Training Ground?

[george_on_the_outer 6,988]

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

Can we just talk on the level here?

We have world class facilities for high performance at two locations; these enable our players to be the best they can be.

What we don’t have is a centralised base that houses our footy dept and our admin.

And we don’t have a social club aspect to any location that members can go to. 

The first one is a genuine annoyance and the second one is a laughable pipe dream, but neither of these things are a hindrance to winning games of footy and being successful.

Just thought it should be said.

We don't have "world class" facilities.  We share facilities with Storm, Rebels and Victory at AAMI.

We have to book gym, rehab, pools, ice baths with them.  We have 44 players on the list, how many are there among those 3 other clubs?  And our Womens team now trains at Gosch's/AAMI.

We don't have a centralised admin and we don't have that housed with the football department.  We are spread among multiple offices throughout the MCG.  The admin isn't even centralised there.

The Casey extended facility was built for the AFLW/VFLW teams courtesy of contributions from AFL and Casey council.  It is being used by our mens team when there. And no rehab/pool facility included. It ain't world class.  One only has to see what Essendon currently have, and what Adelaide are plannning, to see world class.

[Sir Why You Little 34,554]

34 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Prior to 1959 there were no cups produced.  Only Flags.  In 2004 the AFL allowed clubs to purchase newly minted cups won before 1959.  They now receive a cup and a flag when the Premiership is won.

Correct 

[old dee 22,925]

11 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes there are 13 Cups old Boy

So as long as there is room for more, that can be home for now 

So wherever that it is they will be staying there for quite some time.

[Diamond_Jim 11,811]

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

We don't have "world class" facilities.  We share facilities with Storm, Rebels and Victory at AAMI.

We have to book gym, rehab, pools, ice baths with them.  We have 44 players on the list, how many are there among those 3 other clubs?  And our Womens team now trains at Gosch's/AAMI.

We don't have a centralised admin and we don't have that housed with the football department.  We are spread among multiple offices throughout the MCG.  The admin isn't even centralised there.

The Casey extended facility was built for the AFLW/VFLW teams courtesy of contributions from AFL and Casey council.  It is being used by our mens team when there. And no rehab/pool facility included. It ain't world class.  One only has to see what Essendon currently have, and what Adelaide are plannning, to see world class.

This is the nub of the issue

Standard training facilities are quickly becoming..

Two ovals, gym, pool and large undercover area

With co-located admin, video review facilities,medical rooms etc.

Just not seeing an MFC plan that will get us anywhere near these levels in the next 20 years

[old dee 22,925]

28 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

This is the nub of the issue

Standard training facilities are quickly becoming..

Two ovals, gym, pool and large undercover area

With co-located admin, video review facilities,medical rooms etc.

Just not seeing an MFC plan that will get us anywhere near these levels in the next 20 years

Sadly I can say not in my life time DJ.

[rpfc 27,494]

@george_on_the_outeri don’t want to get into the definition of world class but i have spent a bit of time up here at the AIS and it is comparable whether or not is shared. These are excellent athletes and they have the facilities to get the most out of themselves.

[kev martin 9,215]

Noticed that the Central Train Station in Sydney is set to get a redevelopment over the existing rail line.

"The plan to construct a bridge over the busiest lines in the country includes 15 mixed-use buildings, ranging from four to 34 storeys, and more than 60,000 sq metres of green space."

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/central-precinct-renewal-program

Could see the Vic government doing something similar, all the way from Birrarung Marr to Richmond station. The created space could include a MFC training facility. 

Only hoping.

Edited August 28, 2022 by kev martin

[praha 10,283]

6 hours ago, kev martin said:

Noticed that the Central Train Station in Sydney is set to get a redevelopment over the existing rail line.

"The plan to construct a bridge over the busiest lines in the country includes 15 mixed-use buildings, ranging from four to 34 storeys, and more than 60,000 sq metres of green space."

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/central-precinct-renewal-program

Could see the Vic government doing something similar, all the way from Birrarung Marr to Richmond station. The created space could include a MFC training facility. 

Only hoping.

The problem isn't so much the government. It's local councils and community groups in particular Yarra Council which is made up of Trots who have spent much of their life in the Richmond/Abbotsford/East Melbourne area and very much live in a bubble. Checkout Stephen Jolly on Twitter for insight into the clowns that run the joint, it's basically him vs the clown college. I lived in East Melbourne when both the Apple Store at Fed Square plan AND development over Jolimont Station were being floated, and there was vocal opposition to both to a psychotic degree that I have never experienced before. Honestly I felt like I was in an episode in the Twilight Zone. Locals were BEGGING for the council to do something about the injection houses and overdoses and drug dealing, and instead all resources were dedicated to opposing the Jolimont Station plan and a [censored] Apple store. Evidently I don't live in the area anymore but follow Jolly still and see he is in a new battle with Yarra counsellors who are now blocking locals from debating and contesting at meetings. 

No doubt the government has power over these councils but Yarra Council and those community groups are heavily influential on Spring Street particularly in left and socialist factions across Labor and the Greens. This makes any sort of development over park land or any "sacred" area in Yarra very difficult. The MCC itself is even often in a battle.

Edited August 28, 2022 by praha

[Supreme_Demon 3,011]

With the new TV rights deal with the AFL for a whopping $4.5 billion dollars the Melbourne Football Club needs to take advantage of the significant windfall.

I would love the Melbourne Demons to aim to get $100 million dollars from the AFL to help pay for our home base to be built at Gosch's Paddock.

We could arrange so it is not just for the AFL team's training but also for the AFLW team's training. The home base should also include our administration as well as state of the art training facilities, a social club and even an Indigenous Centre (similar to Richmond) seeing as we have a connection with Aboriginal communities in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

Anyway, hopefully the Melbourne Football Club board aims to try and get some funds to help us from the AFL. I understand it's not that simple but you gotta at least ask the question and develop a worthy proposal. Even if it is a loan from the AFL.  

[Supreme_Demon 3,011]

Additionally, the home base should include a massive interactive museum for the Melbourne Football Club (even better than what other AFL Clubs like Carlton and Essendon have) which would illustrate our proud history, which is over 160 years old, and would be a wonderful experience for Melbourne Demons fans to walk through and experience. This would talk about the beginnings of the Melbourne Football Club. The great players, teams, coaches and administrators, the Premiership years and the years of disappointment. Melbourne fans could also see (and hold) all 13 (currently) of our Premiership Cups!

Edited September 6, 2022 by Supreme_Demon

[Diamond_Jim 11,811]

23 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

and the years of disappointment.

A sort of Vale of Tears with several maze like exits leading to more tears until through a covid coloured haze you find the holy grail in the mythical city of Perth.

I like it !!!

[chookrat 3,776]

On 8/27/2022 at 8:49 AM, Redleg said:

So what was the 12 months plan?

How about explaining where it was to be  and why it failed.

Being told nothing is pretty poor, especially  from a Board that won’t let anyone else who might be able to help, get onto it.

This is a discreet issue that has we have been trying to solve for decades. What is the current situation?

We are at a point in this where unless there is already an agreement with the State Government that we will have our facilities in the MCG precinct, they already have one or two agreed options and are working through the details before making an announcement that we need to drive the campaign publicly.

It is a ridiculous situation where we have spent club money to assess and present options, such as the Jolimont train yards, and that we backed off due to opposition from a couple of hundred local residents. While there is a process we need to push this sort of resistance when we have looked at all options and found something that works for the majority of stakeholders. If we launched a PR campaign that we are undertaking a feasibility study of the Jolimont site and the benefits it will bring to our club and the city then we could get on the front foot and gather broad public support that nullifies objections from the locals who oppose any development.

[chookrat 3,776]

On 8/28/2022 at 7:21 PM, praha said:

The problem isn't so much the government. It's local councils and community groups in particular Yarra Council which is made up of Trots who have spent much of their life in the Richmond/Abbotsford/East Melbourne area and very much live in a bubble. Checkout Stephen Jolly on Twitter for insight into the clowns that run the joint, it's basically him vs the clown college. I lived in East Melbourne when both the Apple Store at Fed Square plan AND development over Jolimont Station were being floated, and there was vocal opposition to both to a psychotic degree that I have never experienced before. Honestly I felt like I was in an episode in the Twilight Zone. Locals were BEGGING for the council to do something about the injection houses and overdoses and drug dealing, and instead all resources were dedicated to opposing the Jolimont Station plan and a [censored] Apple store. Evidently I don't live in the area anymore but follow Jolly still and see he is in a new battle with Yarra counsellors who are now blocking locals from debating and contesting at meetings. 

No doubt the government has power over these councils but Yarra Council and those community groups are heavily influential on Spring Street particularly in left and socialist factions across Labor and the Greens. This makes any sort of development over park land or any "sacred" area in Yarra very difficult. The MCC itself is even often in a battle.

I'm wondering if there are any marginal electorates with a strong Melbourne supporter base which we leverage to pressure both major parties to announce/support our preferred option for a home base.

[old dee 22,925]

1 hour ago, chookrat said:

I'm wondering if there are any marginal electorates with a strong Melbourne supporter base which we leverage to pressure both major parties to announce/support our preferred option for a home base.

Good luck with the search.

 

[chookrat 3,776]

8 minutes ago, old dee said:

Good luck with the search.

 

OD you may have misunderstood me, I was putting this idea out there in hope that someone else would drive it 😃.

[layzie 28,931]

1 hour ago, chookrat said:

OD you may have misunderstood me, I was putting this idea out there in hope that someone else would drive it 😃.

Can't someone else do it!

[Neil Crompton 4,787]

4 hours ago, chookrat said:

We are at a point in this where unless there is already an agreement with the State Government that we will have our facilities in the MCG precinct, they already have one or two agreed options and are working through the details before making an announcement that we need to drive the campaign publicly.

It is a ridiculous situation where we have spent club money to assess and present options, such as the Jolimont train yards, and that we backed off due to opposition from a couple of hundred local residents. While there is a process we need to push this sort of resistance when we have looked at all options and found something that works for the majority of stakeholders. If we launched a PR campaign that we are undertaking a feasibility study of the Jolimont site and the benefits it will bring to our club and the city then we could get on the front foot and gather broad public support that nullifies objections from the locals who oppose any development.

Chookrat, I'm sorry but the Jolimont scheme was a planning mistake that was never going to be approved, nor will ever be.

[Gouga 508]

Good to know there is money in the coffers. Surely the AFL will put some aside for the Dees given we must have asked for the least funding for facilities of the whole league, given our lack of a viable option. 

[old dee 22,925]

2 hours ago, Gouga said:

Good to know there is money in the coffers. Surely the AFL will put some aside for the Dees given we must have asked for the least funding for facilities of the whole league, given our lack of a viable option. 

There are options outside the "G proximity idea" but we are welded to that area.

[Sir Why You Little 34,554]

We should just build a big complex in the MCG Carpark 

They don’t allow cars to park there anymore, haven’t for years 

[drdrake 3,038]

34 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

We should just build a big complex in the MCG Carpark 

They don’t allow cars to park there anymore, haven’t for years 

Wasn't that option 1 build a big complex over the rail line and turn the carpark in front of gate 3 into a training oval.  The greens, dog walkers, joggers all kicked up a stink and that was that.

[Sir Why You Little 34,554]

1 minute ago, drdrake said:

Wasn't that option 1 build a big complex over the rail line and turn the carpark in front of gate 3 into a training oval.  The greens, dog walkers, joggers all kicked up a stink and that was that.

Probably. Doesn’t stop it being a great idea though. The Parkland is huge and it’s basically not used…

[Gouga 508]

8 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Probably. Doesn’t stop it being a great idea though. The Parkland is huge and it’s basically not used…

I think the feedback is we won't be granted public parkland that is not already zoned for sport...

[Sir Why You Little 34,554]

2 minutes ago, Gouga said:

I think the feedback is we won't be granted public parkland that is not already zoned for sport...

I know. I am just stirring the pot

[Gouga 508]

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I know. I am just stirring the pot

If we want to stir the pot we should put in a proposal to redevelop victoria park...