Melbourne is quietly establishing a foothold in the Casey region. Not only have we set up a training base at Casey Fields, last month we played our first intraclub game there and, at the weekend, we play our second NAB Cup Challenge game at Casey Fields - the first as a tenant club.

More importantly, the Demons have established links with the local community through school visits etc. and through this innovation in which the club hosted over 100 community football coaches from the southern and eastern regions of Melbourne - COMMUNITY EMBRACES DEMON COACHING http://www.aflvic.com.au/index.php?id=14&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=551&tx_ttnews[backPid]=4&cHash=0829aa3d0a

"While Melbourne coach Dean Bailey barked instructions to the young Demons players as they worked the ball from one end of Casey Fields to the other, Melbourne Football Manager Chris Connolly and AFL Victoria Development Manager Mark Wheeler were hosting over 100 community football coaches from the southern and eastern regions of Melbourne.

This community “Coach the Coaches” session, a joint initiative between the Melbourne Football Club and the Australian Football Coaches Association enabled local coaches to watch at close quarters a mixture of full ground drills and specialist training activities performed by the Demons in preparation for the 2009 season. "

The move will pay dividends over time in the form ofmore support and a larger membership base in Victoria's fastest growing residential region.

How on earth did St. Kilda allow itself to lose a foothold in a region where the population will double in the next 15 to 20 years?

How on earth did St. Kilda allow itself to lose a foothold in a region where the population will double in the next 15 to 20 years?

Its their loss, but I have asked myself the same question many times looking for the negative that we are yet to see from our dealings. I keep coming up with nothing. It doesn't make any sense. Casey as a club seem only too willing to assist their "parent side" with playing roles etc, the casey council seem only too willing to be involved. Potential membership base, top quality facilities, potentially future home ground for smaller games etc etc etc.

They can be a very strange club at times the saints? So rather then asking why they left this opportunity, is there maybe something they are getting at sandy that we did not? Its hard to believe that you could be better off with the saunter football club then the scorps!

I thought the Saints are involved in building a State of the Art training facility in conjunction with the Frankston side. I would have thought the Frankston and the Peninsula area was also a "growth" area with high profile (eg proposed marina etc.).

I dont think they could have honoured their interests in Frankston and met Casey's on the other side. Their link with Sandy is fortuitous for them as they did not have the same requirements for training facilities that MFC.

It could be a fortuitous move for both Clubs. Time will tell.

How on earth did St. Kilda allow itself to lose a foothold in a region where the population will double in the next 15 to 20 years?

I guess the Saints already have a link with the bayside area.

I thought the Saints are involved in building a State of the Art training facility in conjunction with the Frankston side. I would have thought the Frankston and the Peninsula area was also a "growth" area with high profile (eg proposed marina etc.).

I dont think they could have honoured their interests in Frankston and met Casey's on the other side. Their link with Sandy is fortuitous for them as they did not have the same requirements for training facilities that MFC.

It could be a fortuitous move for both Clubs. Time will tell.

RR,

Having a humble little shack down on the Mornington Peninsula, I know some of my mates refer to all points south of Frankston as "God's Waiting" room.

I trust they are not thinking of me with that description I think it is and will be proven to be in the future, a masterstroke that we have aligned ourselves with the ever growing corridor that is Casey. I don't think the same can be said for bayside and peninsula - at least not to the same extent.

If next Saturday's game at Casey, against the Bullies is anything like the intra club there a few weeks ago, then it will be a good sign. In fact, I reckon we will get quite a few more there, being inter club. I am looking forward to it.

But as you say, in the long run, time will tell, but I reckon we are on the winner.

Cheers

Casey: Estimated population under 15: 26000

Frankston: Estimated population under 15: 12000

EDIT: and for you I'va

percentage population over 60 in Mornington Peninsula: 24.7%

which is 15th in Victorian municipalities, nothing like the 38% of Queenscliffe though. and just for reference Casey is @ 11%, Frankston 16%

Not only is there massive population growth in Casey, the demographic profile over the next few decades is far younger at Casey than most other Councils including Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.

There's also the fact that the Scorps are now aligned with MFC - it's the only facility where aligned VFL/AFL partners train regularly on the same ground. The synergies are fantastic.

But probably of most significance is the actual facility of Casey Fields. It is the major sporting complex in SE Melbourne, and the Council's funds and other Government funds are set to further develop it over forthcoming years. More cricket and footy grounds, soccer pitches and an athletics complex. It truly will be a sporting mecca. And just 700 metres up the road is the new swimming and gym complex, which will open in a couple of months.

Those who vist it now, and see only some sports grounds surrounded by paddocks with a virtually anonymous frontage and exposure, need only exercise some vision. In the future there will be a road running 800 metres down the western side of Casey Fields with multiple entrances into sporting complex. There will be a signalised intersection where the current entrance is.

It will be a jewel sitting in a totally urban area.

And that will all happen in the next 5 years or so.

There is the distinct possibility of it becoming a boutique stadium for low crowd drawing interstate matches.

There is also the possibility of extension of the metropolitan rail network to Casey Fields.

For MFC, it really is an opportunity which opened up unexpectedly in front of it. It has that opportunity to take a hold over an area in a way that other Melbourne-based clubs haven't had for decades.

I sincerely think that we shall look back in 20 and just shake our collective heads as to how fortuitous we were to have cracked this allignment.

The Peninsula offers nothing.. I live on it.. i live a stones throw from where the Sainters will be.. its ....its...its.. a perculiar place for such a place to be honest. The Saints have always had a presence in this part of the world..well certainly the last 10 -15 years. They wil only cement what they already have here ..no humungus growth to be had..unlike.. Casey !!!