Colless Swans still struggling for finances to be competitive

[Damien]

I'd love more matches in Victoria, and I agree it would encourage more melbourne supporters to join up, even if you pay more to cover the game, it still looks better on paper to see more melbourne games.

and why do we year in year out have to play Geelong down there? why not another vic side @ their home?

Also what the hell is our membership numbers, we rarely see the figure....

Hopefully GWS play the token away game in Canberra from 2012, whilst I enjoy the extra game within a 3 hour drive, with our history, we should get min 6 games at Etihad/MCG, with 7 on alertnative years.

As interstate clubs go, we are the best option for all Melbourne clubs, I never get why we aren't mentioned more for our drawing power in Melbourne, always seems to come as a surprise to commentators.

[hammo]

How so?

I base the comment on conversations I've had with people who've had a bit to do with him, but I don't want to start a Colless bashing exercise. The club's been run well no doubt about that.

Generally speaking corporate money follows those who are well connected and the drop-off in corporate support has been a common complaint from the Swans and Colless in recent years...

[swansrule100]

without colless hard work there wouldnt be a club for us all to whinge about

[707]

without colless hard work there wouldnt be a club for us all to whinge about

As good as single handedly saved us from extinction in the 90s - Lest we forget!

[Alibi Monday]

As good as single handedly saved us from extinction in the 90s - Lest we forget!

Peter Weinert says hello.

[giant]

Works for free and has put in a lot of money without any publicity. Been a great servant and unless someone "Eddie" style came along, I'd have no interest in changing.

Hear hear. Has been a very respected business man for well over 30 years.

[Bleed Red Blood]

I'd love more matches in Victoria, and I agree it would encourage more melbourne supporters to join up, even if you pay more to cover the game, it still looks better on paper to see more melbourne games.

and why do we year in year out have to play Geelong down there? why not another vic side @ their home?

Also what the hell is our membership numbers, we rarely see the figure....

Yes, playing out at Geelong is a huge irritation. Apart from I don't drive, it's extra money - even when you are a member - to get a ticket there (which is standing room), hence I haven't gone the last 4 or 5 years of us playing there. Meanwhile when we do play the G or Dome there's usually 10-15 thousand Swans fans. Why aren't clubs like the Dees who struggle for crowds requesting to play us? They'd get all the revenue. The CEO, Chairman, Board, whoever should be pushing to play more games in Melbourne.

[barry]

Lot of Colless fans on here, but to still be struggling to make money after the last 15 years is incompetent.

Time for some new blood at the top I think. Colless has had his time.

[Damien]

Lot of Colless fans on here, but to still be struggling to make money after the last 15 years is incompetent.

Incompetent? Wow.

Bloody hard and unique market, totally different to any other side, only comparison would be the Lions who also struggle to post profits. Our Football department at one time was spending more than North Melbourne's total spend!, our player welfare and management costs are huge and nearly 100% of all new players require assistance and management, marketing costs are huge, our reserves can't even drive themselves to away games and require accomodation, our Sydney membership has gone up and down over the past 10 years, we man an office in Melbourne along with our massive operation in Sydney and still are generally 10 pages back in the daily papers. Despite all this, our turnover has been generally fantastic, the club have developed great facilities at the SCG, taken over Club Swans,have no debt and are seen as a 'set in stone' part of the Sydney sporting scene. I really can't see how this is incompetent.

[Big Al]

Incompetent? Wow.

Bloody hard and unique market, totally different to any other side, only comparison would be the Lions who also struggle to post profits. Our Football department at one time was spending more than North Melbourne's total spend!, our player welfare and management costs are huge and nearly 100% of all new players require assistance and management, marketing costs are huge, our reserves can't even drive themselves to away games and require accomodation, our Sydney membership has gone up and down over the past 10 years, we man an office in Melbourne along with our massive operation in Sydney and still are generally 10 pages back in the daily papers. Despite all this, our turnover has been generally fantastic, the club have developed great facilities at the SCG, taken over Club Swans,have no debt and are seen as a 'set in stone' part of the Sydney sporting scene. I really can't see how this is incompetent.

Great post Damien.

In the probably the toughest footy market in the world we have done an incredible job.

[bedford]

Colless is a divisive figure and from what I've heard less than popular in the big end of town.

Notwithstanding his long and generally good service to the club, perhaps a change is in order.

I wouldn't want any other Chairman, has done an outstanding job

[The Goodes]

I wouldn't want any other Chairman, has done an outstanding job

Agreed. It's like a Sculptor using **** for clay sometimes. I think he's great, and he's performed for the club fantastically during his tenure. If TOTC was extended to Management, he'd be in the mix at the top. Would love to see him being more vocal and visible, especially in light of GWS coming in. Go Richard. And keep giving Eddie the bird.

[lbyron]

This issue has been a concern to me for quite a will.

Whats the go with go with the SCG income/cost - do we get a good deal out of them. I'm not sure whats the split in other teams but I've read comments from US gridion clubs that the stadium is the crucisal part of income and some in fact own their stadium. Also the scgdoes not seem to do a lot with ground management for afl - domianted all year by cricket pitch - surely this could be better

Also what income is lost (or made from SCG membership).

I don't like the idea of being socialisation (makes you lazy) of of the afl teams but if teams like sydney/brisbane (and the new teams) are not bank rolled by the afl to a certain the extent solid tv revenue will not be acheived.

Im not a member (live southern nsw with not much money - go to act games, watch every tv game) but are the financial figures given to members as a financial statement.

Anyway we are not as relatively bad as the Power at the moment.

[DST]

Lot of Colless fans on here, but to still be struggling to make money after the last 15 years is incompetent.

Time for some new blood at the top I think. Colless has had his time.

We do not struggle to make money, our revenue levels put us in the top 6 to 8 clubs in the AFL.

The issue is that we need to spend more money than most other clubs within the football department (and membership and marketing) to stay competitive on the field and this puts budgets at the club under more pressure than most other clubs.

Hence why the club continues to spell out the dangers of not being able to grow it's revenue base.

DST