View Full Version : Michael Horan's comments on Victoria Park
Coin_Toss
8 May 2007, 16:42
Michael, a few words of advice; Get over it.
I know you like to blog over the internet so you will be reading this thread. That is all.
bradrowe#32
8 May 2007, 16:45
Was it this one?
On My Soapbox with Trevor Grant
08 May 2007 Herald-Sun
THE remarkable fact that the mighty Collingwood Football Club came close to bankruptcy in 1986 cut deeply into the psyche of a lot of Magpie people, Trevor Grant writes.
No deeper than it did to Eddie McGuire, who took control of the club in 1998 and vowed it would never face such humiliation again.
McGuire combined his unashamed affection for his club with his entrepreneurial flair, and, presto, within a few years it was regularly announcing yearly profits of $2 million.
A critical part of the strategy that has rebuilt the club's financial base was the move, in 2004, from its home for 112 years, Victoria Park, to a shiny new "centre for excellence" in the Olympic Park precinct, now called the Lexus Centre.
Collingwood says it is a world-class facility equipped with every known legal device to give players the opportunity to maximise their physical and mental talents.
Other clubs were said to be envious. Maybe they were. But, as I walked past this imposing structure the other day, I wondered how many Collingwood people, apart from the players and staff, actually identify with it.
There is a sign on one side declaring it as the home of the Victorian Institute of Sport, which shares the facility with the Magpies. Next door there is another large sign declaring the adjacent Olympic Park the home of Melbourne Storm.
If you were a visitor you wouldn't have a clue it is also the home of the AFL club with the biggest following in Australia. Olympic Park Trust restrictions mean there is no highly visible Magpie presence, except for the club logos decorating the Lexus Centre sign and a statue of Bobby Rose on the front doorstep.
The conventional wisdom has been that Collingwood needed to break its attachment to its spiritual home to progress. But I now wonder whether part of the soul of the club has been sacrificed in the process.
Look at the heartfelt link that remains between several other Melbourne clubs and their home bases, even though, like Collingwood, they play their games elsewhere. Essendon has Windy Hill, Carlton has Princes Park, Richmond has Punt Rd, the Western Bulldogs have the Whitten Oval and St Kilda has Moorabbin.
Certainly several of these Melbourne clubs have had deep-seated financial troubles but at least they have a home that means something to everyone connected to the club, not just players and staff who, after all, come and go over the years. And, apart from Hawthorn, it's within these traditional homes that they have chosen to rebuild their facilities.
Collingwood is the richest of all, and these days more in charge of its destiny than most clubs. But what does it have to call home?
Its base is a former Olympic swimming pool, albeit a superbly refurbished one. It has a training ground named after an Olympian, and, while a new stadium is being built in this area, it currently trains on a open, windswept oval bordering busy Punt Rd.
Where is the connection for supporters, especially at a club that values tradition so highly? And where does the Collingwood mob gather when we finally win another premiership? No true Magpie could forget the feeling of togetherness at Victoria Park on the Sunday after the 1990 premiership. A room at the MCG "social club" or the Lexus Centre is no substitute.
The Bombers have reminded us this week of what a true home base means as it celebrates its link with Windy Hill. And last month the sense of belonging was palpable as the Essendon family gathered at the tribal homeland to support Adam Ramanauskas's comeback match in the VFL.
As they spilled out of the vibrant social club, and filled the Dick Reynolds Stand, it was enough to make a homeless Magpie envious.
There's no doubt Collingwood has made a financial killing by leaving Vic Park. But has it enriched the club?
And where does the Collingwood mob gather when we finally win another premiership? No true Magpie could forget the feeling of togetherness at Victoria Park on the Sunday after the 1990 premiership. A room at the MCG "social club" or the Lexus Centre is no substitute.
Good question... where do we go?
Welcome to the new millenium Trevor
Good question... where do we go?
Yeah he's got a point and I'm guessing everyone will just naturally gravitate to Vic Park again. I've never seen anything like it to this day back in 1990. The streets were swamping with people. :) :thumbsu:
I'm guessing when the new stadium is built near the Lexus Center things will be held there.
It was Trevor Grant, not Horan who is a Collingwood supporter.
We have no real alternative. If you want Vic Park to have state of the art facilities you would have to get rid of all the 'character' of the stadium anyway. Do you think Waverly now has character? No it is just as sterile as the Lexus Centre, that's what would of happened to Vic Park.
Frederlick
8 May 2007, 19:42
Good question... where do we go?
Who gives a shit where we go, they have to win it first, personally I'll meet anyone game enough in the bay 13 urinal at the G if it involves a Magpie premiership. Yeah isn't sticking with Arden St getting the Roos places. Richmond and Carlton? Their administrations couldn't run a hot bath! Essendon, they do recovery sessions in a hotel across the street from Docklands and anyone ever been to a Bulldogs post game function at the Dome? Lame. Geelong? Would you pay a membership to go to that ground they play on? This is like asking your Grandma if you can turn the family crypt into a house to live in. Isn't this more relevant? Which is the only Vic team to reach a Grand Final this millenium? Welcome to a grade Victoria.:thumbsu:
Pie 4 Life
8 May 2007, 20:10
It was Trevor Grant, not Horan who is a Collingwood supporter.
We have no real alternative. If you want Vic Park to have state of the art facilities you would have to get rid of all the 'character' of the stadium anyway. Do you think Waverly now has character? No it is just as sterile as the Lexus Centre, that's what would of happened to Vic Park.
Michael Horan IS a Collingwood supporter. I did work experience there for a week back in March and we were having a great conversation about them. I can guarantee 100% he does support Collingwood.
Johnson#26
8 May 2007, 21:41
Grant's right, we need a spiritual base.
FadeAway
8 May 2007, 21:55
As usual they are just pointing at something to pick at, we have the facilities, we have the assets, the right business people looking after the administration and we are getting it together on the field.
As usual someone is having a shot at Collingwood. Who cares!!! We where the first of the Vic clubs to reinvent ourselves and now everyone is following suit...
Stuff Grant!
doppleganger
8 May 2007, 22:00
Think the majority of supporters would rather see us have the best chance at winning a premiership, which needs the best facilities
Vic Park was a special place, will always be that way...but the pies became too big for it
I would like to think that should we win another flag one of these years a pilgrimage will be made by fans to Viccy Park as opposed to the lexus centre
I still go there for a kick with mates every now and then
Love the place
I think the article has merit, yes the lexus center is state of the art and in the middle of one of the best sports precints in the world, but it doesn't make the hair on my neck stand up quiet like seeing those big black and white stripes on the side of Vic park.
Seems odd also that we train at a facility, in winter, that does not have an oval next to it. Also odd that the oval we do train on is expossed and open to the elements, when we play on 0 of these types of grounds during the season. I like driving down punt road and seeing the boys train, but, i would prefer to drive the little extra distance to vic park.
'51 Bewick
9 May 2007, 08:59
Which is the only Vic team to reach a Grand Final this millenium?
:rolleyes: :p :D
Frederlick
9 May 2007, 10:20
:rolleyes: :p :D
Millenium started 01 Jan 2001 , well done Bombers you won a grand final last century, just like every other Vic team.:)
Umm they also reached one that year, which was the original argument.:o
bradrowe#32
9 May 2007, 11:27
I do seem to recall an article last year when Ed said that if Collingwood made a grand final then they would hold a training session at Vic Park. Not sure if any celebrations/commiserations would be held there.
Coin_Toss
9 May 2007, 16:37
I do seem to recall an article last year when Ed said that if Collingwood made a grand final then they would hold a training session at Vic Park. Not sure if any celebrations/commiserations would be held there.
I hope he keeps his word, but FWIW. What would it prove? That we could go back when we are about to make history. I'd be surprised if they held the aftermath celebrations there.
Frederlick
9 May 2007, 16:56
Umm they also reached one that year, which was the original argument.:o
:o My bad, apologies Bombers.
I hope he keeps his word, but FWIW. What would it prove? That we could go back when we are about to make history. I'd be surprised if they held the aftermath celebrations there.
I think he said it only because the training oval at the Lexus wouldn't be able to hold the amount of people that will show up.
I don't think that training in an open area is a huge problem as some others have said on this post. Have a look at some of the best soccer teams in the world, they do the same thing.
I would be very surprised if the club would hold a training session at Vic Park if we got into a Grand final. When was the last time it was used for anything? Does it get maintained?
My big dissapointment as a social club member is that we pay all of this money and do not have a genuine place to go. Anyone can get into the Lexus centre before or after a game and food and drink is so expensive. I think that the lexus should be only avaliable to social club members or social members should be some other benefit, an attached room with its own bar maybe.:D How good would it have been to go watch a training session in the social club rooms for a few quite beers then mingle with the players after, without spending extra money on a so called dinner.:thumbsd:
it would've been good if we could have somehow maintained rights over the ground and kept it for reserves game etc.....
if of course we still had reserves..
toorakbum
9 May 2007, 22:50
I would be very surprised if the club would hold a training session at Vic Park if we got into a Grand final. When was the last time it was used for anything? Does it get maintained?
It's actually in better shape now then it was when we left.
waveofthefuture
9 May 2007, 22:59
Played on it last year: fantastic surface!
Frederlick
11 May 2007, 11:06
I don't think that training in an open area is a huge problem as some others have said on this post. Have a look at some of the best soccer teams in the world, they do the same thing.
I would be very surprised if the club would hold a training session at Vic Park if we got into a Grand final. When was the last time it was used for anything? Does it get maintained?
My big dissapointment as a social club member is that we pay all of this money and do not have a genuine place to go. Anyone can get into the Lexus centre before or after a game and food and drink is so expensive. I think that the lexus should be only avaliable to social club members or social members should be some other benefit, an attached room with its own bar maybe.:D How good would it have been to go watch a training session in the social club rooms for a few quite beers then mingle with the players after, without spending extra money on a so called dinner.:thumbsd:
Agreed, in Social Club too, and the only benefit is that you can book the Harrison Room at the G for lunch if you go and collect the passes from the Club. I think Lexus should be for all, but your right it should be easier for SC members to access certain facilities and functions etc.
bush_tucker77
11 May 2007, 11:15
somebody correct me if im wrong but i think the VFL umpires use it as their training base, so it must be in good nick to train on, dunno about the other stands tho