Leoncelli_36

I hate to bump this topic again, but I really feel this is an issue the club needs to be doing something about. Last night I was doing some Christmas shopping at Chadstone and thought I’d drop by the NB store, as I wanted to grab some presents for overseas family. I was hoping to get some MFC stuff for a couple of young cousins. I walked into NB and was immediately confronted with the Liverpool FC section of clothing. I spent a few minutes browsing the racks. No MFC stuff. So, I asked the store clerk. Firstly, he didn’t know who the MFC were, then told me “you’d have to find that stuff online”. A pretty poor response and again I left the the store thinking ‘what a lousy partnership’. Then, to further the disappointment, I passed the Under Armour store about two stores up. I peered inside and saw an enormous rack of Essendon gear (excuse obvious pun). Not only was there a huge amount of Essendon merch, but a couple of wall to floor bollards featuring Dylan Shiel and Andrew McGath. I didnt even have to enter to the shop to see these. It was plastered at the front entrance. Point of all this? Why are we not pushing NB to do more for us in terms of branding and getting our name out there. If other clubs are cutting these sort of deals, who at the MFC is asleep at the wheel when negotiating terms with NB. Under Armour have obviously picked Essendon up this year and may want to promote this to make a name in AFL, but it’s not unreasonable to expect something from our apparel sponsor. To not have a single piece of MFC apparel in a flagship store is a disgrace.

The MCC might have to allow drinks in seats. Revenue will take a hit. It’s hard enough getting a beer in the FGS in 20 minutes. They will be forced to pre pour beers

Yep, the new highlights package have won me over. His kicking is not bad and his overhead reach and mark are good. Imagine having him plonked in a goal square. He will take grabs and can be nimble at ground level, which is exactly what Preuss lacks

AFL are looking at halving half time break. Going to 10 minutes instead of 20 minutes, as reported on 7 News. To take place next season. I don’t know how much it’d impact players. Would impact my ability to slot a beer at half time.

Yep, I got a sense of that. He mentions Tim English, wjo I have only seen play well in 2019 as being a like-for-like, suggests that Jackson is a year ahead of him development wise. English took three years to play regular senior footy. Sumich then says that Jackson is ready to play AFL next year. The calculations are all off and suggests he is just looking to drive up the price/value on Jackson.

Apologies if this was already posted: https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl-draft/peter-sumich-says-luke-jackson-is-a-ready-made-afl-ruckman-ng-b881391237z

i like how he gets 'front and centre'. We currently have no player on our list that seems to understand the importance of this. Spargo likes to think of himslef as a leading target, despite being 4 foot 3"

Steven May is doing the regular training with no red hat? Is that right?

I know there isn't a whole lot of medical evidence that supports the wearing of helmets to protect against concussion, but is KK wearing a helmet during contact training. A guys with this many head knocks should be.

It'd be great to have some reports from 'Landers on whether Oliver and/or May are taking part and what level their involvement is.

Interesting that cameras were there at training and this breaks and nothing on Oliver.

Sooo..... any updates on Oliver? I am more concerned with his shoulder than Toby Bedford dropping a few marks.

Interesting. I also heard from someone in the know tht they might be looking at the patch of land where they often have the circus. Near the Burnley rail crossing opposite the golf course. It’s a vacant parcel of land, no idea of the actual size. It fits a circus tent and car parking. The business park has just been updated opposite.

Can someone provide the key points from the night?

Is this what he said tonight ? Or is this a repeat ? i believe they are looking at a site in Burnley. I suspect it is Keven Bartlett Oval. It’s on the Yarra Boulevard across from Scotch College

Harley is already in Melbourne. Was posted on his Instagram yesterday. Looks to be staying in Southbank and Steven May had already taken him for a tour.

The actual players are well-connected. It's just a matter of being distant from the club itself. You are quite right.

Nah, just that our former players from that era seem to have little connection to the club. That is my point, and yet scrubbers like Chaplin remain aligned to their former clubs, despite being mediocre players. It's just an observation. I understand why Adem's kids support the Hawks, but I reckon the lack of former players involved at our club is a product of a mishandling of player exits.

You mean like Troy Chaplin at Melbourne? The bloke who goes to Tigers games and wears Richmond scraves?

Pretty sure his father encourages it. Looking at Oozes Instagram you’d barely know he played for the Demons. Whatever happened at the end of his career must have really pizzed him off.

He was NOT voted by the players. That’s a load of crap. He was put into the role by Goodwin and Jones was blindsided. It caused a rift with the playing group. it was a dumb move.

The kid is a massive hawks fan. Doubt his heart would be in it at the Dees

So you agree that neither nor Jones lead and direct out on the field? I think we are making the same point. He does not lead out on the field and this year, he was found out. He had little impact. His game needs work. He doesn’t lead. Let him focus on his game.

Viney does not deserve to be a captain. He should stand aside. I sat next to the players race against Geelong this year at kardinia and was staggered at the lack of words from both skippers as they came out of the race. No wonder we were so flat that night. He doesn’t talk out on the field and is too busy trying to break tackles and prove how tough he is to actually focus on using the ball for the team’s advantage. His turnovers and moments of getting caught with the ball are always huge momentum shifters. I reckon he needs to focus on improving his game and leave the captaincy to someone else.

Given the off-season boredom, I thought I would rehash an old gripe and get some thoughts on our current apparel sponsor, New Balance. This is not a bashing thread, as I have always maintained that NB produced quality apparel and I am happy with the way our jumpers and other apparel look. HOWEVER, recently in the UK, Liverpool FC won a civil case against NB, who were trying to enforce a sponsorship deal. It's long winded and if you wish to read here https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-kit-deal-nike-new-balance-court-case-verdict-latest-news-a9170686.html but basically, Liverpool had a problem with the exposure NB offered them. There was some dispute about retail opportunities etc. To bring this back to the MFC, I have always thought that NB should be doing more to expose the MFC in retail stores. I frequent their stores and they stock almmost no MFC at all. Occasionally, like right now, you find the odd clearance item at DFO (Jumpers on sale for $30), but that is about it. Adidas (Hawthorn, Essendon) offer plenty more exposure. There is a NB at Chadstone, they stock ZERO MFC apparel. That's a major shopping centre frequented by tourists. You'd expect a football club carrying the 'Melbourne' branding would gain some attention from tourists. Maybe I expect too much. I look at OS sports and the level of merchandise sales compared to the AFL and think that there is more to be done. For starters, every time an MFC player wears long sleeves, social media is flooded with requests for adult long sleeve jumpers. Apparently, according to the Demon Shop, these will be produced next year - I will wait to see if this eventuates. So while I enjoy NB as an MFC sponsor, love the discounts, I wonder if they are doing enough to generate exposure and/or producing goods that the customer base would be interested in.