Melbourne Base

[Eagle_Fan]

Saw with interest that the Eags are considering relocating Bluey to Melbourne to be a scout and help to establish a Victorian base. I think it's a really great idea, and as much as we'd miss Bluey, it'd be beneficial for both him and the club. But I'd like us to take it further.

To have a team of people over there, would not only help in getting inside and up to date information, but imho it would also give us a little more manouvering power with the AFL. If we have a strong enough pressence, and can be significantly represented at meetings and functions, then we'd be more able to exert the power and influence our money :rolleyes: creates for us. Rather than meetings of the Vic based teams being dominated by the 'big 4', there'd be a wider range of values. While I'm not saying that we're not represented now, I believe the out of sight out of mind mentality still exists to a certain extent. If we're in their faces more (especially if those faces are well known and high profile like McKenna), our needs are there too.

The other step I'd like to see us take, is to set up an actual base, as in a place we can train. Currently, we have our offices based at the MCG, which is all well and good, but why not spend some of that $2mil profit on training facilities? Controversial I know, but it's pretty clear this year that we're not yet settled with a travel regime.
So, why not 'invest' in either Arden St, the Whitten Oval or Moorabbin? (Whichever is worst and/or most practical) Move our business base there (completely separate to the main tennant), and set up basic (Im not suggesting lap pools and medical facilities) training rooms. Perhaps not biased an insulated enough of me, but until all clubs have facilities that are up to standard, the competition will not be 'fair'. And while yes, improving the facilities of an 'enemy' team will help them, I feel that the benefits to us outweigh that. (Who do most of you barrack for when the Pies or Blues play St Kilda?)

Anyway, it's just a thought. I hate the fact that so much of what we make goes directly back to the WAFC where they can again mismanage it, so I'd see investing a large proportion of it first as a good thing. As much as the 'money = power' mentality saddens me, we've got it, so we may as well make use of it right?

I can't see the WAFC, State Government or AFL approving mind you, nor any Melb based side agreeing to host us (see it as a business agreement, definately not charity). But in my mind it's all a win to us.

Any thoughts?

EF.

*not intended to sound condescending btw... apologies for that tone :o

[noodle]

defiantly agree that we need more representation and publicity in victoria.

instead of investing a heap of money in separate facilities i would rather see west coast adopt a sister club approach. maybe invest some money into north and in return use there full facilities.

of course this may not work to well the day after a particularly fiery match.

[bunsen burner]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

What is the current situation regarding recovery after Melbourne games? Do the Eagles do some recovery and then fly back, or do they fly back and then recover? Maybe having a base in Melbourne would be good for doing some recovery before flying home?

[theBlueCardinal]

I think EF has made a very good point.

Melbourne is a little different from Sydney but a lot of the AFL clubs have aligned themselves with clubs in the Sydney Football League (including West Coast). Could West Coast not strike up a similar sort of agreement with one of the VFL clubs not already aligned to an AFL club? The VFL club gets backing (maybe a little financial support from West Coast) and in return allows West Coast use of their facilities and gives the club a home base in Melbourne???

[mantis]

Windy Hill has fantastic facilities, maybe they might share if renumeration could be agreed to, (not being a smart arse), they keep upgrading the place so that could be a possibility.

Agree with EF that you need a base over there.

[daddy_4_eyes]

I think its a great idea. Our facilities in Perth are world class, investing a little in Victoria would not only benefit us, but also help out the financially struggling clubs. The other benefit would be that the a lot of supporters of the team we "invest" in could quite well make the eagles their 2nd AFL team. In the long run that could give us a higher cash inflow (and for WAFC, since they take our profits).

Only problem I see is the AFL. They may foil such a plan as it might not sit well with them that 2 AFL teams work/operate so closely (match fixing, trade/draft conspiracies, financial dealings, etc).

[steve_rat]

i think it would be great!!

maybe move into a club near me! then i can see the players tons

steve rat

[Mr Eagle]

Is there any AFL team aligned with Bendigo? :D

[USAEagle]

I had this whole idea about 4 months ago. I emailed Trevor Nisbett about it and never got an answer.

My idea included permanent Melbourne staff, a training base - I suggested Glenferrie actually, and also included a "home" environment for the boys, to be used by us and the (shudder) Dockers on alternate weekends.

Isn't it funny how when you come up with a good idea, it gets ignored and all of a sudden you see portions of it start to be implemented.

I also suggested to T.Nisbett that we have a team in the VFL - see thread a long time ago (poll) - and he said that The Eagles actually wanted to field their OWN WAFL team, but the Powers that be could not see how that would be beneficial....to the WAFL most likely - the WAFC obviously does not care if teh Eagles or Dockers succeeds as long as the $$$$$ keep rolling in.

[Mr Eagle]

Originally posted by USAEagle
I also suggested to T.Nisbett that we have a team in the VFL - see thread a long time ago (poll) - and he said that The Eagles actually wanted to field their OWN WAFL team, but the Powers that be could not see how that would be beneficial....to the WAFL most likely - the WAFC obviously does not care if teh Eagles or Dockers succeeds as long as the $$$$$ keep rolling in.
Mate, the only time they get any $$$$$ is when those teams succeed! But seriously, there is no way either AFL side will get itself a WAFL team until the WAFC bites the bullet and rebuilds the league from scratch. At least the club has some control over a Vic base.

[Darky]

Originally posted by Eagle_Fan
Saw with interest that the Eags are considering relocating Bluey to Melbourne to be a scout and help to establish a Victorian base. I think it's a really great idea, and as much as we'd miss Bluey, it'd be beneficial for both him and the club. But I'd like us to take it further.

To have a team of people over there, would not only help in getting inside and up to date information, but imho it would also give us a little more manouvering power with the AFL. If we have a strong enough pressence, and can be significantly represented at meetings and functions, then we'd be more able to exert the power and influence our money :rolleyes: creates for us. Rather than meetings of the Vic based teams being dominated by the 'big 4', there'd be a wider range of values. While I'm not saying that we're not represented now, I believe the out of sight out of mind mentality still exists to a certain extent. If we're in their faces more (especially if those faces are well known and high profile like McKenna), our needs are there too.

The other step I'd like to see us take, is to set up an actual base, as in a place we can train. Currently, we have our offices based at the MCG, which is all well and good, but why not spend some of that $2mil profit on training facilities? Controversial I know, but it's pretty clear this year that we're not yet settled with a travel regime.
So, why not 'invest' in either Arden St, the Whitten Oval or Moorabbin? (Whichever is worst and/or most practical) Move our business base there (completely separate to the main tennant), and set up basic (Im not suggesting lap pools and medical facilities) training rooms. Perhaps not biased an insulated enough of me, but until all clubs have facilities that are up to standard, the competition will not be 'fair'. And while yes, improving the facilities of an 'enemy' team will help them, I feel that the benefits to us outweigh that. (Who do most of you barrack for when the Pies or Blues play St Kilda?)

Anyway, it's just a thought. I hate the fact that so much of what we make goes directly back to the WAFC where they can again mismanage it, so I'd see investing a large proportion of it first as a good thing. As much as the 'money = power' mentality saddens me, we've got it, so we may as well make use of it right?

I can't see the WAFC, State Government or AFL approving mind you, nor any Melb based side agreeing to host us (see it as a business agreement, definately not charity). But in my mind it's all a win to us.

Any thoughts?

EF.

*not intended to sound condescending btw... apologies for that tone :o

OOPS! I misunderstood. Thought you wanted somewhere to crash for the weekend. ;)

[GoEagles]

I agree we should expand our representation in Melbourne (since we play 7-8 games there each year). We have a Victorian Recruiting Officer and various other people working on the admin side of the club, but we need to have 'football smarts' people being able to keep tabs on the Eastern States clubs who will have an insight to what's going on.

[Eagle_Fan]

I'm actually surprised you guys are agreeing with me :confused: I was expecting a bit more 'but that'd help the evil Victorian opposition'.... but perhaps that reaction would be more likely on the Freo board ;)

The idea of buddying up with a non-affiliated VFL team is nice, but part of my 'vision' is that our increased pressence would be helping a Melbourne based team... kind of a double action towards breaking up the big 4. (Not that i'm paranoid :p)

USA Eagle, if you email them enough they finally reply :) ;) But isn't it kind of satisfying when you do see slight changes? Even if they don't acknowledge your thoughts? My running battle with Ross Nicholas was fun for awhile there :D

EF.

Darky - a) you think you're top of the list? :confused: and b) as if i'd bother to ask :p

[Eagle_Fan]

btw- 'my name is EF and i'm a Smileyaholic' :o

This is beyond a joke....

[GoEagles]

Originally posted by Eagle_Fan
btw- 'my name is EF and i'm a Smileyaholic' :o

This is beyond a joke....

Very alarming. I counted 8 smilies in your previous post and 1 smilie in your signature. You have as many smilies as Derm puts "I" and "Trent Croad" in his weekly columns.

Or is it more alarming that I've bothered to count the smilies. :rolleyes: Uhoh here we go again!

[Eagle-Eye]

Excellent post, EF.

My other half has been suggesting for ages that the club purchases premises in Melbourne, a place large enough for the players and support staff to use when over east. They all get their own rooms, where they can keep their stuff so it becomes a "home away from home". Sort of like a Club Eagles!:p :p

That way theplayers feel more at home when playing away. The club could even employ it's own chef, etc to maintain diet and familiarity. Players injured over east can receive immediate treatment, stay in familiar surroundings and travel back later.

I know the cost would be enormous, but do we want another flag or not?
:)

:cool: