its a measure of our status in the competition.

The obsession of some people regarding membership numbers interests me, I would like to think that an increasing membership base isn't the key to our financial survival.

Crowds are up
Membership is up
TV viewing is up
Facilties are built
Elite training is organised
Debt coming down
Top assistants coaches employed
Pulled Andy Mckay out of The AFL

The only thing thats is not happening is winning on the park
Cant blame Sticks for that he has given them everything they need to be doing that

We are behind two clubs in Victoria Hawthorn and collingwood
We will always be behind the pies because of their massive fan base
Hawthorn sold games to Tassie to make their balance sheet look better and all credit has to be given to Kennet for that club
I could imagine the rants on this site if Carlton elected an ex high profile Liberal to lead the club

The bile that comes out of people mouths and directed at Sticks is unwarranted unfactual and down right distasteful

In terms of revenue, it comes in third. 1. AFL broadcast rights 2. Corporate Sponsorship 3. Membership

...so it's not the key, but it's important in terms of creating an attractive brand whereby people want to consume your product and become a repeat customer. Also handy to say '50,000 people signed up as members this year' when you're pitching your brand to executives of companies you're wanting to get sponsorship dollars from.

Crowds are up
Membership is up
TV viewing is up
Facilties are built
Elite training is organised
Debt coming down
Top assistants coaches employed
Pulled Andy Mckay out of The AFL

The only thing thats is not happening is winning on the park
Cant blame Sticks for that he has given them everything they need to be doing that

We are behind two clubs in Victoria Hawthorn and collingwood
We will always be behind the pies because of their massive fan base
Hawthorn sold games to Tassie to make their balance sheet look better and all credit has to be given to Kennet for that club
I could imagine the rants on this site if Carlton elected an ex high profile Liberal to lead the club

The bile that comes out of people mouths and directed at Sticks is unwarranted unfactual and down right distasteful

Bullshit. I would have posted this if we were 12-0. There are some fundamental things wrong at the top unrelated to on-field performance. I've been dissatisfied with things for some time, but the stupidity is escalating. I think most members are happy with the status quo because they're oblivious to it. That's fine. You'll be amongst the crowd to give Sticks and the board a massive cheer when the debt's paid off - yet they'd have very little to deserve that applause. We know where the money is coming from, but where are the ideas coming from? Who's being proactive in a business that demands it? Where's the leadership? Who's keeping the CEO, the board sub-committees and senior staff on the same page and leading? Who's adhering to the Strategic Plan and business model that sits underneath? Has Sticks surrounded himself with good people or will the incomplete Kernahan, Gleeson, Malouf football department review of 2006 be superseeded by a Kernahan, Gleeson, Swann review? I'm gravely concerned that passions have clouded business sense. Smart boards of professional sporting organisations understand there are more goals than just winning competitions.

Some football clubs are still coming out of an era where the board is essentially executive and gets involved in management tasks. Greg Swann could write a book on it...whether he or Ruffy Germinder are right or wrong isn't something I'm going to delve into, but where's the leadership to sort out a dispute when the lines are blurred? Some directors may be heavily involved in sponsorship or marketing, or in aspects of the football team itself. The better sporting boards are separating the role of board and management. The Geelong board, for example, no longer has marketing or football sub-committees.

agree, I just find it amusing that some people think that crashing through 50,000 as opposed to sitting on, say, 47,000 is some sort of cure for our ills. It comes back to bragging rights for many, they don't like being behind other clubs when it comes to membership. I'd prefer to look at year on year increases over the last decade - a decade largely filled by misery.

.

its a measure of our status in the competition.

You've got your head in the sand if you haven't heard of Harold Mitchell. Australia's biggest media buyer, Mitchell is a self-made multi-millionaire. Harold was around as a member and sponsor in the early Elliott days. He considered a run for the presidency in 2006, but had other things on his plate - indeed Harold has many things on his plate. But he has just departed from the Melbourne Rebels. Without Harold, they wouldn't exist. He is, arguably, the most powerful man in Victoria..in fact I don't think anyone else comes close. Eddie McGuire would shake in his boots should Harold ever become president. If no one is sounding him out now, they simply don't get it. Harold is a very young 70. He's probably in the best health he's been in for the best part of 25 years. He is one of the most brilliant rags to riches stories - but more importantly - he's a Carlton supporter, and he gets it. There's lots written about Harold...but here's a good one from last year.

http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/melbour ... d-mitchell

We are behind two clubs in Victoria Hawthorn and collingwood

Thirty years ago Hawks would play their home games and the crowd wouldn't fill a phone box. Now, they have surged ahead of us with 50,000 plus members.

Pies once had about 15% (best guess) more fans than us, now it's more like 20% plus. Membership has gone the same way.

Even the Tigers have 50,000 members and how long since they've played finals?

We've been a rank failure with membership numbers, it's utterly embarrassing.

Sorry SB, in relative terms, we're the power VIC club that has fallen off the pace and something needs to be done about it.

Thirty years ago Hawks would play their home games and the crowd wouldn't fill a phone box. Now, they have surged ahead of us with 50,000 plus members.

Pies once had about 15% (best guess) more fans than us, now it's more like 20% plus. Membership has gone the same way.

Even the Tigers have 50,000 members and how long since they've played finals?

We've been a rank failure with membership numbers, it's utterly embarrassing.

Sorry SB, in relative terms, we're the power VIC club that has fallen off the pace and something needs to be done about it.

Do you really get utterly embarrassed by membership numbers ?

I know plenty of loyal blues supporters who don't buy memberships. Simply because they just don't want to be members of a football club.
Nothing the club could do to change their minds.

So which Ex Liberal Leader do you want to take control of the club - Howard -Costello - because the Hawks are where they are at today because of Kennett - no one else and most Hawks supporters despise him more than those that hate Sticks

Tiger membership will drop to low 40's once they remove all the rubbish memberships out of it

Do you really get utterly embarrassed by membership numbers ?

I know plenty of loyal blues supporters who don't buy memberships. Simply because they just don't want to be members of a football club.
Nothing the club could do to change their minds.

don't look to memberships to be the anchor to our income, interesting that people talk about the hawks, yet we still get better crowds than they do