If there is any man in the country that the Dees should be targeting right now, perhaps it should be David Buttifant, Director of Sports Science at Collingwood Football Club.

According to a friend of mine (Pies' Coterie member), Buttifant is the brains behind the Collingwood machine. He essentially manages the list and coordinates the fitness and training programmes (all absolutely elite - essentially the benchmark in Australian sport at the moment). Buckley is putting all of his efforts into ensuring that Buttifant remains at the Pies next year.

If the Pies win the Grand Final, and MM is moved out of the coaching box, it is likely to have a destabilising effect on some in the coaching ranks at CFC. That being the case, I hope the MFC is waiting in the wings, cheque book in hand. This is an area in which (from the outside looking in) it seems to me that we really need to strengthen our capability.

I really doubt he'd move from CFC at the moment. Training facilities are superb, and second to none. With an open cheque-book, and the chance to leave a legacy, I'd say the only chance he'd have of leaving would be part due to malthouse obtaining a new gig and choosig to take members of the FD with him.

Agree with both above posts. It would be great to get him, I have read that he is a big part of the Pies success, but doubt he would come from a club like Collingwood where he can implement his ideas (Arizonian), to a club like Melbourne where he would be hamstrung.

You're a bit late to the party on this one.

I've been eyeing him off for a while, but alas, he has just recently been re-contracted, along with Scott Watters, Gary Pert and others.

Notably Mark Neeld wasn't included in those names, but I presume that means he already was contracted.

Of course, a head coaching opportunity trumps that.

I sorta hoped we could get Malthouse and he'd bring Neeld across with him.

A contract that has been running for a year or 2 is easier to break than one that has just been signed (not legally, but ethically).

Unless you're Sean Wellman...

I really doubt he'd move from CFC at the moment. Training facilities are superb, and second to none. With an open cheque-book, and the chance to leave a legacy, I'd say the only chance he'd have of leaving would be part due to malthouse obtaining a new gig and choosig to take members of the FD with him.

But here I thought the AAMI Park facilities were second to none....that's what has been the consensus.

So target a Buttifant/Malthouse package with upsize.

But here I thought the AAMI Park facilities were second to none....that's what has been the consensus.

So target a Buttifant/Malthouse package with upsize.

Shared facilities, albeit good none-the-less have nothing on CFC.

Shared facilities, albeit good none-the-less have nothing on CFC.

How so?

How good would it be to secure: Malthouse, Neeld (with the promise to be Mick's successor), Buttifant. Would love this but unfortunately I haven't woken up from my dream...

How so?

You can't be serious.

Collingwood have access to a world class running track, altitude chamber, gym and other training facilities all at one venue. These are all centralized, where as we have Casey and AAMI. In terms of ease and exculsivity CFC do easily trump us. I would have thought that the advantages of having exclusive training facilities whould be quite obvious.

Also let's not forget the FD spend that Collingwood have as opposed to ours.

Please don't say that Buttifant would be tempted to cross because the reality is he wouldn't. As I've said before the only way I'd imagine he'd come to us would be if Malthouse were coach and part of the deal was he could bring across his own staff.

You can't be serious.

Collingwood have access to a world class running track, altitude chamber, gym and other training facilities all at one venue. These are all centralized, where as we have Casey and AAMI. In terms of ease and exculsivity CFC do easily trump us. I would have thought that the advantages of having exclusive training facilities whould be quite obvious.

Also let's not forget the FD spend that Collingwood have as opposed to ours.

Please don't say that Buttifant would be tempted to cross because the reality is he wouldn't. As I've said before the only way I'd imagine he'd come to us would be if Malthouse were coach and part of the deal was he could bring across his own staff.

Aslo no budget for trips to Arizonian and any other ideas he may come up with. Why would he want to downgrade?

You can't be serious.

Collingwood have access to a world class running track, altitude chamber, gym and other training facilities all at one venue. These are all centralized, where as we have Casey and AAMI. In terms of ease and exculsivity CFC do easily trump us. I would have thought that the advantages of having exclusive training facilities whould be quite obvious.

Also let's not forget the FD spend that Collingwood have as opposed to ours.

Please don't say that Buttifant would be tempted to cross because the reality is he wouldn't. As I've said before the only way I'd imagine he'd come to us would be if Malthouse were coach and part of the deal was he could bring across his own staff.

I am serious.

I don't know what facilities Collingwood has.

I'd assume if our facilities are meant to be state of the art, we'd have everything they do.

I don't think there's anything at Casey that we don't have at AAMI.

As I understand it, exclusivity isn't an issue for MFC.

We don't have clashes trying to share the facilities - they are big enough for all tenants.

I don't think Buttifant would be tempted at all. No chance.

I am serious.

I don't know what facilities Collingwood has.

I'd assume if our facilities are meant to be state of the art, we'd have everything they do.

I don't think there's anything at Casey that we don't have at AAMI.

As I understand it, exclusivity isn't an issue for MFC.

We don't have clashes trying to share the facilities - they are big enough for all tenants.

I don't think Buttifant would be tempted at all. No chance.

The gap between us and Collingwood is massive. A lot of this comes does come down to profit margins, sponsorship etc but at this stage we don't have anything close to CFC.

Here's a generally reliable source Jake Niall saying he's re-signed with Collingwood for 3 years:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/buckley-regime-taking-shape-20110630-1gt29.html

The gap between us and Collingwood is massive. A lot of this comes does come down to profit margins, sponsorship etc but at this stage we don't have anything close to CFC.

I agree that in terms of resources we don't have half of what Collingwood does, but I thought our facilities were second to none.

Obviously I must be wrong.

I agree that in terms of resources we don't have half of what Collingwood does, but I thought our facilities were second to none.

Obviously I must be wrong.

Our facilities are very good, but I'd say that what is available at the Westpac center, would still be far superior to what we have available.

Our facilities are very good, but I'd say that what is available at the Westpac center, would still be far superior to what we have available.

Care to provide details?

Care to provide details?

Obviously I'm not privy to everything at Westpac, however they have a centralized structure which enable them to minimize travel, optimize training sessions, focus on recovery as they have little or no travel time after training sessions, access to an altitude chamber which maximizes their Arizona trips, exclusive access to the VIS running tracks at Olympic park, plus the convenience of being next door to Gosch's paddock.

Melbourne's AAMI park is fantastic don't get me wrong, howeve the fact remains that we have half our training and recovery facilities at AAMI, whilst our football training is out at Casey. This isn't ideal, recovery can't take place immediately after, there is the issue of travel between venues and our AAMI facilities are shared with the Storm and rebels. Yes this doesn't present a huge problem, but the fact remains that they're not our OWN facilities.

Don't get me wrong at all, I'm not knocking the club, just presenting my views on why Buttifant wouldn't cross over on his own accord. From a proffesional standpoint I can't see any comparison with what Collingwood have at Westpac sadly.

Obviously I'm not privy to everything at Westpac, however they have a centralized structure which enable them to minimize travel, optimize training sessions, focus on recovery as they have little or no travel time after training sessions, access to an altitude chamber which maximizes their Arizona trips, exclusive access to the VIS running tracks at Olympic park, plus the convenience of being next door to Gosch's paddock.

Melbourne's AAMI park is fantastic don't get me wrong, howeve the fact remains that we have half our training and recovery facilities at AAMI, whilst our football training is out at Casey. This isn't ideal, recovery can't take place immediately after, there is the issue of travel between venues and our AAMI facilities are shared with the Storm and rebels. Yes this doesn't present a huge problem, but the fact remains that they're not our OWN facilities.

Don't get me wrong at all, I'm not knocking the club, just presenting my views on why Buttifant wouldn't cross over on his own accord. From a proffesional standpoint I can't see any comparison with what Collingwood have at Westpac sadly.

You know the boys train just outside of AAMI right next door, don't you ?

They train occassionally at Casey and over parts of the Summer.

Yeah, they share the facilities with Storm/Victory. But it's a smooth operation and comes with benefits as far as resources go in networking with alternative codes and cross training (occassionally) and/or communication.

Either way, Buttifant will be at Collingwood under good conditions, but I don't think it's as much of a "downgrade" as you suggest if he did move to Mfc.

I was under the impression Casey was used all year in addition to GP? Apologies if I'm wrong.

I think it's 1 session a fortnight at Casey, during the season.

And having seen the facilities first-hand, I don't think there'd be any issues with sharing with other codes.

Plenty of room for everyone.

We have our own medical room.

The gym is 11 times larger than what we had at the Junction Oval, and all equipment & machines are brand new.

I think the one thing we don't have is the hyperbaric chamber.

That coupled with not currently taking trips to Arizona, mean we are behind.

Maybe the introduction of such a trip could be negotiated if be were to come?

In any case, it won't happen.

I'm certainly with the sentiment here. Getting the very best possible 'whole of football department' together has to be the goal, with a solid coach apable of leading and delegating being the obvious pin to hold it together.

i know the Buttifants really well...not a snow flakes chance of David leaving Collingwood...but the nicest guy you'd ever wish to meet

i know the Buttifants really well...not a snow flakes chance of David leaving Collingwood...but the nicest guy you'd ever wish to meet

Never met the guy, but from what I've heard, you're exactly right.

He'd be an absolute gem to get over to the bright side...I've asked him a couple of times to leave the dark forces, all to his amusement, but he'd never leave the Pies. Entire Buttifant family just great people. Go to Pies website and track down info on NICK Foundation. David is behind it.

For anyone interested in reading this thread though, I was at a small and invitation only Collingwood function earlier this year when H. O'Brien (also a really nice bloke, very genuine and down to earth) and Malthouse spoke about commitment. During his speech Mick made it very clear to the small audience that he'd leave Pies if there was nothing left for him to do there or made him 'passionate' about staying on. Don't know what all the hoo haa is all about Mick's departure. Unless he can find an ongoing personal challenge, he'd leave he said. It was said for all to hear and none of the Pies members in the audience gasped for air. He definitely struck me as a bloke who meant what he said. That's just a tid bit for anyone interested in the 'will he' 'won't he' MM debate. He also told a great story about the process he followed to clean up WCE when he went over. Very funny indeed. No prisoners were taken! If he does come to Dees, he will rock our house to its foundations!

i know the Buttifants really well...not a snow flakes chance of David leaving Collingwood...but the nicest guy you'd ever wish to meet

Yeah I went to school with his son, he was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet.