bulldogtragic
05-06-2014, 12:34 AM
I was just musing over past decisions with list management and my mind wondered to the big 'Tommy Gun Davidson' we effectively bought with the donation from a long time tragic who stumped up the $40,000 or so to fund a rookie. The issue for this thread is the notion of 'giving'.
Also, if I understood media reports we started a charity so players could donate to the club in a tax advantageous way a decade ago or so.
Far more recently, a million dollar loan was given to the club by a certain Western Bulldogs president, but I won't say who that was though. :)
It got me thinking about donors and what the club means to them, to give such sums without guarantee of a RoI. We all give what we can, and for some if that's on or off its not a reflection of our passion. I'm not going to hypothesise on donors position and nor should we, but in all my honesty I'm not sure if I could write a cheque with more zeros than we've had club captains of my lifetime.
I'm not really sure how this thread evolves, is it how big a tattslotto win it would need to be before I/we could donate like that? Or maybe we don't highlight these people enough or celebrate such gestures, I'm sure there's many members and watchers on here that are player sponsors or top dogs etc. Or, maybe it's about the intersection of passion and money.
Probably this, I think, when I recently thanked the aforementioned president at the VFL for making such a grand gesture for all of us who can't do what he did, he simply said 'thanks'. He then gave me and my wife some time and just looking at him and the way he talked, cheered boys by name and look of impassioned contentment, I saw in him a quality you don't see in other AFL presidents. It looked there was nowhere else on earth he wanted to be. While it is a business, it was clearly not about business. I guess when you read his legal career, you could say the exact same thing.
I think while the bigger clubs may have specialist coteries, such as Lawyers for Essendon (yes it's real and long standing), and sponsors coming out of every orifice, I think their fans can miss what a gesture of money means not just for the club, but for all of us who rely on this club as our outlet. I know all of our members and watchers go above and beyond, so maybe my meandering thoughts are just to reflect on the sacrifices we all make to keep our club going. I guess no matter how hard it gets (remember the Rhode years....) perhaps the thread is just to reflect on these gestures from past and present players, officials and we fans that have kept us alive and kicking.
It's easy to get caught in the negativity that comes with poor performances, and bad decision etc. But the positive decisions of Peter and every one who does our tiny bit, ought not to be drowned out or forgotten. Clearly following this club gives many and varied life lessons, some very, very tough ones, but maybe thinking about giving no matter what part of the journey we are on is one of these lessons about passion, sacrifice and loyalty and being a part of something. Hopefully that something includes a premiership.
Also, if I understood media reports we started a charity so players could donate to the club in a tax advantageous way a decade ago or so.
Far more recently, a million dollar loan was given to the club by a certain Western Bulldogs president, but I won't say who that was though. :)
It got me thinking about donors and what the club means to them, to give such sums without guarantee of a RoI. We all give what we can, and for some if that's on or off its not a reflection of our passion. I'm not going to hypothesise on donors position and nor should we, but in all my honesty I'm not sure if I could write a cheque with more zeros than we've had club captains of my lifetime.
I'm not really sure how this thread evolves, is it how big a tattslotto win it would need to be before I/we could donate like that? Or maybe we don't highlight these people enough or celebrate such gestures, I'm sure there's many members and watchers on here that are player sponsors or top dogs etc. Or, maybe it's about the intersection of passion and money.
Probably this, I think, when I recently thanked the aforementioned president at the VFL for making such a grand gesture for all of us who can't do what he did, he simply said 'thanks'. He then gave me and my wife some time and just looking at him and the way he talked, cheered boys by name and look of impassioned contentment, I saw in him a quality you don't see in other AFL presidents. It looked there was nowhere else on earth he wanted to be. While it is a business, it was clearly not about business. I guess when you read his legal career, you could say the exact same thing.
I think while the bigger clubs may have specialist coteries, such as Lawyers for Essendon (yes it's real and long standing), and sponsors coming out of every orifice, I think their fans can miss what a gesture of money means not just for the club, but for all of us who rely on this club as our outlet. I know all of our members and watchers go above and beyond, so maybe my meandering thoughts are just to reflect on the sacrifices we all make to keep our club going. I guess no matter how hard it gets (remember the Rhode years....) perhaps the thread is just to reflect on these gestures from past and present players, officials and we fans that have kept us alive and kicking.
It's easy to get caught in the negativity that comes with poor performances, and bad decision etc. But the positive decisions of Peter and every one who does our tiny bit, ought not to be drowned out or forgotten. Clearly following this club gives many and varied life lessons, some very, very tough ones, but maybe thinking about giving no matter what part of the journey we are on is one of these lessons about passion, sacrifice and loyalty and being a part of something. Hopefully that something includes a premiership.