G'day Fellow Demons Supporters!

Personally I'm quite excited about the Demons considering to have their summer training base at Casey Fields.

Why? Because there is soooo much potential if we set up there!

Here's a link to the Casey Fields website: http://www.casey.vic.gov.au/caseyfields/

The facilities that they have are quite impressive and I'm sure the Casey Council would definitely want to upgrade further if they have an AFL team based there!

There are many, many other opportunities if we have our summer training base at Casey Fields as well. For example it is a massive growth area with a lot of young families. If the Demons promote themselves well enough in the area then there is a good chance we can recruit ALOT more MFC members!

Here are some links showing that the Casey Council is very keen to have the Demons set up a summer training base there too!

http://thejournal.yourguide.com.au/news/sp...ns/1204306.html

http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2008/...5126012738.html

I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with having two training bases (one for during the season and one for during the pre-season). We will have our home-base in central Melbourne in the Olympic park precinct and the other summer training base out in Cranbourne at Casey Fields.

The only issue is that it may see the end of our relationship with the Sandringham Zebras. As we could join with the Casey Scorpians? Of course, this is all hypothetical at the moment as St.Kilda is still associated with the Casey Scorpions. Although St.Kilda has now set up a new home-base in Frankston...so they may also join with the Frankston VFL side the Dolphins.

Only time will tell what happens?

I just hope the MFC make the most of this FANTASTIC opportunity to have a summer training base at Casey Fields.

We also need new ways to get more members and this idea of setting up a training base in a "growth" area is worth a try.

I agree Supreme_Demon as I am equally excited about the proposed move to Casey Fields over Summer.

I only have ventured out there once to see the boys play against the Roos but found the facilities to be good.

The important factor is what you have already mentioned and looking at local opportunities to grow our membership base

Just because you live out Cranbourne way it does not mean that you only want to support the big four Melbourne based clubs.

I am looking forward to seeing what comes of this opportunity. Makes no difference to me whether we are aligned with Sandringham or

Casey Scorpions. At the least the Scorpions have some Red and Blue in their jumper.

I feel MFC have made some very positive moves in the last six months with our club appointments. Well done Dees.

Keep going and you will see the fruits of your work

I agree Supreme_Demon as I am equally excited about the proposed move to Casey Fields over Summer.

I only have ventured out there once to see the boys play against the Roos but found the facilities to be good.

The important factor is what you have already mentioned and looking at local opportunities to grow our membership base

Just because you live out Cranbourne way it does not mean that you only want to support the big four Melbourne based clubs.

I am looking forward to seeing what comes of this opportunity. Makes no difference to me whether we are aligned with Sandringham or

Casey Scorpions. At the least the Scorpions have some Red and Blue in their jumper.

I feel MFC have made some very positive moves in the last six months with our club appointments. Well done Dees.

Keep going and you will see the fruits of your work

All sounds good however does this mean that we do not have year round access to the new facility? During summer are we restricted to the gym/pool areas etc and have no outdoor (footy ground) available in the precinct or is the Casey idea simply until the Olympic Park precinct comes on line in 2010?

Even though the exisiting facilities are top class for VFL footy, they would have to be upgraded for an AFL club. There would be access to a new $37 million aquatic centre being built by Casey Council 700 metres away.

A great opportunity for a permanent summer base, and an opportunity to tap into a massive urban growth area. If handled properly, it just might be the commencment of the rejuvenation of the MFC.

I wholeheartedly agree casey scorp!

I suggest getting in contact with the MFC, after the dramas of Sunday have died down, and promoting this idea of Casey Fields as our permanent Summer training base to the likes of Chris Connolly and the new CEO Paul McNamee.

But will Paul McNamee be listening?

From the Herald Sun:

"INCOMING chief executive Paul McNamee believes Melbourne must embrace the perception it is an elitist AFL club and become a powerhouse in the city it shares a name with. McNamee will spearhead the Demons' push to become a big player in Melbourne's crowded sports market by using the nous he is famed for after spells as chief executive of the Australian tennis and golf opens and tournament director of the Hopman Cup.

Excited by the challenge of running an AFL club, McNamee said Melbourne should not shy away from its image of an establishment club supported by bluebloods who favour skiing holidays and four-wheel drives.

........

McNamee said the Demons had to boost their membership to 30,000, and forge stronger partnerships with the AFL, Melbourne Cricket Club and City of Melbourne. "

It seems he believes in a different focus! Nothing there about summer training or Casey.

Well hopefully he listens to what MFC members suggest....

The MFC administration has had issues in the past with not listening to the rank-and-file supporters...

I hope Paul McNamee can be versatile and work on more then one focus.

Besides, how can we get NEW members if we don't explore new ideas? Most (not all) of our OLD members are very fickle. M

The recent posts since the loss today are proof of this.

I say, try and get NEW Melbourne members by setting up a Summer training base in Cranbourne (at Casey Fields), which is a growth area and has massive potential.

casey scorp.. I think you 'll find the impetus of Maccas words were that the club wil persist with the initatives already underway..including things such as China..and Cranny....but his slant was that we have for many years lived in a form of denial. Quite simply denying that there is potential to "that" end of town and that its high time we milked it

Hopefully that's right then. While I don't barrack for MFC (and I'm too old and set in my ways to change, although I have to admit to a bit of a soft spot for them), I live out this way and if an AFL club set up a base here I'm certain that it would get strong support.

Get into the schools and grab the hearts and minds of kids (and then you can get "secondary sales" - their parents, because the kids will pester them to buy merchandise and take them to the footy).

A little known fact (amongst anyone who doesn't take a keen interest in VFL matters anyway) is that when Springvale moved to Casey for the 2006 season and became the Casey Scorpions, within its first year it had the largest crowd figures on any of the mainland venues, and last year topped Tassie as well. The people of the south-east will embrace a team that will embrace it.

But will Paul McNamee be listening?

From the Herald Sun:

"INCOMING chief executive Paul McNamee believes Melbourne must embrace the perception it is an elitist AFL club and become a powerhouse in the city it shares a name with. McNamee will spearhead the Demons' push to become a big player in Melbourne's crowded sports market by using the nous he is famed for after spells as chief executive of the Australian tennis and golf opens and tournament director of the Hopman Cup.

Excited by the challenge of running an AFL club, McNamee said Melbourne should not shy away from its image of an establishment club supported by bluebloods who favour skiing holidays and four-wheel drives.

........

McNamee said the Demons had to boost their membership to 30,000, and forge stronger partnerships with the AFL, Melbourne Cricket Club and City of Melbourne. "

It seems he believes in a different focus! Nothing there about summer training or Casey.

The different focus got a run on Footy Classified tonight. Gardner & Lyon comments (last week) were compared to the comments of McNamee about linking in with the elites etc.