Jump to content

Training Ground?


Romey

Recommended Posts

5 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

This thread just goes around in circles.

Does anybody have any idea what is going on with our homebase other than our past president and board keep telling us the MCG precinct is the preferred site .

 

Sadly i suspect that would appear to be the default fall back mantra as the board, until now, has not tabled one serious alternative solution for its fan base/members to mull over.

At this point one can only deduce that the board/power brokers are so stubborn about having a new base close to "their/our" precinct that they just wont concede and refuse to even consider an alternatives a little further out.

We have sat on our hands for 35 years and there has been ZERO supporter/member back lash.  As a result the board appears to be happy to continue to tread water on a viable solution and/or do same until one near the G presents itself.  There is zero pressure for them to act it would seem, so, they don't.

If we do ever end up in a new base, many on here (possibly myself included) will be pushing up daisies.... R.I.P.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the most important part of any new training facility is it needs to be super attractive to players and staff. That means the space needs to be large enough to house all facilities with room to grow and in a location where it's attractive for players and staff to live nearby or that it's an easy commute.

Any facilities for fans in my opinion are secondary. However honestly if it has the above, it basically covers fans needs also. Players and staff also want access to good coffee and food, either onsite or nearby.

If the MCG precinct can provide this then great. Otherwise in my opinion we should not be wedded to it

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, whelan45 said:

I think the most important part of any new training facility is it needs to be super attractive to players and staff. That means the space needs to be large enough to house all facilities with room to grow and in a location where it's attractive for players and staff to live nearby or that it's an easy commute.

Any facilities for fans in my opinion are secondary. However honestly if it has the above, it basically covers fans needs also. Players and staff also want access to good coffee and food, either onsite or nearby.

If the MCG precinct can provide this then great. Otherwise in my opinion we should not be wedded to it

This is why we need to be careful about settling for Casey. Players might be happy to travel while we are winning, but if we drop down the table again it's going to be hard to attract players.

The last thing we need is to fall in to a St Kilda/Seaford situation (acknowledging the facilities were apparently crap). 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

You (and i'm sure a number of others on here) therefore must feel there is no need to connect / please the fans at all.  Just take their $$ and continue on continuing on no matter what happens on or off the field.

Nowhere have I said that or even implied it. Massive reach there.

What I said was a grand final party venue is the least important aspect of what we need in a training and admin base.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Chicken and egg LN.  I think its the reverse.  Had we had that base i think there may have actually been a GF party or two at said base already and we would probably not be talking about the need for a base or the lack of any silverware since 64.

I'm not changing the point at all.  The base is a must, not just for training & admin, for the fans as well.  Without fans and without considering them in the picture, the club in its own right (having no real face to face connection with fans at any point, outside of game day) effectively is running itself in isolation and for what purpose?  To please the people in positions of power, the coaches and FD, the players and the media?

Without the fans there is no point in the club existing at a professional level.

Even a small country club eg; Barnawartha Tigers has a raison d'etre, a soul, a base and possibly a better connection with its fan base at this point as a result of having a place to call home.  It's part of the fabric, the essence of any half decent club imv...

2014589722_Screenshot_20210422-001659_SamsungInternet.thumb.jpg.00169c195a58a6f4367a7ed931c438dd.jpg 

You (and i'm sure a number of others on here) therefore must feel there is no need to connect / please the fans at all.  Just take their $$ and continue on continuing on no matter what happens on or off the field.

Played there two weeks ago.

It's a [censored] ground. One of the worst I've played on for a while. 

Strong football club though..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nearly every argument ,discussion point, can be answered with the one solution.

DOCKLANDS/PORT MELBOURNE.

A new and emerging population base attracted to a new local entertainment and sporting facility with large outdoor and ndoor spaces has been approved by the MFC, which is putting a considerable amount of capital into this proposal. We appreciate that the MCG precinct our tradional home is already over utilised and Port Melbourne which will welcome the next generation of Migrants will benefit from a similar space said the new president. The premier said such an innovative and progressive use of the site was totally supported by the government to utilise the area as an example of building a total community, something that few previous governments had considered when the West gate docklands area was created.

Source my imagination 

Theres plenty more just work on it.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Sadly i suspect that would appear to be the default fall back mantra as the board, until now, has not tabled one serious alternative solution for its fan base/members to mull over.

At this point one can only deduce that the board/power brokers are so stubborn about having a new base close to "their/our" precinct that they just wont concede and refuse to even consider an alternatives a little further out.

We have sat on our hands for 35 years and there has been ZERO supporter/member back lash.  As a result the board appears to be happy to continue to tread water on a viable solution and/or do same until one near the G presents itself.  There is zero pressure for them to act it would seem, so, they don't.

If we do ever end up in a new base, many on here (possibly myself included) will be pushing up daisies.... R.I.P.

You have my vote RN. Spot on, I am quietly confident I will be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


12 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

I think in the past pre getting kicked off the MCG (training) around 1985 i would have agreed with you chook.  Those roots have long since passed now.

As has been mentioned ad nauseam on this thread, all potential options within a stone's throw of the G (borrowing OD's terminology) have now been exhausted.

 

Not if Collingwood can be convinced to leave. Others have said in this thread that Collingwood is looking at a new home in Studley Park. I have no idea if this is true, but Collingwood and its supporters have no emotional attachment to Olympic Park (or Yarra Park). If better facilities are made available than what they have now, Collingwood will go. That frees up the site for us. And while that might seem like we would be settling for "second best" (after all, if Collingwood leaves for somegthing better then by definition, they would be "second best"), that's not to say they can't be upgraded to make them equal with the best.  

  • Like 3
  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As soon as we accept that we will use Casey as our Summer base and that we will get a HQ at Gosch's Paddock the better we will be.  Whether that HQ will be on the corner of Hoddle and Swan or Over the Carpark near the current training oval will the only real sticking point.  The next is getting funding so we need to find our angle, you need to have something that adds to the community even if it is a small percentage of the complex, I really hope we are looking at the Reach Foundation located in the Jim Stynes center of being the best that you can be.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

More and more players - particularly those with families - are moving down the peninsula as a vague “tree change” from inner suburban living

I don’t think Casey as a home base for the MFC is as unattractive as it used to be 

who? ex dee great cam pedersen? i am unaware of any current player that lives on the peninsula and travels into the city for training/games?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/13/2020 at 1:50 PM, Diamond_Jim said:

Recent article by Caroline Wilson linking the Bomber's woes to their move to Tullamarine away from Windy Hill.

Not sure I agree with her attempted conclusions but it is an alternative view. For example she questions the Hawks' move to Dingley but lauds their earlier move to Waverley as a masterstroke.

"That Essendon have ended a crisis-ridden season in a crisis of their own making is beyond dispute. And while this unfolding predicament is man-made it's worth revisiting once again the Bombers' ill-fated decision to abandon their spiritual home and move to an isolated new base at Tullamarine......

Boasting a footprint double the size of Windy Hill, the cavernous Hangar, futuristic fittings and fixtures, an MCG-sized training oval and one the dimension of Marvel Stadium has not exactly spelt success for the Essendon Football Club."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bombers-lost-their-soul-with-their-move-from-windy-hill-20201008-p563e6.html

Think Bombers’ difficulties  are far more deep seated than their training base. Try their leadership at all levels starting with Hird for a start. They will be a long way off for quite some time..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/13/2020 at 2:18 PM, Diamond_Jim said:

As we haven't had a home for thirty plus years it's hard to see where we fit. The article seems to be more about the big multi function corporate structure and the physical location vs history. She seems to ignore the advantages offered by indoor training facilities.pools etc.

The club stuff could have been dealt with better by replicating the Windy Hill trophy room or similar perhaps. Tullamarine is fast becoming the Waverley of the North as the suburbs such as Gisborne, Sunbury etc grow ever larger so I wouldn't call it outer Melbourne. (And of course it's a lot closer than Casey).

Olympic pool precinct is our natural home and we should have jumped at the chance to move there when we were first offered it before Collingwood moved there. Having said that it was an understandable decision not to given our parlous financial state at the time, although l wonder whether all the sophisticated financing options were fully examined at the time. If the Woods move, it would be a perfect home for us, including at last a permanent social club.

  • Love 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


5 hours ago, old dee said:

You have my vote RN. Spot on, I am quietly confident I will be.

At this point just a lousy premiership will do me Mr Old.

As for the club base / development thingy...i will believe when i see it.  And by that i mean a genuine state of the art facility that encompasses training, admin and some sort of bar/social area/cafe thingy for the fans/members.

My gut feel Mr Old is that it will be a massive compromise if it's anywhere near the G or the paddock is involved in there somewhere.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

At this point just a lousy premiership will do me Mr Old.

As for the club base / development thingy...i will believe when i see it.  And by that i mean a genuine state of the art facility that encompasses training, admin and some sort of bar/social area/cafe thingy for the fans/members.

My gut feel Mr Old is that it will be a massive compromise if it's anywhere near the G or the paddock is involved in there somewhere.

Do any of the other elite training facilities have social club/members area?

Are Richmond fans allowed into Punt Road to drink before and after games?

Do Collingwood fans enter into the Gosch's setup for the same?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Dees2014 said:

Olympic pool precinct is our natural home and we should have jumped at the chance to move there when we were first offered it before Collingwood moved there. Having said that it was an understandable decision not to given our parlous financial state at the time, although l wonder whether all the sophisticated financing options were fully examined at the time. If the Woods move, it would be a perfect home for us, including at last a permanent social club.

I get no indications the pies intend to move. Where does this myth come from? I cannot see why the" social club" is in such demand. The clubs that have them get little attendance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, old dee said:

I get no indications the pies intend to move. Where does this myth come from? I cannot see why the" social club" is in such demand. The clubs that have them get little attendance.

Collingwood have money to burn.

If Richmond go ahead with their redevelopment Collingwood will be the only mega club without the mega training complex which for everyone but Richmond means 2 ovals, indoor training centre, pool and gym plus admin centre.

The old Olympic pool is heritage listed which limits what can be done. Perhaps they can do something more with Olympic Park but you have to wonder if a training centre is a good use of valuable land in the sporting precinct.

Social clubs are now officially dead IMO. Once the decision was made to ditch pokies that was the end

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Collingwood have money to burn.

If Richmond go ahead with their redevelopment Collingwood will be the only mega club without the mega training complex which for everyone but Richmond means 2 ovals, indoor training centre, pool and gym plus admin centre.

The old Olympic pool is heritage listed which limits what can be done. Perhaps they can do something more with Olympic Park but you have to wonder if a training centre is a good use of valuable land in the sporting precinct.

Social clubs are now officially dead IMO. Once the decision was made to ditch pokies that was the end

Re  Richmond are they staying at punt road? If not is there any talk of where? Again I have heard nothing about any tiger plans. As for social clubs agree 100%

Edited by old dee
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   1 member

  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    GETAWAY by Meggs

    Calling all fit players. Expect every available Melbourne player to board the Virgin cross-continent flight to Perth for this Round 4 clash on Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Oval. It promises to be keenly contested, though Fremantle is the bookies clear favourite.  If we lose, finals could be remoter than Rottnest Island especially following on from the Dees 50-point dismantlement by North Melbourne last Sunday.  There are 8 remaining matches, over the next 7 weeks.  To Meggs’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    DRUBBING by Meggs

    With Casey Fields basking in sunshine, an enthusiastic throng of young Demons fans formed a guard of honour for the evergreen and much admired 75-gamer Paxy Paxman. As the home team ran out to play, Paxy’s banner promised that the Demons would bounce back from last week’s loss to Brisbane and reign supreme.   Disappointingly, the Kangaroos dominated the match to win by 50 points, but our Paxy certainly did her bit.  She was clearly our best player, sweeping well in defence.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 4

    GARNER STRENGTH by Meggs

    In keeping with our tough draw theme, Week 3 sees Melbourne take on flag favourites, North Melbourne, at Casey Fields this Sunday at 1:05pm.  The weather forecast looks dry, a coolish 14 degrees and will be characteristically gusty.  Remember when Casey Fields was considered our fortress?  The Demons have lost two of their past three matches at the Field of Dreams, so opposition teams commute down the Princes Highway with more optimism these days.  The Dees held the highe

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 1

    ALLY’S FIELDS by Meggs

    It was a sunny morning at Casey Fields, as Demon supporters young and old formed a guard of honour for fan favourite and 50-gamer Alyssa Bannan.  Banno’s banner stated the speedster was the ‘fastest 50 games’ by an AFLW player ever.   For Dees supporters, today was not our day and unfortunately not for Banno either. A couple of opportunities emerged for our number 6 but alas there was no sizzle.   Brisbane atoned for last week’s record loss to North Melbourne, comprehensively out

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 1

    GOOD MORNING by Meggs

    If you are driving or training it to Cranbourne on Saturday, don’t forget to set your alarm clock. The Melbourne Demons play the reigning premiers Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields this Saturday, with the bounce of the ball at 11:05am.  Yes, that’s AM.   The AFLW fixture shows deference to the AFL men’s finals games.  So, for the men it’s good afternoon and good evening and for the women it’s good morning.     The Lions were wounded last week by 44 points, their highest ever los

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 3

    HORE ON FIRE by Meggs

    The 40,000 seat $319 million redeveloped Kardinia Park Stadium was nowhere near capacity last night but the strong, noisy contingent of Melbourne supporters led by the DeeArmy journeyed to Geelong to witness a high-quality battle between two of the best teams in AFLW.   The Cats entered the arena to the blasting sounds of Zombie Nation and made a hot start kicking the first 2 goals. They brought tremendous forward half pressure, and our newly renovated defensive unit looked shaky.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 11

    REMATCH by Meggs

    The Mighty Demons take on the confident Cats this Saturday night at the recently completed $319 million redeveloped GMHBA Stadium, with the bounce of the ball at 7:15pm. Our last game of 2023 was an agonisingly close 5-point semi-final loss to Geelong, and we look forward to Melbourne turning the tables this week. Practice match form was scratchy for both teams with the Demons losing practice matches to Carlton and Port Adelaide, while the Cats beat Collingwood but then lost to Essendo

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    WELCOME 2024 by Meggs

    It’s been hard to miss the seismic global momentum happening in Women’s sport of late. The Matildas have been playing to record sell-out crowds across Australia and ‘Mary Fowler is God’ is chalked onto footpaths everywhere. WNBA basketball rookie sensation Caitlin Clark has almost single-handedly elevated her Indiana Fever team to unprecedented viewership, attendances and playoffs in the USA.   Our female Aussie Paris 2024 Olympians won 13 out of Australia’s all-time record 18 gol

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 3

    EPILOGUE by Whispering Jack

    I sit huddled in near darkness, the only light coming through flickering embers in a damp fireplace, the room in total silence after the thunderstorm died. I wonder if they bothered to restart the game.  No point really. It was over before it started. The team’s five star generals in defence and midfield ruled out of the fray, a few others missing in action against superior enemy firepower and too few left to fly the flag for the field marshal defiantly leading his outnumbered army int

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Match Reports 6
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...