Siegfried wrote:
Seems like too difficult a question for people to answer...probably because it is! Depends on wha the options are...seems like in order to have elite training facilities, you need to tie it in to a community project so as to get government and council fundings, a la Lexus Centre, Whitten Oval etc.
So, whether it is at PP, or somewhere else, we need to get involved in a govt/council project to deliver the Club, and the community, elite facilities.
The problem I have with Stage 2, is that the Smorgon seemed to believe it was the ONLY way to sort out the finances. What that is saying is that they were giving up on being financially viable as a football club. Ridiculous. You may as well say we are going to build a shopping centre and sort out our financials that way. No difference, really.
Yes, clearly we need to identify and develop new revenue streams. However, 15 other clubs run their businesses are football entities. A couple in Melbourne are struggling, but the others all manage to exist that way. Melbourne were able to turn their whole club around in a matter of a few years when Gardiner came on board, through effective football management, and they have fewer members than us. Collingwood did the same when Maguire took over.
Sorry, off the track a bit DB, but...we need to get football basics right, that is our bread and butter...then look at other options to suppliment that or strengthen that further. If that means developing PP to stage 1, great. If Stage 2 comes off, even better...then we go from being a successful football business to a power house. If it means moving from PP to elite training facilities that also help our financial position, then so be it. Sad, but look at where moving to Lexus has taken Collingwood as a club.

Have a look at the location Victoria Park and the attitude of the Council there, nothing like what is projected for MC Labour Park would ever get off the ground.
MC is our spiritual home and if it can be developed in the way that The Unity Group suggested, then it will underpin us financially for many years to come. It would also allow us to rid of the AFL in the very near future.
I think it is incumbent on the new Board to investigate this proposal fully and. if it stacks up, then they should push for it to be done.
Finally, who should be President, Greg Lee or Steven Moulton
