The Australian Football League Commission will determine Melbourne's ability to mount a competitive challenge to the competition as early as next week when the AFL Demons "apply for urgently needed funding," according to Denham & Smith of THE AUSTRALIAN. The club "could also be forced to fight on another front" following Thursday's threat of a board challenge by Former Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett. Already "bracing itself for another dismal season on the field," it was confirmed Thursday that the club could face a '13 loss of close to A$3M ($2.8M). The club is carrying a current operating loss of A$1.2M "before interest is taken into account." As well, it has fines to be repaid to the league over its "tanking" infringement and potential staff pay cuts, which includes coach Mark Neeld, "a winner of five of his 32 games and contracted until the end of next year." New CEO Peter Jackson "is understood to be preparing to lobby the commission at a meeting next week for an injection of capital not only to stem cashflow problems, but to assist in rebuilding its collapsed football department" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/7).
