PRESIDENT Jim Stynes says the club can’t thank its supporters enough for helping the Demons get out of the red and into the black, following Wednesday night’s Foundation Heroes dinner and its third Debt Demolition campaign.
Speaking at the Long Room at the MCG on Thursday, Stynes said he was overwhelmed by the Melbourne supporters who rallied to smash the $5 million debt.
“We started with a debt of $5 million [in mid-2008] and last night we needed to raise another $550,000 and we absolutely smashed it,” he said.
“The people that were there [at the Foundation Heroes dinner] were absolutely tremendous and they gave everything they could … they were just so generous. Our football club is debt free and debt free for one of the few times in our history.
“When we came and took over this board two years ago, one of our first priorities was to reduce the debt and we didn’t say how long it was going to take - we just said we were going to get rid of it.”
Stynes said he was full of admiration for the range of supporters who contributed to the cause.
“Five million is a substantial amount of money for supporters to give,” he said.
“It’s not just been our wealthy supporters, but kids breaking money boxes open and sending us letters and $5 and $20. It really shows the passion and how much pride they have in this football club.”
The 1991 Brownlow Medallist said the club now has “a couple of hundred thousand in the bank”, which it will now invest.
“We’re going to use it to create assets in the future, which is something that our football club hasn’t been able to do for a long, long time,” Stynes said.
“This is just a terrific time for our club and we’re planning now for a sustainable and successful future.
“We understand that it’s not over yet and now we’re on a level playing field and we can really have a crack at success in the future.”
He said Melbourne was “not a great club yet, but we’re working towards that”.
“But there is a different face to our club now and there is a lot more confidence and influence now and for our players, they really want to be here,” Stynes said.
“It’s going to give them every opportunity to be successful in the future.
“We know we’re going to go to good places, but the challenge now for us is can we go to great places.”
Speaking at the Long Room at the MCG on Thursday, Stynes said he was overwhelmed by the Melbourne supporters who rallied to smash the $5 million debt.
“We started with a debt of $5 million [in mid-2008] and last night we needed to raise another $550,000 and we absolutely smashed it,” he said.
“The people that were there [at the Foundation Heroes dinner] were absolutely tremendous and they gave everything they could … they were just so generous. Our football club is debt free and debt free for one of the few times in our history.
“When we came and took over this board two years ago, one of our first priorities was to reduce the debt and we didn’t say how long it was going to take - we just said we were going to get rid of it.”
Stynes said he was full of admiration for the range of supporters who contributed to the cause.
“Five million is a substantial amount of money for supporters to give,” he said.
“It’s not just been our wealthy supporters, but kids breaking money boxes open and sending us letters and $5 and $20. It really shows the passion and how much pride they have in this football club.”
The 1991 Brownlow Medallist said the club now has “a couple of hundred thousand in the bank”, which it will now invest.
“We’re going to use it to create assets in the future, which is something that our football club hasn’t been able to do for a long, long time,” Stynes said.
“This is just a terrific time for our club and we’re planning now for a sustainable and successful future.
“We understand that it’s not over yet and now we’re on a level playing field and we can really have a crack at success in the future.”
He said Melbourne was “not a great club yet, but we’re working towards that”.
“But there is a different face to our club now and there is a lot more confidence and influence now and for our players, they really want to be here,” Stynes said.
“It’s going to give them every opportunity to be successful in the future.
“We know we’re going to go to good places, but the challenge now for us is can we go to great places.”
