How did we get into this "insolvent" debt?

[Sainternist]

A few of my non-Saint supporting friends are flabbergasted as to how much debt our club has got itself into. They've asked me why, but apart from the relocation back to Moorabbin (and new facilities) and Jihad Stadium giving us a bum deal, I don't know what else to say.

Anyone have any ideas as to how we've got into such a financial mess?

[parkeysainter]

Moving to both Seaford and Moorabbin within a decade would have cost a shitload. Add in the bad Jihad Stadium deal since 2000 which was a disgrace and really hurt. Plus a lack of finals since 2011. It all adds up in the end.

But thank god we've got a good number of members still (over 40k), Moorabbin is done, we have record sponsorhip, the AFLW side comes online soon and we have a good deal at Jihad that is profitable (even with small crowds now). When the side gets back to the finals arena, which will happen at some point, then the debt will come down even quicker.

Its just time for the club, playing group and supporters to dig in like an Alabama tick. What else can we do?!
The bean counters at RSEA Park need to work their magic also.

[BackFromUSA]

Essentially we, the Kangas and the Dogs paid for Etihad Stadium.

[Sainternist]

But what I don't understand is how we're in much greater debt than North Melbourne and Melbourne (they haven't played finals since 2006).

Moving to both Seaford and Moorabbin within a decade would have cost a shitload.

Perhaps Archie Fraser and Greg Westaway should be both footing the bill for this misdemeanour?

[bigred]

All of the above.

Add in a bit of frightful mismanagement.

[samuraisaint]

We were packing Etihad for almost a decade between 2004-2011 and made no money during those years when we had a calamitous deal. Under that same calamitous deal we have been playing in front of much lower crowds during the past five seasons due to our rebuild.
We moved from our spiritual home to Seaford - effectively selling our soul for pokies machines.
Quit Tassie when we probably shouldn't have and where we have a supporter base and a historical link, instead opting to play games for match points in NZ several years later when we were no good, getting beaten by fellow bottom sides which effectively destroyed any chance we had of building any sort of momentum getting a foothold there. We must never go back there for games.
Critically, during the period 1997 and 2010 we played in three grand finals (four with the 2010 replay) and despite finishing on top of the ladder in two of those years we failed to win a premiership. We needed to win at least one of those, and preferably two, to build a new, young supporter base.

Hawthorn played a line in the sand game against Essendon in 2005 when they were struggling. Since then they have won four flags. Might I suggest to the team to make this week at Kardinia Park OUR line in the sand game. The vultures are circling.

[spert]

Just a series of poor weak management and lack of vision for decades. Culture is built from the top down, and our weak efforts since later in 2017 till now indicate leadership which is not aligned or focussed, and appears lost.

[SaintPav]

But what I don't understand is how we're in much greater debt than North Melbourne and Melbourne (they haven't played finals since 2006).

Moving to both Seaford and Moorabbin within a decade would have cost a shitload.

Perhaps Archie Fraser and Greg Westaway should be both footing the bill for this misdemeanour?

We were losing about one million a year at Docklands.

Melbourne doesn’t have anything like that deal at the G. They were a complete rabble a few years ago and are probably still on AFL life support.

Supporters of some other teams like Hawthorn have amnesia when it comes to their own clubs.

[SaintPav]

Just a series of poor weak management and lack of vision for decades. Culture is built from the top down, and our weak efforts since later in 2017 till now indicate leadership which is not aligned or focussed, and appears lost.

This isn’t true.

There is a strategy there was a vision and there was a plan. It hasn’t turned into onfield success, yet.

Bring back Scott Floggers to finish us off.