I want a board that leads and takes proactive positions not one that gets wagged by its tail.

If I wanted a bunch of nuff nuff supporters to run the club then I'd vote for them.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

GWS you have hit the nail on the head. Can you see the fear in their faces? It's real. They have seen what has happened to us. They are staring doom right in the face.

Look out Essendon*. Be careful. We also led the membership numbers, had millions in the bank and ruled the roost many moons ago. Now we are ravaged. A mere shadow of what we once were.

They'll be alright for a while as they've got a truckload in the bank but they've certainly started whittling down their reputation as competition leaders lately and things can unravel pretty quickly (although not having a $20 million albatross around their necks might help them hold it together a little longer).

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

You guys are dreaming. Essendon* are down and may stay there for a year or 2 but they will re-bound. It wont take them 5 years to wake up. Thier membership wont plummet to the depths ours has and will continue to.

In order to lead you have to bring the troops with you. I have no problems with making tough calls but don't gloss over the consultation process with your members. carlton are experts in this and they are paying the price for it now.

I'm not suggesting they're going to reach where we're at Kermit but their decision making lately hasn't exactly been top shelf. The jumper decision is yet another where they're making reactive decisions rather than proactive ones and as a result the outcome is always far more likely to be compromised.

One early sign of the decline of an empire is when they start believing they should be some sort of exception from everyone else because they're somehow "different".

Carlton did it when they cheated the cap.

It's called dumb arrogance.

The other path is to set yourself up as a progressive organisation and take on the changing environment on your own terms. St. Kilda have done that in many ways (though Thomas is still a crap coach).

I also don't expect to see the Bombers rebound "in a year or two". Have a good look at their list - I'd take our top 10 kids over theirs any day.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

I think the filth have well and truly left the scum in it's dust. In the last 5 years Essendon* haven't really grown, Collingwood have built themselves to be up there with the Eagles and and we've gone down the toilet.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

I realise that you were tongue in cheek - but the point is still the same in 1979 we were the market leaders and innovators of the VFL now we are the basket case.

Using the "Carlton Bluebirds" circa 1979 is a prime example of this point.

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

Winston Churchill

See I don't see it that way. I think Collingwood are in complete denial and are showing all the traits of arogance that you so correctly point out is the first sign of decay in any great empire.

Essendon* however have always stated publically that they will play by the AFL rules and thier CEO this morning was very clear on this point.

Where is Collingwood's alternative strip?

As to thier list you may be right. But we have been on the bottom for 5 years and we should have better youth than them.

Collingwood have been making some dodgy decisions over the last 12 months too but they're far more proactive than the Bombers and their on field form releases any valve that might have been building up the pressure.

What'll be really interesting is when Eddie steps down and the new President takes over. Is it going to be "Eddie as she goes" or are they going to try to keep innovating? And can Ed allow his successor to make decisions or will he be harping in the backgound?




That's my point - they won't simply climb back in a year or two - it takes time.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Simba: But we eat the antelope dad.

Mufasa: Yes son but when we die our bones become the fertilizer that helps the grass grow and the antelope eat the grass.


The AFL's Great Circle of Life.

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

Winston Churchill

Only 200 morons went to that meeting and looking at it on the news i doubt it was 200.They had to choose between a couple of jumpers that looked the same to me.. just a different sized sash.

they didnt do anything revolutionary , yet there they were.. the fu(kwits.. they roll up a couple of dozen and bitch about progress.

Essendon* did include their members... (all 100 of them in how big the sash should be..).. so what???..... they were hardly progressive in their jumper options.

I would have liked something totaly different from ours.

Either a competiition with an SMS vote (quote your name and membership number) that would have netted the club some $.. or go get an Armani to design it and have the publicity for being progressive after it.

The photo negative is too basic.. and too safe.. and i wonder how mant jumpers they will sell...


Football clubs are way too safe ...

No wonder they are only 20/40 million turnover businesses inside the realm of the biggesr professional sport in the country.

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I agree. The irony is that about 12 months ago a few of the boys were asked to go into a board meeting and model what was a new away jumper. From memory, it was predominantly silver with blue strips under the arms and down the sides. From all reports it was quite good or so the boys thought. Obviously, the board thought other wise because it hasn't been seen since.

The colors were similar to the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Pesonally, I think from a marketing perspective and keeping in mind what the kids of today will go for, I think the silver would have kicked arse.