My guess is, no it wouldn't be offered to us without us asking for it. Would Optus want to just give away money? It's up to the relevant people at the Club to put the screws to the sponsors and get the best out of them for the club, and its supporters.

My point is, without having seen specific details, is that the Club, or the people at the club, wouldn't have done that, as lately Carlton has a fairly rotten track record of promoting itself to the supporters via relatively cheap distribution methods, like the internet. The marketing and communications department is stuck in the 1980s and has an "old media" view of how to talk to us. Which costs more, and is less effective and widespread.

Also, how could it possibly be beneficial for the club, other than in a short-term financial way, to sign to a deal which feeds stories, etc to the site, and the club itself has very little input in regards to what the site is, how it runs, how it looks, etc?

There will be one company, who has an equal obligation to all 15 clubs under this deal, and they will have no interest in the success or otherwise of the website.

An independent website, one made to stand on it's own feet, would be far more aggressive in making sure it makes itself viable.

Oh, wow, great times for all.

I know a standalone website costs big money compared to the Telstra deal, but if we go along, that's another reason why the communications/marketing department are a total disgrace and failure.

Sorry, do not agree with this at all. It takes a lot of effort to design, update, operate and maintain websites such as the AFL sites (including Essendonsite).

That's exactly it.

All the other 14 sites are basically exactly the same, the only thing that changes are minor cosmetics.

Surely anyone with a slight bit of nous should have had an internet/site agreement written in to the sponsorship arrangement with Optus, knowing that the internet rights were up this year?

I'm sure that's one thing 3 (Hutchison) provides for Essendon* as part of their overall sponsorship of the club, and it would then be up to 3 to make the site earn it's keep via advertising, promotions etc.

actually - just a correction there - there does seem to be some variation in the sites - particularly when it comes to the qualitiy of the player profile sections (maybe the clubs supply this?)

Like i said before, Ian Coutts himself has told Fullmont and I personally we would love to have our own site but simply can not afford it or maintain it with the current staff dedicated to web communications at the club.

Absolutely Jar, why don't you apply

I can live with this deal in the current climate, but I just hope that the club has negotiated for a little more control over the site than just having the standard Telstra template.

If this deal does pull in 3 times the money to the club and gets close to $1M a year, there would be scope for the club to employ a full time website manager/operator.

The position could pay for itself anyway if the right person was found.

Is there some way that someone within the club can ask Getty (aka The Evil Ones) for the images on your behalf? It might get things happening a bit quicker.

As I understand it, the Club gets unfettered access to Getty shots, and if it's the Club asking for them, then there's less excuse for them sitting on their hands.

Or maybe get someone from the Club to do an "intro" letter to Getty, describing to them the work you're doing for the Club?

YEH thats what i do, and thats the problem. I email Steve Wilson then he tells getty then after months i finally get the pics. Becoz Wilson has so much on his plate there is no other way. I already asked if i could contact Getty on my own and they said NO.

Two problems with that idea. One male and one female, and both now asleep.