Are we falling behind again?

[Oneday 248]

We have enough facilites to match anyone...we need the players to match anyone..thats the ONLY priority right now

let the other clever lads in the backrooms sift through what options are around etc.

Clubs like the Pies always have an eye to greater things ( currently musing over their own stadium apparently ) and so ought we but we arent falling behind.

bloody MFCCS .ffs..

Don't tell me BB that there is another more deadly version of MFCSS out there! That is all we need.

[gsmith12 491]

I, like most people on the site, am really excited about the draft just gone. So I don't mean to bring the mood down, But I'm still worried about our shared facilities, separated football department and lack of a social club. Its the weakest set up of all the clubs.

So, when I read about St Kilda possibly being govt backed to set up at the junction oval ( which was also OUR training ground for about 20 years) in a massive new facility I feel like we may be getting left behind ........again. Footscray is also now going to build a stadium out at Ballarat and play home and away games there probably from 2017 on....with the same kind of govt backing. Im wondering what are game plan or thinking is...or if we have one?

Great thread for all the dooms day posters, morning Bluey, get on board boys the sky is about to fall.

FM.

[binman 39,076]

Good post its time. Would be great for all parts of the club to be back at the g. Though I assume they would still train at goshs. I would love a return to them training on the g but that ain't gonna happen.

As for the social club, I agree its an issue but I don't think a bar at the g is the answer. I reckon it needs to be a pub near the g. The duke is the obvious one. Or perhaps the bar on the yarra underneath fed square. Or perhaps the imperial. Somewhere to meet per and post games

Edited December 1, 2014 by binman

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

I wonder if there is room to extend/reconfigure the Demon shop at the G to include a bar (with snacks/sandwiches maybe). Would certainly sell a lot more merchandise!!

ps Don't Collingwood have a supporters room at the G for their home games...maybe it should be available to all home teams at the G

Edited December 1, 2014 by Lucifer's Hero

[Jarka 767]

The Saints will be sharing the oval with a cricket team, if I heard correctly. That is the last thing you want to do, not being able to train in the middle of the ground because of a pitch is disastrous. We've done it before and the results spoke for themselves

[beelzebub 22,302]

The Saints will be sharing the oval with a cricket team, if I heard correctly. That is the last thing you want to do, not being able to train in the middle of the ground because of a pitch is disastrous. We've done it before and the results spoke for themselves

not quite the case. I believe one of the other nearby Ovals will be brought up to MCG dimensions and condition to facilitate full ground training. Well that was part of plan 378b !! lol

edit...found this...may or may not be up to date lol

Edited December 1, 2014 by beelzebub

[Macca 16,173]

We've got 2 social venues - the Leighoak & Bentleigh club ... the MCG Hotel was always a good place to meet up after a game and besides all that, I'm not sure of it's importance anyway (these days)

Having the Admin away from the FD could be construed as a good thing anyway ... both can work autonomously and they don't need to be in each others pockets on a constant basis.

As for our facilities - they are supposedly "state of the art" so again, what's the issue? One could make an argument that we're too pampered anyway ... we seemed to do a lot better on the field when we had to train at those "awful" facilities at the Junction. Gosch's paddock is a fine oval to train on - an almost perfect surface, it's an oval and it has goal posts - what more is needed?

There's a whole bunch of reasons why we've been a poorly performed team in the last 8 years but training facilities, social hubs & all the clubs departments not being under the one roof aren't the reasons.

Having a poor list for all that time is the prime reason we've been a poorly performed team.

[Sir Why You Little 34,841]

What is the actual problem sharing facilities with The Sorm & Victory clubs, How does it hinder us?

The other 2 clubs are flying

The MFC just has to improve the way it operates

Not an issue.

[Damo 3,017]

not quite the case. I believe one of the other nearby Ovals will be brought up to MCG dimensions and condition to facilitate full ground training. Well that was part of plan 378b !! lol

edit...found this...may or may not be up to date lol

I wouldnt be keen on this if I was the Saints.

They upgrade the Bar and the stand (blackie Ironmonger) yet the saints dont even get to train on it. They are over the road near St Kilda Primary. Pinch the playground and relocate it? where? Seaford?

Id argue the saints would get more to a Thursday afternoon training than the biggest VCA match of the year.

Unfortunately my dislike of Cricket shines through

[boydie 653]

I don't really understand the social club side of things, is this a place to go to all year round or just game days? What benefit is this venue meant to provide?

Wtih differen't level of memberships, people have access to demon memebers bars at the G, outside of the G we have the Duke deal.

[Its Time for Another 4,058]

I don't really understand the social club side of things, is this a place to go to all year round or just game days? What benefit is this venue meant to provide?

Wtih differen't level of memberships, people have access to demon memebers bars at the G, outside of the G we have the Duke deal.

I hate to go back so far but in that glorious run of wins at the end of the 1987 season I was invited by a work colleague to go to the Pies members which was one of our final wins to get us in the finals. I couldn't believe the Social Club they had set up in the members. It had back lit photos of all the players and the names of their player sponsors. Members could drop in any time during the week, home game days and after away games.

It created a tangible heart of the Club for the Club members. They can meet whenever they want to and catch up with fellow members. It was also a great money spinner for the Club. The Saints had a legendary one down at Moorabbin. Friend of mine used to work there and it had a great festive atmosphere. The players were encouraged to drop in after games and mingle with members.

We've never had anything like this. For members the MFC consists of watching players run around during games (not much fun for the past 8yrs) and that's the end of the contact. No catch up after games. No chewing the fat like we do on here but instead doing it in person over a few jars of something. Unless you want to drive all the way to Bentleigh or Oakleigh. Not realistic except for locals. Imagine being able to wonder up to a dedicated Melbourne bar after games that has Melbourne memorabilia all around the walls and recognition of the current players with bio's sponsors names etc. Pre and post game info from the Club and some coaches etc.

Maybe the Duke is it, I don't know. But having to walk up there for people going in the opposite direction adds a lot of time and makes it less likely after a game. Whereas at the G you're already there and can spend that time socialising. You might be right that a pub is better for non match times and maybe that's the Duke but lets get a dedicated area happening and a regular time to catch up.

Spoiler alert here. I live in Sydney so wouldn't get in much but would when I come down.

Maybe Demonland should start organising a monthly or bi monthly catch up drink to mingle, perhaps at the Duke. That would be a start. Set a day and time and whoevers there is there. Maybe the Club would send someone down for a chat. The NSWDemons group do this every now and then and one of the Board Members who lives in Sydney used to drop in for a casual drink and chat and gave us some great info about what was going on. I'm sure they'd do the same in Melbourne.

[Pipefitter 2,034]

We do have a social club. It's called the Royal.

[lboc 1]

wasn't there talk of transforming the cricket area at the back of the G into MFC facilities?

[KingDingAling 3,616]

wasn't there talk of transforming the cricket area at the back of the G into MFC facilities?

That is what should happen.

With all these sides starting their academies and getting back to their roots, It's only fitting MFC head back to the G.

I think we are well placed to boost our memberships if we play our cards right in the next decade.

[Pates 9,537]

wasn't there talk of transforming the cricket area at the back of the G into MFC facilities?

I think was but the issue is that it doesn't leave us anywhere to train outdoors as they won't let us train on the G. We still need an oval so they would still go to Gosch's paddock (seriously can we change that bloody name!) and then back to the G for gym and recovery.

Junction Oval could turn out to be a very good result for the saints but I'll believe it when I see it. More than likely they'll just upgrade the facilities at the oval for cricket and not leave much for the saints. They are as nomadic as us, and the issue for both clubs is there isn't anywhere with ties that they can cement a spot with. And there isn't much space going anywhere.

I don't mind our base in AAMI, sure it'd be great to have admin right there as well but can't complain about the facilities.

[daisycutter 28,683]

I think was but the issue is that it doesn't leave us anywhere to train outdoors as they won't let us train on the G. We still need an oval so they would still go to Gosch's paddock (seriously can we change that bloody name!) and then back to the G for gym and recovery.

Junction Oval could turn out to be a very good result for the saints but I'll believe it when I see it. More than likely they'll just upgrade the facilities at the oval for cricket and not leave much for the saints. They are as nomadic as us, and the issue for both clubs is there isn't anywhere with ties that they can cement a spot with. And there isn't much space going anywhere.

I don't mind our base in AAMI, sure it'd be great to have admin right there as well but can't complain about the facilities.

the current mcc cricket area could be transformed for certain (not all) outdoor activities

we could train on the G for one mid week session - i reckon we could talk the mcc and the trust into this. the ground is only lightly used these days and modern tech should cope easily

then 2 days on gosch's for match simulation

[old dee 22,981]

the current mcc cricket area could be transformed for certain (not all) outdoor activities

we could train on the G for one mid week session - i reckon we could talk the mcc and the trust into this. the ground is only lightly used these days and modern tech should cope easily

then 2 days on gosch's for match simulation

I think you are kidding yourself dc

[daisycutter 28,683]

I think you are kidding yourself dc

i'm good at that od.....in fact sometimes i'm an expert

[old dee 22,981]

i'm good at that od.....in fact sometimes i'm an expert

Me too dc why else would we be still following the Dees?

[Grapeviney 8,972]

I wonder if there is room to extend/reconfigure the Demon shop at the G to include a bar (with snacks/sandwiches maybe). Would certainly sell a lot more merchandise!!

The last thing in the world I'd do is pour more money into what must be the worst-located business premises in the state, if not the country.

[obbafan 128]

Sharing facilities at the "Not Round Ground" is no problem as far as I can see. State of the art as they say. The MCG will always be unavailable as it is the prime asset of a business enterprise.

Whenever I am at Gosch's I cannot but be concerned that our players are training in the pollution of one of the busiest traffic intersections in the city.

And I hate every thing about pokies except the income.

Conflicted!

[old dee 22,981]

I heard Tony Dodemaide on radio this morning talking about the Cricket facility at St Kilda.

He clearly said the all cricket Admin would be at the new facility and they were planning to be at the new facility for 2016/7 cricket season.

Cricket Victoria will have nothing at the MCG.

That would appear to leave considerable space for the MFC you would think.

Of course that does nothing about training venue.

I think the MFC Admin is ear marked to return to the G

[daisycutter 28,683]

I heard Tony Dodemaide on radio this morning talking about the Cricket facility at St Kilda.

He clearly said the all cricket Admin would be at the new facility and they were planning to be at the new facility for 2016/7 cricket season.

Cricket Victoria will have nothing at the MCG.

That would appear to leave considerable space for the MFC you would think.

Of course that does nothing about training venue.

I think the MFC Admin is ear marked to return to the G

i thought that mfc admin has always been at the G?

[old dee 22,981]

i thought that mfc admin has always been at the G?

What I should have said was all the Admin i.e. FD Players Gym etc the lot at the G

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Hawthorne have to shear there hole training ground with the suburb of melgrave.

I wouldn't exactly call that state of the art facility's.

I don't get how having your very own training facility is meant to make you any better of a football club.