With a new signing on display, I decided to drive the 50min (traffic wasn't too bad this morning) down to Casey Fields and get a first-hand glimpse of Majak Daw.

Some of you might say, gees don't you have something better to do than watch training, but when I used to go to Gosch's Paddock it was always a great way to get a better appreciation of the idiosyncrasies of certain players - whether it be Lynden Dunn and his booming voice or Trac skylarking or Joel Smith doing speedy run-throughs in the rehab group.

As a fan, you can pick up so much more by watching from the sidelines - it's why I'm somewhat bullish in my prediction that Paul Spargo's son has finally developed enough to be a reasonable chance of making it and why I won't be surprised if he lines up in the middle of the park in Rd 1.

My fanatical Demon supporter training ritual has been forced to step up a notch this year with the move down to Casey Fields meaning for most of us it's a long drive and an incredible commitment to head out that far. Gawny of course likes it because it's a quicker trip home for him now that he's down on the peninsula, but for many of the players it's also a long haul back to their favourite cafe post-training.

Anyway I was excited to see Majak close up. I mean we all see them on the field on game day at other clubs, but it's more fleeting look - "gee he's a big dude" or "wow that guys a great kick or has got amazing speed". I remember watching Majak when he was way younger playing in North's defence in a practice match at Etihad Stadium when we played Jesse Hogan as a 17-year-old because we were so desperate to encourage membership under Mark Neeld. Jesse kicked about five that day and not all of them were on Majak, but apart from thinking Jesse was a freakish teenager, I remember thinking, "Gees, that Majak guy is going to be some player such was his visibly superior strength to most of the other guys.

 I'd checked the website before I went down to Casey and as has been the case pretty much every week since X-mas, there's no details on when or where the boys are training. But we all have figured out that it's Monday/Wednesday/Friday at around 9.30am.

The lack of info on the club website is not a Facebook thing. On the direction of the AFL, the club has just shut up shop to protect the players from any potential intrusion from fans and for some (read a few Richmond boys and their coach) that policy might be a godsend ensuring their media arm doesn't have to ward off enquiries or risk a fan calling out some unwanted remark - pretty few fans actually call out in reality, but the fear that they will is there, just like the fear of COVID, however infinitesimal, is there. 

The AFL has encouraged our move to Casey for training because there's a fence that means control of fans is easier in the COVID era and there's less chance that their player bubble will be broken, which is totally understandable ... to a point. But it comes at a cost of fans, like me, being caught up and lost in it and therefore attacks your core base of support - which runs contrary to what the club is trying to achieve - membership and passion about the club which in turn leads to advertising which in turn helps paying players.

A couple of times recently I've stood behind the fence at the goals end, one of the times in pouring rain, and observed. But today I was hopeful that a bit of sanity had finally been reached about the COVID dynamic at Casey because it was tipped to be hot and I didn't fancy being burnt out in the open, especially as Casey and wind goes hand in hand. What I had expected was that the countless CCB's that the club has around the entry point to Casey that are used on women's games day would have been re-utilised to the far side/shaded area allowing the few avid fans like me to watch from a distance about 25m away from the edge of the ground in fresh air - that's way beyond any COVID-safe requirement, although it would doubtless fall outside the AFL's blanket "no fans at training" policy. But alas our GM or CEO have yet to figure out how to serve both the fans and the club and are yet to get approval for a fresh approach from the AFL.

So the fences were locked today and a place outside the fence behind the goals beckoned. At least i knew I'd be able to hear Chocco bellowing instructions and with a bit of luck Majak may be playing as a forward down my end.

But alas, there was no-one there. 

Unbeknownst to me and a vast majority of fans, except for the inner-circle ones with ties with players, the club had given the players four days off this weekend. 

Thanks Melbourne FC. Please get your website up to speed (don't rely on Facebook) and start having a think about how to manage the handful of fans like me that want to attend training.

I'm told they will train on Monday. I am not sure if I want sit in traffic again just in case the club changes their mind and the trip back towards the city is always longer when you've got nothing to dream about.

 

At least the drive wasn’t a waste, there’s heaps to do at Casey. 

@Deespicable that's really disappointing to hear. I'm sorry you had to drive all that way for nothing. I notice on some of the players instagram page like James Harmes who was up the Murray River yesterday and Jackson Viney down the coast meant there was no training on today. I should have put something up on here yesterday.

Don't rely too much on the Melbournefc  website either because its a waste of time. By far the worse in the league. 

Edited February 19, 20214 yr by dazzledavey36

So one can assume the Richmond scratch match is also a non starter.

What a beautiful report and the outcome is so in keeping with being an MFC supporter

Hi Deespicable. An entertaining read but couldn't you at least have made something up? You know the drill...players training the house down, Daw's a big unit and seems to be fitting in well, good to see players using their wrong foot in kicking drills, Oliver is turning into a lobster in the sun. That sort of stuff. None of us would have known the difference and we would have had our need for training news fulfilled.

 

 

Apologies also from me.I too went to Casey this morning all fired up to provide a report and was disappionted to find no one there. HOPEFULLY next week I can provide another report. Cheers to all P.F

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:02, Deespicable said:

With a new signing on display, I decided to drive the 50min (traffic wasn't too bad this morning) down to Casey Fields and get a first-hand glimpse of Majak Daw.

Some of you might say, gees don't you have something better to do than watch training, but when I used to go to Gosch's Paddock it was always a great way to get a better appreciation of the idiosyncrasies of certain players - whether it be Lynden Dunn and his booming voice or Trac skylarking or Joel Smith doing speedy run-throughs in the rehab group.

As a fan, you can pick up so much more by watching from the sidelines - it's why I'm somewhat bullish in my prediction that Paul Spargo's son has finally developed enough to be a reasonable chance of making it and why I won't be surprised if he lines up in the middle of the park in Rd 1.

My fanatical Demon supporter training ritual has been forced to step up a notch this year with the move down to Casey Fields meaning for most of us it's a long drive and an incredible commitment to head out that far. Gawny of course likes it because it's a quicker trip home for him now that he's down on the peninsula, but for many of the players it's also a long haul back to their favourite cafe post-training.

Anyway I was excited to see Majak close up. I mean we all see them on the field on game day at other clubs, but it's more fleeting look - "gee he's a big dude" or "wow that guys a great kick or has got amazing speed". I remember watching Majak when he was way younger playing in North's defence in a practice match at Etihad Stadium when we played Jesse Hogan as a 17-year-old because we were so desperate to encourage membership under Mark Neeld. Jesse kicked about five that day and not all of them were on Majak, but apart from thinking Jesse was a freakish teenager, I remember thinking, "Gees, that Majak guy is going to be some player such was his visibly superior strength to most of the other guys.

 I'd checked the website before I went down to Casey and as has been the case pretty much every week since X-mas, there's no details on when or where the boys are training. But we all have figured out that it's Monday/Wednesday/Friday at around 9.30am.

The lack of info on the club website is not a Facebook thing. On the direction of the AFL, the club has just shut up shop to protect the players from any potential intrusion from fans and for some (read a few Richmond boys and their coach) that policy might be a godsend ensuring their media arm doesn't have to ward off enquiries or risk a fan calling out some unwanted remark - pretty few fans actually call out in reality, but the fear that they will is there, just like the fear of COVID, however infinitesimal, is there. 

The AFL has encouraged our move to Casey for training because there's a fence that means control of fans is easier in the COVID era and there's less chance that their player bubble will be broken, which is totally understandable ... to a point. But it comes at a cost of fans, like me, being caught up and lost in it and therefore attacks your core base of support - which runs contrary to what the club is trying to achieve - membership and passion about the club which in turn leads to advertising which in turn helps paying players.

A couple of times recently I've stood behind the fence at the goals end, one of the times in pouring rain, and observed. But today I was hopeful that a bit of sanity had finally been reached about the COVID dynamic at Casey because it was tipped to be hot and I didn't fancy being burnt out in the open, especially as Casey and wind goes hand in hand. What I had expected was that the countless CCB's that the club has around the entry point to Casey that are used on women's games day would have been re-utilised to the far side/shaded area allowing the few avid fans like me to watch from a distance about 25m away from the edge of the ground in fresh air - that's way beyond any COVID-safe requirement, although it would doubtless fall outside the AFL's blanket "no fans at training" policy. But alas our GM or CEO have yet to figure out how to serve both the fans and the club and are yet to get approval for a fresh approach from the AFL.

So the fences were locked today and a place outside the fence behind the goals beckoned. At least i knew I'd be able to hear Chocco bellowing instructions and with a bit of luck Majak may be playing as a forward down my end.

But alas, there was no-one there. 

Unbeknownst to me and a vast majority of fans, except for the inner-circle ones with ties with players, the club had given the players four days off this weekend. 

Thanks Melbourne FC. Please get your website up to speed (don't rely on Facebook) and start having a think about how to manage the handful of fans like me that want to attend training.

I'm told they will train on Monday. I am not sure if I want sit in traffic again just in case the club changes their mind and the trip back towards the city is always longer when you've got nothing to dream about.

 

Sorry to hear you wasted your morning. I know we're living in the time of Covid and our expectations have to be tempered but surely the club can advise of training times. Its not too much to ask

It’s frustrating that I’m sure the media can just text the media manager and get an update when they are doing their rounds. 

It’s just not the year for fans right now.

Hopefully we’ve got a scratch match to report from next weekend  

Wow. Talk about burying the lede.

Unfortunately I knew the punchline. In keeping with my promise after my last visit I rolled up at Casey at 9.45am.

The gate was open. Cool I think. I’ll grab a great spot. Errr but the car park’s empty.

After a slow circuit of the car park I exited Casey Fields at 9.46am.

Just the easy 119km round trip to boost my carbon footprint. 

A simple little bit of communication to the members stating that due to the pandemic, training will not be open and available to the public until further notice would suffice.

Fans (especially VICS) would have never felt so disengaged with AFL footy than at the moment.

Nonetheless, entertaining report Deespicable. Hope you're right about Charles Spargo. If the plays more games like the Collingwood and GWS ones last year, he could very well be a player.

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:19, Better days ahead said:

Sorry to hear you wasted your morning. I know we're living in the time of Covid and our expectations have to be tempered but surely the club can advise of training times. Its not too much to ask

Sorry about the drive etc. but as I have posted it's about time DL made an official personal approach to the Footy Manager or CEO  and explained this situation I am effort solve it.

Richo might be the one!!

At worst why not ring the Club and arrange to get advice about training  when and where ??
 

Sorry  to be so logical but Think about it like you would in any other capacity business or social!

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:43, Bring-Back-Powell said:

A simple little bit of communication to the members stating that due to the pandemic, training will not be open and available to the public until further notice would suffice.

Fans (especially VICS) would have never felt so disengaged with AFL footy than at the moment.

Nonetheless, entertaining report Deespicable. Hope you're right about Charles Spargo. If the plays more games like the Collingwood and GWS ones last year, he could very well be a player.

Charlie Spargo showed nothing today that gives me belief in this.

Just firing up the usual suspects.

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:08, Diamond_Jim said:

So one can assume the Richmond scratch match is also a non starter.

Not sure what's going on with that one.

I keep hearing that Adam Saad will be playing a grudge match against his old side in Essendon. And the Pies and Cats are meeting on Friday, as well as Roos and Saints. But nothing about our potential matchup.

It continues to amaze me that the club doesn't recognise the asset that it has in Demonland and use this forum to communicate directly with members and supporters.

The club website is abysmal, not everyone has facebook or twitter, and email communications are mainly ads.

All you need is one staffer to have an account and post factual information such as training times on a regular basis.

 

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:49, poita said:

It continues to amaze me that the club doesn't recognise the asset that it has in Demonland and use this forum to communicate directly with members and supporters.

The club website is abysmal, not everyone has facebook or twitter, and email communications are mainly ads.

All you need is one staffer to have an account and post factual information such as training times on a regular basis.

 

They keep on emailing us etc to buy membership but treat their members poorly. Not rocket science to at least give a little bit of info on the website

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:44, 58er said:

At worst why not ring the Club and arrange to get advice about training  when and where ??

Have you tried ringing the club recently '58? 

Perhaps an email to Richo or Pert might work but if the executives of the club need to be asked to do basic things like advise of training times it makes you wonder how they're going running the rest of the business! It doesn't instill confidence.

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:55, Better days ahead said:

Have you tried ringing the club recently '58? 

Perhaps an email to Richo or Pert might work but if the executives of the club need to be asked to do basic things like advise of training times it makes you wonder how they're going running the rest of the business! It doesn't instill confidence.

I have always found the Membership  Dept Fantastic with questions and assistance.

Why not get Richo in the next podcast and have a private chat in the process?? 
Ir go to the Club and email a message fir a return call. Or ask Memberships help in this matter. 

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:44, 58er said:

At worst why not ring the Club and arrange to get advice about training  when and where ??
 

Sorry  to be so logical but Think about it like you would in any other capacity business or social!

One key element of any successful business 58er is communication. The club should be communicating to its members - not the other way around!

They want our money, yet treat us with disrespect. Just not professional enough in my view, and must improve.

 

Edited February 19, 20214 yr by Neil Crompton

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:49, poita said:

It continues to amaze me that the club doesn't recognise the asset that it has in Demonland and use this forum to communicate directly with members and supporters.

The club website is abysmal, not everyone has facebook or twitter, and email communications are mainly ads.

All you need is one staffer to have an account and post factual information such as training times on a regular basis.

 

Stop it, Poita!!  You are being FAR too logical and sensible!  Give yourself a good slap!

How did Kobe Farmer look?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

?

So sorry to hear several guys went to the (not insignificant) effort of getting all the way out to Casey, only to be disappointed!  Just wanted you to know that we DLers really appreciate the effort.  Your reports are always devoured by those of us far away supporters.  Just sorry you weren't able to deliver today, due to no fault of your own!

Please don't let it discourage you from future forays down the Hwy...

  On 19/02/2021 at 01:49, poita said:

It continues to amaze me that the club doesn't recognise the asset that it has in Demonland and use this forum to communicate directly with members and supporters.

The club website is abysmal, not everyone has facebook or twitter, and email communications are mainly ads.

All you need is one staffer to have an account and post factual information such as training times on a regular basis.

 

A club official posting on a a fan forum, what could possibly go wrong? Only about 1000 different things.

They don't need further channels of communication, they just need to decide if they wish to use them.

The official policy which has been communicated is very simple. All trainings are closed.

  Quote

Training Times

As part of the AFL-wide response to COVID-19, Melbourne will hold all training sessions behind closed doors until further notice.

The club can't exact promote a locked training session for fans to come stand around a fence. 

Should they reply to fans who contact them via email, phone or social media - I'd hope so, but that's a different scenario.

  On 19/02/2021 at 02:23, Neil Crompton said:

One key element of any successful business 58er is communication. The club should be communicating to its members - not the other way around!

They want our money, yet treat us with disrespect. Just not professional enough in my view, and must improve.

 

 NC Yes communication is vital BUT D/L are not the only forum (as POITA thinks).

The Club would have about 10/15 groups coteries etc to update information that is mostly placed by our very vigilant D/L hierarchy on this site.

Why  my approach is IMO the logical and best one is that the Club is not posting any training info ( schedules etc) because of the Covid rules of isolation etc.
 

So if we want any insider info we NEED to be the one to Promote and discuss and negotiate with the Club and appropriate section or Official.

I love the reports and are extremely grateful to our D/L track watchers ad I live interstate and on at least 2 occasions have ventured in the past out to Casy to watch training and travelled approx 40 km from the SE suburbs to that ground.
 

BUT no way would I be setting off now without a call to Membership ( they always are helpful) the day before to clarify the details of training the next day.

I am pointing out that it's up to US to make The MFC aware of our situation and seek some assistance to help the track watchers.

Last week I singled out a possible Inside   way  to contact the club Through our No 1 track reporter ( Saty) who has contacts.

He seems  to have gone to ground forvwhatever reasons but it's a possibility to consider also.

Its not just Not Solvable  by a post in this forum Bleating about Club communication in 2021. With Covid etc we need to be more creative but also more proactive and Logical.

And  I also see far too many D/L posts just blaming the Club one ATM is the practice match vs Tigers !!!

Go Dees 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Is '58er' really 'Sat'???

  On 19/02/2021 at 03:15, DeeSpencer said:

A club official posting on a a fan forum, what could possibly go wrong? Only about 1000 different things.

They don't need further channels of communication, they just need to decide if they wish to use them.

The official policy which has been communicated is very simple. All trainings are closed.

The club can't exact promote a locked training session for fans to come stand around a fence. 

Should they reply to fans who contact them via email, phone or social media - I'd hope so, but that's a different scenario.

Worked for Schwabby!!