Melbourne to field stand alone VFL team?

[Hannibal 5,814]

They might have to rethink the penalties !!

What penalties ?

[Redleg 41,427]

AFL would also be well informed of this situation and won't hurt the tanking investigation. We will need help so no point destroying us.

[jnrmac 20,185]

That there is no facility in Docklands might make that option a tad difficult presently.

This is classic glass half full/empty situation .

To some it presents as a dilemma wrapped in a liability .

Others its an opportunity .

The Chinese character for crisis is a mix of the characters for danger and opportunity. This is one of those cases where a crisis could turn out to be a good opportunity. Same goes for 'tank-gate' actually..

[rpfc 28,769]

We are staying in Casey whether we save the Scorps or place a team in their stead. It should be called the Casey Demons btw.

And CBDees - the reason why we are in Casey is not simply to have our reserves running around somewhere. It is a strategic decision.

[old dee 23,871]

We are staying in Casey whether we save the Scorps or place a team in their stead. It should be called the Casey Demons btw.

And CBDees - the reason why we are in Casey is not simply to have our reserves running around somewhere. It is a strategic decision.

Correct rpfc, for better or worse we need the Casey area to breed future generations of MFC members.

The long term existence of the MFC is tied to the Casey Area.

The trick is to achieve a takeover that the MFC can afford.

The ability of the board and CS is now on trial.

I look forward to seeing how clever they really are!

[The Chazz 4,077]

I would love for us to take over this club (or whatever we have to do) and be known as the Casey Demons. First things I would do are;

* Get that pokies licence back (somehow), and build a social club at Casey Fields.

* Do whatever favours to whoever we need to to make sure we play some Casey Demons games at the MCG as a curtain raiser to our home games. It would only be for our (MFC) MCG home games. I have no doubt that this would increase our home game crowds, as well as generating more interest in the VFL competition. As it stands, most MFC supporters located west (probably north as well) of Melbourne would not have seen a Casey game due to the location of said games.

We also need a Demon Shop in the city, but that's a different argument.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Part of the original Casey Fields plan was to have a social club with pokies. But it could not get off the ground.

[old dee 23,871]

I would love for us to take over this club (or whatever we have to do) and be known as the Casey Demons. First things I would do are;

* Get that pokies licence back (somehow), and build a social club at Casey Fields.

* Do whatever favours to whoever we need to to make sure we play some Casey Demons games at the MCG as a curtain raiser to our home games. It would only be for our (MFC) MCG home games. I have no doubt that this would increase our home game crowds, as well as generating more interest in the VFL competition. As it stands, most MFC supporters located west (probably north as well) of Melbourne would not have seen a Casey game due to the location of said games.

We also need a Demon Shop in the city, but that's a different argument.

Billy I live in the North and still get to a few Casey games, I try to get to any games at Essendon, Williamstown, Werribee etc.

Usually get to a couple at Casey, add in TV games and i see quite a few. In the last 5 years they have been way more enjoyable than watching the Dees.

Doubt you will ever see the reserves as a curtain raiser. It is 2012 not 1970 some changes are not for the better but there is no going back.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Billy I live in the North and still get to a few Casey games, I try to get to any games at Essendon, Williamstown, Werribee etc.

Usually get to a couple at Casey, add in TV games and i see quite a few. In the last 5 years they have been way more enjoyable than watching the Dees.

Doubt you will ever see the reserves as a curtain raiser. It is 2012 not 1970 some changes are not for the better but there is no going back.

Does Geelong not play reserves curtain raisers?

Hardcore Demons will go to Casey. Average Joe Demons won't. If you were Ballarat/Warrnambool/Western District-based, wouldn't it be more enjoyable going to a game at the MCG when you knew you could get there a couple of hours earlier and watch the reserves?

They make some changes and go back to the "old" ways, this would be up for us to drive. As I said, Geelong do it.

[Guest bluey]

Billy I live in the North and still get to a few Casey games, I try to get to any games at Essendon, Williamstown, Werribee etc.

Usually get to a couple at Casey, add in TV games and i see quite a few. In the last 5 years they have been way more enjoyable than watching the Dees.

Doubt you will ever see the reserves as a curtain raiser. It is 2012 not 1970 some changes are not for the better but thereis no going back.

Maybe you're stuck in the seventies, Geelong have been playing curtain raisers when we play at skilled.

[Sir Why You Little 37,125]

The Elwood RSL ceased trading overnight in August. The doors were just locked. Nobody has returned.

They had a room full of pokies. I am not sure if it was the main reason. But I would be wary of pokies.

I think Melbourne has enough of them already spread throughout. But a social club is a great opportunity if the council allows it.

Very interesting scenario. Could be a goldmine out there in terms of membership.

I agree with OD. Lets see what the board do with this one.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

As I said, Geelong do it.

Geelong don't play curtain raisers on the MCG, which is heavily restricted in terms of hours used per week.

[Spirit of the Demon 256]

Maybe you're stuck in the seventies, Geelong have been playing curtain raisers when we play at skilled.

I think one or two curtain raisers at the MCG would be fine especially if they were curtain raisers to the twilight games. Perfect for filling in such days.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Geelong don't play curtain raisers on the MCG, which is heavily restricted in terms of hours used per week.

Hence my comment about whatever favours we need to do to whomever.

It will make us money, it will make the AFL money, it will make the MCG money. Just do it FFS.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

It will make us money, it will make the AFL money, it will make the MCG money.

How?

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Pokies and things will be nice and can earn Millions if in the right place, North Ballarat VFL team kills this trade but they are a bit lucky i feel.

It is a pain for the players, in a way but i would like to see a MFC player at every school in Casey every week if possible, doing sessions ect, this would give us a membership base, and you need to start early preps as a minimum to get them, hard to switch kids, but parents will enjoy having the interaction imo especially if there kids arnt quite into it all yet.

My biggest worry as a MFC supporter is the next generation.......everything else can be taken care of ect but future support cannot be bought with $$$ alone

[Jordie_tackles 354]

I think one or two curtain raisers at the MCG would be fine especially if they were curtain raisers to the twilight games. Perfect for filling in such days.

Issues with curtain rasiers is the effects to the turf, i think we would have a bigger chance of having the opposite,, an encore typo scenario?

[Jordie_tackles 354]

How?

Bums on seats and use of facilities i guess

[Born to Run 204]

I always thought long term the idea of us having our own team based out of Casey was the way to go, although not like this. This would be particularly costly with us possibly having to bail the Scorps out of debt.

Dont think that we would have to bail the Scorps out of debt. It would be a matter of agreeing a favourable deal with the bank (i.e. Geelong with Bendigo Bank). Consider that if Scorps are 'wound up' the bank will get nothing. Who would buy them? Instead we could negotiate to give something back to the bank and take on the Casey Demons.

The issue is annual overhead. I would like us to have a stand alone if we could afford it.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Bums on seats and use of facilities i guess

People barely go to watch Melbourne play, let alone the players who can't get a game for Melbourne.

I like the idea of a curtain raiser, I just can't see it happening.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

I think the cost a stand alone is obviously large, but the benifits are equally as significant as many other investments with FD dollars surly? larger extended squads to track players with, 100% development of MFC listed players ect

[Jordie_tackles 354]

People barely go to watch Melbourne play, let alone the players who can't get a game for Melbourne.

I like the idea of a curtain raiser, I just can't see it happening.

It would keep people at the venue longer potentially is my point, plus a few extras who support Casey currently

[The Chazz 4,077]

How?

How will it not?

Any increase in crowd numbers to our games means everyone will benefit. But without doing a full feasibility study on it, I'd imagine;

* Gate takings would increase. Who gets that? AFL would get some, we would get a fair chunk. Do MCG get that?

* Increase in crowd numbers = more spent at retail/hospitality outlets, car parking, etc. Again, I'm sure the MCG would get some of that through the tennants (is that how it works?).

* If we are getting more people to our games, and generating more memberships from it, the AFL would need to give us less handouts.

I'm sure if a feasibility study was done on it, we would have sufficient evidence to show the positives outweigh the negatives.

[The Chazz 4,077]

People barely go to watch Melbourne play, let alone the players who can't get a game for Melbourne.

I like the idea of a curtain raiser, I just can't see it happening.

Is it sick of me to say that I would rather sit through 4 hours of crap than 2?

That said, some of Casey's football in 2012 was probably enjoyable compared to what we offered.

[Sir Why You Little 37,125]

Sadly i cannot see "Curtain Raisers" at the MCG.

Too many clubs now use it as a Home venue.

If Melbourne got permission to do it, who would stop the other renters?

I would love to see it but it would take a massive shift in HQ thinking & strategy.