This thread is designed to discuss newly observed and released innovations by the Melbourne Football Club. I have chosen to initiate this thread on the back of their most recent, that I found to be both highly intelligent and cost effective.

With the sweltering 40+ degree heat wave, the club employed a large refrigerated semi-trailer [truck] to cool the players post-training exercises so that they could maintain a higher intensity over the course of the session whilst minimising the risks of heat stroke and physical trauma.

Not only was this beneficial towards the training session, it was also beneficial towards memberships as it gained positive media attention from the likes of Matt Thompson's report to Facebook's "AFL Simpsons related quotes" page.

As for the price of hiring a refrigerated semi for the day and printing the canvas, I'm sure it will pay itself off.

So my hat goes off to you MFC - keep the cost effective ideas and innovations coming

REFERENCES:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-17/ice-truck-saves-demons

https://www.facebook.com/AFLSimpsons

I don't know about cost effective yet but hiring Paul Roos as coach sounds like an excellent innovation to me.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/roos-announced-as-demons-coach/4940876

Nothing new , Pratts paper trucks have been cruising around Victoria for years

with similar advertising , for once we have a sponsor trying to promote us instead of us doing all the work , eg Kaspersky.

Advertising yes, but did Pratt's trucks allow his team to get the most out of a training session when most other clubs would of taken a more conservative back seat approach?

By memory Carlton's latest attempt of innovation was to invest hundreds of thousands into an elite plyometrics facility. I'm currently not sure of its progress, but I really have to question it's cost vs. benefit.

Advertising yes, but did Pratt's trucks allow his team to get the most out of a training session

Depends on the number and size of the brown paper bags it was carrying.

There are 3 of the trucks provided by AHG that will be circulating Victoria doing normal deliveries with the MFC/AHG driving towards 40,000 members promo on their canvas.

So far so good AHG.

What I would love to see from the MFC is low cost trip option to Darwin for those games.

I can never understand why we cannot come up a reasonable priced option.

Get it set up now months in advance, or advertise a special Dees charter flight up Friday back Sunday evening.

I reckon you could fill a plane no problem.

Come on MFC fire up

So far so good AHG.

What I would love to see from the MFC is low cost trip option to Darwin for those games.

I can never understand why we cannot come up a reasonable priced option.

Get it set up now months in advance, or advertise a special Dees charter flight up Friday back Sunday evening.

I reckon you could fill a plane no problem.

Come on MFC fire up

Thats the problem with Darwin, it's a 2000 buck trip it's stupidity to play there, how much would be a Tassie trip it's a no brainer who won out of the Hawks, Roos and the slow thinking Demons.

Edited January 19, 201411 yr by mjt

Thats the problem with Darwin, it's a 2000 buck trip it's stupidity to play there, how much would be a Tassie trip it's a no brainer who won out of the Hawks, Roos and the slow thinking Demons.

If we start winning games and increase our membership and sponsorship, we will kiss Darwin goodbye. The Darwin money will be replaced if we become a decent footy club once again.

Edited January 19, 201411 yr by Redleg

The innovation I'd like to see us proceed with is an equivalent to a 'Dreamtime at he G' or ANZAC day game played with a regular opponent on the night of Easter Sunday. It needs more than just the choice of timeslot. Perhaps it could be something like a 'Kid's Game' with all school children given free entry and a kick on the ground at the close of play (subject to weather, of course).

I've never understood why the AFL doesn't have a game on a Sunday night when the following day is a public holiday. (I'm against Sunday night games when the Monday is a working day). It would be good to work with another club to put the package together and present it to the AFL.

Thats the problem with Darwin, it's a 2000 buck trip it's stupidity to play there, how much would be a Tassie trip it's a no brainer who won out of the Hawks, Roos and the slow thinking Demons.

I disagree it is a $2000 trip if you book in advance it is way less than that, booked today it is $358 return airfare

I find it hard to believe that a decent travel agent could not come up with a package at reasonable cost for a weekend.

We just seem to advertise the trip a month in advance and guess what it is high because all the cheap fares and accommodation is taken.

I disagree it is a $2000 trip if you book in advance it is way less than that, booked today it is $358 return airfare

I find it hard to believe that a decent travel agent could not come up with a package at reasonable cost for a weekend.

We just seem to advertise the trip a month in advance and guess what it is high because all the cheap fares and accommodation is taken.

Whats the point of travelling all the way to Darwin for 2 days, that's also stupidity.

Whats the point of travelling all the way to Darwin for 2 days, that's also stupidity.

I did that very thing two years ago. Enjoyed the sights. Met the players. Drank plenty of booze with fellow tragics. Had a fantastic time away from cold Melbourne. Only problem was ths result. So I don't see a memorable weekend as "stupid".

I did that very thing two years ago. Enjoyed the sights. Met the players. Drank plenty of booze with fellow tragics. Had a fantastic time away from cold Melbourne. Only problem was ths result. So I don't see a memorable weekend as "stupid".

Go all the way to Darwin and you have to go fishing, 2 days isn't long enough, I read somewhere Robbo was doing some trips for a few days but I think it cost over $3000 and they did a bit of sight seeing and fishing then went to the game.

Edited January 19, 201411 yr by mjt

Go all the way to Darwin and you have go fishing.

You might but I don't!

You might but I don't!

I think Redleg summed up the Darwin experiment pretty well.

I think Redleg summed up the Darwin experiment pretty well.

It is easy we need the money and will for the next few years.

We just have to suck it up for the next few years.

I did that very thing two years ago. Enjoyed the sights. Met the players. Drank plenty of booze with fellow tragics. Had a fantastic time away from cold Melbourne. Only problem was ths result. So I don't see a memorable weekend as "stupid".

If only you could remember it.

Were you the guy in the mall with the leather g-string and the demons hat trying to sell "original Liam Jurrah" jumpers?

If we start winning games and increase our membership and sponsorship, we will kiss Darwin goodbye. The Darwin money will be replaced if we become a decent footy club once again.

Just like Hawthorn did with Tasmania?

I don't see why we shouldn't persist and tap into that market.

It's not as lucrative as Tassie, but it still has a lot of value.

Just like Hawthorn did with Tasmania?

I don't see why we shouldn't persist and tap into that market.

It's not as lucrative as Tassie, but it still has a lot of value.

there is NO market...theres only a cheque

I don't agree.

I don't agree.

we would be nowhere near the place bar the dollars

its a faustian deal, nothing more

Doesn't mean we can't make more of it.

Doesn't mean we can't make more of it.

You have my vote I can never work out the big negatives that some see.

Edited January 20, 201411 yr by old dee

The Hawks didn't go to Tasmania for anything else.

The membership flow-on effect was an afterthought.

And honestly, what else do they get out of going there?

Only memberships.

And how do they sell those?

By making it easier to ensure you get a seat at the matches with a "membership", rather than just a ticket, at pretty much the same cost.

All it really does is push the membership numbers up.

And success breeds success, so people see the boosted numbers and want to get involved themselves.

It might be artificially boosting membership numbers, but there is a flow on effect.

One that would be very handy for us.

With multiple games in Darwin in a season, we should be selling 2 game memberships at a slightly reduced rate in comparison to buying tickets to the 2 individual matches.

You lock the fans in for both games and get the numbers up.

The positive effects won't be as great as those in Tassie, but they will be there.