The AFL?s $100m Gold Coast proposal

[ScottH]

I know what happened to the Swans mate, I came from South Melbourne right in the middle of the heartland, so please don't lecture me on what happened ok mate, I was bloody there. And I'm sorry mate, I'll call you an idiot if you believe that South Melbourne is dead. It is the same bloody club, we did not merge or killed off.

As I said the club does not exist as a legal entity, but the Club does exist in the memories of those that lived through the pre '82 years.

Apparently, there was only 700 according to the bigfooty people, at their meeting today, so yeah they sure do have the numbers to survive in Melbourne, which in reality is already an over crowded market place

Exactly, a small handful. They've been pushing hard for more members for a few years, now and they still have a lack of support. Most of the North fans, I know aren't members.

[robbieando]

I'm still not going to support North Melbourne and buy a membership no matter what you say.

That's your decision and clearly you won't. That's fine, I'm not going to buy one either and I'm sure plenty of other people won't as well. But its not your place to tell people what they can and can't do with their money. On the point of memberships in 1981, just remember two things

1) memberships weren't sold in the numbers then that they are today and
2) the VFL brought South memberships to try and influence the vote at the EGM over who got control of the board, not that it did them any good in getting "their" people voted in, nor did the money from those sales help the club anyway in the longterm.

I just wish we had a choice like North did!

So do I, but as I said the VFL never allowed us to have one because they got the old board to agree to play the 1982 season home games in Sydney without the members/fans knowing and once it became public the VFL had us in a position we COULDN'T FIGHT OUT OF. The AFL don't have North in such a position other than a nice $100 million offer which North have rejected.

No one brought Swans membership when we were fighting to stay in Melbourne!

The VFL brought Swans membership on mass. So at least check your history.

And I'll call anybody an idiot that thinks that South Melbourne is dead.

They are club that now plays out of Sydney with the use of the South Melbourne history, colours and nickname. The name "South Melbourne" isn't in use anymore.

[TheGrimReaper]

Just as I thought, I'm just a puppet here. The moderators are always right, and I'm the one that should be checking history when I am from South Melbourne and fought hard for the club.

But.....it's no point saying that South Melbourne is still alive hey.....the moderators have spoken.

[ScottH]

Just as I thought, I'm just a puppet here. The moderators are always right, and I'm the one that should be checking history when I am from South Melbourne and fought hard for the club.

But.....it's no point saying that South Melbourne is still alive hey.....the moderators have spoken.

Nothing to do with moderators. It is a fact.

[TheGrimReaper]

Nothing to do with moderators. It is a fact.

Not to me it isn't mate.

[ScottH]

Not to me it isn't mate.

Fair Enough.

[TheGrimReaper]

We'll have to agree to disagree mate.

[ScottH]

We'll have to agree to disagree mate.

Well, as I said, a legal entity doesn't exist as SMFC, but those who were there will always have their memories, so the SMFC lives on in the minds, and through the SSFC

[Lucky Knickers]

Taking the emotion out of it, that is a very good offer, and I'm not really understanding Brayshaw and the Keep North South movements' objections based on the commercials. This includes the issue of the stadium. They've got 4 years to move (11 home games by 2012), guaranteed 7 games in Melbourne plus a wipe out of the debt.

The only aspect that I can agree with is the license changing hands back to the AFL, however, surely they can negotiate to take that back on once they are set up and financially independent?

Whilst I wasn't a South Melb supporter prior to their relocation, I can empathise with those that were and can understand why the Norths fans are fighting hard. I hope that they don't allow their heart to rule their heads as far better to have a club than not and if they continue to under utilise their salary cap they are in serious danger of being unable to maintain a competitive list over time.

[Ruda Wakening]

Exactly, a small handful. They've been pushing hard for more members for a few years, now and they still have a lack of support. Most of the North fans, I know aren't members.

Maybe it was the same 700 supporters who bothered to turn up to the final against Port.

[AnnieH]

Mods ... can we merge the two norf threads please ... I don't want to start repeating myself if I can at all help it.

Cheers.

[ScottH]

Maybe it was the same 700 supporters who bothered to turn up to the final against Port.

I wonder if JB mentioned that last night!!

[TheGrimReaper]

700 is a pretty poor turn out though. I was quite surprised about that. It goes to show, that they don't have that much support in Melbourne to compete in an already over crowded market place.

[swantastic]

700 is a pretty poor turn out though. I was quite surprised about that. It goes to show, that they don't have that much support in Melbourne to compete in an already over crowded market place.

It wasnt 700 it was about 3000.

[TheGrimReaper]

It wasnt 700 it was about 3000.

Still either way......they have a pretty poor membership tally.