This reminds me of a youtube clip i watched with the great comedian George Carlin and what he says about politicians and what they say. They say a lot but do @#$%&! all and the words they speak imply they actually do @#$%&! all if you are good at inferencing. In short its just words and no action.

This bloke didnt answer one flower question directly but he is good with the bullshit.


A complete waste of time

At least they understand the "apathetic" supporter issues abit better now.

I wonder if all this has been a surprise to them???

Is it the apathetic supporters or the patheric board members??

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thing is - everyone's getting caught up in a numbers game and forgetting about what really matters to the supporter/member. The numbers are solid. Carlton was one of only five clubs to record an increase in members in 2012. We were 15,041 members shy of Hawthorn, but just over half a million dollars separate us from the Hawks when you compare membership and gate receipt revenue.

Our revenue stream order goes like this -

1. Sponsorship
2. AFL income
3. Gaming
4. Membership & gate receipts

So why spend copious amounts of money in 2013 on the people? If this board was put through a review tomorrow - every consultant I know (and I know a few) would give them a clean bill of health. If it's a numbers game - then you cannot argue with the numbers. You can't.

But it's more than just a numbers game. Part of the Carlton Football Club's mission is to proactively and purposefully engage with its members, its supporters, its customers. And therein lies the problem. Therein lies what Ruffy is trying to do. I think (I hope) it's a little more than electioneering. If he's smart - he'll keep the dialogue going throughout the season. It is important that the 'December issue' is viewed as the 'pilot' episode. It should get better!

But the onus is on the supporter as well as the board member. If we want the Carlton Football Club to resemble what we want it to be - then the likes of Ruffy need to be able to work out what parts of the puzzle he can help with. Otherwise - he'll continue to focus on the numbers game rather than tapping into the heartbeat of the greatest football club in Australia.

Mind you - the numbers game is traveling nicely (albeit they are another $2.5-$4 million sponsor short). I have some ideas about this Ruffy - but it involves you buying me lunch.

Well put Doc - unfortunately for Ruffy he is preaching to a lot of cynics in this forum who have heard the rhetoric before, but haven't seen any follow up or delivery.

Bit like the comedian who followed "The Beatles" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" - its a tough room.

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

Winston Churchill

Not really,
I just think that the taped video, and article showed he didn't really listen to what members were saying, and it rankled, on top of issues that have upset people.
I think mostly, folks have been hopeful,and happy that Ruffy took the time to pop in. For reasons already discussed, it pretty much back fired. Not enough thought..too much Fluff.Nothing to indicate a real change is coming.
On another note,The Access thing should be an inclusion for members. All members.
It just alienates, and re inforces the message that this club is money grabbing, and not valuing the people who support it.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Ill disagree with you again.
A club is also about soul.. and people connecting.... and that determines whether the club is performing or underperforming.
If the club is performing anywhere near where it should be its done its job.... if the club isnt.. then it hasnt.

So the question remains.. should these guys be satisfied with where the club is at?

Ruffy himself did mention the magic number... one million....
Swann did tell us about how many people are in the BRW rich list....
Where do we stand against the other power clubs?
Is sponsorship booked???
How do supporters feel about how they are included in the current order?
Whats communication like ..??
Whats the message... the gameplan with us supporters???

And if things are going great.. why wouldnt they welcome an independant external review of the club???

Whats the external and internal (internal meaning Carlton supporters) perception of this footy club.

Numbers mean nothing.

If North got our numbers it would be great!!!... but we have a platform of being the most succesful club in the AFL... with one million fans...and two and a half decades of sustained success.. and yet we ran the club into the ground.

Where i stand i see a group of people doing an Elliott... they are more hell bent on being on the board than they are utilising what tools they have to make the club great once more.

Tell me why we need two Pratts?
Whats Clarkes great weapon on that board?
Is Sticks a good president or a very good president.?
IS Swann burning it up?

etc etc
I reckon things mirror each other... Waite in leadership role and lacking true leadership on the field... and same goes on the field.

There is no example.
There are no great standards we set ourselves its steady as she goes.

You know im always up for a catch up... but lunch isnt easy....

Lets see some high standards!!!!

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Change is slow...that's nothing new at Carlton. But you have to see it from a consultants perspective. What are you going to get an external consultant to look at? The numbers? Nope - the numbers show the club going in the right direction. Slowly - but the right direction nonetheless. Then what? Communication and engagement strategies? Any consultant there for a week would've said "You have to get rid of the GM-Comms...why have have you hired these other people to do the job that he's essentially meant to be doing? ...You're paying him how much? "

The consultant looks at what brings in the most revenue and what should bring in more revenue.



I'd suggest most supporters don't care. I'm just spelling out the facts. As far as money coming into the club goes - members are fourth. And they'll be fourth again next year too as gaming should see another increase because the owner (not the player) of the EGM's gets back what they put in. What the Carlton board and executive have to figure out is if they put more into the members/supporters - the same thing will happen as what happens with the hotels full of pokies. But they don't have the answers. You need to give it to them...but they need to be sensible requests. Carlton people can't just start asking for Collingwood-like seating arrangements at the MCG. That's what your consultant needs to figure out. If the club is bringing in close to $9million but spending $3.5million on trying to bring more members in - what accountability does the board have on that spending. What areas are working. What's not working? Why is a club like Hawthorn only spending a little over $2million on marketing but getting better results?



I know what you mean - but this is a business. There are two main reasons to focus on supporters 1. because you want them to be a repeat customer/consumer and 2. because it's easier to negotiate sponsorships. Given how many people watch Carlton on TV - this is a relatively simple task.

Either way - they provide a healthy revenue stream. Even though it's 4th. By the way - it's 4th at Hawthorn too.

Yes they dont care.... most supporters....

But the ones that care more.. are the ones that can turn a 48,000 member club to 55,000

Thats less than most.... but 55 is more than 48...

So it depends what you want ....

And are we talking about the income going up due to philanthropical good will of one or two people or the board???

Mathieson gifting the club pokie revenue is not what i call a board inspired business plan to greatness!!!...

Would you???

Youre happy Doc.. not sure why youre not buying a membership with all this positive spin towards the club......If you believe the club is tracking admirably you can buy your membership and argue the point with me...

Why are you holding back???

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Probably the Gold Coast Suns cooler to be perfectly honest.

One question that rumbles in my head is: Would a full switch to the MCG (similar arrangement as Pies) increase membership more than improvement in supporter engagement?

Maybe it is as simple as having an inspirational / charismatic leader like Eddie or Kennett?

I often talk to supporters who are not members. The issues we discuss here are not in the forefront of their minds. I sense a lot of frustration from years of lack of success and my gut feel is that these people just don't prioritize membership as high as Hawthorn or Pies supporters. It can be the cost and quality of reserved seating membership, Ethihad etc. Or it can be not being "inspired" enough by the front figures at the club?

If you look at the cost of membership and take into account that most wont be able to attend all the games they have access to, how much value does it have. A lot of people prefer to buy seats for those games they actually can attend. So the value for money comes in. And it comes in because being "a member" is often not seen as something valuable. We have lost some of the tribal quality the Pies have. The lack of "inspiration" plays probably in. (And ask yourself how much better in practical terms is their engagement?)

I bet if we changed all games except maybe 2-3 interstate to the G and had a well spoken charismatic president who can sell a vision and a passion, we could easily make it to 60 K (my opinion only). Maybe it is as simple as that?

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TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

I'm not convinced Carlton will ever be able to do more than a 7-4 split. That thinking is based purely on contracts and economics. At the moment we have a 6-5 split in Etihad's favor. If the club could achieve a 7-4 split at the 'G - then they should do it in 2015. Our current board favors a 7-4 split. From a monetary point of view this would make sense. Can't compare to Pies deal. Would be a small increment in memberships. Of that I've no doubt.

Doc the word consultant annoys me

It means someone gets a lot of money for spinning shit and doing @#$%&! all

lets not forget about about the last word in the name Carlton Football Club
That word implies that we are all in this together from the board members to the ordinary bloke who pays his hard earned to support the organisation.

Listen to this guy and his spin on that video.

If he is symbolic of who is running the club we will further head into the abyss.

He is in it for himself not the club

I dont want to be part of it. Thats how I feel and that is why am not a member. I am sure some of the 7000 would be members who would push us to 55000 feel the same.

the second thing is the lack of innovative thinking by this club's board members
to try ideas that could possibly benefit the club's image and coffers.

Home games overseas for starters.
There are opportunities in Asia which I am sure would have support from the AFL and respective governments.

But the club nevers seems to waver from the Pratt, Mathieson model

It aint good enough
This is 2012 not 1982

[youtube]SKftRlzh2RM[/youtube]

This is from your extensive experience dealing with such things?

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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

Through extensive consultation

yes
if you would allow me to expand briefly

Where I have worked has had 3 consultants come in and work with us this year

One was alright because he actually did something offered us stuff we could actually use in our job

the other two might as well have robbed a bank

all talk

in fact when you rob a bank atleast you are doing something
you finish with these people feeling like you are doing a shit job and no practical ideas are forthcoming.

The majority of consultants charge huge fees by using waffle.
They say a lot but not much.

Germinder would make a great consultant.

So 3 consultants in schools were full of it who'd have thought!

Bit of a generalisation to say all consultants are though.

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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

I used to be a consultant. It's not an easy gig if you pride yourself on your work. Especially when your client is Racing Victoria and the Chair and CEO have put their neck on the line to hire you while the remaining board members stare blankly at you thinking to themselves 'You better @#$%&! deliver - I reckon we could have done this in-house for half the price you bastards are charging'. Well...one of them actually said it....which is how I know they were all thinking it.

Just remember you thankless lot. Visy, Dick, Ruffy, Jeannie didn't ask to come onto the board. Sticks asked them. To their credit they have never highjacked the club. None of them claim to be football experts and would be happy to take the biggest private sponsorship in Australian Sport and leave the effective running of the club to someone else. They never abandoned a sinking ship, they have repaired it. Ruffy as one board member with experience in sports marketing, should contribute in that department but you are asking a lot if you expect him to change the entire organisation. What have Dick, Ruffy, Jeanne contributed?

- a new training venue
- the largest corporate sponsorship in Australian Sport
- the acquisition of the League's best player
- the acquisition of the best available coach through board agiatation.
- and their time.

It is more than most and they face the same process as each board member.

Oh really?

Whats that got to do with this board and not Richard himself?
Reminding you there are two Pratts on the board.One is senior VP .
And they backed a coach to the hilt and then sacked him.. never bothering to have any process before , during and after Ratts?
Never mind the money aspect all this nonsense cost us.
Name one club without a training venue and ill give you an Oreo.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.