Email from the Board

[Adam The God 30,603]

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Requirement under Corporations Act when club doesn't have an email address.  Members who have not provided one to the club actually cost the club tens of thousands each year.  I think there were 9K last year when volunteers posted out notification of the Annual meeting. 

Interesting. I definitely have an email and was sent stuff to my email as well as my postal address.

[Adam The God 30,603]

3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Requirement under Corporations Act when club doesn't have an email address.  Members who have not provided one to the club actually cost the club tens of thousands each year.  I think there were 9K last year when volunteers posted out notification of the Annual meeting. 

Interesting. I definitely have an email and was sent stuff to my email as well as my postal address.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,767]

My takeaway from the letter is that the terms unassisted, debt free and the achievement of excellence are all in inverted commas which suggests they're all open to interpretation. 

[Lord Nev 13,512]

2 hours ago, It's Time said:

If you recall PJ spent over $420,000 on a feasibility study for Yarra Park which proved to have never been a possibility. That was reported in 2018. 

Apparently it's taken two years of hard lobbying to get the State Govt and all stakeholders on board just to do a feasibility study. That's great news in that they haven't rejected us outright but the feasibility study could end up saying there is no where in the precinct that is suitable. Who knows what they look in to. I assume it will have to have some degree of community facilities to get Govt funding. So it's probably not just the site but also a lot of other considerations. Also have no idea what next steps would be if the report is positive. Does the Club then have to set about getting funding from various Govt's and stakeholders etc. I'd say there's a long way to go. 

It was more the State Government's involvement I found exciting. That surely has positive implications for us?

 

6 hours ago, chookrat said:

Lord Nev, this information was reported months ago. Someone might be able to confirm but from memory it was discussed in the members forum.

Apologies, must have missed it previously.

 

7 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Not too sure about progress.  At the December 2019 Fan Forum they said a working party had been set up with the State Government to explore site options.  Maybe the funding part is new but not the working party.  So its hard to tell how much progress has been made this year.  Having said that it is understandable if it has been slow because of covid lockdowns.

As mentioned, this isn't an area I know much about and sounds like I've missed some info previously, but a feasibility study with the State Government came across as progress to me when I read it. More so because to me it implies the possibility of funding and also (to be blunt) a more honest opinion on what we can achieve and where we should be looking.

 

[BAMF 4,433]

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

It was more the State Government's involvement I found exciting. That surely has positive implications for us?

 

Apologies, must have missed it previously.

 

As mentioned, this isn't an area I know much about and sounds like I've missed some info previously, but a feasibility study with the State Government came across as progress to me when I read it. More so because to me it implies the possibility of funding and also (to be blunt) a more honest opinion on what we can achieve and where we should be looking.

 

Indeed. It's great news. It just seems that progress is slow.

That might just be my naivety with understanding how long this process takes. I'm sure what we hear is just the tip of the iceberg.

A quick search found this from 2015

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/152260/melbourne-has-re-committed-to-aami-park

We moved into aami in 2010 and have 5 year rolling contracts. Our aim was to move out by 2025.

Quote "We will be talking to state government about their plans for the precincts."

 

[rpfc 28,902]

A 'feasibility study' is not progress. lol

Where I come from in ICT we literally do similar 'discoveries' to avoid doing something...

Ah well, at least we have Casey. Who knows what the future holds. Good to have a fall back.

[ding 5,126]

So from the clubs email it sounds like we are YEARS away from breaking soil on a home base. I really thought we were much closer than that. According to our plan we are supposed to start construction in 2023. only 2 years, and the feasibility study probably hasn't even started yet. I say there is little hope that we are shovel ready by 2023.

The mens team fell over at the very first hurdle of our on-field goal by missing finals last year. We should make it this year, but i thought that the last 2 years as well so who could possibly be sure that it will happen this season.

Grow to 75k members by 2023.? Absolutely no flaming hope unless we win a flag by 2022. If we miss finals again this year it might be a struggle to get 40k on board next year. Finals or bust as far as membership numbers go.

Have a culture that inspires excellence and attracts new talent... MFC culture is putrid and 2-3 years is a very short time to turn it around to something approaching excellence. Yes we have attracted some talent, but how much of that is down to the coin offered? We COULD do it, but its a huge stretch inside 3 years to say we have completely changed our culture from one of falling over when it matters, to one of"Excellence". How will that be judged btw? Anyone know ?

Financials.... even the email doesnt sound remotely positive.. "Combined profits of $4m will be more of a challenge given the impact of COVID-19, however, we are not currently willing to concede that goal" hardly inspires confidence.

The whole email sounds upbeat and positive ( lets be honest, nobody including myself would have appreciated anything else), but there seems to be more issues of concern than reasons for strong optimism.

On field success means EVERYTHING and is the only way we can possibly reach all of our goals by 2023.

Does the team have it in them?

Edited January 14, 2021 by ding
Typos

[DubDee 26,302]

I think we need to fund a study into the viability of these feasibility studies

[Canplay 635]

Regarding facilities, I still think Eddie Maguire had the best idea -  in setting up a new site at Port Melb / Fisherman’s bend.  The govt want to develop the whole fisherman’s Ben’s area with housing schools, shops etc -  and we should have got them to fund sporting facilities.

[Ugottobekidding 1,242]

On 1/14/2021 at 2:58 PM, george_on_the_outer said:

Requirement under Corporations Act when club doesn't have an email address.  Members who have not provided one to the club actually cost the club tens of thousands each year.  I think there were 9K last year when volunteers posted out notification of the Annual meeting. 

The club sends me emails... Still posted out the election material.

[Mach5 4,768]

At times the club has thought we were close to a solution, only for it to all fall in a heap. The fact that zero progress has been made on what should be our highest off-field priority (save for ruling possibilities out) in the last 5 years is an indictment on the current board. Change is needed, and the only thing that should have held us back is a lack of quality alternative options. Lawrence appears worthy of a chance and we need more.

[58er 6,810]

1 hour ago, Mach5 said:

At times the club has thought we were close to a solution, only for it to all fall in a heap. The fact that zero progress has been made on what should be our highest off-field priority (save for ruling possibilities out) in the last 5 years is an indictment on the current board. Change is needed, and the only thing that should have held us back is a lack of quality alternative options. Lawrence appears worthy of a chance and we need more.

Yes that's the issue without options the facility will tread water. This is a huge factor and needs patience from our impatient (older statesmen supporters mainly ) 

Rome was not built in a day and we need locations and really very few have been suggested either formally or even by D/Ler's. We need to get this right first go!

Hang in as the State Govt  are on board With the Feasibility etc. and that involvement alone is huge progress on many fronts. Yes 2023 is the date but Covid has shaved off a about a year really in the progress stakes.

[dazzledavey36 55,856]

3 hours ago, Mach5 said:

At times the club has thought we were close to a solution, only for it to all fall in a heap. The fact that zero progress has been made on what should be our highest off-field priority (save for ruling possibilities out) in the last 5 years is an indictment on the current board. Change is needed, and the only thing that should have held us back is a lack of quality alternative options. Lawrence appears worthy of a chance and we need more.

Wasn't this one of the big reason we brought in Gary Pert back in 2018? 

[Pates 9,667]

I remember hearing that the feasibility was starting early last year, perhaps COVID slowed that down from making any serious progress. I can only picture the location where we train right now as being the best plot of land to place a new training facility but as that is the only piece of (flat) public land for the public to go and kick a footy or go for a jog I imagine there would be push back from local councillors. 

The other option on the table is to somehow get the Pies to relocate back to Victoria Park with perhaps a juicy bit of government funding for an upgrade being a carrot for them as well as a potential upgrade to various facilities at the Lexus (change to Jaguar for us) centre.

I remember when we moved to AAMI Park even though it was seen as a positive move it was still touted as a short term solution to a long term problem. With COVID right now we really have lucked out that the Casey facilities have been upgraded, it's isolated location and ability to be closed off is a real advantage in the current circumstances.

Edited January 18, 2021 by Pates

[old dee 24,000]

10 hours ago, Pates said:

I remember hearing that the feasibility was starting early last year, perhaps COVID slowed that down from making any serious progress. I can only picture the location where we train right now as being the best plot of land to place a new training facility but as that is the only piece of (flat) public land for the public to go and kick a footy or go for a jog I imagine there would be push back from local councillors. 

The other option on the table is to somehow get the Pies to relocate back to Victoria Park with perhaps a juicy bit of government funding for an upgrade being a carrot for them as well as a potential upgrade to various facilities at the Lexus (change to Jaguar for us) centre.

I remember when we moved to AAMI Park even though it was seen as a positive move it was still touted as a short term solution to a long term problem. With COVID right now we really have lucked out that the Casey facilities have been upgraded, it's isolated location and ability to be closed off is a real advantage in the current circumstances.

Hi pates agree para 1 and 3. Yes that was said last year they are just saying it again so it looks like something has happened. We should locate to Casey full time this year. As for getting the Pies to Vic Park it will never happen. If you where the Pies would you? On top of that the council does not want them back. They would lose the public space. That is the problem for us with at Goschs. IMO if it was not public park land it would be built by now.

[old dee 24,000]

10 hours ago, Pates said:

I remember hearing that the feasibility was starting early last year, perhaps COVID slowed that down from making any serious progress. I can only picture the location where we train right now as being the best plot of land to place a new training facility but as that is the only piece of (flat) public land for the public to go and kick a footy or go for a jog I imagine there would be push back from local councillors. 

The other option on the table is to somehow get the Pies to relocate back to Victoria Park with perhaps a juicy bit of government funding for an upgrade being a carrot for them as well as a potential upgrade to various facilities at the Lexus (change to Jaguar for us) centre.

I remember when we moved to AAMI Park even though it was seen as a positive move it was still touted as a short term solution to a long term problem. With COVID right now we really have lucked out that the Casey facilities have been upgraded, it's isolated location and ability to be closed off is a real advantage in the current circumstances.

Hi pates agree para 1 and 3. Yes that was said last year they are just saying it again so it looks like something has happened. We should locate to Casey full time this year. As for getting the Pies to Vic Park it will never happen. If you where the Pies would you? On top of that the council does not want them back. They would lose the public space. That is the problem for us with at Goschs. IMO if it was not public park land it would be built by now.

Edited January 19, 2021 by old dee

[Mach5 4,768]

On 1/17/2021 at 7:10 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Wasn't this one of the big reason we brought in Gary Pert back in 2018? 

 

Supposedly and sadly. Horrible swing and a miss by Bartlett. Due diligence clearly not done.

[Half forward flank 1,022]

On 1/19/2021 at 3:46 AM, Pates said:

I remember hearing that the feasibility was starting early last year, perhaps COVID slowed that down from making any serious progress. I can only picture the location where we train right now as being the best plot of land to place a new training facility but as that is the only piece of (flat) public land for the public to go and kick a footy or go for a jog I imagine there would be push back from local councillors. 

The other option on the table is to somehow get the Pies to relocate back to Victoria Park with perhaps a juicy bit of government funding for an upgrade being a carrot for them as well as a potential upgrade to various facilities at the Lexus (change to Jaguar for us) centre.

I remember when we moved to AAMI Park even though it was seen as a positive move it was still touted as a short term solution to a long term problem. With COVID right now we really have lucked out that the Casey facilities have been upgraded, it's isolated location and ability to be closed off is a real advantage in the current circumstances.

Pates, I am afraid you are out of the loop a bit with Pies to Vic park. Vic park is a community recreation area now days. Why would the Pies go back to a place they wiswly left 20 odd years ago because it did not suit their needs. But yes, there will be push back if it is at Goschs paddock too. And what a horrible location that would be anyway.

[Pates 9,667]

15 hours ago, Half forward flank said:

Pates, I am afraid you are out of the loop a bit with Pies to Vic park. Vic park is a community recreation area now days. Why would the Pies go back to a place they wiswly left 20 odd years ago because it did not suit their needs. But yes, there will be push back if it is at Goschs paddock too. And what a horrible location that would be anyway.

Totally get all the responses regarding Vic park, it was just a thought but it sounds like that’s done and dusted. 

I have no issue with the location of our facility potentially going where Gosch’s Paddock is, right near Richmond station so easy to get to, in yelling distance of the MCG, and should we have a social club easy to for home games for pre/post drinks. But doing away with a large amount of parklands in the area runs a risk of having bad blood with the community. I just can’t see anywhere else in the sporting precinct though. 

[daisycutter 29,892]

14 hours ago, Pates said:

Totally get all the responses regarding Vic park, it was just a thought but it sounds like that’s done and dusted. 

I have no issue with the location of our facility potentially going where Gosch’s Paddock is, right near Richmond station so easy to get to, in yelling distance of the MCG, and should we have a social club easy to for home games for pre/post drinks. But doing away with a large amount of parklands in the area runs a risk of having bad blood with the community. I just can’t see anywhere else in the sporting precinct though. 

well there is no community on three sides and for the eastern side you have to cross about 8 lanes of hoddle street, so its not that great a community asset anyway. those on the east can get to yarra park almost as quickly.   with a new development i'm sure they can provide as much or more public amenity anyway

[Half forward flank 1,022]

15 hours ago, Pates said:

Totally get all the responses regarding Vic park, it was just a thought but it sounds like that’s done and dusted. 

I have no issue with the location of our facility potentially going where Gosch’s Paddock is, right near Richmond station so easy to get to, in yelling distance of the MCG, and should we have a social club easy to for home games for pre/post drinks. But doing away with a large amount of parklands in the area runs a risk of having bad blood with the community. I just can’t see anywhere else in the sporting precinct though. 

Yes, all good Pates, it is just that I know Vic park well and it is a wonderful community facility now.

My take is it is not a feasability study to find a location. I could have sworn Barlett previously said it was down to two MCG prcinct locations. Maybe  the Govt involvement is just testing the water with stakeholders to see if it could get through at community level before giving it Govt support. I also think we will need to have a very significant womens component to the plan. The issue with a social club  is you need a very large area to celebrate wins or share the misery of loss,  and then that area lays dormant at other times. I would prefer a Cafe/ Bar type set up with some function space. 

Edited January 21, 2021 by Half forward flank

[Rigatoni Rigoni 75]

On 1/14/2021 at 6:09 PM, BAMF said:

Wow this is slow progress.

So we have been looking for options for the past few years and the progress we have made is to get the state government to 'look' too.

i know right? i mean when are Melbourne just going to finally snap up a stadium sized area in the cbd? This kind of chicanery is typical of the current administration

[Dr. Gonzo 24,440]

On 1/21/2021 at 4:50 PM, Half forward flank said:

Yes, all good Pates, it is just that I know Vic park well and it is a wonderful community facility now.

My take is it is not a feasability study to find a location. I could have sworn Barlett previously said it was down to two MCG prcinct locations. Maybe  the Govt involvement is just testing the water with stakeholders to see if it could get through at community level before giving it Govt support. I also think we will need to have a very significant womens component to the plan. The issue with a social club  is you need a very large area to celebrate wins or share the misery of loss,  and then that area lays dormant at other times. I would prefer a Cafe/ Bar type set up with some function space. 

I really wish they would forget about the social club, it's a white elephant and as you say a waste of valuable space. If/when it's built I may be proven wrong but how many people are going to wander past there on their way out of the G if it's a night game or a late Sunday game, let alone in general. 6 months of the year and 6 days a week for the rest of the year it will be left dormant.

Much better idea to focus on getting a dedicated area at the G that is accessible to all members (not just MCC) if they want to have a social club location. Isn't Collingwood's in the Ponsford Stand? Surely we could use the area behind the Legends reserved seats on level 2 of the Northern Stand (from memory there is a bar in there?)

Edited January 22, 2021 by Dr. Gonzo

[Kent 2,918]

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I really wish they would forget about the social club, it's a white elephant and as you say a waste of valuable space. If/when it's built I may be proven wrong but how many people are going to wander past there on their way out of the G if it's a night game or a late Sunday game, let alone in general. 6 months of the year and 6 days a week for the rest of the year it will be left dormant.

Much better idea to focus on getting a dedicated area at the G that is accessible to all members (not just MCC) if they want to have a social club location. Isn't Collingwood's in the Ponsford Stand? Surely we could use the area behind the Legends reserved seats on level 2 of the Northern Stand (from memory there is a bar in there?)

Have Been invited to Richmonds' after a game or two and it is very busy for a couple of hours after the game maybe 500 or so 

DOnt know what they do with it other times!

 

[Half forward flank 1,022]

5 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I really wish they would forget about the social club, it's a white elephant and as you say a waste of valuable space. If/when it's built I may be proven wrong but how many people are going to wander past there on their way out of the G if it's a night game or a late Sunday game, let alone in general. 6 months of the year and 6 days a week for the rest of the year it will be left dormant.

Much better idea to focus on getting a dedicated area at the G that is accessible to all members (not just MCC) if they want to have a social club location. Isn't Collingwood's in the Ponsford Stand? Surely we could use the area behind the Legends reserved seats on level 2 of the Northern Stand (from memory there is a bar in there?)

I would follow the Calton model where they have a small cafe, not sure if it licenced. It is alwaus busy with staff and visitor meetings, people coming and going from the merchandise shop, general public and supporters. Worth a look if anyone is in the Princes park precinct. I sometimes stop there, have a walk around, there is usually someone training on the oval, which is always good to watch.