Training Ground?

[Roger Mellie 4,103]

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

Casey whilst good facilities etc is too far away,  whilst start of the art facilities is no guarantee of success eg Collingwood 1 x flag in 20+ years, we are falling behind when you consider tigers & dogs getting multi million funding to upgrade their grounds inc Cats who will have a 40k stadium to train on plus the right to host home finals vs Josh’s paddock plus a 50+ drive to Casey… 

The Cats also have Deakin University at their disposal in the off-season. Deakin got $8m+ funding to convert their footy ground to MCG proportions because they definitely need that at Deakin for the Deakin Ducks Football Club (Soccer).

[58er 6,568]

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

Casey whilst good facilities etc is too far away,  whilst start of the art facilities is no guarantee of success eg Collingwood 1 x flag in 20+ years, we are falling behind when you consider tigers & dogs getting multi million funding to upgrade their grounds inc Cats who will have a 40k stadium to train on plus the right to host home finals vs Josh’s paddock plus a 50+ drive to Cas

The other great facilities Dogs have one Flag in about 25 years also !!! 
The ground GMHAB or whatever does not guarantee flags it adds to home ground advantage but it's 40k Is irrelevant  really when considering training. The ground is no better and not MCG size! Also One Flag in 2 years at Casey beats 35  years at Whitten Or dome Uni Oval and the Lexus Holden or Other Centre for the Pies.

Has much more to do with the human side of Sport or Football than the deck you train on. Casey Facilities are tops and ground surface as good as AFL grounds. The new indoor change and Gym and recovery facilitiesare state of the art. 
Goschs is a good second venue slightly thinner on the wings but has convenience and they MCG nearby feel plus other items like a scoreboard and gym are serving their purpose. 

We are not behind it's the office/ admin/ football dept that are not able to communicate as easily as I suspect. 

As for Casey being too far yes but the MCG is too far for others but never a complaint there!!! 

[BangBnagBang 703]

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

Casey whilst good facilities etc is too far away,  whilst start of the art facilities is no guarantee of success eg Collingwood 1 x flag in 20+ years, we are falling behind when you consider tigers & dogs inc Cats are getting multi millions for upgrades of their facilities, club can’t continue to be nomadic and needs 1 training base, credit to what they have achieved with premierships across all teams. 

too far away from what????

[Dr. Gonzo 24,305]

2 hours ago, layzie said:

While maybe not essential it would be nice to have some kind of social venue as another means to generating revenue for the club on match days and maybe even as a spot to go during the week. 

I don't think a standalone facility is viable but surely we could get something at one of the MCG function rooms for matchdays.

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

14 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I don't think a standalone facility is viable but surely we could get something at one of the MCG function rooms for matchdays.

As I recall they used one of the large function rooms at Docklands for that purpose when we played there back around 2016.

Worked well and would be great if something could be done at the G.

Ideally you want the room decorated but perhaps we could do that digitally thus freeing up the room for other uses.

Those wanting a full time social club should recall what we sold recently (Leighoaks etc). I never went there but few spoke highly of it as a gathering place. Not sure the concept works anymore

[george_on_the_outer 7,708]

I wish people would stop saying Casey facilities are as good as others in the AFL. 

https://edgearchitectural.com.au/projects/casey-fields-melbourne-football-club-aflw-upgrade/

The last upgrade was to provide an indoor facility was for the AFLW and VFLW sides.  

The mens side have purloined it, but it wasn't built for them.  It is about half the size of Essendons indoor faciliity.  The ground has a great surface, but where is the weights room, the physio facilities, the recovery pools? 

As for the admin, I would suggest you take time to visit the club in the MCG one day.  You might be able to locate them buried near the top of the southern stand, but it isn't one office.  They are spread along various cubby holes througout the G, that most office workers would cringe at. 

I would also suggest those who think what we have is sufficient, to go and actually look at what others have.  We haven't progressed much beyond the days of the Junction oval.  Instead of comparing what the Bulldogs have got, compare what WCE, Geelong, Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood have got.  They not only win premierships, but appear in finals year after year after year, because their players and staff and admin have the best environment to thrive.

Edited February 10, 2023 by george_on_the_outer

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

47 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

 

I wish people would stop saying Casey facilities are as good as others in the AFL. 

https://edgearchitectural.com.au/projects/casey-fields-melbourne-football-club-aflw-upgrade/

The last upgrade was to provide an indoor facility was for the AFLW and VFLW sides.  

The mens side have purloined it, but it wasn't built for them.  It is about half the size of Essendons indoor faciliity.  The ground has a great surface, but where is the weights room, the physio facilities, the recovery pools?

 

The new changerooms at Casey Fields, which received $5 million in funding from the State Government, feature personalised lockers, aquatic recovery pool, team address room, warm up space and a massage area. 

A new canteen has also been installed so supporters can have a more enjoyable experience as they watch the Demons play. 

Opening later this year will be a new state of the art gymnasium and indoor training facility at Casey Fields to complement the new changerooms.

They upgraded the change rooms with recovery pools before the big upgrade which also contains a purpose built gym.

The indoor area is plenty big enough for craft work and warm ups. Training should be outdoors unless there’s lightning or freak weather events. 

Casey has everything you need for training, as does AAMI really, it’s just cramped and shared. 

Of course we should try to get the entire club together in one purpose built venue. Although many jobs working in admin for an AFL clubs are perfectly suited to partial if not nearly full work from home jobs. A bunch of spare rooms in the southern stand isn’t ideal. But the idea that afl clubs will need huge office spaces isn’t true and some clubs are probably now stuck with a bunch of desks they won’t use. You’d probably cut half the office space if you’re building now compared with 2019.

[Redleg 41,476]

15 hours ago, Its Time for Another said:

There's a bit of a misconception that the facilities we are using now are substandard. As I understand it that's not correct. They are both excellent and the Club has spent $100's of thousands in the past couple of years updating the equipment at AAMI as well as the new facilities at Casey. 

But the club has acknowledged that we have the worst facilities in the AFL.

[rpfc 28,779]

38 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The new changerooms at Casey Fields, which received $5 million in funding from the State Government, feature personalised lockers, aquatic recovery pool, team address room, warm up space and a massage area. 

A new canteen has also been installed so supporters can have a more enjoyable experience as they watch the Demons play. 

Opening later this year will be a new state of the art gymnasium and indoor training facility at Casey Fields to complement the new changerooms.

They upgraded the change rooms with recovery pools before the big upgrade which also contains a purpose built gym.

The indoor area is plenty big enough for craft work and warm ups. Training should be outdoors unless there’s lightning or freak weather events. 

Casey has everything you need for training, as does AAMI really, it’s just cramped and shared. 

Of course we should try to get the entire club together in one purpose built venue. Although many jobs working in admin for an AFL clubs are perfectly suited to partial if not nearly full work from home jobs. A bunch of spare rooms in the southern stand isn’t ideal. But the idea that afl clubs will need huge office spaces isn’t true and some clubs are probably now stuck with a bunch of desks they won’t use. You’d probably cut half the office space if you’re building now compared with 2019.

Money. Poured. In.

And you are right about the white collar jobs - increasingly it is a BURDEN for organisations to lease office space in a world that is becoming more virtual.

[layzie 34,014]

2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I don't think a standalone facility is viable but surely we could get something at one of the MCG function rooms for matchdays.

Definitely. Whatever it is it would just be good to have something uniquely ours. 

[rpfc 28,779]

41 minutes ago, Redleg said:

But the club has acknowledged that we have the worst facilities in the AFL.

Jeez, what heroes we must have been in 2021 to win the whole thing. What plucky things to win with only a large indoor training area instead of a cavernous indoor training area, and shared aquatic recovery facilities instead of facilities that sit idle for 3 days a week.

I live a suburb away from the AIS and I have been to AAMI and Casey and we have enough to build the best athletes and compete and win.

[layzie 34,014]

11 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Jeez, what heroes we must have been in 2021 to win the whole thing. What plucky things to win with only a large indoor training area instead of a cavernous indoor training area, and shared aquatic recovery facilities instead of facilities that sit idle for 3 days a week.

I live a suburb away from the AIS and I have been to AAMI and Casey and we have enough to build the best athletes and compete and win.

Yeah but having to walk from AAMI to Gosch's in winter isn't good enough! 😝

[Redleg 41,476]

5 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Jeez, what heroes we must have been in 2021 to win the whole thing. What plucky things to win with only a large indoor training area instead of a cavernous indoor training area, and shared aquatic recovery facilities instead of facilities that sit idle for 3 days a week.

I live a suburb away from the AIS and I have been to AAMI and Casey and we have enough to build the best athletes and compete and win.

So you disagree with those who Coach  and play for us. No worries.

Horses trained by country trainers, with pathetic facilities, when compared to some of the bigger trainers, still win races and sometimes major races.

Not sure average facilities are mutually exclusive to success.

Not saying our facilities are average or whatever, as I wouldn’t know, I only posted a comment by club officials who should know better than most.

Take it up with them.

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

Casey is a designated high performance sports precinct. The pool complex is probably 400 metres from the Casey oval which also has another oval about 30 metres away. (Golf buggies perhaps)

There is a large asphalt area by the athletics complex. Have seen it used for land sailing but perhaps it could house a large all weather indoor complex.

The problem is that they are shared facilities but with money and goodwill we might be able to construct a first class facility from the various components while still accommodating the needs of the present users.

[Hot as Hell 466]

 

Back in 2007 when there was a car park sitting opposite Gosch's Paddock, and Paul Garner was the Pres, the bubble stadium (now AAMI Park) was going to be our new home. The brochure we were sent raved on about social facitilies, training, admin etc etc. 

 Myself and 149 other true believers contributed the seed capital to make our dream a reality at AAMI. 

 

15 years later, we have a flag, that none of us will ever forget. 

But we still don't have a home and in hindsight a rectangular pitch was never, ever going to be a solution for an AFL home.

 

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by Hot as Hell
Delete dud PDF

[Harvey Wallbanger 1,034]

Strategic Plan 2020-2023

'The new Melbourne Football Club home will be created. We will unite administration and the football department into the one facility for the first time in recent history. This facility will be constructed near the MCG, our spiritual home, our home ground. A social club will be established to enhance the match day experience and provide a formal place for our club functions and events.'

'Commence construction on new Melbourne home base facility'

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,496]

To get from AAMI Park to Gosch's we could do as the Green Bay Packers do and have the players ride the bicycles of their young fans between Lambeau Field and the practice ground. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeSI-MkplpE

 

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

The Sydney Swans are showing off their brand new Home Base in this Tik-Tok video.

Here is the link: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8P9eSFT/

 

I think it's only fair and reasonable to ask the Melbourne Football Club Board as to the progress of our own Home Base as promised in the Strategic Plan 2020-2023.

 

[Demonsone 2,044]

21 hours ago, 58er said:

The other great facilities Dogs have one Flag in about 25 years also !!! 
The ground GMHAB or whatever does not guarantee flags it adds to home ground advantage but it's 40k Is irrelevant  really when considering training. The ground is no better and not MCG size! Also One Flag in 2 years at Casey beats 35  years at Whitten Or dome Uni Oval and the Lexus Holden or Other Centre for the Pies.

Has much more to do with the human side of Sport or Football than the deck you train on. Casey Facilities are tops and ground surface as good as AFL grounds. The new indoor change and Gym and recovery facilitiesare state of the art. 
Goschs is a good second venue slightly thinner on the wings but has convenience and they MCG nearby feel plus other items like a scoreboard and gym are serving their purpose. 

We are not behind it's the office/ admin/ football dept that are not able to communicate as easily as I suspect. 

As for Casey being too far yes but the MCG is too far for others but never a complaint there!!! 

Don’t disagree success isn’t due to training facilities but they help, ours are all stop gaps & need a permanent solution. 

[pitmaster 3,579]

On 2/10/2023 at 1:42 AM, Sir Why You Little said:

The Players Canteen area could easily be a Social Club after match facility,when needed 

 

True. Also, a club needs a headquarters to encompass a Hall of Fame where it can tell is own story on its own terms.

Collingwood are regularly changing their foyer displays in order to highlight some part of their history as well as staging permanent displays.

Melbourne could have a profound display, for example, to correspond with Anzac Day given the history of Truscott, Ball, Anderson and others.

We could also tell the story of the emergence of women's football better than any other club given our pioneering role. The themes are endless.

Carlton and Essendon both display 16 premiership cups at their homes, and it looks brilliant.

We need something similar whether its 13, 14 or however many cups and the wonderful old pennants from the 1940s and 50s.

Edited February 10, 2023 by pitmaster

[Demonsone 2,044]

11 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

True. Also, a club needs a headquarters to encompass a Hall of Fame where it can tell is own story on its own terms.

Collingwood are regularly changing their foyer displays in order to highlight some part of their history as well as staging permanent displays.

Melbourne could have a profound display, for example, to correspond with Anzac Day given the history of Truscott, Ball, Anderson and others.

We could also tell the story of the emergence of women's football better than any other club given our pioneering role. The themes are endless.

Carlton and Essendon both display 16 premiership cups at their homes, and it looks brilliant.

We need something similar whether its 13, 14 or however many cups and the wonderful old pennants from the 1940s and 50s.

Totally agree, it’s just not about the facilities, it’s about this is our home, as currently we’re are our premiership cups on display? It’s all these 1% that create a sense of belonging. Unfortunately our club was born out of the MCC unlike the other suburban clubs in the vfl. 

[dice 712]

4 hours ago, pitmaster said:

True. Also, a club needs a headquarters to encompass a Hall of Fame where it can tell is own story on its own terms.

Collingwood are regularly changing their foyer displays in order to highlight some part of their history as well as staging permanent displays.

Melbourne could have a profound display, for example, to correspond with Anzac Day given the history of Truscott, Ball, Anderson and others.

We could also tell the story of the emergence of women's football better than any other club given our pioneering role. The themes are endless.

Carlton and Essendon both display 16 premiership cups at their homes, and it looks brilliant.

We need something similar whether its 13, 14 or however many cups and the wonderful old pennants from the 1940s and 50s.

Yes, we should have our own museum at the MCG where our various cups/pennants are on display and where the public can purchase Demons merchandise. Similar to the Bayern Munich museum at the Allianz

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

It's a comedy that we're not under the one roof in 2023. 

Being the oldest sporting club in the world and representing the city of Melbourne IN OUR NAME it's even funnier. 

It's equally comical and baffling that supporters think that it's not a big issue. And constantly need explanation as to why it's so important for the continued necessary growth of a brand and sporting organisation in a highly competitive environment. 

Cue the "yeh but we won a flag in 2021 so it can't be that importanttttt" comments. 

Edited February 11, 2023 by JimmyGadson

[rpfc 28,779]

22 hours ago, Redleg said:

So you disagree with those who Coach  and play for us. No worries.

Horses trained by country trainers, with pathetic facilities, when compared to some of the bigger trainers, still win races and sometimes major races.

Not sure average facilities are mutually exclusive to success.

Not saying our facilities are average or whatever, as I wouldn’t know, I only posted a comment by club officials who should know better than most.

Take it up with them.

It can be the worst in this competition and still elite enough for this competition. 

But that is not what one connotes with the words “worst facilities in the league.”

[rpfc 28,779]

12 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

The Sydney Swans are showing off their brand new Home Base in this Tik-Tok video.

Here is the link: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8P9eSFT/

 

I think it's only fair and reasonable to ask the Melbourne Football Club Board as to the progress of our own Home Base as promised in the Strategic Plan 2020-2023.

 

Not if it isn’t the right proposal or the right requirements. 

Our current situation is more than adequate to make sure of something and not over leverage and ruin the club for a nebulous goal of being ‘under one roof.’

Strategic Plans are important and to have a North Star to aim toward is required in any endeavour. But don’t let yourself be behoved to words in a document if it isn’t the right time or place.

And be wary of those that pick and choose what is held to measurement and decree.