't bring any connections. TheGame has hit the nail on the head a few times in this thread and any bid by a commoner such as myself to join would probably be torn down on a forum like this. I can hear budzy say something about the Club regretting I cost them $50,000 for the election too

The tone of the thread, and one I agree with, is around the effectiveness of our Board and the lack of visibility on this - we both can't see what this amalgam of people do, nor can we see big improvement in the simple things and / or improvement in the debt. I'm much more relaxed about the debt because I think they're investing longer term, and really where it is needed - off-field support for on-field success. It is also alot easier to cover $7m in debt if your revenues are $50m than it is if they're $30m.

Its the little things that frustrate me more. A simple proof reader for carltonfc.com.au for example!


re: JohnM. Yes, my comment was in agreement with TheGame - the dollar situation is with the CEO. Sure the President, whoever he or she is, can assist with corporate support - being at functions - selling the Club, but at the end of the day to me the CEO takes all the risks, runs the business, makes the call, and gets paid the big dollars. I dont doubt Swann has a ripper contract with CFC and / or a Pratt entity - imagine the payday bonus for a flag that would have come with that!

molsey... you would bring dollars to the table because you, unlike the incumbents, know how to connect to, embrace and communicate with the many thousands of grassroots supporters (non-members) via social media/forums/official websites..

I'm tipping the boys club wouldn't grasp that though...

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There's so much I could say...

I have read the various posts on the issue of the Age article. You will all appreciate that as board members, we are bound by the Club's communications policy, hence we are not in a position to comment on press matters or indeed matters which are to be communicated to either our supporters/members or the press.

What I can say is that over the last 4 and a half years, the Board has been committed to investing heavily in our football department. We now spend in excess of $4m more on our football department per annum than we did in 2006. We have also spent $20m to build a state of the art elite training facility which is the envy of many clubs in the AFL.

The rationale behind this strategy is that we were in such a poor on field position necessitating action to put our football department in as competitive a position as possible. Yes it is true that Collingwood spends more on its football department than any other club but we are at least the equal of any other club in that regard. Our players are without doubt the best supported in terms of conditioning, fitness and medical/physio staff as well as state of the art technology.

In otherwords, our playing group is now far better positioned to challenge for premierships, and we all hope that No. 17 is not too far away.

As a result of this strategy, we have not reduced debt. However, steps are in place to bullet proof the club financially and some communication of our future aspirations and direction is not too far away.

Thanks for taking the time Stephen. Looking forward to the forthcoming communication.

Well done Stephen for taking the time to address this thread.

Thanks Stephen.

Thanks Stephen M.Rarely comment on board matters coz its way above my head.But one thing i do know,debt is bad,and it is reassuring to know the club is honing in on this area.

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All my dangerous friends

The club has a communications policy?!

If you say so......

Thanks for the input on this topic anyway, Stephen

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

So it should following the embaressing leaks that used to come out from the Board back in Smorgon's day....

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I had my 3rd call from someone on behalf of the club in the last 6 months trying to sell the $200 raffle tickets this morning.

Im still not sure what bothers me most

1. They call during the working day and start talking and babbling on and say they wont take up much of your time rather than asking if you have time.
2. They ask how you think 'the boys' will go this season and talk football when they clearly have no clue. Im assuming we're using a third party (call was from a mobile phone?) can't we bring it in-house and save some money?
3. When I said I can't he asked if I had friends or family who are Blues supporters I could split the cost with...how about you sell 4 times the tickets at $50 instead.

I'm a member, I did the Blue Believer thing, I've joined SOC, it bothers me a little they're so pushy on this. The process really puts me off buying a ticket.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Leaks and talking to media are separate issues.

But a communications policy actually entails communicating to members first and foremost. I don't know about you, but I'm not getting much communication from the club as a member. Are you?

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

The mrs is a North member and gets the same phone calls from these people. I wonder what other clubs have signed up for this scheme. Also wonder how much of a cut we get from the $200? They must spend a fortune in phone bills.

did the call go like this

“Hello Brad here’
“Excuse a me Sir to whom am I speaking to”
“Brad”
“ Begging your pardon Sir would that be Mr Brad”
“yes whose calling”
“ I am Mr Punjub ringing on the behalf of the Great Carlton football Club”
“ Yes go on “
“ I was wondering very much Sir if you would be interested in supporting the Great Carlton Football Club”
“ I already do”
“ Ah yes we know Sir but we were wondering if you would like to purchase some waffle tickets to support the Great Carlton football club”
“ this is the third time I have been called about this”
“ Very sorry Sir but it is a wonderful offer we have in place and it is only $200.00 and all the money goes to the great Carlton football club”
“ Nah sorry I have bought my membership and that’s all”
“ So how many wonderful tickets will you be buying to support the Great Carlton football Club Mr Brad”
‘” I told you I don’t want any”
“ I’m begging your pardon Sir but I thought you just said you don’t want any wonderful tickets”
“ Sorry mate I’m in a meeting”
“ Can I be calling back at a more time convenient to you Mr Brad”
Brad Hangs up

Punjub mutters to himself “ This Mr Brad he not very good supporter of the Great Carlton football club”

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Not heard a thing myself. Like Brad, I expect only to hear from them when they want money from me.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

For me 5000 members buying a membership at $300 a pop would generate 1.5mill
(forgive me if my math is wrong)

But if the club can find a extra 10,000 members that is 3million dollars profit.

Debt is half way to being eroded.

What annoys me is l don't watch TV that much after work the last few weeks going to gym, but most nights l'm home l see the Collingwood membership commercial.

I have seen nothing to drive Carltons membership.

Other ways of generating funds:
* Invest in shares with good paying dividends with big companies (less risk)
* Invest in property. Generate money off interest.

Just some ideas. I don't think pokies should be the ultimate way of making money for the club outside of memberships n sponsorships

Thanks for the info Stephen.

I think that this will ultimately lead to member apathy and contribute to a she'll be right approach by members who see that we are "bullet proofed" from further financial crisis.

Very similar to the way we didnt grow memberships during the 80s/90s when the Elliott Administration pursued the corporate dollar at the expense of total member involvement.

Pokie revenue should not really be promoted as any sort of club saviour financially - and the Board/Administration should work on plans to ensure strong revenue growth from membership, merchandise, corporate and community support and involvement.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill