Beautiful day for the event and a very good crowd attended. Plenty of young kids which was also pleasing. 

In response to Demon77,  Harmes was indeed absent today. Mmmmm. 

The players seemed to enjoy the more casual atmosphere in Yarra Park and were very relaxed with the endless stream of fans and autographs. 

The membership tent had a steady stream of people coming to it so hopefully our numbers will get a boost this week. 

I had an opportunity to talk briefly with PJ who, with his team, has helped to rebuild the club both off field and on. He was extremely pleased with the turnout today, and revitalised club spirit. 

All in all, amongst the crowd, except for the long wait to meet some players, the mood was fantastic uninterupted by the rides and distractions of Luna Park. Access to the ground by both car and public transport made the event easy for all to attend. 

I can only imagine it was regarded by the club as a success.  Being flanked by the magnificence of our home ground, it was a genuine Melbourne Football Club event for the benefit of its members. 

Congrats need to be extended to Robb who worked hard today to keep the interviews with players and coaches flowing smoothly while fans went about their preferred activities. 

We'll done MFC. 

Edited March 4, 20187 yr by Hot as Hell
Typo

I vote we keep it here next year. It was great not having people who are there for different reasons (ie rides in Luna Park) getting  in the way. Thing is, it was a bit unclear how to find some players. Nathan Jones was just a lucky sighting. Sometimes you just had to judge by how big a line was. Couldn’t find Viney, although I saw him onstage.

Edited March 4, 20187 yr by Cassiew

Was ANB in attendance?

3 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Was ANB in attendance?

Yes

Yup definently sunburnt. Caked myself in sunscreen but still burnt. I’m sure my mate will notice I’m a true ‘redleg’ when we go swimming tomorrow morning.

All in all a great day, apart from the old woman who commented that me and my brother were a ‘cute couple’. Urgh.

James wasn't at the Sponsorship afternoon either so maybe a family issue.

There seemed to be more of the little kids there but less teenagers. Possibly a venue like Luna Park would appeal to them a bit more than the G. The club might look at possibly alternating the venue to cater for that crowd.

5 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

There seemed to be more of the little kids there but less teenagers. Possibly a venue like Luna Park would appeal to them a bit more than the G. The club might look at possibly alternating the venue to cater for that crowd.

Spot on in my case WJ. I couldn’t talk my boy (12) into it once he found out it was at the G. We’ve been to the last 4-5 at Luna Park so he was looking forward to the rides as well.

Kids are a bit spoiled these days. I’d have given my left knacker at his age to have a chat, photo and autograph with the dees players.

1 minute ago, small but forward said:

Spot on in my case WJ. I couldn’t talk my boy (12) into it once he found out it was at the G. We’ve been to the last 4-5 at Luna Park so he was looking forward to the rides as well.

Kids are a bit spoiled these days. I’d have given my left knacker at his age to have a chat, photo and autograph with the dees players.

On course, in making that sacrifice, you may not have a 12 year old son to worry about.

36 minutes ago, Bimbo said:

On course, in making that sacrifice, you may not have a 12 year old son to worry about.

I appreciate the humour

The absence of James Harmes is concerning. He was on Instagram posting, so clearly nothing major wrong. Robbo simply skipped over him, no explanation for why he wasn't there. Most unusual. Could it be discipline reasons? Illness.? It's very odd. 

I understand why we have moved on from Luna Park, but I thought yesterday was a little disappointing by comparison.

There were really very few activities for kids, and no rides, and I thought they could have made better use of the players (Jordan Lewis was fantastic interacting with kids in the arts & crafts section, but far too many of them seemed to go missing for large parts of the morning. I get that it is not fun signing your name for two hours straight, but surely it is a small price to pay for making a few kids happy).

My suggestions for next year:

1. Have a signing area for the big name players where you only need to line up once, rather having to line up ten different times.

2. More players helping out with the activities, engaging with the kids. It is a great way for the younger kids to become comfortable interacting with fans, in a relaxed environment.

3. More rides / skill activities. Even run a mini clinic or two.

4. Have a bit more space between activities, so that lines are not running into each other.

PS. When you advertise something as being at the MCG, I was hoping it would actually be on the MCG. 

10 minutes ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

The absence of James Harmes is concerning. He was on Instagram posting, so clearly nothing major wrong. Robbo simply skipped over him, no explanation for why he wasn't there. Most unusual. Could it be discipline reasons? Illness.? It's very odd. 

That's why I was curious. If it was a case of a common cold or family commitments Robbo surely could have mentioned it like he did with Daisy. The fact they announced Number 5 Trac and then straight to number 3 Salem was peculiar. Was the club worried about the reaction from supporters when he said " Our new number 4 is ....." surely not!

4 minutes ago, Demon77 said:

That's why I was curious. If it was a case of a common cold or family commitments Robbo surely could have mentioned it like he did with Daisy. The fact they announced Number 5 Trac and then straight to number 3 Salem was peculiar. Was the club worried about the reaction from supporters when he said " Our new number 4 is ....." surely not!

Maybe the curse of Norm Smith has struck. That 'ol number 4 should be retired. 

Had no chance to take three kids but once they found it wasn’t at Luna Park this year their interest was dissipated 

I would have loved to interact with the Dees players when I was 7-11, but kids these days just don’t see it as that exciting to meet professional athletes 

I think it was disappointing that there were no rides there. I promised my 9 year old that there would be rides. Not sure I will be able to get her to go next year without rides.

I agree with what someone said earlier that there should be an autograph station where select players are at a table and you only need to line up once. Queues are not kid friendly and if you have to queue up for 10 players each the waiting adds up.

I think that having the players at the head of the line for activities is a great idea too.

13 hours ago, Cassiew said:

All in all a great day, apart from the old woman who commented that me and my brother were a ‘cute couple’. Urgh.

Just take that she thought you were cute and forget the rest. Guessing Maxy would have been the most popular player on the day?

19 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Just take that she thought you were cute and forget the rest. Guessing Maxy would have been the most popular player on the day?

We are blessed to have Max at the club. His popularity transcends the MFC and he would be just as popular at a mixed team event with opposition fans. I can't remember having such a widely popular player in the modern era. Jimmy perhaps.

Saddest sight for me Harry Petty standing all alone in the middle, pen in hand and not one person asking him to sign anything???

 

42 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I think it was disappointing that there were no rides there. I promised my 9 year old that there would be rides. Not sure I will be able to get her to go next year without rides.

I agree with what someone said earlier that there should be an autograph station where select players are at a table and you only need to line up once. Queues are not kid friendly and if you have to queue up for 10 players each the waiting adds up.

I think that having the players at the head of the line for activities is a great idea too.

This was first go back at G, I provided some feedback as welll

For others it was hot and sunny, suncreen, hat and water, the number of attendees without hats staggered me

 

 

5 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

 

Are these the 2018 "guns pics".

2 hours ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

The absence of James Harmes is concerning. He was on Instagram posting, so clearly nothing major wrong. Robbo simply skipped over him, no explanation for why he wasn't there. Most unusual. Could it be discipline reasons? Illness.? It's very odd. 

F*** The MFCSS is alive and well.

3 hours ago, poita said:

I understand why we have moved on from Luna Park, but I thought yesterday was a little disappointing by comparison.

There were really very few activities for kids, and no rides, and I thought they could have made better use of the players (Jordan Lewis was fantastic interacting with kids in the arts & crafts section, but far too many of them seemed to go missing for large parts of the morning. I get that it is not fun signing your name for two hours straight, but surely it is a small price to pay for making a few kids happy).

My suggestions for next year:

1. Have a signing area for the big name players where you only need to line up once, rather having to line up ten different times.

2. More players helping out with the activities, engaging with the kids. It is a great way for the younger kids to become comfortable interacting with fans, in a relaxed environment.

3. More rides / skill activities. Even run a mini clinic or two.

4. Have a bit more space between activities, so that lines are not running into each other.

PS. When you advertise something as being at the MCG, I was hoping it would actually be on the MCG. 

 

Excellent points poita.

Whilst not being at Luna Park had some upside the gaps also needed to be covered to keep the kids amused.

I also thought there was insufficient planning about how the fans could get autographs with out having to line up in 3 or 4 lines to get the popular players only for many of the other players to be ignored or seemingly feel like "extras". A few tables around the space with 5 to 8 players per table would have given everyone a better shot at a happy snap, and a full autograph  book.

The layout of most activities on the outside of the field and nothing in the middle might have looked better on the map than it actually worked in real life.

I thought Robbo did a great job knowing that a lot of the activity shortfall rested on his shoulders to fill.

All good lessons for next year's event.

 

44 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

F*** The MFCSS is alive and well.

You don't find it odd that he was the only player not there and the MC just skipped over him as if he didn't exist? Why would you not just say "Number 4, James Harmes, who is unfortunately away sick today'.