We will Never be able to build a sustainably strong club without building this facility around Swan st Richmond.

the Bombers, Cats, Pies, Hawks, Blues, & where are We?

apparently we stand for nothing & nowhere.... out of touch with its people & losing......

. . . . . . . it's time to wake up & give back to the people, good Melbourne people...........

Edited April 7, 201311 yr by dee-luded

We need to win a game before we build a social club, let it go for now.

Where's Collingwoods social club? At the Lexus Centre? I don't buy it this isn't the 60's/70's anymore who would even go if we had one anyway? Far more important things to worry about.

We will Never be able to build a sustainably strong club without building this facility around Swan st Richmond.

the Bombers, Cats, Pies, Hawks, Blues, & where are We?

apparently we stand for nothing & nowhere.... out of touch with its people & losing......

. . . . . . . it's time to wake up & give back the the people, good Melbourne people...........

certainly this is big part of the disconnection between fans and club!! the other clubs had their suburban grounds that were a kind of a community centre as well, a focal point for the local team. we never had a heartland!!!

We need to win a game before we build a social club, let it go for now.

no, we to become united & not down @ docklands.

We need to Unite NOW at the only place within an easy walk from the MCG for our Home - Social/Training base... we are nowhere, & need SomeWhere more than at any other time in our History...

a win is a small thing, compared to whats happening to the fabric of the club.

it's the very underpinning character & culture,,, the Nature of our Club that is showing its fragility.

Edited April 7, 201311 yr by dee-luded

We will Never be able to build a sustainably strong club without building this facility around Swan st Richmond.

the Bombers, Cats, Pies, Hawks, Blues, & where are We?

apparently we stand for nothing & nowhere.... out of touch with its people & losing......

. . . . . . . it's time to wake up & give back the the people, good Melbourne people...........

Aren't the Bombers training at their new facility at the back of some industrial estate in the north western suburbs and a fair distance away from Windy Hill?

Where's Collingwoods social club? At the Lexus Centre? I don't buy it this isn't the 60's/70's anymore who would even go if we had one anyway? Far more important things to worry about.

you don't have to "buy it" gonzo, if your happy just to keep donating from your lounge chair, then thats good enough for you.

I'm saying its not good enough for most grass roots supporters, & is a major cause of our disconnect,, & of the reasons why our players get Way ahead of themselves without this grounding effect...

the time is nigh for the Board to act.

and now the tigers have woken up, & are building their future home right back where they started.

We are losing the race to be sustainble, amongst the AFL membership bases...

Where's Collingwoods social club? At the Lexus Centre? I don't buy it this isn't the 60's/70's anymore who would even go if we had one anyway? Far more important things to worry about.

I'm with you. Good clubs have 22 good footballers, who risk their bodies ,play for one another and refuse to accept defeat. Its not that hard.

I'd give the senior players one more shot ( Silvia, Jamar, Dunne etc) if nothing we have nothing to lose bringing in the kids

Aren't the Bombers training at their new facility at the back of some industrial estate in the north western suburbs and a fair distance away from Windy Hill?

Yes they are moving there & I haven't seen any plans so can't comment on the layout, but it's their neck of the woods.

they wanted to build at Windy Hill, but didn't have the room to do what they wanted.

They will I'm sure have a great social facility there.

certainly this is big part of the disconnection between fans and club!! the other clubs had their suburban grounds that were a kind of a community centre as well, a focal point for the local team. we never had a heartland!!!

there is an interesting article that has appeared out of Freo, which I think shows the differing mindsets of our current surviving supporter demographic that's survived, against the grass roots type, who start to climb onboard of other connected clubs via accessibility.

the club should look into an away from the 'G' home base that is central to Richmond station. easily accessible to any who want to wander in & get interested.

.............................................................................

From Texas to 'G' for this Docker

Ten years ago, I was a 20-year-old university student, studying and living abroad in Fremantle. Before I arrived, I had neglected to do much research on my destination. I knew Australia had beautiful beaches, gorgeous women and kangaroos.

I soon found out it also had rather potent alcoholic beverages, a remarkably thin ozone layer, and the greatest sport in the world. Within a few days, Tim, one other friend and I were on the Esplanade kicking the footy. I bought a footy and carried it with me constantly.

At the University of Notre Dame Australia, students fell into three camps: Dockers supporters, Eagles supporters and non-football fans (I still can't decide which of the latter two is worse).

After some initial confusion about which group suited me (what is a Docker anyway?) I settled on the purple, red, green and white. I was living in Freo after all, the nautical theme was somewhat intriguing to a landlocked Texan native like me, and after years of ineptitude, the Dockers' future looked bright.

Like Fremantle itself, the Dockers were appealing and charming. I used to walk down to training and watch the players run through drills. The club's training facility was in the heart of Fremantle just blocks from my dorm, and the team's practices were surprisingly open to the public.

Coming from Texas, my experiences with professional athletes had given me a jaded perspective.

As a 12-year-old, I remember seeing Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders drive his Mercedes golf cart directly past adoring fans at training camp.

* I couldn't believe that I could walk straight up to a training session, and players would greet supporters after practice.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/from-texas-to-g-for-this-docker-20130924-2ucai.html#ixzz2frV1cF9z

Think next decade dee-luded

Right now the MFC is in survival mode.

It is something to worry about when we are strong on and off the field.

You've been talking about this for a while now dee-luded and I applaud you for it because I reckon you're on the money, I'm glad you keep bringing it up and hopefully your chipping away has an affect. As a kid going to the MCG win or lose (mainly lose, 70s) a major highlight for me was going into the rooms after the game, I loved it, we were one in there, Melbourne United lol. I talked to Don Lane a famous TV personality a couple of times, he enjoyed going in there, he was there often. The economics would need to be sorted but yes if viable I agree a social hub close to the MCG would be fantastic for supporters. I do feel that we'll win more than we lose in the next few years and a place for celebrating those wins together would be especially enjoyable for supporters.

Think next decade dee-luded

Right now the MFC is in survival mode.

It is something to worry about when we are strong on and off the field.

yes but we need to grow!

when the pies took over the glass house they weren't all that far off major financial problems. its attitude.

We currently have the ground on swan st right across the egress to the station. there is an entrance there 100 metres away that could be handy. with minor adjustment.

Put it on the never never & we will miss the boat. we currently have the big support of the AFL who wish us to get out of our own self-imposed Hell of 48 years.

we should be able to talk at the same time as we tie our shoelaces.

I wonder if the State government would help, or would Eddie object to us building in they're neck of the Woods?

Nice idea, but I reckon having a PRIVATE training oval in MELBOURNE, the city our club REPRESENTS!!! might be a higher priority.

You've been talking about this for a while now dee-luded and I applaud you for it because I reckon you're on the money, I'm glad you keep bringing it up and hopefully your chipping away has an affect. As a kid going to the MCG win or lose (mainly lose, 70s) a major highlight for me was going into the rooms after the game, I loved it, we were one in there, Melbourne United lol. I talked to Don Lane a famous TV personality a couple of times, he enjoyed going in there, he was there often. The economics would need to be sorted but yes if viable I agree a social hub close to the MCG would be fantastic for supporters. I do feel that we'll win more than we lose in the next few years and a place for celebrating those wins together would be especially enjoyable for supporters.

Also with the recovery facilities at the AAMI centre, the players wil often come straight across from the 'G' to go to the medical facilities, ice baths, etc.

It makes a lot of sense to me to have an open after match there, for anyone who wants to enjoy some of the 'cheer' for a couple of hours, say til 2 hours after the end of game.

also pre game meet ups over coffee & snacks, lunch on home game days, merchandise, putting money into our club.... training days, & Thursday nights team announcements.

.... not to mention other functions, etc.

Nice idea, but I reckon having a PRIVATE training oval in MELBOURNE, the city our club REPRESENTS!!! might be a higher priority.

private training at casey. as much as helicoptors allow any privacy.

Yes they are moving there & I haven't seen any plans so can't comment on the layout, but it's their neck of the woods.

they wanted to build at Windy Hill, but didn't have the room to do what they wanted.

They will I'm sure have a great social facility there.

short of a public cafe there are NO social amenities incorporated into the new Messendon training facility

short of a public cafe there are NO social amenities incorporated into the new Messendon training facility

that does not mean its the right way to go. they became powerful via the other ways of growing supporter numbers & passion.

just as did the other power clubs.

they turn their backs on that at their perils. just as we now know.

this ^, as you've stated above, is our chance to get a jump on them, to catch them as they F*#kUp.

doing nothing, is to do the same. fail.

Yawn....let's concentrate on getting 80,000 to the MCG on match day first.

Coffee Beer & food is available there.

that does not mean its the right way to go. they became powerful via the other ways of growing supporter numbers & passion.

just as did the other power clubs.

they turn their backs on that at their perils. just as we now know.

this ^, as you've stated above, is our chance to get a jump on them, to catch them as they F*#kUp.

doing nothing, is to do the same. fail.

mate i get it....you like footy ...and you want to spend your footy beer money yacking to other demons in a demon bar supporting the demons

thats you...its not me...its not 1000's of people either these days..Just too much other responsibilities and things claiming my time.

Happy for you to go make it happen though...good luck.

Yawn....let's concentrate on getting 80,000 to the MCG on match day first.

Coffee Beer & food is available there.

no, this is the bigger issue for us. even if you WYL, have a distaste for it

access would be easy as well WYL. & for most supporters, all would be very welcome.

we have tinsy numbers for a reason. because we have continually sat on our hands, & missed the bus.

Edited September 25, 201311 yr by dee-luded

mate i get it....you like footy ...and you want to spend your footy beer money yacking to other demons in a demon bar supporting the demons

thats you...its not me...its not 1000's of people either these days..Just too much other responsibilities and things claiming my time.

Happy for you to go make it happen though...good luck.

do you not realise we have a very limited domographic, of same ideals. there are many out there who will come & broaden our support base demographics.

no one will steal the MCC options from you. or the contacts you have there.

this is about giving others some of the contact they would like. those who aren't into the fineries of the north. they're are manay who are dropping off footy for the closeness of NRL & the Storm etc.

we must tap into the areas we've neglected over the past 48 odd years, & the supporter types who have given up on the Red & the Blue over that time... not to mention those who could have joined & went to other more Open clubs like the Hawks. one of my best Demon mates went to them.

the walls only seperate Us.

Edited September 25, 201311 yr by dee-luded

As I live a fair way away from the MCG.....This would hold no interest from me....I don't drink at the footy and as I have to drive home I prefer a few coldies at home with a few mates where there are no breathalisers.

I hope you get what you want......

if we got one dee-luded would you then buy a club membership?

Deeluded. I happen to think that the MFC is a different club from many. Its demographics, its pedigree etc is very different from the likes of the Filth, the Kangas, The toiges etc. What may work for them I dont think is us.

There ARE already groups supporters can join if they want to network etc.They are to all reports very good at this.

Maybe if they one day build a complex that can accommodate 'everything' then an opportunity may exist for an integral social environment until then I just dont see it as being requisite or paramount to our success.

Winning games is.