Open training miscommunication - another MFC unforced error

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

nice of the club to apologize.

however i don't buy the excuse of a misunderstanding

this was advertised as a special fan event with catering at a particular time and on a public holiday so they could attract a good gathering

all good and admirable

but, it wasn't a misunderstanding, it was just [censored]-poor management and organising (and symptomatic of some previous exercises)

the club needs to understand what it was and fix it, not just excuse it

now i don't expect the club to come out and say all this, but i do expect that they will understand the real reasons and give someone a good kick up the rrr's

As a per the norm with anything associated with MFC, it is only a small minority of the membership/supporter base who had an issue with it, and the club has dealt with it

An example, we had a good conversation with another supporter who had a 4yr old son with him, he patiently waited, keeping his kid entertained with games etc, then was really pleased to get Nathan Jones autograph and a photo of him with his son, before training started, at no time did he get the [censored] and leave, he even stayed the course of the whole training session

[daisycutter 29,738]

Been explained before no, they are not allowed to advertise as part of the lease at Gosch's, unless you want legal action, and you help pay the costs

saty, i know you have explained it before that advertising at goschs is not part of the contract.

this maybe a bot ot, but...

now we know collingwood did it, so we could presume it could be done and is profitable, at least potentially

i don't see why the club couldn't take a separate business case to aami to allow billboarding on the oval

the club could work out a deal with potential advertisers then take a case to aami even if it was just a split the profits equally deal

just can't see why the door has to stay shut

just thinking out aloud

[binman 43,779]

I actually know how much it costs.

And I am trying not to apologize for the club as some think I do, but look from the admin/membership team point of view, a game against Freo, engaging the WA supporters, daily membership renewals, players ringing around tonight, a game in Ballarat engaging the supporters there, Family Day.....I think they have had an interesting week or two, they are also trying to keep costs down and spend whatever 'extra' money we have on the footy dept which is where it should be spent

As other posters say 'just sayin'"

TDI i understand what you are saying. You may well be right that by not having merch or membership sales they were trying to keep costs down. But i hope you are wrong because that is plain stupid. Such short term, black and white thinking has no place in a sophisticated business looking to grow its membership and become sustainable into the future.

For heavens sake they have made a public goal of getting to 35, 000 members by round one. How much do you think the advertising costs are for this push? And they miss this opportunity to sell memberships because it might cost some overtime pay? Please.

Yesterday was another opportunity lost to sell more membership. The more memberships they sell the more money there is for the FD. Simple.

Edited March 10, 2015 by binman

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

saty, i know you have explained it before that advertising at goschs is not part of the contract.

this maybe a bot ot, but...

now we know collingwood did it, so we could presume it could be done and is profitable, at least potentially

i don't see why the club couldn't take a separate business case to aami to allow billboarding on the oval

the club could work out a deal with potential advertisers then take a case to aami even if it was just a split the profits equally deal

just can't see why the door has to stay shut

just thinking out aloud

Collingwood did it because of Eddie, he had a special deal, everybody keeps praising PJ, if he has ok'd a deal wihout the advertising, that's ok by me, as I keep saying the whole Footy Clb runs to a budget, the last thing you need to do as a Manager in the club is exceed your budget, PJ would not be pleased, I think this impacts on what the Membership/Merch teams do, they have budgets as well

Personally, as I have said many times before, if we have 'spare' money, I want it in the footy dept, that's where it all matters, if we get the footy right, everything else will fix itself because we will have more money in the budget

Edited March 10, 2015 by The Devil Inside

[Forest Demon 4,681]

All this talk of budget is a bit much, when there were a large amount of people there, many willing to part with cash on memberships, merchandise etc. I believe someone said the club was surprised at the amount of people there, so they must not have realised the interest in such an event, so the figures might not have added up based on their estimates.

I think a well marketed open session for families could be a good revenue raiser if done correctly, and hopefully those at the club might think the same now and do it properly next time.

[dazzledavey36 55,358]

Its obviously the club still has a long way to in terms of off field interaction with supporters.

Its good that they apologized but Its just not good enough from a professional organization. Lucky i didn't make the trip down.

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

As a per the norm with anything associated with MFC, it is only a small minority of the membership/supporter base who had an issue with it, and the club has dealt with it

An example, we had a good conversation with another supporter who had a 4yr old son with him, he patiently waited, keeping his kid entertained with games etc, then was really pleased to get Nathan Jones autograph and a photo of him with his son, before training started, at no time did he get the [censored] and leave, he even stayed the course of the whole training session

It's not a small minority. Those complaining aren't a fringe group, they are a substantial number on here which likely means plenty more of those who went.

You aren't the clubs spokesman and there's good reason for that. The club has rightfully and unconditionally apologised. They didn't need to add qualifying statements like you did about people 'getting the [censored] and leaving'.

[Pirlo 813]

I thought we could keep the training thread to topic. If mods want to merge they can merge. If anyone wants to send this through to the club they can.

The club has to improve in communication and treatment of members and supporters. I think they do a fantastic job in interviewing players and coaches pre and post game, but everything else is very substandard. The intraclub game staged at Casey at a non fan friendly time of 4pm and without any associated merchandise, membership, food or drink sales was very poor. Today was worse.

I'm calling on Josh Mahoney as head of football operations to get together with Paul Roos (a man who clearly has a firm grasp of PR) and David Misson to make sure they are all on the same page in the footy department. Whilst I never expect them to sacrifice preparation to appease supporters they can certainly be aware of what's happening in the rest of the club. If the club advertise a training time then that's it locked in, it can't be changed merely a couple of hours before.

I'm then calling out the clubs consumer staff. The head of which is Jennifer Watt - General Manager Marketing and Communications is her title according to the website. The following are listed to work under her. If the names are wrong and the positions are blank then guess what, it's still a failure of communications!

- Matt Burgan - Editor & Chief Football Writer

- Debbie Lee - Community Manager

- Ryan Larkin - Media Manager

- Matthew Goodrope - Communications Coordinator

- Ryan Earles - Digital Marketing Manager

- Dave Larkin - Graphic Designer

- Anna Harrington - Digital Media Coordinator

- Georgina Lewis - Customer Relations Executive

- Courtney Hart - Digital Video Producer

- Alexandra Luxford - Community Trainee

If you can't organise a popular open training on a public holiday to start when it says it will start and not change times then I don't know how you can lead a team of 10 others! If you're getting screwed around by the footy department then it's time to stand up for the members who support this club and work it out.

I'm at loss at what those 10 people do considering the majority of website content comes from Matt Burgan and that we seem to be one of the least active clubs on twitter.

Today was simply not good enough. For people to waste 90 minutes of precious time standing around before the main group hit the track is taking your supporters for granted. And no group of members and supporters have been more taken for granted than us loyal demons over the last many long years.

Time to lift your game MFC.

GRRM out

I know Anna personally, and she does a ton of work supporting Burgs in getting his articles out. I think she runs the Twitter account and other email communications concerning media.

Presumably Courtney Hart edits the videos they put up?

The rest of them sound like corporate newspeak, but who here really knows?

[beelzebub 23,383]

Collingwood did it because of Eddie, he had a special deal, everybody keeps praising PJ, if he has ok'd a deal wihout the advertising, that's ok by me, as I keep saying the whole Footy Clb runs to a budget, the last thing you need to do as a Manager in the club is exceed your budget, PJ would not be pleased, I think this impacts on what the Membership/Merch teams do, they have budgets as well

Personally, as I have said many times before, if we have 'spare' money, I want it in the footy dept, that's where it all matters, if we get the footy right, everything else will fix itself because we will have more money in the budget

Ive always been somewhat bemused that Eddie can get a deal ...and other astute folk cant. I dont see PJ as a schmuck.So I am curious as to what goal post shifted in this respect.

But be that as it is I fail to see why a logo'd gazebo ( AHG ) etc couldnt have turned up for the day. Its VERY normal practice for clubs etc to do it in this manner. Its not a permanent hoarding.

The cost of recovery for the expense to collect memberships and sell merchandise would have been recovered in about 10 mins flat !! Talk of double time etc is plainly rubbish. Would you not have asked some volunteers to man it ? Im not being presumptive here but that would be logical. Only need a liaison from the club to oversee them. Again not earth shatteringly expensive and if the club is taking the view it will wait for everyone to come to them its no wonder we are down the ranks in terms of numbers. In todays marketplace thats suicide. You seize every opportunity to push your cart and sell from it.

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

I know Anna personally, and she does a ton of work supporting Burgs in getting his articles out. I think she runs the Twitter account and other email communications concerning media.

Presumably Courtney Hart edits the videos they put up?

The rest of them sound like corporate newspeak, but who here really knows?

I got a little personal yesterday, I was very upset. I'm sure as individuals they are fine people and I have no idea who does what and what hours, responsibilities etc. But on paper anyway that's a large team of people, more than enough to make sure a training happens on time and is well supported so fans have a great day.

[daisycutter 29,738]

Collingwood did it because of Eddie, he had a special deal, everybody keeps praising PJ, if he has ok'd a deal wihout the advertising, that's ok by me, as I keep saying the whole Footy Clb runs to a budget, the last thing you need to do as a Manager in the club is exceed your budget, PJ would not be pleased, I think this impacts on what the Membership/Merch teams do, they have budgets as well

Personally, as I have said many times before, if we have 'spare' money, I want it in the footy dept, that's where it all matters, if we get the footy right, everything else will fix itself because we will have more money in the budget

your reply lost me saty

i never talked about spending more money or diverting it from the fd

i just was thinking out aloud about a way of making more for negligible cost

billboarding the oval just seems like a lost opportunity

doesn't matter if not in current contract, could in theory be a new diff contract if all parties can benefit

of course there may be some blanket bans on outside advertising (for anyone) changed since c'wood's time, council restrictions etc etc...

i don't know, but just saying it's not in the current contract doesn't say much about why

anyway enough said.....like i said just thinking aloud and bub did raise a point

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

Ive always been somewhat bemused that Eddie can get a deal ...and other astute folk cant. I dont see PJ as a schmuck.So I am curious as to what goal post shifted in this respect.

But be that as it is I fail to see why a logo'd gazebo ( AHG ) etc couldnt have turned up for the day. Its VERY normal practice for clubs etc to do it in this manner. Its not a permanent hoarding.

The cost of recovery for the expense to collect memberships and sell merchandise would have been recovered in about 10 mins flat !! Talk of double time etc is plainly rubbish. Would you not have asked some volunteers to man it ? Im not being presumptive here but that would be logical. Only need a liaison from the club to oversee them. Again not earth shatteringly expensive and if the club is taking the view it will wait for everyone to come to them its no wonder we are down the ranks in terms of numbers. In todays marketplace thats suicide. You seize every opportunity to push your cart and sell from it.

Eddie's on the Olympic Park trust, PJ isn't. I think that's the significant difference in this case. Considering Olympic Park has been dismantled and turned in to Collingwood's own training oval and AAMI Park has been built there's only Gosch's left as public space. Therefore I can understand the reasoning behind it being protected as public space (when not in use by the sports teams). If you start putting permanent signs all over it then it doesn't appear as public space.

[beelzebub 23,383]

Eddie's on the Olympic Park trust, PJ isn't. I think that's the significant difference in this case. Considering Olympic Park has been dismantled and turned in to Collingwood's own training oval and AAMI Park has been built there's only Gosch's left as public space. Therefore I can understand the reasoning behind it being protected as public space (when not in use by the sports teams). If you start putting permanent signs all over it then it doesn't appear as public space.

Didnt need to be permanent yesterday...just saying

[daisycutter 29,738]

public space....so what

so is fed square

that type of argument can work either way

billboards on the fence don't interfere with the amenity of the public and can help defray the costs of providing public spaces

[angrydee 842]

Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose.

In 2004 I was working with a number of Koreans who had moved to Melbourne (and were living in the Kew and Hawthorn area) and given their fondness for things blue and red I approached the club with contact details of their community leaders - who were very interested in talking to the club.

Needless to say the club did nothing. The bulk of them are now passionate paid up hawks.

I managed to get a half dozen to our games and at least they're now ours.

We've been amateurish for a very long time.

[beelzebub 23,383]

public space....so what

so is fed square

that type of argument can work either way

billboards on the fence don't interfere with the amenity of the public and can help defray the costs of providing public spaces

get enterprising...park a rig in the carpark

gee ...like this one !!

[beelzebub 23,383]

actually seeing that rig there and noting what the wifey and I often see at shows, markets field days etc A solution could be to fit out say 5 tonner as a mobile shop come membership kiosk.

[Akum 2,660]

All this talk of budget is a bit much, when there were a large amount of people there, many willing to part with cash on memberships, merchandise etc. I believe someone said the club was surprised at the amount of people there, so they must not have realised the interest in such an event, so the figures might not have added up based on their estimates.

I think a well marketed open session for families could be a good revenue raiser if done correctly, and hopefully those at the club might think the same now and do it properly next time.

Yep, and it would be good to do it on a public holiday. Especially on the Monday of a long weekend.

... before the season actually starts.

... at a time of year when the weather is likely to be good.

... after there's been a special event on in the CBD.

...

[binman 43,779]

Yep, and it would be good to do it on a public holiday. Especially on the Monday of a long weekend.

... before the season actually starts.

... at a time of year when the weather is likely to be good.

... after there's been a special event on in the CBD.

...

As the Fonz would say - Exactamundo.

And the Admin should have made it a priority given such a move would have been a perfect way of operationalsihing key planks of their brand new Strategic Plan

Edited March 10, 2015 by binman

[Akum 2,660]

As the Fonz would say - Exactamundo.

And the Admin should have made it a priority given such a move would have been a perfect way of operationalsihing key planks of their brand new Strategic Plan

Let's face it, if they'd had some merch & membership tables and enough food & coffee, it might not have mattered so much that the training was late.

And is anybody else a tad perturbed that the admin dept doesn't seem to have even a rough idea of what goes on at a training session, and the fact that there's an hour or so of prep beforehand?

[Gator 17,468]

Re merchandising, the following explanation is from Peter Jackson:

"Gosch’s Paddock is managed by MOPT and is classified an open park. We need a permit to set up Merch stall. Plus the set up costs would be $1,000. Not knowing how many people would be attending, and the inadequate lead time re approval, we didn't go ahead with a stall."

[Akum 2,660]

Re merchandising, the following explanation is from Peter Jackson:

"Gosch’s Paddock is managed by MOPT and is classified an open park. We need a permit to set up Merch stall. Plus the set up costs would be $1,000. Not knowing how many people would be attending, and the inadequate lead time re approval, we didn't go ahead with a stall."

Wow, that sheds a new light on the situation. It certainly makes things that look simple on the surface a lot harder in reality.

[mo64 5,881]

Let's face it, if they'd had some merch & membership tables and enough food & coffee, it might not have mattered so much that the training was late.

And is anybody else a tad perturbed that the admin dept doesn't seem to have even a rough idea of what goes on at a training session, and the fact that there's an hour or so of prep beforehand?

Exactly. Seems as though they interpreted 12.00pm on the training schedule to mean that the players would be on the ground at that time. My initilal impression was that the FD stuffed up, but that's not the case.

Unfortunately I doubt that any of the employees would have a degree in football administration.

[Emerald 1,744]

Re merchandising, the following explanation is from Peter Jackson:

"Gosch’s Paddock is managed by MOPT and is classified an open park. We need a permit to set up Merch stall. Plus the set up costs would be $1,000. Not knowing how many people would be attending, and the inadequate lead time re approval, we didn't go ahead with a stall."

$1000 to set up isn't worth it? Any excuse why they pay the players thousands of dollars per game to play like they have over the last few years?

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

So the communications department widely advertised a training session after failing to communicate with the FD and the failed to communicate effectively with the affected fans.

Keystone cops anyone?