Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

[comrade]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

At this stage I'd say no. Possibly up on a wing but realistically I've only seen him play in defence and have been suitably impressed so that's where I like him to stay and develop.

I'd like to see him develop into a Nick Smith style lock down small defender, with the added ability to clunk a few marks. Someone to stand players in the mould of Lindsay Thomas, Eddie Betts, etc

[Twodogs]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

At this stage I'd say no. Possibly up on a wing but realistically I've only seen him play in defence and have been suitably impressed so that's where I like him to stay and develop.

He's a big kid but he doesn't look match fit for AFL to me. But Webb and Dale don't look match to me either so what would I know?

He's playing well on a HBF in the reserves at the right time.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

I'd like to see him develop into a Nick Smith style lock down small defender, with the added ability to clunk a few marks. Someone to stand players in the mould of Lindsay Thomas, Eddie Betts, etc

Would be good. He has played tall a few times and has been performing ok. When he switched to a more
even match up he has done very well.

[Webby]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

This is one of the reasons why I can't see the sense behind the continual push by many of our fans of putting AFL games back to the Whitten Oval. It's also one of the reasons why I think there needs to be a substantial investment in our vision for Ballarat. I've been there for the games where the wind has ripped through ground. The venue will need to make sure it blocks a lot of the wind and at least provide some decent seating for fans.

The reason being is that wind is normally an advantage to the team that's accustomed to it. Thus the edge of a home ground advantage. It served us well for 100 years. Clubs hated coming to the WO. Issue yesterday was that we were playing against a club from potentially the windiest ground in the country!��

Compared to the wind seen at Aurora and Bellerive recently, I don't think the WO or North Ballarat would be too bad. Part of the issue yesterday was that the crowd was pretty sparse. Not by VFL standards, but by AFL or old VFL standards. It's a bit warmer amongst a dense crowd!

If we are only talking about Ballarat, then I think a case can be made for the Eastern Oval above the Northern Oval. The Eastern Oval is in a bit of a valley and is protected from the big winds of North Ballarat. However, I think the decision has been made re North Ballarat. If they build stands in the right place, it could be okay.

Back on the WO, the ideal points to build big stands would be the Whitten Stand across to the Barkly Street goals. Most of the WO wind comes from straight over that area. The wind almost NEVER comes from the eastern (Hawkins Wing) side of the ground, so that could be left open. If the club had the backing to do it (and, again, I'm talking hypotheticals) we could replace the Whitten Stand, go up and over the Elite Learning Centre and all the way to the Drill Hall. The administration could be incorporated in that structure and the current Gent Stand administration area could be game day corporate space - quite easily. With stunning city skyline backdrop to boot. There's also plenty of space for a stand at the old scoreboard end, too.

It's only a boutique stadium for what's becoming a TV revenue generated game. I think Etihad has a finite lifespan and we might find that they look at a smaller stadium at Egate and/or a boutique stadium 10mins train ride from the CBD. If that comes to pass, I think it's prudent for us to be presenting WO as a viable option.

[Eastdog]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

Would have been great just imagine years back had the AFL made WO the 3rd smaller stadium with Etihad and the MCG. That being said I wish we could put money into the WO but unfortunately it might just cost us too much to do. Loved the Nab cup match there - conditions that day were much warmer though.

[Webby]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

There's no question of us being able to fund it. We simply couldn't. It's a question of garnering support for it. Of simply being in the picture and a viable option if/when the chips fall that way. I reckon it wouldn't do us any harm to get behind the idea. To fly the flag for it. It might get us some bigger picture leverage further down the track.

The funding would come from the AFL, along with the three levels of government, or perhaps some private developers.

It's not in our interests for our own supporters of all people to poo poo the idea.

[Eastdog]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

There's no question of us being able to fund it. We simply couldn't. It's a question of garnering support for it. Of simply being in the picture and a viable option if/when the chips fall that way. I reckon it wouldn't do us any harm to get behind the idea. To fly the flag for it. It might get us some bigger picture leverage further down the track.

The funding would come from the AFL, along with the three levels of government, or perhaps some private developers.

It's not in our interests for our own supporters of all people to poo poo the idea.

The Showgrounds also I believe was another possible option but that I don't think will happen. Whats the talk with E-gate - I imagine there wouldn't be too much.

[KT31]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

The Showgrounds also I believe was another possible option but that I don't think will happen. Whats the talk with E-gate - I imagine there wouldn't be too much.

Showgrounds was floated many years ago as a ground for both us and Essendon but at the time Essendon wanted nothing to do with it.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

Anastasio was the bloodnut from Willie. Decent set of wheels on him. My experience has demonstrated that Italian redheads are amongst the more volatile & competitive people in the world! Perhaps he got under our blokes skin, but i wouldn't mind him in our VFL side. Very busy and very quick.

Should have been pinged a few times . There was one where he did the Ol' KB and bounced the ball while tackled.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

The reason being is that wind is normally an advantage to the team that's accustomed to it. Thus the edge of a home ground advantage. It served us well for 100 years. Clubs hated coming to the WO. Issue yesterday was that we were playing against a club from potentially the windiest ground in the country!��

Compared to the wind seen at Aurora and Bellerive recently, I don't think the WO or North Ballarat would be too bad. Part of the issue yesterday was that the crowd was pretty sparse. Not by VFL standards, but by AFL or old VFL standards. It's a bit warmer amongst a dense crowd!

If we are only talking about Ballarat, then I think a case can be made for the Eastern Oval above the Northern Oval. The Eastern Oval is in a bit of a valley and is protected from the big winds of North Ballarat. However, I think the decision has been made re North Ballarat. If they build stands in the right place, it could be okay.

Back on the WO, the ideal points to build big stands would be the Whitten Stand across to the Barkly Street goals. Most of the WO wind comes from straight over that area. The wind almost NEVER comes from the eastern (Hawkins Wing) side of the ground, so that could be left open. If the club had the backing to do it (and, again, I'm talking hypotheticals) we could replace the Whitten Stand, go up and over the Elite Learning Centre and all the way to the Drill Hall. The administration could be incorporated in that structure and the current Gent Stand administration area could be game day corporate space - quite easily. With stunning city skyline backdrop to boot. There's also plenty of space for a stand at the old scoreboard end, too.

It's only a boutique stadium for what's becoming a TV revenue generated game. I think Etihad has a finite lifespan and we might find that they look at a smaller stadium at Egate and/or a boutique stadium 10mins train ride from the CBD. If that comes to pass, I think it's prudent for us to be presenting WO as a viable option.

Unusual Sunday as it was a north Easter whipping in with no protection on the Gordon st side

[Eastdog]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

Showgrounds was floated many years ago as a ground for both us and Essendon but at the time Essendon wanted nothing to do with it.

Thanks filling me in on that KT31. So is E-gate now a possible option as a boutique stadium for the future.

[Twodogs]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

Unusual Sunday as it was a north Easter whipping in with no protection on the Gordon st side

Yep. It was exceptionally cold on Sunday. Coldest day since last Thursday at least.

[Webby]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

Thanks filling me in on that KT31. So is E-gate now a possible option as a boutique stadium for the future.

There was talk about an Egate stadium a while back:

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-25/afls-boutique-push

http://www.pta.com.au/portfolio/project/e-gate-stadium

It was just used as a bit of a negotiation point by Demetriou (in his bullying way) to wrest some leverage on Etihad management. It died off (along with Princess Park and Punt Rd talk), but, just reading the tea leaves, I think there might be some life in it, yet.

Etihad is now almost completely built in by high rise office buildings. It occupies several hectares in what is now prime blue chip real estate. It's a stadium which is problem riddled, poorly suited to AFL and is ageing. In short, it's underperformed as a structure, but the land on which it is sitting has over performed as an investment.

Add to that the fact that the latest TV deal has resulted in AFL crowd numbers being down. There's no need for a 58,000 seater. A 40,000 seater would be more than adequate. Configurations would mean no shade issues for TV and no surface issues. The AFL could cash in on Etihad, build a brand spanker at Egate which is done properly, has 30 years life in it and produces a more atmospheric television product. As opposed to Etihad, which is going to need some serious repair and maintenance in the coming years.

I tend to think Egate will be in the AFL's thoughts when they see the price and the infrastructure tied in with it.

[Eastdog]

Re: Footscray Bulldogs v Williamstown - Round 8 2015 VFL

If we got 50,000 members in the future we could push to play a bit more at the MCG. Is a part of the reason we are not benefiting from Etihad is because we are getting low crowds - we aren't getting over the 25K threshold. E-Gate basically is just a new inner city suburb being proposed like Fishermans Bend.