Who cares about Fitzroy Reds changing their name to Fitzroy... Will it make them play better footy??? No its just a name. FFS it doesn't make a difference on the field.
True - the change in name and administrative structure will have absolutely no immediate direct impact on-field.
However the off-field potential is great and, if approached correctly, will enable the club to raise its profile, membership and sponsorship revenue immensely. The flow-on effect should be better support services and facilities at our disposal and little or no cost.
If this means a few more talented players gravitate to Fitzroy in the next couple of months, or the next couple of years, then we may be able to further bolster our playing stocks.
In conclusion, I can't see our playing list diminishing in strength as a result of this merger, but there's plenty of scope for it to improve instead.