CEO Cain Liddle has taken to Facebook to provide Carlton members with the opportunity to ask many of the burning questions that have arisen during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Following his message to members earlier this week, Liddle spent two hours in the exclusive Q&A session answering questions and saying thanks to the members for their ongoing passion and support. 

Here are some of the topics that were covered. 

Cain, thanks for taking the time to do this. Do the current circumstances worry you that we might not reach 75k members in 2020? - Mark 

Thanks, Mark. It’s a great question, I certainly haven’t given up on 75k members this season. Interestingly when we launched the strategic plan at the end of 2018 with an aim to have 100k members by 2023, it was our aim to sign 67k members in 2020 and not hit 75k until 2021 (remembering we were low 50s when we launched the plan). On that basis, we are still very much on track for those targets and it's credit to our supporters who have joined as members that we were actually tracking so far ahead of the curve we had predicted. Also worth highlighting we had another 29 members join yesterday. Incredible effort by our supporters and members.

Gday Cain. Great stuff doing this. How are we looking financially if there is no footy for the foreseeable future? - Justin 

G'day Justin, there is no doubt that the current situation will have an enormous impact on all clubs. I honestly do believe however that we are very well positioned to rebound quickly. As mentioned previously we were on track to pay off more than $6m of debt in little more than 12 months before this situation arose. That confirms a very strong business model underpinned by one of the AFL's biggest supporter bases, a full book of high-quality long term sponsorship deals and key non-traditional revenue streams such as CIB and Carlton College.

Cain, in relation to sponsorships, will the club be negatively impacted by COVID-19, specifically Virgin. I know they've asked for government assistance, but will that cover the club? - Debbie

Thanks Debbie. Our Partners are just that. There are times in which we lean on our Partners and there are equally other times where our Partners need our continued support. There is no doubt that this is a time where Virgin, as well as a number of our other sponsors, are experiencing difficult times. We are committed to working with each of our Partners to continue to deliver value to them and ensure that we continue creating long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. We are not saying there won't be some difficult financial realities for both us and our Partners over this time, however, we are committed to working through it together as a united club.

Can you please confirm you'll continue to support the AFLW program? ???? PS thanks for your support of Carlton Pride ?????? Hope you and your family are staying safe! - Eliza

Hi Eliza, rest assured our AFLW team is not going anywhere. Like our AFL team, our AFLW program has put in significant work in recent years to be in a strong position to pursue ultimate success on-field. The financial reality due to the current situation means, like the AFL program, we will need to adapt. What those exact adjustments are will become clear in due course but rest assured we will give our players, Senior Coach Daniel Harford and all the staff as much support as possible to make sure they continue to make our Carlton Football Club proud. To be clear we could not be more committed to our AFLW program.

Hi Cain, thanks for doing this. Now that unfortunately, we have had to sever our ties with the Northern Blues/ Preston, can you please give us a snapshot of what the plan for a Carlton VFL team would look like. Now that Josh Fraser has unfortunately left the club, who would be tasked with coaching this team and where would the players to top up the Carlton listed players come from? - Jono

Thanks, Jono. Unfortunately, until the AFL clarifies what a second-tier competition looks like in the future, it's hard to confirm what a Carlton team would look like. Equally, with the mandated soft cap reduction, clubs will need to address how they resource any second-tier competition, likely looking to remove potential duplication of roles across the AFL and second-tier programs. At this point, if a second-tier season was to go ahead later this year, we would continue to lean on Northern Blues players to put a team on the park and Brad Lloyd would make a call as to which of our development coaches would coach that team.

Hi Cain, do you think that it is realistic that the team and other teams can actually play out games as per the AFL's wishes considering the toll on players bodies, and the lack of proper training if the AFL decides to start the season back up. Do you think the clubs should just push back and write the season off? - Jimmy 

That's a fair question, Jimmy. While the AFL is yet to make a decision in regards to scheduling, you're right: the condensed season will pose a challenge from a high performance and player management point of view. As an industry all clubs, players and the AFL are committed to play 144 games in 2020.That is why all of our 44 players are doing an outstanding job with their individualised training programs so that when we get the call from the AFL that we are back, we will be ready and our players will be ready to handle the load. Every player on our list may be required during a condensed season which is why all of our players are continuing to work hard during this isolation period with the help of 'Teaguey', Andrew Russell and our remaining football staff.

Hi Cain, I just want to put on the record I continue to support and won’t seek a refund. Also have a question re: staff stood down (admin staff). Will their positions return when this is over? - Jared

Thanks Jared – your support is greatly appreciated. Never has the support of our members been more important. With regards to admin staff, I would love to think that all positions will return however until the AFL provide clarity around what the remainder of this season looks like, we would not be in a position to make this commitment. There are however parts to our business that are now more important than ever and we are considering ways that we actually increase our resourcing into membership, Carlton in Business and Carlton College.

Hi Cain, How are the boys holding up both mentally and physically, training on their own? It must be difficult to now be isolated from each other when they have always been in a large group they can rely on for instant and constant support. - David

Hi David, I spoke with 'Teaguey' and Andrew Russell this morning and they are really pleased with how the playing group have adjusted to the current circumstances. The team is staying connected via regular phone and video calls and are embracing their training programs. In regards to their skills, our Head of Development Luke Power has put together an individual isolation development plan for every player. This is also a great opportunity for our younger developing players and players who may have missed large parts of the preseason to catch up and improve whilst away from the Club. In regards to their mental health, the Club is conducting wellbeing monitoring a couple of times a week with the Club’s Doctor, Player Development Manager and Club Psychologist playing a key role in assisting the players through this time. A big focus has been on connection and staying emotionally connected during this time as a staff and playing group. We are always exploring multiple ways to stay connected and there have been some great initiatives already actioned. We are pleased that all players working hard individually and keeping mentally and physically in good shape so that when that phone call comes from the AFL we will be back and we will be ready.

Hi Cain. What impact if any will the season suspension have on the Ikon redevelopment? - Barry

Hi Barry, the Master Plan continues as planned. The funding is locked away. Whilst the situation has forced us to review the scale of the project, we remain 100 per cent committed that the Master Plan goes ahead either later this year or early next year.

Hi Cain, Just to let you let you know that I won’t be asking for a refund. I just love the Club too much. I just hope that the season can start soon and we will be able to go and watch our team. When the season starts again, does the loss against Richmond still count or do we start with a clean sheet? - Rosemary

Thanks Rosemary, we are very lucky to have members like yourself. I tried suggesting to Brendon Gale that we should start with a clean slate once games start again. He didn't seem as keen on that idea as us.........Round 1 results will stand.