 M-E-R-G-E-R. The Oxford Dictionary explains it as: "The combination or consolidation of two commercial companies, organisations into one."
In the football context, it has a far deeper, more significant meaning. Football clubs aren't just "commercial companies" and "organisations"; they are cathedrals to tens of thousands of Victorian families. They represent rich memories and eternal hope.
So, what is the true meaning of "merger" in football? Does it spell the death of two clubs? Or, can it mean their rebirth and resurrection as a super power? To the faithful of the clubs concerned, the odds are they will take the negative view in this most vexing of all football debates.
Why then have so many of the famous names from the history of Melbourne and Hawthorn endorsed the merger call? Ron Barassi, Ian Ridley, Hassa Mann and company at Melbourne; Leigh Matthews, Peter Hudson, Graham Arthur, Allan Jeans and Brian Coleman at Hawthorn all bless the marriage. We suspect John Kennedy Sr does, too, but the club's patriarch is keeping his council until tonight's meeting.
But mightn't this be an arranged marriage, with the AFL leaning on a naive pair to become one, seduced by a dowry including $6 million? Haven't they been badgered and bullied to the alter?
Maybe. That's for the club members to decide. My view is that the mix is correct, that it is only the timing that is at issue. This is anything other than a black-and-white issue. Yet, I have no doubt the merger push would have won majority support at Hawthorn had the Hawks finished 15th or thereabouts for the second year in a row.
They finished eighth, but merger advocates say the major issue of long-term health shouldn't be clouded by temporary success, if, of course, eighth in a 16-team competition denotes "success".
Hawthorn's most pressing problem isn't performance based (it has contested 14 of the last 15 finals series), rather the task of translating on-field success into membership, sponsorship and public appeal. If you aren't a Hawthorn fan, when's the last time you felt compelled to go watch the Hawks do battle? Their broad appeal is poor.
Melbourne's financial health is sound after heavy remedial work in the past two years and the success of its social club Leighoak. Its major problem is lack of success on the field. It is 32 years since the last Melbourne premiership, and the Demons have been within sight of the mountain top just once since, when they were massacred by Hawthorn in 1988.
Yet, even with money in the bank, the Demons baulked at Darren Gaspar's asking price of $275,000 for two years in the 1996 pre-season draft, allowing Richmond to claim him with a later selection.
The problem for the Melbourne and Hawthorn boards is that their supporters believe - and with some justification - that their woes reflect poor administration in recent years, that the anti-merger groups can bring salvation.
The Hawthorn people were told 12 months ago the club's shock financial woes were behind them, that they were an aberration, a result of temporary, if gross, extravagance from those in charge three and four years ago.
The Melbourne people point to a poor recruiting record, a problem exacerbated by shocking luck with injury this year; Garry Lyon, David Schwarz, Sean Charles and company.
The one thing I do know from 1996 is that Hawthorn fans would be fantasising to believe eighth place and an unlucky qualifying final loss to Sydney is a platform for a successful future. The club enjoyed a dream run with the draw and its injuries; only nine home-and-away games against the other finalists and few injuries.
Suddenly, the future for champion forward Jason Dunstall is under threat, with the 32-year-old out until mid-season next year because of a knee reconstruction. Where would the Hawks have finished this year without Dunstall and his 102 goals?
He is one of a large group of players 30 or older on the Hawthorn list. Andy Collins has retired, Chris Langford has given every indication he plans to do the same, John Platten is 33, Paul Salmon turns 32 in January.
On the one hand, the retirement of Collins and Langford would save the club at least $300,000 a year, while the expected retirement or departure of Paul Dear, Scott Maginness, Stephen Lawrence and one or two others might represent another $300,000, but they must be replaced.
The recruitment of Salmon, Darren Kappler, Craig Treleven, Daniel Chick and Brendan Krummel this year, and the need to upgrade contracts for Nick Holland and Shane Crawford cost the Hawks $680,000. The AFL's collective bargaining agreement with the players' association and a lift in the minimum payment imposed an additional $300,000.
The fierce resistance of the Operation Payback group, headed by Don Scott with support from a group including Dermott Brereton, is understandable and admirable. Scott and Brereton have fought the brave fight, as the did so often as players, but, even to the layman, it is nonsense to suggest Operation Payback can generate 5000 additional adult memberships for 1997 plus $650,000 from people willing to take silver and bronze sponsorships.
Hawthorn lost more than 2000 members this year. It finished with a net loss of only 400, but more than 2500 people failed to renew after the club's first year of failure since the early 1980's. As Waverley's reputation is downgraded by the year, marketing becomes tougher and tougher, and the Hawks have squeezed every available dollar from this area.
How can a club that will record a trading loss this year of $625,000 turn things around permanently?
Whether people like the direction of the AFL or not, it is fixed and full steam ahead. The pain in Victoria for the AFL Commission is merely a minor irritation given the spectacular progress in Sydney and Brisbane.
It may be distasteful for the traditionalists, but it is fact. West Coast, Sydney and Brisbane are the new pacesetters, there is no turning back. The merger issue is clouded by emotion, and no one should feel the need to apologise for their emotions, yet reality cannot be ignored.
The proposed Hawthorn-Melbourne marriage would seem to be as close to perfect as you can get in a merger. The cultural ties are significant, and the clubs seem to have been fair and reasonable in what they are prepared to concede to the other, although Melbourne appears to have done slightly better.
The "Melbourne Hawks" name sits comfortably, despite a vain bid from Glenferrie last week to incorporate "Hawthorn" in the title. Melbourne supporters retain the club's name, the Hawthorn supporters may continue to cry "Go, Hawkers." The guernsey is Melbourne's colour scheme, marginally bastardised by Hawthorn gold, with the addition of the famous Hawthorn logo.
Hawthorn can turn its back on Waverley Park forever, as the AFL has done, as most supporters are doing. Melbourne will get a new training home and administrative headquarters at Glenferrie Oval. Hawthorn will provide the bulk of the players and the coach, Ken Judge.
The new entity will have joint assets, fixed and liquid, of $8-9 million; at least three social club facilities; and a player list of 44 picked without restriction from the Hawthorn and Melbourne lists this year.
Operation Payback could ensure Hawthorn limped into another year; Melbourne certainly can continue for several years, but the boards are telling us if the clubs aren't pro-active now they may be easy pickings for less desirable partners in the future.
Inevitably, there are warring factions at both clubs. This is an issue of momentous proportions. The respective club presidents, Ridley (Melbourne) and Coleman (Hawthorn), are only human and therefore no more certain than the rest of us of getting things right.
What is more relative in this case is that they are as passionate about their football clubs as any man, woman or child who sits in the outer every week, rejoicing in victory, despairing in defeat, and in possession of all the facts.
Both give the impression they have gone 15 rounds with Joe Frazier since merger discussions became public knowledge, yet both remain adamant they are doing the best thing for their footy club.
John Kennedy, the man who could turn the vote, said publicly during the week; "I think it's fair to say the board of each club has been elected by the members and they are close to the scene, close to the difficulties, they love the club."
If Kennedy is prepared to abide the idea of a union with the club he once hated more than any other, he must have found the evidence compelling. It's scary and sad talking about the passing of football clubs as we have known them and respected them.
The members of Melbourne and Hawthorn are being urged to forge a vibrant new entity, incorporating the history, strength and resources of each other, while they have a choice.
They are being invited to take an up-front ride to football's brave new world. Too many people who should know are as one on this issue for me to continue to believe they have rolled over prematurely. It is a choice between the past and the future. |