Rod Butterrs decided it was still his business to undermine the St. Kilda football in the Herald Sun today.

Herlad Sun article

I still think he's a tool but it is a worry that the Saint's are making such a substantial loss when they have several high-profile players, 13 wins and finals, plus pre-season cup win, and a ridiculously kind fixture for exposure and crowds - 5 friday night games (3 home) and 8 saturday night games (3 home). They are also supposed to have around twice as many supporters as Melbourne.

All the things we complain about not having, they have, but they still make a substantial loss?

I get this creeping feeling that the Saint's could actually be in danger in the next few years, with a number of veterans retiring (Hudgton, Harvey, Milne, Hayes and King all played at least 22 games this year) and the draft pool being drained by the Gold Coast. Would they have the strength to trade players like Riewolt, Ball or Dal Santo to get those high picks? How hard would the backlash from dumping these players hit them?

Actually his critical comments regarding StKilda's players' unwillingness to travel long distances to Frankston for training sound remarkably similar to the tirades by many Demonlanders towards the Cranbourne experiment .

Too true.

According to various real estate sites and transport guides (yes, I looked it up) the main freeways get you from CBD to Cranbourne in just over 30 minutes. Rail takes 50.

50 minutes is a bit much, so I guess the players who live near Spencer st and catch the train to Cranbourne, then walk to Casey Fields, will get a little bummed out. But so long as a given player lives east of the city in that vast wide band of pleasant leafy suburbs Melbourne has to offer, they won't have a trouble in the world by car.

Beats the hell out of having to go to three different venues for a single day's schedule of weights, skills, meetings etc..

That would've added up and given people the right ----s in no time, and the players won't miss it at all. The coaches even less so.

Haven't the Saints moved from Frankston to Seaford? Not a big difference, but a little closer.

i thought you worked where your employer asked you to? if a player was playing for geelong, the would have to move that way, or travel there everyday. if st kilda is based out there, that is their work place.

Actually his critical comments regarding StKilda's players' unwillingness to travel long distances to Frankston for training sound remarkably similar to the tirades by many Demonlanders towards the Cranbourne experiment .

Correct joeboy. Saints love their morning Latte's in Brighton on a nice day. They love the good life. Their employer should say where they work and where to travel, so too at the Dees.

Too true.

According to various real estate sites and transport guides (yes, I looked it up) the main freeways get you from CBD to Cranbourne in just over 30 minutes.

Closer to 40-45 I would say.

Closer to 40-45 I would say.

If a player lives in say Sandringham and has to get to training at Junction at 8:00 in the morning, it would take them at least 35 minutes to drive given the traffic which usually starts around the Brighton area of Nepean Hwy. So really, the extra 10 or 15 minute drive to Cranbourne doesn't make a huge difference.

but it is a worry that the Saint's are making such a substantial loss

Absolutely.

I thought his line re: recruiting - pick players who can play in a flag for you - were fair enough.

Btw, is all criticism 'undermining'?

I think Rod Butterss is correct on every point. He's also right about travel to training. Let's face it, if we had our training facility wish granted, we'd be doing it at the G.

I have never been a Rod Butters Fan at all, infact the few times i have heard him speak i consider him to be a little derranged!! But i agree with him and his points in this article. For the Saints to be $1.4mill in the red after winning the NAB Cup this year is a Shocking result from thier board. 2-3 years time that club will be in a bad way (All their top players are getting old together) I just hope Jimmy & the Boys are right on top of all the Business economics out there. The new direction the MFC takes has to be the right one.

If a player lives in say Sandringham and has to get to training at Junction at 8:00 in the morning, it would take them at least 35 minutes to drive given the traffic which usually starts around the Brighton area of Nepean Hwy. So really, the extra 10 or 15 minute drive to Cranbourne doesn't make a huge difference.

Ok I'm have real trouble wrapping my head around the problem here......

It takes me at least that (and costs me a hell of a lot more) to get into the city, or North Sydney at that time in the morning, and my dad drives west for that amount to get to his business every day. There is nothing to that, it is what it is and you go to work where the company that you work for is located. Simple really.

So I have to ask is there some kind of weird anti-travel conditions down there that are completely alluding me?

Ok I'm have real trouble wrapping my head around the problem here......

It takes me at least that (and costs me a hell of a lot more) to get into the city, or North Sydney at that time in the morning, and my dad drives west for that amount to get to his business every day. There is nothing to that, it is what it is and you go to work where the company that you work for is located. Simple really.

So I have to ask is there some kind of weird anti-travel conditions down there that are completely alluding me?

The suggestion is that if you are a young man on $400K a year and your only talent is kicking a footy, you might not be bothered travelling an extra 10-15 minutes to get to your workplace ( the footy oval).

Actually his critical comments regarding StKilda's players' unwillingness to travel long distances to Frankston for training sound remarkably similar to the tirades by many Demonlanders towards the Cranbourne experiment .

Frankston is hardly a long way from the southern suburbs mentioned. We have left the horse and buggies behind.

Frankston is hardly a long way from the southern suburbs mentioned. We have left the horse and buggies behind.

Exactly my point, how precious are these fellas becoming?