The Cockburn Dockers

[Silent Alarm]

From what I can understand, the Fremantle board share the sentiment most of us do. Fremantle Oval is our home and it'd be preferencial to stay at the home of our club. However, if it's more financially viable, Cockburn is the go.

As someone above mentioned, Victorian clubs are leaving their traditional home grounds. The Hawks left Glenferrie for Waverley, Collingwood are now at the Lexus Centre, and St Kilda are at Frankston. All of these clubs have played in Grand Finals (and two of them have won flags) since their moves. Although this may be a coincidence, it's encouraging. This is the state of the modern game. Maintaining tradition is fantastic, I'm all for it, but only up to a point. Our love for Freo Oval could stagnate the Fremantle Football Club. We can't afford to train out of average facilities when 17 other clubs have moved on.

Sure, Cockburn isn't the greatest suburb. But the players don't have to live there. It's not a huge move to another suburb, almost another city, like St Kilda. It's fairly close to our geographical namesake. You'd also say that most Cockburnians are Dockers fans. We're not moving to Midland or some other West Coast shithole.

It doesn't matter where Nat Fyfe trains to become our first Norm Smith and Brownlow medalist – it just matters that he wins it.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

From what I can understand, the Fremantle board share the sentiment most of us do. Fremantle Oval is our home and it'd be preferencial to stay at the home of our club. However, if it's more financially viable, Cockburn is the go.

As someone above mentioned, Victorian clubs are leaving their traditional home grounds. The Hawks left Glenferrie for Waverley, Collingwood are now at the Lexus Centre, and St Kilda are at Frankston. All of these clubs have played in Grand Finals (and two of them have won flags) since their moves. Although this may be a coincidence, it's encouraging. This is the state of the modern game. Maintaining tradition is fantastic, I'm all for it, but only up to a point. Our love for Freo Oval could stagnate the Fremantle Football Club. We can't afford to train out of average facilities when 17 other clubs have moved on.

Sure, Cockburn isn't the greatest suburb. But the players don't have to live there. It's not a huge move to another suburb, almost another city, like St Kilda. It's fairly close to our geographical namesake. You'd also say that most Cockburnians are Dockers fans. We're not moving to Midland or some other West Coast shithole.

It doesn't matter where Nat Fyfe trains to become our first Norm Smith and Brownlow medalist – it just matters that he wins it.

Cockburn is not a suburb.
Cockburn is a vibrant, bustling city encompassing several large suburbs.
The proposed site for the training facility although called Cockburn West is actually in the suburb of Jandakot which is predominantly rated urban and Semi industrial.
It is in fact more like Cockburn East . The city boundary doesn't go much further east than the freeway.

 

[more_of_bito]

Stay at Freo. Helps retain our identity.
Fremantle is a vibrant, cultural hub which has facilities, cafes, restaurants and everything a young footballer to keep occupied.
That's why Melbourne clubs can keep talent because it's a great place for young blokes to live. Imagine a Vic kid turning up to see professional players hanging out at success shopping centre. Ask saints players if the enjoy their state of the art facility in Seaford. They hate it because they live in the inner east with all the other successful footy talent.

 

[PapaJ]

Cockburn is not a suburb.
Cockburn is a vibrant, bustling city encompassing several large suburbs.
The proposed site for the training facility although called Cockburn West is actually in the suburb of Jandakot which is predominantly rated urban and Semi industrial.
It is in fact more like Cockburn East . The city boundary doesn't go much further east than the freeway.

Is that you Logan Howlett??

BTW, you're right. It isn't a suburb it's a quickly growing and multi-faceted city. No problem with Cockburn. Spent some great times in my youth in some of its great suburbs - but Fremantle has to be the 1st and 2nd options if at all possible for mine. Otherwise, the development area in Jandakot is a good backup option.

 

[Silent Alarm]

Stay at Freo. Helps retain our identity.
Fremantle is a vibrant, cultural hub which has facilities, cafes, restaurants and everything a young footballer to keep occupied.
That's why Melbourne clubs can keep talent because it's a great place for young blokes to live. Imagine a Vic kid turning up to see professional players hanging out at success shopping centre. Ask saints players if the enjoy their state of the art facility in Seaford. They hate it because they live in the inner east with all the other successful footy talent.

That's all very well. But it's not as big a drive as Melbourne to Seaford is. Our players could stay in Fremantle/Perth/wherever and the inconvenience would be small. Sure, the blokes like strolling into Freo after training, but I think they'd rather be Premiers and drive back to the cappuccino strip.

Also, Collingwood and Hawthorn aren't struggling with their identities, and they've ditched their original home.

Also, I'm sure the FFC would slowly phase out Fremantle Oval. When Hawthorn's development at Waverley had finished, they trained at Glenferrie every Tuesday. Five years after, Tuesday's were like every other day and training was at Waverley. Maybe that could keep people happy.

 

[more_of_bito]

That's all very well. But it's not as big a drive as Melbourne to Seaford is. Our players could stay in Fremantle/Perth/wherever and the inconvenience would be small. Sure, the blokes like strolling into Freo after training, but I think they'd rather be Premiers and drive back to the cappuccino strip.

Also, Collingwood and Hawthorn aren't struggling with their identities, and they've ditched their original home.

Also, I'm sure the FFC would slowly phase out Fremantle Oval. When Hawthorn's development at Waverley had finished, they trained at Glenferrie every Tuesday. Five years after, Tuesday's were like every other day and training was at Waverley. Maybe that could keep people happy.

I'd rather be premiers and still be based in our historic home. The facilities are going to be just as good whether in fremantle or cockburn.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Is that you Logan Howlett??

BTW, you're right. It isn't a suburb it's a quickly growing and multi-faceted city. No problem with Cockburn. Spent some great times in my youth in some of its great suburbs - but Fremantle has to be the 1st and 2nd options if at all possible for mine. Otherwise, the development area in Jandakot is a good backup option.

I agree with you.
There is extensive road upgrades underway right now from the freeway to stock Rd.
You would expect a " build it and they will come " plan will prevail in respect to entertainment precinct.

Best Regards & good luck......Loges.

 

[DrJon]

That's all very well. But it's not as big a drive as Melbourne to Seaford is. Our players could stay in Fremantle/Perth/wherever and the inconvenience would be small. Sure, the blokes like strolling into Freo after training, but I think they'd rather be Premiers and drive back to the cappuccino strip.

Also, Collingwood and Hawthorn aren't struggling with their identities, and they've ditched their original home.

Also, I'm sure the FFC would slowly phase out Fremantle Oval. When Hawthorn's development at Waverley had finished, they trained at Glenferrie every Tuesday. Five years after, Tuesday's were like every other day and training was at Waverley. Maybe that could keep people happy.

Hawthorn moved out of Glenferrie after 104 years. Collingwood moved out of Victoria Park after 113 years. St Kilda moved from the Junction Oval to Moorabin after almost 80 odd years, and then to Seaford in 2010.
These clubs had ample time to develop links to their community. Freo have not yet had 20 years in Fremantle, and good connections in the community were not immediately established by our original inept admin.

We need to be in Fremantle not Cockburn. I can't imagine why you can't have a state of the art facility in Freo somewhere.

 

[prattsta]

Stay at Freo. Helps retain our identity.
Fremantle is a vibrant, cultural hub which has facilities, cafes, restaurants and everything a young footballer to keep occupied.
That's why Melbourne clubs can keep talent because it's a great place for young blokes to live. Imagine a Vic kid turning up to see professional players hanging out at success shopping centre. Ask saints players if the enjoy their state of the art facility in Seaford. They hate it because they live in the inner east with all the other successful footy talent.

Several of our current/former players already live in Success/Atwell. It's only a 20-25 minute drive to Fremantle/Perth.

How many young players - the majority of our list - do you think are buying in/around Fremantle?

Of those players who are renting I'd guess the majority would be in a share house situation with team-mates. Again, how many would you expect to be renting in/around Fremantle? Bugger all if Docker TV is to be believed.

As an aside, Fremantle is hardly vibrant. I grew up around the area and love the place, but it's as run down as a suburb could be. There is no vision from the local government. Funnily enough, that's exactly why this issue has come up.

I hope the Fremantle FC remains @ Fremantle Oval, but ultimately I want what is best for the club and if that means moving elsewhere, so be it.

 

[prattsta]

I can't imagine why you can't have a state of the art facility in Freo somewhere.

The donkey's running the City of Fremantle would be the reason.

 

[Freo Shark]

Freo Oval would be the sentimental and preferred option for me but if they cant get the scale and costing correct then they need to move.
I think you will find the Pies, Hawks and Saints probably moved for the best deal all round.

We are sharing the facilities with the public i.e Gym etc. Do the Vic clubs have similar community access??

 

[Arcassius]

. I can't imagine why you can't have a state of the art facility in Freo somewhere.

Cost? Politics? By-Laws?

Sure it's possible - but then at the rate Freo Council operates don't expect a state of the art facility until 2025 and it to be half the size we wanted because of not getting council approvals. It's bad enough having to compromise facilities by turning them into mixed-use

 

[Fred Ziffel]

Not to mention the Crazies, the Fremantle Society.
It was because of those cranks that we had to compromise to locate in the southern pocket at the oval.
Least preferred spot which has now come back to bite our arse. But they're happy the Prison Vista still exists.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Not to mention the Crazies, the Fremantle Society.
It was because of those cranks that we had to compromise to locate in the southern pocket at the oval.
Least preferred spot which has now come back to bite our arse. But they're happy the Prison Vista still exists.

This.

The Cockburn plan is plan C or D in case the Freo Council and the Hysterical Society put up too many hurdles.

 

[Aussiblood]

Pretty sure read news story week back, that the whole area Port Beach rd/Bracks St (ex fuel depot site) is Land for Sale now. Flatten that area and you get a nice lil'site for residential and state of the art training grounds and facilites!

*- not just the red bordered area is up for sale - all those fuel silos too

 

[PapaJ]

This.

The Cockburn plan is plan C or D in case the Freo Council and the Hysterical Society put up too many hurdles.

From my read of things the Freo Council is basically for it, but it has to pander to the nut jobs who have too much time on their hands and use it to annoy counsellors and the like. ... well in fairness, it is good they have to listen to public comment, but you get what I mean. The vibe I get is they want to let FFC do what they need to do with integrated ideas from other entities in the area and facilities for the public too. What they basically have in mind sounds damn good, but yeah, there is the 'Hysterical Society' and the like to deal with.

 

[Admiral Byng]

... but yeah, there is the 'Hysterical Society' and the like to deal with.

My BiL works as an architect and does a lot of work around Freo way... that's what he calls them

(No, I won't reveal the name of his firm)