A place called home

[DeeZee 7,376]

On 02/10/2016 at 0:23 PM, Outside fifty said:

As I sit in my backyard I can hear the music catching on the northerly wind from the western oval, a celebration in full flight. Last night cars paraded up and down my street in Yarraville honking their horns endlessly. Pedestrians sang themselves hoarse on the way home. The inner west was a cauldron of celebration and happiness, a community brought together by a football club and a collective dream realised.

 

Having been born and bred in the west I couldn’t be happier for them and yet at the same time I can’t help but feel envious and a little sad. The bullies have always had a sense of place and represent their community with pride. Where do we stand? We have no real home, no place that is our and ours alone. This I believe holds us back in ways that are near impossible to measure, intangible if you will. I believe the most pressing off field issue we face is our lack of a true home. A place to gather and celebrate, to commiserate when we lose and to rub shoulders with our boys. A place where our supporters history and passion is embedded into the psyche of our players. For too long I have felt that a disconnect between the football club and the supporters exists and I believe this is due in part to our lack of a sense of place, our own turf. 

Hey Inside 50 I live in Yarraville and not witnessed anything like this in years.

Every second house donning the Footscray colours,cars beeping , people hugging in the street, the excitement is palpable.

Watched the game from outside the Suntheatre and the tears of joy afterwards were a sight to see.

Sunday morning I went for brekky and the Dogs players started rolling into the railway hotel for their mad Monday and there was a real sense of community.

I thought exactly the same thing as you, that we don't really have what some of these suburban clubs possess,but if the Dees win a flag I'd be that rapt I wouldn't care.

[Outside fifty 967]

Absolutely right Dee Zee.It really was something to behold. It made me understand how important a footy club can be to a community. With the exception of perhaps Geelong, Footscray is the last of the true Suburban clubs in Victoria, and to their credit they milk it for everything it's worth. Like you I will be absolutely stoked when we win our thirteenth flag and thanks to the dogs I am starting to believe that it's possible. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,738]

2 hours ago, DeeZee said:

Hey Inside 50 I live in Yarraville and not witnessed anything like this in years.

Every second house donning the Footscray colours,cars beeping , people hugging in the street, the excitement is palpable.

Watched the game from outside the Suntheatre and the tears of joy afterwards were a sight to see.

Sunday morning I went for brekky and the Dogs players started rolling into the railway hotel for their mad Monday and there was a real sense of community.

I thought exactly the same thing as you, that we don't really have what some of these suburban clubs possess,but if the Dees win a flag I'd be that rapt I wouldn't care.

Where I live we only put our clocks forward one hour on the weekend. Do they go forward by a whole day in the Western Suburbs? I must get over there more.

[TRIGON 4,783]

Kudos to the Doggies. Starting Mad Monday on a Sunday shows true commitment.

[DeeZee 7,376]

Well they were celebrating a premiership so the frivolities just would have carried on from Saturday night, into Sunday and Monday.

[Dee Dee 1,108]

5 hours ago, CBDees said:

It's not our training venue which is the issue; it is where (?) to head off to to celebrate after we win the Grand Final!

 

5 hours ago, CBDees said:

It's not our training venue which is the issue; it is where (?) to head off to to celebrate after we win the Grand Final!

I'm sure that if Melbourne won a premiership within the next three or so years MCC president Steve Smith would move heaven and earth to hold celebrations at the "G". And future presidents would do the same.

[DV8 2,271]

11 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

North, Rich, Carl and the Dogs are at their traditional homes.

Hawthorn and Essendon are big enough to have moved out. St Kilda weren't but are running back home.

Collingwood have invaded and taken over Olympic Park. But the last time they won the flag they had a similar set up as we did using a public oval for training with facilities next door.

I really think we need a home for our women's team, for the possibility of a standalone VFL team and for a base for the fans. But I'm not sure we are big enough or brave enough to pull off an outer suburb mega complex like Hawthorn and Essendon.

I'd be constantly harassing/surveying opportunities with every council, school and university in or close to our heartland area about the possibility of a shared development. Monash Uni - Caulfield or Clayton, Melbourne Uni - Parkville or Burnley, Melbourne Grammar - Todd Rd, Scotch College, Albert Park, Fawkner Park, Elsternwick park. 

We need an oval that can be fenced off one day a week with facilities for a small crowd of 5-10k and then we need a building with fitness facilities - that can be public access - and offices.

The top private schools are all investing millions in to their football programs. There could be a mutually beneficial relationship to build an elite gym and grandstand in return for access to the oval. The bulldogs have a great relationship with Victoria Uni and I know we've got something with Melb Uni. 

It has to be explored and I hope it is, there's certainly not an easy answer.

 

 

 

This is exactly the issue that has caused our problems.   Not being brave enough (too conservative) to stand alone, & do IT our way. 

We are forever in the shadows of the Mcc.   And don't they love it.   They have all they want, summer & winter.  Win or lose, all the same to them.   It's just entertainment for they're paying patrons, & keeping the carpets wearing.

Claim the replacements on tax.