Demons Grand Plan for Yarra Park Training HQ

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

What Pert is finding, I am guessing, is that "Gary Pert CEO" does not cut nearly as much ice when it is not on "Collingwood" letterhead.

Might as well be Sid Flubb asking the govt for money for digs to host the world scrabble tournament.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,777]

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Let me make this claim based on no inside information...

I predict that Collingwood will relocate their training facilities to Victoria Park and we will take over theirs at Olympic Park.  Collingwood will choose to move because of a multi-million dollar upgrade supported by Federal and/or State Governments. Our new facilities will also be upgraded as part of the deal. While the fingerprints of Gary Pert will be found all over the plans, it will be Eddie McGuire who will bask in the glory of taking Collingwood "home".

That'd be great!

[old dee 23,744]

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Let me make this claim based on no inside information...

I predict that Collingwood will relocate their training facilities to Victoria Park and we will take over theirs at Olympic Park.  Collingwood will choose to move because of a multi-million dollar upgrade supported by Federal and/or State Governments. Our new facilities will also be upgraded as part of the deal. While the fingerprints of Gary Pert will be found all over the plans, it will be Eddie McGuire who will bask in the glory of taking Collingwood "home".

any minute now LDC you will wake from this slumber.

[old dee 23,744]

1 minute ago, Mazer Rackham said:

What Pert is finding, I am guessing, is that "Gary Pert CEO" does not cut nearly as much ice when it is not on "Collingwood" letterhead.

Might as well be Sid Flubb asking the govt for money for digs to host the world scrabble tournament.

A much higher chance of success MR.

[rjay 24,847]

57 minutes ago, old dee said:

While they remain tethered to Yarra Park rjay I seriously doubt anything will happen.

If not already they need to start working on plan B

Honestly 'old dee', I don't think we are...

Certainly that's the media & Demonland narrative but I think we have moved past that.

No inside info but I just can't see intelligent people like Bartlett & Pert not working on another plan.

Bartlett has alluded to multiple plans in the past.

Yarra park might be a strategic play, smoke and mirrors to leverage something else.

58 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Let me make this claim based on no inside information...

I predict that Collingwood will relocate their training facilities to Victoria Park and we will take over theirs at Olympic Park.  Collingwood will choose to move because of a multi-million dollar upgrade supported by Federal and/or State Governments. Our new facilities will also be upgraded as part of the deal. While the fingerprints of Gary Pert will be found all over the plans, it will be Eddie McGuire who will bask in the glory of taking Collingwood "home".

I think we might be involved here.

Again, no inside information.

I don't see Collingwood heading back to Vic park though. No money has been allocated or promised there.

The money that's been discussed is for the sporting precinct of which we are a part.

[Its Time for Another 4,187]

2 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

The fact he went so public on Yarra park , when it actually was so tenuous has made me doubt his capacity. 

Wouldn't it be nice if a few more people on here checked their facts before blasting away at people and doubting their capacity. 

Yarra Park was leaked to the press well before Pert even started at MFC. My guess without any source is that some other retiring CEO wanted to make sure they protected their legacy by making sure they were given credit for the concept. It was leaked way too early and Pert has clearly been in damage control over it ever since he arrived. 

I hope they are working on plenty of other sites because this one seems very unlikely. Would be spectacular if LDC was right but I doubt they'll be giving up the Holden Centre ever. They might develop Vic Park but I reckon it will be in addition to what they have now. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,515]

2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Wasn't it PM Gillard who threw $27M at the Bulldogs to tidy up the western Oval???????

Thrown at the Western Suburbs more particularly as a community sporting precinct.

It's not too hard to work out the boxes one must tick for funding etc which makes it all the more amazing that anyone thought the Jolimont Park idea would ever fly.

[old dee 23,744]

23 minutes ago, rjay said:

Honestly 'old dee', I don't think we are...

Certainly that's the media & Demonland narrative but I think we have moved past that.

No inside info but I just can't see intelligent people like Bartlett & Pert not working on another plan.

Bartlett has alluded to multiple plans in the past.

Yarra park might be a strategic play, smoke and mirrors to leverage something else.

I think we might be involved here.

Again, no inside information.

I don't see Collingwood heading back to Vic park though. No money has been allocated or promised there.

The money that's been discussed is for the sporting precinct of which we are a part.

Re Vic Park my understanding is that Yarra council have no interest in using Vic Park for anything other than local use. And why would the Pies want to go back there they have effectively replaced us in the central Melbourne area. They have a fabulous area now in the old  Olympic area and more Government money coming. Every time I go by there I mentally weep. The MFC should be in there however we blew it so now we take the left overs what they are in the future who knows, but we need to do something very soon.

[old dee 23,744]

1 minute ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Thrown at the Western Suburbs more particularly as a community sporting precinct.

It's not too hard to work out the boxes one must tick for funding etc which makes it all the more amazing that anyone thought the Jolimont Park idea would ever fly.

Total cynical view DJ but the information seemed to come out just before the AGM last year. There was little comment at the AGM because " there was still negotiations going on" . Fixed for another year! 

As I have said elsewhere the desire to be close to the G is a very very large impediment.

[Diamond_Jim 12,515]

9 minutes ago, old dee said:

Re Vic Park my understanding is that Yarra council have no interest in using Vic Park for anything other than local use. And why would the Pies want to go back there they have effectively replaced us in the central Melbourne area. They have a fabulous area now in the old  Olympic area and more Government money coming. Every time I go by there I mentally weep. The MFC should be in there however we blew it so now we take the left overs what they are in the future who knows, but we need to do something very soon.

you touch on an interesting point OD ie the degree of exclusivity increasingly required by an AFL club for its training space.

Most of the training ovals are now no go areas as far as the public are concerned. Gosch's Park is one of the main exceptions. Arden Street was open ..not sure if it still is. In this regard going back to Vic Park would be  a retrograde step for the CFC not to mention that the oval would probably be smaller.

The hard reality is that the best location from a long term player facility development aspect is Casey. How we deal with the cultural home aspect is a separate challenge which would be easily fixed with a few premiership flags !!

Edited May 9, 2019 by Diamond_Jim

[rjay 24,847]

6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The hard reality is that the best location from a long term player facility development aspect is Casey.

Think Seaford and you will know that Casey would be a retrograde step...

You could kiss goodby any thoughts of being a destination club.

[old dee 23,744]

4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

you touch on an interesting point OD ie the degree of exclusivity increasingly required by an AFL club for its training space.

Most of the training ovals are now no go areas as far as the public are concerned. Gosch's Park is one of the main exceptions. Arden Street was open ..not sure if it still is. In this regard going back to Vic Park would be  a retrograde step for the CFC not to mention that the oval would probably be smaller.

The hard reality is that the best location from a long term player facility development aspect is Casey. How we deal with the cultural home aspect is a separate challenge which would be easily fixed with a few premiership flags !!

The last line fixes everything DJ, the Hawks don't seem to have been affected adversely by being at Waverely or Dingley. 

Docklands or Casey seem the only options to me and as Docklands is probably 10+ years away at best it is Casey for me. 

[SPC 3,532]

It is still hard to believe we are the oldest club and the only club with a 'pop-up' training ground. AFL should compensate for kicking us off the G and allowing other clubs to play at 'our' ground. 

[old dee 23,744]

2 minutes ago, rjay said:

Think Seaford and you will know that Casey would be a retrograde step...

You could kiss goodby any thoughts of being a destination club.

So where rjay?

[old dee 23,744]

3 minutes ago, SPC said:

It is still hard to believe we are the oldest club and the only club with a 'pop-up' training ground. AFL should compensate for kicking us off the G and allowing other clubs to play at 'our' ground. 

SPC I think it was the MCC who kicked us off in the mid sixties so Richmond could play games there and it was the VFL in those days. We have been dithering ever since.

Oh for an "Eddy McGuire " at the MFC.

Edited May 9, 2019 by old dee

[SPC 3,532]

6 minutes ago, old dee said:

SPC I think it was the MCC who kicked us off in the mid sixties so Richmond could play games there and it was the VFL in those days. We have been dithering ever since.

Oh for an "Eddy McGuire " at the MFC.

Would have been good to have someone with a bit of grunt to dig the heals in and demand a better deal. Weak off the field and on it unfortunately. 

[Sir Why You Little 36,951]

We had our chance. 

“Diamond” Joe Gutnick was the one who knocked back the Lexus Centre 

Said we couldn’t afford it. I don’t think Joe ever understood Good Debt. 

Absolute Fool put us back 20-30 years

[ding 5,126]

The issue of true permanent home is, for me, the biggest impediment to a successful future the club faces.

Bloody hard to sell our club as a destination for (particularly) free agents when we train on a public park that is not even the correct proportions for footy, and we share the Gym and other facilities with other sports. Its no wonder MFC have trouble getting players to come here for less than top dollar, because we are not only mediocre on the field but are essentially homeless.

If the club somehow manages to get us a home in/near the center of Melbourne I will celebrate like we have just won a premiership, because it might just be a big factor in our next one.

 

 

[old dee 23,744]

3 minutes ago, SPC said:

Would have been good to have someone with a bit of grunt to dig the heals in and demand a better deal. Weak off the field and on it unfortunately. 

Back then SPC MFC members only got to vote for part of the total number of board members ( cloudy memory but I think it was 30% but it was less than a majority ) the rest where nominated by the MCC. So the blame squarely rests with the MCC. 

[Sorry kids 635]

No chance of Yarra Park getting up without the support of the State Govt, Council and Local Community groups. Waste of Club resources to be looking at it. We have Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond and the Kangas all in the greater City area . We are seriously  outflanked and out muscled. Maybe Casey has the best chance of attracting State Government dollars for development and game hosting as the Bulldogs are proposing. Not sure how the players would feel about being based out there though.I like all of us love the G but would also love the idea of playing, say Freo or Gold Coast at our own home ground with a sellout Demons crowd.

[Lucifers Hero 39,469]

iirc our admin staff are located at the MCG?  Can't imagine prising them out of there.  Casey is a problem for staff who come from all corners of Melbourne and would have to go there every day.  Moreso for those that rely on public transport or are part-time which would include some of the medico and fitness staff who may have practices elsewhere.

As for the players, the impression I have, most live inner east, east or south.  A drive down the freeway will get them to Casey in half an hour and that would be only a few days a week. 

I doubt the club will move football staff from AAMI further from the admin staff at the MCG.

As the decision makers are senior admin and the Board I see zilch chance of Casey being our base for the whole club. 

Edited May 9, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[rjay 24,847]

6 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

As for the players, the impression I have, most live inner east, east or south.  A drive down the freeway will get them to Casey in half an hour and that would be only a few days a week. 

Good luck getting to Casey in half an hour mid week...

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

4 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

What Pert is finding, I am guessing, is that "Gary Pert CEO" does not cut nearly as much ice when it is not on "Collingwood" letterhead.

Might as well be Sid Flubb asking the govt for money for digs to host the world scrabble tournament.

Quick witted poster redundancy issue... Redacted!

Edited May 9, 2019 by Rusty Nails

[old dee 23,744]

17 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

iirc our admin staff are located at the MCG?  Can't imagine prising them out of there.  Casey is a problem for staff who come from all corners of Melbourne and would have to go there every day.  Moreso for those that rely on public transport or are part-time which would include some of the medico and fitness staff who may have practices elsewhere.

As for the players, the impression I have, most live inner east, east or south.  A drive down the freeway will get them to Casey in half an hour and that would be only a few days a week. 

I doubt the club will move football staff from AAMI further from the admin staff at the MCG.

As the decision makers are senior admin and the Board I see zilch chance of Casey being our base for the whole club. 

So where LH?

[Lucifers Hero 39,469]

10 minutes ago, rjay said:

Good luck getting to Casey in half an hour mid week...

1/2 is based on players generally travelling outside peak hour and travel in the opposite direction to peak travellers.