Hi all.

I have just joined the Future Fund, cost is $150.00. The first function is Wednesday night at the Swan Hotel in Richmond.

The four players we sponsor will be there (Grimes, Aussie, Watts & Garland) as well as Chris Connolly. There are giveaways & nibblies, drinks at bar prices.

Looking forward to meeting the players & fellow demon supporters.

Will give everyone a report on the night.

I'm heading to this, free deep friend finger food..errgghh

Looking forward to hearing the players speak, should be a good night

I only ever heard of this a few weeks ago in that article in the paper.

How does one join?

How did the function go?

James Nankivel at the club is the person to contact if anyone is keen to join but the people who started the idea are David Jackson and Simon Martin who are just a couple of die hard Dees fans who are young professionals and wanted to contribute.

All I will say is it was awesome.

Essentially the Future fund (FF) is like one wealthy person or one big business which would normally sponsor a player outright on their/it's own. Most of the FF members are young people with a little bit of spare money in their early to mid 20s. A lot of APS (Scotch, Wesley, Brighton etc) school leavers in the FF membership.

They have raised in excess of $20,000 with over 200 people involved now. Simon Martin was even featured on KBs hungry for sport recently getting free exposure for the club. Also an article in the paper about it too.

So with all that money we have essentially spread that across 4 players.

As a player sponsor you get invites to the best and fairest etc and other signed merchandise etc etc this was all pulled out of a hat on the night and many people won a night at the B and F or a signed Jack Grimes jumper. Unfortunately I did not.

Chris Connolly gave a talk about how when he got to Freo in 2001 it was on it's ass and now it is one of the wealthy clubs and probably was a legitimate premiership contender in 2006.

Also compared us to Hawthorn in 1996 when that was on it's ass and had 9,000 members and needed to merge with us to survive. There current on and off field success does not bear repeating.

His message was one of Hope!

Said there was some government money floating around for us for the Rectangular Stadium etc and this should flow soon.

Aussie, Col and the Jacks all spoke.

Jack Watts is a very impressive young man. Has an air of confidence about him and you just have a feeling that everything is going to be alright when you are around him. This reminded me of the good parts of Wayne Carey's on field persona.

If I was a betting Man. I would say Jack will play for Brighton Grammar in the APS competition which is like a 10 game season and maybe play Casey when it suits and then push for AFL Selection in the last 8 rounds of the AFL season. Much like Grimes did late last year.

Aussie seemed to be much more comfortable with Wheels, Flash, Jetta, Bennal (the Brothers) their with him and he spoke very well too.

Col Garland and Jack Grimes appear to be absolute 10 year players and Grimes appeared to have a chip on his shoulder, wanting to show us what he can do this year.

Great night. Very positive.

How did the function go?

I went to the function as well, was a great night and feel as if l have already got my $150.00 worth just from last night.

The most impressive person to me last night was Jack Grimes, spoke well and seems very mature for his age. He is going to be a gun IMO. Colin Garland said to get on Grimes for the rising star and that he will definately be playing round 1. Grimes spoke about the backline and all the different players down there mentioned that Wheels is the general down there, that Stefan Martin is lifting massive weights & will get a crack at the big forwards like Jonathon Brown. Also mentioned Kyle Cheney is coming along really well & should play alot of games this year.

Other quick points from speaking to the players last night are:

Newton has the talent just needs to click in his head.

Neville Jett & Jamie Bennell have special qualities and a x factor about them.

Coaches are very cautious with Rivers, dont want him to break down again.

All four players ( Watts, Grimes, Aussie & Garlad) seem to be great kids.

Newton keeps asking Watts about his single sisters aged 20 & 22.

Had the chance to speak to Colin Garland last night, was chatting to him for about 30mins, he is a really nice bloke. Said that this pre season has been really good and that he won't be playing on any of the tall forwards this year, Warnock, Frawley, Martin & Rivers will get first shot at talls and it will be tough to get a gig in the backline this year. He also said that he thinks Kyle Cheney will play 20 games this year. Mentioned that Pettard has not found a spot in the team yet. Garland is a shy quiet type who was given the nickname Humphfrey in his first year because he did not speak, he said that he was drafted on the Saturday, introduced to all the players on the Monday & Monday night was living with a strange family, it was all a bit daunting for him.

Overall was a great night, spoke to club employee who works in sponsorship for the club, he was really dirty with missing out on Mission foods. Said Paul McNamee is a nice guy but more of an event manager than a CEO. Had a big meeting with a company yesterday & that can confidantlly say that we will have a major sponsor by round 1.

Any one from 18 - 35 can join the Future Fund, cost is $150.00. Is is not all about young blokes from scotch college etc.......... Me and my friends are from Ringwood, aged 30.

Cheers

FF seems to me like the youth arm of Mates of Melbourne

Does anyone recall the story Connolly said about Stef Martin? It had something to do with his girlfriend, it escapes me, but I remember finding it funny at the time

As a private function, I'd say a lot of what was said should probably remain in private

Many thanks for the reports LIFT and 'Woof'. Entertaining reading.

Always good to hear something from the inside when our players are relaxed and having a chat. Especially their observations on other players!

Is the FF really limited to those 35 and under?

Maybe I'll have to initiate an 'Oldies looking backwards for a future success fund'. Or something like that.

Or perhaps a Stalwarts club, where all the players can come and show proper respect to those who've stood by through the hard times, and get an idea of just how much a new dawn means to them.

Maybe also get organsised to welcome back those who have strayed.

Given that guys like Lyon, Flower and Barassi and committed to getting involved in the new era, I think it's got legs.

Or perhaps a Stalwarts club, where all the players can come and show proper respect to those who've stood by through the hard times, and get an idea of just how much a new dawn means to them.

Maybe also get organsised to welcome back those who have strayed.

Given that guys like Lyon, Flower and Barassi and committed to getting involved in the new era, I think it's got legs.

I`ll be on that boat! good idea MB and DD

I love little groups like this, too bad im too poor to join

Maybe this Future Fund has a curse, first Wona with his hammy, then Grimes with his back, and now Garland with his foot, which leaves only Mr Watts injury free out of the group..

hmmm...

Anyone got a contact for joining up to the Future Fund..?

Admittedly I've only spent the last 15 mins looking, but i can't find a link on here or the MFC website.

Any help would be appreciated by me and, in turn, the club.

cheers

http://www.mfcfuturefund.com.au/