2017 membership

ESSENDON could slash more than $3 million off its $10 million debt this year in the greatest financial turnaround in AFL history.

The Dons hope to surge home and into the finals this year as they average 56,000 for home

crowds after again breaking their membership record.

It has set the platform for a profit that should eclipse $3 million for the season, more than double the $1.2 million windfall the Essendon board had projected.

Last year’s financial loss was $9.8 million, with the current debt around $10.5 million after the move to its base near Melbourne Airport and four years of ASADA turmoil.

But Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell told the Herald Sun the board would aggressively slash that debt, starting this year.

It could reduce the debt to less than $7 million, with the club confident it can balance debt reduction with an expansion of its facilities.
Campbell said the departures of high-profile players including Patrick Ryder, Michael Hibberd and Stewart Crameri had created salary cap room for off-season acquisitions.

Essendon’s board would have to approve huge offers to the likes of Dustin Martin, but has not done so yet.

The board will also wait until next season to consider a contract extension for coach John Worsfold, in the second year of a three-season deal.

He is effectively in his first year of coaching given last year’s Court of Arbitration for Sport bans, with the board yet to even discuss his contract as an issue.

Campbell would not put a figure on the likely profit but Essendon believes it can take a huge chunk out of its debt.
“We have a lot of work in front of us and we don’t want to take any support for granted, but we have a significant debt challenge that we hope we can make a significant inroad into sooner rather than later so we can invest in the further growth of our facility and our footy club,” Campbell said.

“We have had a lot of unique one-off costs over the last four years, but the club is strong and has absorbed those.”

A survey of 5000 members in the past fortnight showed satisfaction higher than at any time in recent memory.

Those supporters are eager for Essendon to add an AFLW team, with the Bombers’ fundraising to underwrite the expansion of their Melbourne Airport site.
Worsfold, 48, looks to be settling into his role seamlessly but given the unique circumstances of his first year there is no hurry with an extension.

“Realistically this is John’s first year of pure coaching. Last year he did a fantastic job in unique circumstances and it was clearly well received by the club and broader support base,” Campbell said.

“We haven’t had any discussions yet and we won’t for the time being. The focus is the footy program.

“I can’t imagine we would look at it any earlier than any year. You can see what other clubs are doing in that area and we haven’t even discussed it at board level.”

Campbell said the club’s total player payments were balanced to ensure space for the trade period.

“We have been prudent in the way we have managed our cap, but we have also lost significant talent over the last three years.
“That has presented opportunities but Adrian Dodoro and Rob Kerr have done a really good job in ensuring we are well positioned for the coming years.

“Any contract over a certain amount or tenure must go to the board, but we haven’t had to do that yet.”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/essendon-set-to-slash-more-than-3-million-off-its-huge-debt-in-just-one-season/news-story/6c6d71c5bb223eab775756237e773dde

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I reckon, a more than generous donation from some of the old Board Members could halve that debt. Nice!!!

anyone having issues getting reasonably priced tickets for the saints game this week?
trying to get seats through Ticketmaster this morning and the only seats that come up are $71 each GA not coming up as an option.
■■■■■■ if i’m paying that for a std H&A game

That’s nothing new.

They’re right arseholes when it comes to releasing tickets you’d actually want.

They also categorised bay 46 as “wing”!

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Price gouging at its finest

I guess this can go in here, not that many people will see it…

Did anyone else get a call from the club (or on behalf of the club) about a month ago selling a $100 “Bomber gift voucher” but it turns out to be a complete scam. I wanted to get the kids some stuff through the bomber shop and this seemed like a no-brainer, I figured they were trying to increase Bombershop sales by selling the vouchers and rather than discounting and they were throwing in some extra vouchers, a chance for a dinner with Sheedy and a draw to win some cash etc. I specifically told the girl/lady on the phone and of course she agreed I could spend it at the Bombershop.
I get the “Bomber Gift Card” and it’s rubbish. Seriously it can only be spent on deals that have nothing to do with Essendon. For example I cant spend around $30 the “date night pack” which is dinner and a movie, which sounds crap to begin with but it entitles you to hire DVD’s from a vending machine and the “dinner” is picked up from a Coles Express service station. Other things I can spend the “gift card” on include powerade or magazines from Coles Express, it’s an insult and I don’t know if the club is just taking the ■■■■ or if they have themselves been scammed.
As a member of the club, while I have chipped in for donations in the past (i.e. the new facility through blitz or an extra $15 with my membership) this is the first time that I have ever coughed up money when they have called chasing money for raffles or special member deals - I can guarantee that this is the last time.
Yeah, I know, a fool and his money are soon parted… Basically I am in a position where the kids still need Bomber’s gear and I’ve thrown $100 bucks down the drain, and while it hasn’t broken the bank I’m concerned that other members out there might be hit a lot harder by scams like these.

is this for real?

raised prices on all bar 1 of their home games apparently.

This reminds me of a call I got last year. As I was such a valued member, the caller congratulated me for having a chance to win some Essendon goodies…

“Great”, methinks!!!

All I had to do was buy $250 worth of raffle tickets to be included in the draw…:neutral_face:

It’s the Saints home game Friday night, not ours.

Yeah I got that call.

Like you I thought “wow…this seems like a good deal…support the club and get $100 voucher back”. But when I asked for clarification it was clear that I couldn’t use the voucher at the Bomber Shop. It was as you said for other crap.

I declined the offer.

Wow. That’s really bad. The club should treat members a lot better than that.

Like @RedandBlackPartisan this happened to me last year, although mine was $100 not $250.

Couldn’t use any of the vouchers so passed it onto our Bendigo supporter group for the people who travel quite a bit to and from Melbourne to use

Like you was fairly peeved.

Is there a link to the current clubs’ membership ladder? We should be looking for a top 4 finish.

Yeah I bought the $100 one last year. Got the phone call this year for $250. It’s like they just want to push the boundaries. I nearly choked when she said $250.

We buy memberships, we donate to the flight plan and various other things but that is just taking the ■■■■.

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@Catherine_Lio @Paul_Cousins

This post/story might be of interest to you guys. ??

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Thanks mate. Passed on the feedback earlier today.

(I’m a lurker of the highest order)

K

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And tell Simon Conway not to send out emails titled “Bomber News: Zach Merrett injury update”… nearly crapped my dacks.

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THIS

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You won’t believe #7!

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