Casey have been in great form (basically since st.kilda's injury toll shortened) I haven't heard anything suggesting st.kilda will select andrew thompson this week?
Also, why did Springvale merge or change to Casey? Just wondering.
re. Andrew Thompson; The iceman post was posted on Friday on vflfooty.com, so I would suggest they were referring to the weekend just gone, not the weekend coming. Clearly he didn't play, but he didn't play for Casey either, not sure what happend there he may be injured.
re springvale - Casey;
With increasing costs and financial demand for VFL clubs Springvale eventually had no option but to relocate, otherwise fold as a football club.
A number of factors contributed to this:
-Many VFL clubs own.operate gaming venues, Springvale tried tirelesly to get one, each time they failed.
-Their home ground at newcomen road was severley run down, some of the plans to improve facilities were rejected, leaving the ground well below VFL standards. On top of this they could barely afford major renovations anyway.
- The club played quite a number of home games at Shepley Oval in Dandenog, however the council gave priority of games times and training times and days to Dandenong stingrays, leaving Springvale in a sitiuation where they were unable to fully relocate to Shepley.
- On top of this, when TAC cup clubs and VFL clubs formed alignments, Frankston were given Dandenong as an Alignment, and Springvale got Gippsland, who they would rarely be able to recruit due to location etc. (i think 3 players in 4 seasons or something similar)
- The club played some home games at moorabin, however could never get and maintain a solid supporterbase as it wasn't
their ground, and they did not train etc. there.
- The club tried to relocate to the newly developed Waverly park, as this is just 3km from the heart of springvale, I believe as a co-tennant with Hawthorn. not sure of exact reson, but obviously didn't happen, the club tried on numerous occasions to gain gaming venue/license etc. in this area also and again failed as none became available.
- on top of all of this, Springvale itself didn't have an overly large Aussie Rules following in comparison to other Areas, and crowds slowly began to decline.
- The city of Casey was desperate for an elite Aussie Rules team in the area, I'm not sure who approached who, but they were able to negotiate a brand new $5 million complex in Victorias fastest growing municipality, on top of this, they had pre approved a sport club/gaming venue with a large number of EGMs for both Caseys benifit and the benifit of other clubs using the Casey Fields complex (i.e Casey-Southmelbounre CC, Cranbourne football club tennis club etc.) however Casey would recieve 50% of didvidends.
- The move out there also allowed for closer relationship with the Gippsland Power, the aligned TAC club.
Obviously relocationg was heart breaking for many Springvale faithful, and the club did absoloutely everything in their power to avoid it, however for the long term survival it was inevitable.
Just on their recent form, it has been fantastic that the St.Kilda injury list has shortened, this gives the scorpions enormous help, the saints/scorps realationship this season has been the best since it began both on and off the field. For the first time as a Casey supporter, I am at ease with the relationship and set up!