I reckon this is a poor decision.

First reason is personal and selfish. I live only 20 minutes from Casey Fields and enjoy the summer training period to get up close to the players, and introduce my two young boys to their superstars. I am married with 4 kids and all 6 of us were planning on going. Now it is just me.

Secondly, I reckon it is a short-sighted view of what an intra-club match can achieve. Last year at Casey Fields was packed with Dees fans and lots of kids. Yes, Casey Fields is a long way away for many but the Saturday made it achievable for most who wanted to attend. It was great for PR, for merchandising, for all the talk and gossip that appear on websites like this. It was more than just a match - it was an event. I have no problem with it being at Gosch's paddock and will probably be able to get along for an hour or so, but we have been so far behind other AFL clubs in making out players accessible to the fans and I thought we had improved. This is a backward step.

I understand the purpose of the intra-club match, and that it needs to focus on player develpoment, performance and readiness but the MFC may have let a great chance slip by here.

I have a feeling this saga will be just as disasterous for the club as losing the NAB cup match to Freo in 2010...

Edited January 28, 201114 yr by Keyser Söze

The match is for the players and coaches, not for the fans. The club will always try to accommodate its supporters, but on this occasion due to the NAB Cup scheduling and the condition of Casey Fields it won't suit all supporters.

So put the tissues away and try a dose of perspective.

From the article on the website:

'This change has been necessitated by the need for further surface works at Casey Fields, where ongoing drainage issues have caused disruptions to the Club schedule. However, the Club remains committed to the facility, and is working with the City of Casey in order to resolve these obstacles for the long term.'

I'd say it's more about ensuring players don't injure themselves on a substandard surface rather than the extra days rest

Hello, it is a decision some won't like but it is the Club's decision, I have made a couple of four hour round trips to Casey to watch Intra Club coz I wanted to.....nobody made me.....this time I am 20 minutes away and I may take the day off..........the reasoning behind the decision was explained......live with it

I was at the last match at Casey in August 2010. From my view on the boundary it looked OK - no big puddles or muddy areas, but a trainer said it was very soft underfoot. Sounds like they still have drainage problems and need to resurface the ground. I think they even moved a match last year.

This could put Casey out of action for some time.

and the outcome of the match is so very important

Don't you think that winning at AAMI for the first time in forever would have some rather important flow on effects? Maybe which would provide important results in the important home and away season? Or are we just looking at the little picture here?

I reckon this is a poor decision.

First reason is personal and selfish. I live only 20 minutes from Casey Fields and enjoy the summer training period to get up close to the players, and introduce my two young boys to their superstars. I am married with 4 kids and all 6 of us were planning on going. Now it is just me.

Secondly, I reckon it is a short-sighted view of what an intra-club match can achieve. Last year at Casey Fields was packed with Dees fans and lots of kids. Yes, Casey Fields is a long way away for many but the Saturday made it achievable for most who wanted to attend. It was great for PR, for merchandising, for all the talk and gossip that appear on websites like this. It was more than just a match - it was an event. I have no problem with it being at Gosch's paddock and will probably be able to get along for an hour or so, but we have been so far behind other AFL clubs in making out players accessible to the fans and I thought we had improved. This is a backward step.

I understand the purpose of the intra-club match, and that it needs to focus on player develpoment, performance and readiness but the MFC may have let a great chance slip by here.

Couldn't agree more. I would not expect this of C.Schwab, a rare misfire. We of all clubs need to be gathering as much enthusiasm amongst the supporter base as possible, what's the club do? Get your jumper signed by Tom Scully, but only if your Dad can ditch work for the afternoon. Pft!

Keyser will of course ignore both our posts in lieu of a valid response

Edited January 28, 201114 yr by Curry & Beer

Don't you think that winning at AAMI for the first time in forever would have some rather important flow on effects? Maybe which would provide important results in the important home and away season? Or are we just looking at the little picture here?

I would say a win or loss in the NAB is the small picture and meeting the needs of the endangered supporter base is the big one

I would say a win or loss in the NAB is the small picture and meeting the needs of the endangered supporter base is the big one

Or learning to win at AAMI and thus not pencilling in losses every time we travel there is the big picture?

Hahaha fear-mongering and nothing more.

Concentrate on on-field success and the rest will follow.

If you're worried about missing the opportunity for a family event, attend the race day on Sunday.

Couldn't agree more. I would not expect this of C.Schwab, a rare misfire. We of all clubs need to be gathering as much enthusiasm amongst the supporter base as possible, what's the club do? Get your jumper signed by Tom Scully, but only if your Dad can ditch work for the afternoon. Pft!

According to the MFC website, the club switched the Intraclub match to Gosch's paddock solely because of the condition of the ground at Casey.

Are you saying they should still play at Casey next week, despite the poor playing field?

According to the MFC website, the club switched the Intraclub match to Gosch's paddock solely because of the condition of the ground at Casey.

Are you saying they should still play at Casey next week, despite the poor playing field?

I hadn't seen that

Venue is fairly unimportant

It is now THURSDAY MORNING

Great work MFC look forward to about 5 people turning up

I look forward to another month before seeing them in the flesh

fear-mongering

the discussion is about whether this scheduling is a wise move by the club, what are you on about?

I am not going to Casey if there is not a football match there, that's for damn sure

I think it's laughable to suggest that an intraclub scratch match is more important than the NAB cup - and that's saying something!

I think it's laughable

that anyone could put any importance in the NAB cup whatsoever since the year the Blues won it and went on to collect the spoon

that anyone could put any importance in the NAB cup whatsoever since the year the Blues won it and went on to collect the spoon

They probably won their intraclub match too.

the discussion is about whether this scheduling is a wise move by the club, what are you on about?

I am not going to Casey if there is not a football match there, that's for damn sure

Fairly obvious...

I would say a win or loss in the NAB is the small picture and meeting the needs of the endangered supporter base is the big one

You think Collingwood built their membership base by focusing on pleasing unreasonable fans, instead of concentrating on what is best for the on-field success of the club?

When those 2 things align it is great, but the club comes first.

What you seem to want is what the family and race days are for.

As far as matches, we'll have plenty of chances to watch the team in the NAB Cup / Challenge and the season proper.

I think you also overestimate the financial benefit from the attendance of a intra-club practice match.

The sausage sizzle doesn't generate that much revenue.

the discussion is about whether this scheduling is a wise move by the club, what are you on about?

Saying the same thing a dozen times doesn't make it a discussion.

The club have legitimate concerns re playing surfaces and preparation, and have (re) scheduled the intra-club accordingly.

Close thread?

I reckon this is a poor decision.

First reason is personal and selfish. I live only 20 minutes from Casey Fields and enjoy the summer training period to get up close to the players, and introduce my two young boys to their superstars. I am married with 4 kids and all 6 of us were planning on going. Now it is just me.

Secondly, I reckon it is a short-sighted view of what an intra-club match can achieve. Last year at Casey Fields was packed with Dees fans and lots of kids. Yes, Casey Fields is a long way away for many but the Saturday made it achievable for most who wanted to attend. It was great for PR, for merchandising, for all the talk and gossip that appear on websites like this. It was more than just a match - it was an event. I have no problem with it being at Gosch's paddock and will probably be able to get along for an hour or so, but we have been so far behind other AFL clubs in making out players accessible to the fans and I thought we had improved. This is a backward step.

I understand the purpose of the intra-club match, and that it needs to focus on player develpoment, performance and readiness but the MFC may have let a great chance slip by here.

There are plenty of other opportunities I'm sure. Like Family Day at Luna Park where all players and staff are accessible. I could go on...but the following are on the money and it will only be repeated: -

The match is for the players and coaches, not for the fans. The club will always try to accommodate its supporters, but on this occasion due to the NAB Cup scheduling and the condition of Casey Fields it won't suit all supporters.

So put the tissues away and try a dose of perspective.

I think it's laughable to suggest that an intraclub scratch match is more important than the NAB cup - and that's saying something!

I'll go for the blue team....thanks Forge.

and bing181. Yes you make a good point....although the 2011 intraclub still exists (Feb 3rd) so I'll keep it open for discussion. Appropriate discussion that is.

I hadn't seen that

Venue is fairly unimportant

It is now THURSDAY MORNING

Great work MFC look forward to about 5 people turning up

I look forward to another month before seeing them in the flesh

Funny thing. I can actually get to that. My shifts changed and I no longer work on Thursday mornings. Any other day that week would have been a wash for me. Now, do I wake up at 7am on my morning off to go to a game or do I catch up on sleep?

Whispering Jack and I have cleared our calendar for Thurday morning and we'll be there. I'll take my camera and no doubt Whispering will produce a match report for Demonland.

id prefer a week day over a weekend being a uni student who works 9-7 sat and sunday.

lookin forward to the game. see u there

I reckon this is a poor decision.

First reason is personal and selfish. I live only 20 minutes from Casey Fields and enjoy the summer training period to get up close to the players, and introduce my two young boys to their superstars. I am married with 4 kids and all 6 of us were planning on going. Now it is just me.

Secondly, I reckon it is a short-sighted view of what an intra-club match can achieve. Last year at Casey Fields was packed with Dees fans and lots of kids. Yes, Casey Fields is a long way away for many but the Saturday made it achievable for most who wanted to attend. It was great for PR, for merchandising, for all the talk and gossip that appear on websites like this. It was more than just a match - it was an event. I have no problem with it being at Gosch's paddock and will probably be able to get along for an hour or so, but we have been so far behind other AFL clubs in making out players accessible to the fans and I thought we had improved. This is a backward step.

I understand the purpose of the intra-club match, and that it needs to focus on player develpoment, performance and readiness but the MFC may have let a great chance slip by here.

Not entirely a backward step as I understand the clubs decision, which you have also noted.

But I agree with everything else you say here. Last year was a terrific day at Casey, more enjoyable than the family day in my humble opinion.

As long as Rnd 1 is still at the 'G all is good.

In relation to the intraclub - does anybody know which of our indigenous boys will be playing in the All Stars game on the Friday night following the intraclub? I remember reading Jurrah and Wonna's names in an article a few months back but was wondering if the team has been released?