rjay

Forget the AFLX, this is a real news story. Well done to Nev, Matthew Whelan and the club.

No problem with the game 'Macca', from what I hear kids love to play it at school...a bit like touch football. Just can't see the point in using current AFL players to push it. I think they would be much better off using retired champions with current VFL/SANFL/WAFL players...would be a further encouragement for players to stay in the game at a higher level rather than giving up or heading back to the minor leagues. Throw a bit of cash around and get inventive with it...I don't like AFL club players being involved at all. This paragraph is all over the place...if there is no need to rejuvenate the game then why bother. The game is broken in the minor leagues and could do with a kick along...it's a hybrid game, why not a hybrid concept. The stars by the way in the BBL weren't current Australian test players, the big names apart from a couple of O/s players were retired/semi retired champions. No one worried about it as the game itself stacked up. Get a game up, get some star power onboard (Pavlich, Mitchell, Vince etc) with the local league players (state of origin feel/someone real to barrack for) add some marketing $'s behind it and off you go.

Agree with this, it makes more sense to me... So was the Sheffield Shield 'Demonland' and it's been on the back of those players that the big bash has flourished. Many of the current BBL players would never had been heard of it they stayed playing shield or local level cricket. Now some of them are household names in the game. If they get the game right and bring in a couple of ex champion players on big coin to supplement VFL listed players (like the BBL have with the likes of Warne) it could work. I don't like the current concept at all, it brings nothing but the chance of injury to key players.

Only half serious with the 2nd point there 'Red' but we should pick up some funds from outside the club. It might not happen directly but any AFL funding should take this into consideration. Everyone else seems to get an advantage on at times rather spurious assumptions and proposals.

We're victims of our ground being taken over by the rest of the competition. Maybe the co tenants should help fund our new home base.

I think the membership value has diminished significantly since the old pavilion stand was knocked down and numbers increased. They can't guarantee a GF seat anymore and on normal game days there are too many reserved seats sold in the members taking away prime viewing areas. I used to roll up on game day and have a nice little spot in the pavilion up level with where the coaches boxes were. The line up on GF day has always been a pain but at least you would be assured of a spot. There are too many members now and too many guests taking away full member seating. ...but the big draw of being a member is the waiting list. People will always join a line to get into anything and this is just about the biggest line in town. When running the odd show we would always leave the doors closed to draw a crowd out front as the intrigue would be piqued and more would join the line wanting to get in. It was well known certain venues would indeed rent a crowd to start the line and of course the classic door b.... had a prime role. I've been a member for a a long time now and every year it gets harder to find reason to pay over the cash particularly as I don't go to many games anymore because in part of the above reasons...and I don't get to the cricket now. I used to enjoy boxing day a lot, we would meet up with some people every year from the bush that we didn't even really know apart from having a couple of pots and a chat, they were always there... then we would go a find some more new acquaintances. It got too crowded with the party crowd...the same ones that go to events like the cup, tennis etc...boring mob, not interested in sport just want to be seen. Long answer...prestige, no, anyone can be a member if you're prepared to wait long enough. Value, probably not...paying for the club membership and the GF guarantee is probably a more sensible way to go. Are you missing anything. No, the old long room had some character but now it's just another bland room.

Yep, I think the old supporter base has been well and truly exhausted. The talk of converting MCC/MFC members to me is not going to achieve a lot more. Real growth will come from the areas you mention. Also note that the EFC drive came with premierships, ours will be the same.

I hope that not a lot of energy goes into this area as I think it's been well mined...and almost mined out as this supporter base is ageing. For the number of supporters we hold up extremely well even in the down times for attendances at games and memberships compared on a % basis to the so called big clubs. I would also think the ratio of MFC/MCC members will drop right off in the coming years. Picking up 50% now is a pretty decent conversion but in pure numbers it will dwindle away as time goes on. It's how we appeal to new members that's going to be the key to growth. A premiership or 2 won't hurt and providing an attractive club for people to join is going to be paramount. Establish the club as Melbourne in Melbourne and work hard for the new arrivals & converts...

I think this is the issue 'george'... Given the late start to training (and required surgery) and the extra long Christmas break this year I'm not overly concerned with the rehab list. The club wouldn't want to push too many at this stage. The real measure will be after the break. I would expect the injury list to drop markedly after the first week back.

Thought I might post this one here as well...in regard to the Pert interview on SEN.

I think the most interesting thing he said was that we had 3 or 4 options for the training/admin/supporter base and one of them was Yarra Park. Many on here have undersold the club by thinking that Yarra Park was the only option. This is a club now run by serious people and they are not going in without a thorough planing and options. It is also clear to me that the base we are looking at will be somewhere in or around the MCG/Laver sporting precinct. Exciting times ahead on and off field.

The Kangas have a recruiting haul something like what Port did last season. How did they finish up? Like Port in season 2018, North will be lucky to make the 8 this coming season.

As far as the football side of things goes, the Alan Joyce/Chris Scott model would be best...don't mess with what's already working. The training/admin/club home base is what he will be marked on. That's what he's here for...

Maybe opinion is the wrong word, maybe not.. My point is that they chose the stats and the weighting of those stats. It's not an exact science. Someone else may find a different set of figures and weighting is more representative. They sometimes overreach with their conclusions but it makes for an interesting debate and they are obviously refining the process each year. I think your original post 'pro' on the rolling 40 games is a case in point, pretty sure that's how they did it in the past but have moved on and refined it. This is the point I was getting at...not everything is based on the raw numbers. The stats they chose and weighting are generated by their experts not raw numbers. It's still an opinion based business, in their case what they think is most important in the outcome of games or positions played. They (CD) do put out their conclusions and use the media to push their profile. The media presentation is usually their (CD) representation of the data in press releases and they have their people talking about it on as many shows as possible. Good for business. Our game is a very difficult one to boil down to just a set of raw data...much easier for other games like Cricket & Baseball. Whilst like you I don't agree with the post you were originally quoting 'Brenno', that champion data is garbage, I think they do bring some really interesting information to the table and create some good debate/arguments...I don't totally buy into what they have to say either, raw data or not it's not above reproach.

That's not quite true. Yes they base their output on stats. ...but it's the stats they use & the assumptions made based on those stats that can be argued with. If it was pure stats then they would just release the stats sheet (the raw numbers) & let us draw our own conclusions. They don't, they give their opinion. It's not infallible & is arguable.

Adelaide knocked on his door before he chose us...so long as the club look after him he's not going anywhere.

Often it seems they get a photo op with a celeb in a jumper then off they go (the celeb)... At least she seemed to be involved a bit more than that, hanging around having chat with the coach and others.

Our first round pick will probably be pick 18 in 2019, I don't see us getting another top 10 pick for a while 'Lord'...let alone 2.

If you listen to the audio in the background of the highlights I'm pretty sure his teammates were calling him 'Nieta'... Looks like this one might stick 'Redleg'. Lets hope he can live up to the name and pick 53...

I like this, close to going into next years draft and with another year under his belt would have gone a lot higher by the look of him. Good skills and composure. The recruiting staff are really earning their money.

For guitar players, Guitarwank is a good one...http://www.guitarwank.com Bruce Forman & Scott Henderson with Troy McCubbin (Host)...and guests (sometimes). Bruce and Scott are killer players, very different styles and personalities making for very interesting and often very funny conversations. I also like Shane Theriot's "Riff Raff" podcast...Shane is the guitar player with Hall & Oats but his background is from New Orleans and he spent time playing with the Neville Brothers and Dr John to name a couple of legendary acts there. https://shanetheriot.com/shane-s-podcast-the-riff-raff

I suspect something is brewing and very much doubt that we would only have plan A (Yarra Park) unless we had some assurances that it's a goer. It's quite possible we have another proposed site and this is all just part of the long game. The Yarra proposal may well be smoke and mirrors. We brought Pert on for his expertise in these type of projects so lets see what he brings to the table.

Try and get the players out there to train 'old dee'... That move would torpedo any idea of us being a destination club... Arctic & Dingley are right on the Monash, an easy trip from the leafy Easterns. Cranny is a bridge too far.

It really is dumb & dumber 'ProDee'...I just can't figure out which one is dumb & which one is dumber. Our so called political masters leave a lot to be desired.

'jackaub's' world...