Vic clubs push for stand alone reserves comp

[Dr. Gonzo 23,950]

According to this article by reputable journalist Kim Hagdorn at Sportsnewsfirst.com all the Vic clubs (except MFC, North & Bulldogs) are going to meet to discuss forming a breakaway stand alone reserved comp. This is something the MFC can't afford to be left behind on, especially considering the farce the VFL has become with 4 byes a year - there seemed to be a period in May where we only played one reserves game for the whole month.

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/08/14/new-league-push-for-afl-power-clubs/

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,766]

Aren't we "locked in" with Casey for 30 years?

[rpfc 28,087]

We need Casey.

Screw 'em.

Join the NEAFL and get the AFL to pay for everything.

It's a good setup.

*By 'em' I mean the renegade teams, not Casey.

Edited August 14, 2012 by rpfc

[Hardnut 327]

However it's done - MFC needs its own reserves team - look at the benefits Geelong and Collingwood have achieved.

[Dr. Gonzo 23,950]

I'm not sold that we need Casey - we need to expand the supporter base, yes but I'm yet to see how Casey is the answer. I think they're focusing on the wrong demographic. Not to mention the impracticalities of joining the NEAFL. I don't think it's a coincidence that the three teams not included in this are us North & the Dogs.

[beelzebub 23,254]

According to this article by reputable journalist Kim Hagdorn

lol..... reputable ?? this guys turned in some wonderful aricles in recent times. Wouldnt beleive too much of what he comes up with. Hes very hit and miss

[diesel 420]

However it's done - MFC needs its own reserves team - look at the benefits Geelong and Collingwood have achieved.

West Coast, Sydney & Adelaide? Reserve players don't even play in the same team. NEAFL is an inferior comp. I think lets not neccesarily follow the herd on this or worse, go broke over it.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Aren't we "locked in" with Casey for 30 years?

To the facility, not the team.

[rpfc 28,087]

I was being flippant about NEAFL.

And we have the run of the show sown there.

Brett Lovett is the coach FCS.

[Nasher 33,607]

The bye issue is one that needs to be worked through, but it's not terminal. Other than that, I can't see what's wrong with the current arrangement, I think it works pretty well. We've got a pretty big influence over what's happening at Casey and by the looks of it, their club is benefiting from it as well. They have access to our army of coaches for a start.

If we're only one of several (or the only) team with a VFL alignment then it also might become easier for the VFL to schedule byes and breaks that line up with the AFL byes and breaks.

LIke rpfc and diesel, I don't think we need to be sheep on this issue. Do what's best for the MFC; and I wouldn't be surprised if retaining the Casey/VFL alignment didn't prove to be the most cost effective solution for us, even if it's not the case for all the other Vic sides.

[old dee 23,564]

The bye issue is one that needs to be worked through, but it's not terminal. Other than that, I can't see what's wrong with the current arrangement, I think it works pretty well. We've got a pretty big influence over what's happening at Casey and by the looks of it, their club is benefiting from it as well. They have access to our army of coaches for a start.

If we're only one of several (or the only) team with a VFL alignment then it also might become easier for the VFL to schedule byes and breaks that line up with the AFL byes and breaks.

LIke rpfc and diesel, I don't think we need to be sheep on this issue. Do what's best for the MFC; and I wouldn't be surprised if retaining the Casey/VFL alignment didn't prove to be the most cost effective solution for us, even if it's not the case for all the other Vic sides.

Spot on Nasher

We simply cannot afford our own reserves team

As mentioned earlier the interstae teams seem to survive well without one.

[Nasher 33,607]

Spot on Nasher

We simply cannot afford our own reserves team

As mentioned earlier the interstae teams seem to survive well without one.

I don't know about an absolute "can't afford it", old dee. That's for the bean counters to decide. It's more about the cost justifying the problem it solves - I don't see there as being much of a problem to solve so I doubt it will.

[old dee 23,564]

I don't know about an absolute "can't afford it", old dee. That's for the bean counters to decide. It's more about the cost justifying the problem it solves - I don't see there as being much of a problem to solve so I doubt it will.

I agree with you Nasher it seems to me that Casey get the worse side of this deal.

This will be the third year on end they will finish the season high on the ladder and then be denied MFC players and go out in straight sets.

[H_T 3,042]

I'm not sold that we need Casey - we need to expand the supporter base, yes but I'm yet to see how Casey is the answer. I think they're focusing on the wrong demographic.

Well what is the right demographic ?

The greater Casey/Cranbourne region is one of - if not the biggest - expanding populated growth area in Australia. It's a long term arrangement (ie 30 yr agreement) that will enable the opportunity for the club to infiltrate and brainwash the younger growing generation and snag families. Obviously you need good results to do this and you may not see the answer as a result so far; but hence that is why it's a long term project.Very difficult to enter a new market with a solid brand - even harder to produce results when the club is performing as it is. But give it time...

[old dee 23,564]

Well what is the right demographic ?

The greater Casey/Cranbourne region is one of - if not the biggest - expanding populated growth area in Australia. It's a long term arrangement (ie 30 yr agreement) that will enable the opportunity for the club to infiltrate and brainwash the younger growing generation and snag families. Obviously you need good results to do this and you may not see the answer as a result so far; but hence that is why it's a long term project.Very difficult to enter a new market with a solid brand - even harder to produce results when the club is performing as it is. But give it time...

You have my vote H_T

[Hardnut 327]

West Coast, Sydney & Adelaide? Reserve players don't even play in the same team. NEAFL is an inferior comp. I think lets not neccesarily follow the herd on this or worse, go broke over it.

Interstate clubs have different issues and processes to Victorian clubs (two teams in a small WA population means they know players pretty well for example).

Look at the way Geelong reserve players fit seamlessly into the club game plan when they are given their chance in the seniors (and let's not get sidetracked into a game plan discussion please). The logic in the methodology is sound, and they even get to see reserve games down there!

.

[rpfc 28,087]

Interstate clubs have different issues and processes to Victorian clubs (two teams in a small WA population means they know players pretty well for example).

Look at the way Geelong reserve players fit seamlessly into the club game plan when they are given their chance in the seniors (and let's not get sidetracked into a game plan discussion please). The logic in the methodology is sound, and they even get to see reserve games down there!

We have the development coaches taking the 'lines' at Casey apparently. How much more control do you want?

[Hardnut 327]

We have the development coaches taking the 'lines' at Casey apparently. How much more control do you want?

100%.

Seniors and reserves should be as one in the club.

[rpfc 28,087]

100%.

Seniors and reserves should be as one in the club.

That's percentage is all well and good but we have run of the show and for far less of an outlay than a reserves side with the added bonus of being in an area we are trying to break into commercially.

[old dee 23,564]

That's percentage is all well and good but we have run of the show and for far less of an outlay than a reserves side with the added bonus of being in an area we are trying to break into commercially.

Correct rpfc

Just remember mate there is no one as blind as someone that does not want to see.

Time for bed Demonland is depressing the crap out of me tonight

Edited August 15, 2012 by old dee

[dee-luded 2,959]

Mods, please can we merge the 2 VFL threads?

[Hardnut 327]

That's percentage is all well and good but we have run of the show and for far less of an outlay than a reserves side with the added bonus of being in an area we are trying to break into commercially.

Correct rpfc

Just remember mate there is no one as blind as someone that does not want to see.

Time for bed Demonland is depressing the crap out of me tonight

You get what you pay for.

How much value is the area really - we threw away Sandringham!

You are right about the blind OD, just the wrong people!

[Dr. Gonzo 23,950]

Well what is the right demographic ?

The greater Casey/Cranbourne region is one of - if not the biggest - expanding populated growth area in Australia. It's a long term arrangement (ie 30 yr agreement) that will enable the opportunity for the club to infiltrate and brainwash the younger growing generation and snag families. Obviously you need good results to do this and you may not see the answer as a result so far; but hence that is why it's a long term project.Very difficult to enter a new market with a solid brand - even harder to produce results when the club is performing as it is. But give it time...

I would be targeting people with no club allegiances, people who are new to the game and the country. People who have no cultural affiliations with a club. I never travel to or through Casey so could be wrong, but it doesn't strike me as an area that has large amounts of these types of demographics despite it's growth. Like I've said before, a club coming out to my suburb to train once a week as a kid and coming to our school wouldn't have made me change teams (nor the vast majority of those I went to school with). Sure we may get a couple of thousand extra supporters/members but that is the very most I could really envisage us getting.

I would be starting some initiatives to try and get some new migrants to our games, particular their kids as well as international students. We had one game in early 2010 against Brisbane where we did this and we got 35K to the game (probably the highest against an interstate club bar maybe Sydney) but never followed it up. It just seems lazy thinking, "if we just train in the area and cement ourselves there the people who live there will automatically start buying memberships and turning up to games." That may be true in a captive market like Tassie but in an outer suburb of Melbourne where the residents can choose to turn up to other games and support the teams they already have allegiances to I just can't see how Casey is going to be such a goldmine and growth area for the MFC.

No-one from the MFC has really even outlined their strategy and how the expect the results to come besides doing some community camps and visiting some local schools. So how exactly is the affiliation with Casey going to help us increase our supporter base?

[dee-luded 2,959]

I would be targeting people with no club allegiances, people who are new to the game and the country. People who have no cultural affiliations with a club. I never travel to or through Casey so could be wrong, but it doesn't strike me as an area that has large amounts of these types of demographics despite it's growth. Like I've said before, a club coming out to my suburb to train once a week as a kid and coming to our school wouldn't have made me change teams (nor the vast majority of those I went to school with). Sure we may get a couple of thousand extra supporters/members but that is the very most I could really envisage us getting.

I would be starting some initiatives to try and get some new migrants to our games, particular their kids as well as international students. We had one game in early 2010 against Brisbane where we did this and we got 35K to the game (probably the highest against an interstate club bar maybe Sydney) but never followed it up. It just seems lazy thinking, "if we just train in the area and cement ourselves there the people who live there will automatically start buying memberships and turning up to games." That may be true in a captive market like Tassie but in an outer suburb of Melbourne where the residents can choose to turn up to other games and support the teams they already have allegiances to I just can't see how Casey is going to be such a goldmine and growth area for the MFC.

No-one from the MFC has really even outlined their strategy and how the expect the results to come besides doing some community camps and visiting some local schools. So how exactly is the affiliation with Casey going to help us increase our supporter base?

From what i've seen, Narre Warren & surrounds is full of young families, both Aussies & immigrants.