Moorrabbin Calling

[Geronimo#]

Sounds like we could have two high quality training bases.
I like the idea of reinventing the old place.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/old-home-is-calling-saints-20120511-1yidu.html

Will follow with intrest

 

[SamFisher25]

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

 

[Murraj1966]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

We aren't doing that well financially, why waste more money on something we already have?

It's like a Collingwood supporting family buying a second commodore to park at their commission housing.

 

[Plugger35]

Probably not a bad idea to have a couple of different training bases with one closer to the city centre. It should help build support across a wider area too so hopefully the extra cost of setting up another training facility might be offset by bigger memberships and attendances.

 

[stkildathunda]

ST KILDA will remain almost entirely based at its new home in Seaford.

A report emerged in a Melbourne newspaper on Saturday that the Saints would look to split their time between their Seaford base and their former home ground in Moorabbin.

St Kilda still has a small presence at Moorabbin, but coach Scott Watters said the club did not consider that it had two homes.

"The report was pretty baseless to be honest. This (Seaford) is our home. Players are really comfortable here and it is a terrific facility," Watters told AFL.com.au on Sunday.

"There were elements of that report that were probably pretty surprising to many of us here but down the track we would certainly like to redevelop Moorabbin and have it as a community hub and community centre.

"That might mean we train a little more there, but people would be misled if they didn't think Linen House was our home and it will remain that way."

The Saints have had several training sessions at Moorabbin this year but Watters said he could "count on one hand" the amount of times it had trained at Linton St.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/135659/default.aspx

 

[Squizz]

Makes perfect sense to me.

The Seaford facility isn't a big building. It might have been OK for a dictator with an enlarged ego, but seems too small to house a full football department.

We could get more media exposure at Moorabbin. The hacks don't want to drive to Seaford for the (very necessary) puff pieces.

The club is concerned that the small size of the TBO surface is affecting the game plan they want to implement (hence the development of the players). Surely the Zebs could be convinced to play at least some games at Moorabbin (whilst still training at TBO).

We have the lease there - why not use it and look to attract the local supporter bases at two venues?

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Opportunity to cover the cost by creating links with the VFL or other local leagues to play games there. Doesn't hurt to try.

 

[Squizz]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/saints-ponder-reengaging-moorabbin-20121205-2auk7.html

St Kilda has taken another step towards re-engaging Moorabbin, appointing strategic sports marketing consultants the Gemba Group to develop a feasibility study.

Westaway said: "I think we will train there intermittently but far be it for me to say when because the football department coaches will make a call on that. It can be disruptive unless it is well planned."

St Kilda's lease at its old home does not expire for another 28 years.

The City of Frankston tipped in almost $4 million to the Seaford development, but the Saints, with their expanding football department, have already started to outgrow it.

 

[Persevering Saint]

I went to the training before Christmas last year at Moorabbin, and thought it worked well. The fact is, we are setting ourselves up to be the Seaside Club, from Sorrento to Sandringham, Portsea to Port Melbourne. We can't expect the Sandringham or Port Melbourne side of our supporters to travel all the way down to Seaford if they want to connect with the players. Moorabbin offers an essentially free "satellite of influence" along that seaside border... as does TBO in Sandringham.

 

[Q TRAIN]

Used to loooooooove watching interstates games up in the old Saints Disco room at Moorabbin.
Watched that famous final against the Crows at Aami Stadium when Harves tore them a new one and we won. The room went OFFFFFF!!!!!
Plus Linton St is a shipload closer to me than Seaford is
But weve put too much $$$$$$ into the new facility, we might as well use it.

 

[Falchoon]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

We aren't doing that well financially, why waste more money on something we already have?

It's like a Collingwood supporting family buying a second commodore to park at their commission housing.

it depends how much it's insured for

 

[Persevering Saint]

I don't think anyone is rationally expecting we'll ditch Seaford. I think we're suggesting utilising as much as possible as a satellite of influence, since we've got the lease on it anyway for 30 years.

If you've bought a new commodore, but you can't get rid of your old datsun, you might as well use the datsun here and there, rather than let it just rust in your garage.

 

[Sunshine Saint]

I went to the training before Christmas last year at Moorabbin, and thought it worked well. The fact is, we are setting ourselves up to be the Seaside Club, from Sorrento to Sandringham, Portsea to Port Melbourne. We can't expect the Sandringham or Port Melbourne side of our supporters to travel all the way down to Seaford if they want to connect with the players. Moorabbin offers an essentially free "satellite of influence" along that seaside border... as does TBO in Sandringham.

Great logic. Nothing like reinforcing the link with all the bayside communities, that we are their team. Even for those with an existing AFL allegiance, there is great benefit (sponsors, merchandise etc) by being the second team for a number of these people.

Essendon did it very cleverly for years, in developing the NT and a membership base there. Hawthorn has done this in Tasmania and we as well as our bayside home base, are now doing the same in New Zealand.

No doubt that Linton House is our long term base, but all that we can do to make connections with more supporters, potential supporters and sponsors are all huge pluses.

 

[Kildonan]

Just an observation I made - both TBO and Seaford seem to be chronically windy.
Moorabbin offers us a training facility which is more protected and hence a more realistic practice oval for kicking skills