Yes, we don't qualify under the regular eligibility rules of the fund. But there's also the matter of a huge debt, in part not helped out by the ridiculously large fine handed to us on Black Friday.

OK, so we aren't eligible for assistance, but that doesn't mean we don't need the help, which was the question.

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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.

Interesting times indeed (interesting in the Chinese-curse definition of the word)...

It's hard to recall a more embarrasing time in our history. Probably the match-fixing slurs that went around in the early 20th Century was our nadir, but this sort of thing comes close.

For what it's worth though, I remember the times (not all that long ago) when Collingwood's board was probably the greatest laughing stock in the history of Australian sport. From Ranald McDonald's hopelessly inept Presidency through to Alan McAlister's ill-fated attempt at buying up the houses surrounding Vic Park and creating a 'Collingwood World' precinct...

They were broke, rudderless and a shadow of the great club they once were. But they got themselves out of the shit by dint of hard work, clever deals and a few nice handouts care of Brad I'm In Prison Because I Stole Shareholder's Money Cooper.

We can do the same (save for accepting money from the likes of Brad Cooper).

The question is, do we have the people in place?

By the way, ANY role the AFL plays in our boardroom should be as an advisor or an observer. There is no way they should be able to insist on a voting position on the board of directors.

We have truly come full circle. We are now officially such a basket case that we have to be supervised whilst spending Demetriou's charity in case we manage to waste that as well.

I just have this aweful feeling that, behind all of the rhetoric, this is what has been hoped for all along. The maverick powerhouse finally being smashed down and then brough to heel.

I'd say I was angry and I was upset etc but my senses have been dulled to all of this through years of exposure to mismanagement and abject mediocrity. To be honest I'm almost expecting these things now.

In the end of the day maybe it will be a good thing to have somebody on the board that has no interest in nepotism, personal interests and factional politics. Somebody that is just interested in making sure the $$$ are spent appropriately. If it was my money to give I'm damn sure I wouldnt want to just hand it over to the same mob responsible for getting us where we are now!!

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

His question was why do we need financial assistance if we don't qualify for financial assistance under the AFL's fund, and I answered.

Perhaps we're in receivorship and the AFL are our administrators!

Bruce Mathieson the generous benefactor ? well,he is a sentimental bloke !

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All my dangerous friends

if i win the $2 lottery this week and pockt 7 million i will pay 1 million to keep that scum off our board. i swear. seeing there is not a great chance of that happening. im sure there has to be someone out there who could seriously pay this. maybe the board should beat it up as we will have to shut the place down. it worked for footscray kinda.

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dane's trolling again

I don't think the AFL has the legal right to ask for a seat on the board and this loan is more than covered by our share of the yearly dividend from the AFL.

If it's only for $1.5m and a short term loan until the end of the year and the AFL have got our share of the TV rights gate receipts etc before they hand out the end of year dividend I don't see what the issue is. Probably the AFL just don't wish to give an advance on the end of year dividend as a lot of other clubs may also ask for one.

They may have a claim if they were handing over $17.5m or wiping out our entire total debt but it's chicken feed in the big picture of the AFL. More likely that the AFL thinks that we might go back to cheating the cap and want to get someone on the board who will check the books and not be a yes man to the Club President.

Like the Pies and Essendon* the Blues draw big crowds big advertising revenue and lots of publicity when they are going well and a good Carlton side is very good for the AFL coffers.

I think the point is that it isn't a short term loan. We'll get the $4million dividend earl next year and we'll need it to keep the club afloat next year. That's essentially what it looks like we've done the last couple of years.

Personally I think this was pretty much inevitable.

The moment we went cap in hand to the AFL looking for a way out of our predicament, our fate was sealed. Whether the AFL occupy an official seat on our board or not is irrelevant in my opinion.

They don't do favours because they are nice guys. If we accept the "loan" from the AFL, they will be pulling the strings of the Carlton Football Club regardless - whether it be in a formal or informal capacity is irrelevant.

Well, if I take the Powerball on Thursday night ($9m), I will personally tip in at least a million. More if I get perks.

You read it here, guys!

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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.

Hypothetical - if Smorgon and Co. entertained the thought of having an AFL person on our board in return for the $1.5M, could we vote them out at year's end as voting members?

What would be that person's specific role? Do they get to make decisions about other issues to do with the CFC other than the use or allocation of the 'loan'?

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

Be interesting what they come up with tonight at the board meeting.

But im glad the AFL put the screws on them.

they have become like abusers of the single mothers pension.. bludging and expecting someone else to foot the bill!!!...someone has to make them accountable.

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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.

Was thinking the same.

And if not, we turf the rest of the spineless bastards.

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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 man to take a seat on our board would have to be be Ron Evans.....

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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.

maybe we'll have to do a non-binding vote.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Let's hope today's back page made some Carlton people of import to squirm with embarrassment enough to decide to take some action.

I can see Agro's face now...

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

The look on my face would be obscured by an assasin's rifle with telescopic sight.

But you would find me in one of the elm trees on Royal Parade with a clear line of sight to the Carlton Board Room in the George Harris Stand.

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

Winston Churchill

I don't doubt for a moment that you would take that course of action, Ags.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24