Kick_It_To_Pickett

So why are there so few that attend Casey Fields when we play preseason games there? Same for AFLW. While other sides are packing out inner city suburban grounds and making a day of it? I am not going to put you down personally Jaded, but the area in which Casey is situated is horrible. There is no soul. There are no shops. No train. It is an inconvenient wasteland.

I don't disagree with you. However, what have we done to engage the City of Melbourne residents? It's a huge opportunity. Many people who have zero links to AFL clubs, just waiting to be engaged. Do they even know we exist? Be hard to know, given our lack of exposure in the city to whom our name is tied. We tried to increase brand exposure a few years ago in this way. They rented signage opposite Flinders st Station and ran free coffee carts. I like that sort of initiative. I am a little like you - I'd prefer a Demon Shop in the heart of the CBD, rather than at the [censored] end of the MCG, where no one can access. There is so much empty retail in the CBD, you'd perhaps consider it, wouldn't you?

I'd love to get the club to release the figures on how many members, of our 65K, are residing in Casey. I would absolutely love to see those figures. When we play games out there in preseason we are 100% of the time outnumbered. The AFLW team gets lowly crowds. It is not heartland, it never will be. You actually can't convince me otherwise.

I respectfully disagree with you. Collingwood still have very big links to Vic Park. There are many many Hawthorn supporters in Hawthorn, Camberwell, Kew and the leafy eastern suburbs. They grew their support when they moved to Waverley, expanding their supporter base, and by engaging the community out that way. I do agree that onfield success helps. You say "Your point about the heartland, hate to tell you but that has changed with different demographics of people,..." - I don't really understand what you are trying to say. Melbourne heartland still appears to be Malvern, Glen Iris, Armadale, Toorak and the bayside areas. This was fairly evident during our 2021 finals campaign, where many of the homes were sporting melbourne colours. For me, this is why the Caulfield Racecourse makes a of of sense.

Why do we have offices at AAAMI park but then have zero advertising rights around the precinct? That's a question I'd like answered. We are not even included on the official tenants banner that is situated at the front of the stadium. Where is the signage at the MCG, advertising the ground as our home? We have no home. Nothing to identify with. There is zero brand exposure for the MFC. If we are to grow the supporter base, it's marketing 101 to have brand exposure. We have ZERO! That is the importance of a home base. The residents of CASEY could not give a rats t0ssbag about AFL. You could remain there for another 10 years and you'd be unlikely to get 1000 additional members. Meanwhile, we are moving further from our heartland areas and engaging less with our traditional supporter regions. That is a massive issue! That is why it needs fixing!

JJ ahead of Harmes is a poor decision. Harmes seems to be out of favour with the coaches, as evidenced in the off season. James Jordon needs to develop his game and be more creative with his play. I thought his inclusion in the side last year actually hindered us. Very slow mover of the ball. Does not hurt the opposition at all.

Watching vision on 9 news of Petracca, it would appear that the knock was to the knee and being downplayed by many trackwatchers here. It looked like the knee he has had issues with in the past. Brayshaw also having his elbow checked out. Same elbow he wore a guard on for a period

No, I’m proposing we see the potential of an amazing facility that could be built at Caulfield, in the same style has what has been done in HK at HV, the result of which would be a happy ending for all

Has anyone ever been to Happy Valley in Hong Kong? They have a couple of rugby and soccer pitches in the middle, and the Hong Kong Rugby Club facilities inside. It’s more like a country club, with outdoor pool and bars. All that for a semi-professional sporting club. It’s sensational and is a big hit with the expats in HK. This proposal has huge potential

Does anyone know what the extent/type of surgery Clarrie had on his thumb? Did he have a metal plate or pin inserted? If so, could this be the cause of the pain? It’s strange no media has followed up on this. He has sat out several training sessions, yet I’ve seen nothing from the media about the issues he is facing. Couple of brief grabs, that’s it. Maybe it’s the club remaining tight lipped.

Isn’t this just a reversion to an old rule. There was a stage, mid 00’s if I remember correctly, where it was deemed ‘play on’ if you gestured to handball. Happy to stand corrected, but I believe this was a rule in the past. Either way, I very good rule tweak.

Anyone elaborate on the Brayshaw issues??

Libby Birch makes awful decisions under pressure and her kicking lets her down. Solid defensive efforts. If you know much about her personality, and the reasons she left the Dogs, and the TV crew she had follow her around making documentaries, you wouldn’t think she was Captain material

I’d sincerely hope not. Many ahead of her in terms of talent and leadership

Yep, been thinking this myself. They seem to run the same games every year. We played in many finals in the early-mid 90s, none of which seem to rate a mention on FoxFooty. Occasionally you get something from the 00s. The only games we seem to feature in are those where some superstar dominates us in 1996-1997.

🤨

He is full of [censored]…but no one can post the real story here, as admins will delete it

Why not…he is in Bali for Xmas with his good mate Trey Ruscoe, from the Pies. I guess family time can wait until the season starts. Real stench of Jessie Hogan about where this is all heading 🤪 welcome to the deathride, Dogga

This is a very unusual post. Soccer players also work ankle high boots back in the day. I don’t know what AFL players wearing soccer boots has to do with anything. Strange line of argument

And it gives us exposure in one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections. It actually seems like a perfect fit. Clearly money has dried up on that apartment thing. No one will want to live there anyway. It’s proximity to the road is horrendous.. It seriously should be under consideration.

I accept what you are saying, but being live at every game this season, sitting on the members wing, this wasn’t always the excuse. There were several occasions where we had plenty ahead of the ball and his hesitation stifled us.

Currently, the corner of Punt Rd and Swan St has a massive vacant block sitting there. It used to be a car rental place. It was cleared and one apartment/hotel was put up. It looks half completed and abandoned. The rest of that block is completely vacant. If we are serious, we could take that block and put all the club offices and a training facility in there. Players simply walk across the road to Goash’s

One of the key reasons for slow ball movement, IMHO, was the move of James Jordon to the wing. He stifles ball movement. Takes far far too long to make a decision. I think it’s the nerves of being young and not a regular 22 player. Scared to make mistakes. Many times he got the ball on a wing and held play up, which resulted in killed momentum. Lachie Hunter may fix this issue. Just my take

Would love to start playing some practice matches and AFLW games on Gosch’s Paddock. What would have to happen to allow that to take place? Currently there are no bathrooms there. I just think we are behind other clubs in having exposure for our AFLW side. In a similar sense, the men’s team playing at Casey for practice matches isn’t ideal. The conditions out there are always putrid. Windy and exposed to the elements. It isn’t convenient for fans. It doesn’t work for family days etc. it would be nice to get more out of Gosch’s, as it’s actually a pretty good site.

Sorry DubDee, that’s hogwash. I am a City Active Member and there is always bad behaviour at Derby matches. This is just the worst example. The only reason there isn’t more of the bad behaviour is because there is no travelling support. Last night was a disgrace, but the fighting amongst rival support groups is common place. To suggest otherwise and say it’s a minority Ignores the fact that it is part of soccer (football) culture here in Australia