I'd be rapt if Frankston had recruited half as well as you blokes. You've got some quality footballers among that lot, I'd expect some clear improvement at Port this season.
Aj I suppose we shouldn't complain, other clubs are struggling to get players and relying on top line suburban players hoping they can make the jump. The buzz at the club is loud, I however tend to think that we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves, we've lost Phillips, Nai Smith, Gasper, Hunter, Dylan Clarke. Whilst we've received quality, quality has also been lost. A couple of top line forwards I think should be top priority. Whilst Signorello, Manton, Flockart are all good forwards I just can't see them scoring 40 + goals. Might be another season of working hard to get the ball in the 50 for little result.
I am confident of improved results but mainly due to a favourable fixture. Ive read of top 4 expectations but I feel we are so far away from that. Get me a improved forward line and a top ruckman and I'll say we are in with a great chance, at the moment I'll stay humble and say we are only a thereabouts team.
Me staying humble over Port Melbourne is rare, listening to Digs for over a decade has affected me !!!
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Being a thereabouts team is still a step up from last year. Meanwhile I'm unironically thinking that not being in the bottom four will be a pass mark for Frankston.
True, I guess we have been spoilt over the years and expect good showings yearly. After having 3 bad seasons which only saw us win 14 wins in 3 seasons (their were recent times we got more wins in a single season) I don't blame the ones that have begun to doubt if we still have what it takes to build a side that's a genuine heavyweight.
Is Frankstons main issue in getting players money and geography? I would have thought with the positive crowds and sponsorship that money wouldn't be too big a issue.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
I honestly don't know what the issue is internally. I'm trying to be more active within the club outside of just going to games, but I'm not involved in the football department or anything. My suspicion is that it's a combination of things:
- Geography: hard to entice players to come here and stay at a semi-pro club if they don't live in the area. Thrilled we still have Jack Newnes but we're lucky he lives on the peninsula.
- Money: I don't know the exact finances of the club. It comes down to whether we're paying the full salary cap or not. Even if we are, it's ordinary pay for having to go up against AFL players frequently. So I don't know what more we can do unless the cap gets raised.
- There's also a thriving local comp down here, and plenty of local clubs were you can probably make more money and not have to play against full-timers every week. So we're probably not the most attractive option unless you want to get drafted.
- The modern perception of the VFL as a feeder competition, and Frankston itself leaning on that for recruitment. You can't build on-field stability on "this is a place you can get drafted from" because if they don't get drafted, they have no reason to stick around.
- We've become known for mediocrity. The reality of any sport is that a team's success is going to be measured by its trophy cabinet, and our only senior flag at state level is a 1978 Division 2 flag. And even when we let a few get away (1996 for example) we at least had fairly good on-field results during those years, especially on our home ground. But since making finals in 2008 we really haven't been close. More than a decade of being seen as a weak club with no money and unruly fans. Good luck selling that to potential players and supporters.
There's just a lot that works against us in my opinion. I've also heard some vague rumblings about players leaving because of a falling out with club officials, which I won't get into because I don't want to speak for other people. It's just a hard sell in this day and age where fans mostly get their suburban footy fix from local leagues instead and the VFL is seen as a development comp. I'd love to know what Port and Williamstown are doing that we're not.
At a guess perhaps a few things entice players to Port and Willy over Frankston,
Geography - more likely to have players who live, work or study nearby rather than travel to the outermost suburb
Money - Ports finances have been relatively stable the last few years and would pay close to the salary cap (if not the entire thing). Williamstown with its pokies venue would be extremely well funded and therefore be able to look after their stock.
History and reputation- these clubs have a history of success and people expect they will put out strong sides therefore may sign on with the belief that they will have a successful and enjoyable season rather than getting trounced weekly. Hard sell to potential Coburg players (who a few seasons back were doing ok) when they see that they have hardly won a game past few seasons.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Just one man's opinion, and it won't be popular among others at the club.....but I have been around the place (quietly) for 40 years and have seen a lot of change, but seen a lot stay the same. To preface, I don't think finances are the problem. Unless we have lost money somewhere, I was told that by last season we had the ability to pay the full salary cap. That would be backed up by the fact that we are now employing a coach full time instead of part time. Can't do that if we can't pay a playing group. Yes we are getting crowds each week that are the envy of most other clubs. The club appears to do a good trade in merchandise. There is no reason that we shouldn't be able to compete financially.
History - yes, it's not a great look that we have one senior premiership, and that was in second division. Three division one grand finals, two of which we went in as strong favourites and came away with nothing. Recent history is clearly a debacle. Since 2008 we haven't played a final, and many of those years were spent as bottom or bottom couple. Of course everyone knows what happened in 2016. To the club's credit, we have fought hard since then and have even produced some reasonably competitive sides. But, until we actually play a final or two, I can understand competitive beasts thinking they would be better off somewhere else, somewhere that finals and a flag are possibilities. We have to work our way into their thinking by producing a consistently performing group. That's the challenge.
AFL draft breeding ground - I think many have seen Frankston as having one goal - to get players drafted. That has led us to getting many talented, yet selfish footballers. History shows that these blokes disappear once it's clear they won't be drafted, and even more gallingly they get drafted, get delisted.....and then show up on someone else's list. Jackson Kornberg has said a couple of things early that give me hope we are going to ditch this well-meaning yet unworkable aim. We are not the talent league, we are a footy club whose survival depends on winning. Can't do that with mercenaries.
Mornington Peninsula footy culture - this is not spoken about, but I believe it's a factor. Yes the MPNFL is a strong league, with an plethora of great players. Watching their interleague team has made me want to cry as I see the cohesiveness and talent on display for them and not us. Unlike the metro area, there are a hell of a lot of blokes down here that don't take footy too seriously. They are happy to be well paid by a local club and play with their mates, have a beer while watching the twos, etc, rather than plying their trade at state league level. I could pick a team from the MPNFL right now that would give the VFL flag a shake.
Club Culture - I know we have a lot of hardworking and dedicated people at Frankston, but we have been hampered many times in recent years by off field upheavals. I have seen many people become immersed in the running of the club, at the place all the time, then suddenly vanish, not to be seen anymore. I do believe some people see the place as their own little boutique corner of the footy world to enjoy. We desperately need to escape that. I believe we have lost our last two captains due to politics / and/or poor communication within the club. And now bad a look is it to lose your two best players in two seasons.....your captains and beating heart of the side no less.
"I could pick a team from the MPNFL right now that would give the VFL flag a shake."
While I agree with much of what you said above AJ, I respectfully disagree with that bit. From personal experience, I think the MPNFL standard is light years off the VFL. An all-star MPNFL team might be competitive for a quarter, but they'd get run off their feet shortly after that.
Back to Port, I think they've definitely recruited well, the question is how quickly can they pull all the pieces into a cohesive team that can compete with the best?
Get on board for 2024 Digs, we'd love to have you financially invested in the club 😎
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
I'd be rapt if Frankston had recruited half as well as you blokes. You've got some quality footballers among that lot, I'd expect some clear improvement at Port this season.
Aj I suppose we shouldn't complain, other clubs are struggling to get players and relying on top line suburban players hoping they can make the jump. The buzz at the club is loud, I however tend to think that we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves, we've lost Phillips, Nai Smith, Gasper, Hunter, Dylan Clarke. Whilst we've received quality, quality has also been lost. A couple of top line forwards I think should be top priority. Whilst Signorello, Manton, Flockart are all good forwards I just can't see them scoring 40 + goals. Might be another season of working hard to get the ball in the 50 for little result.
I am confident of improved results but mainly due to a favourable fixture. Ive read of top 4 expectations but I feel we are so far away from that. Get me a improved forward line and a top ruckman and I'll say we are in with a great chance, at the moment I'll stay humble and say we are only a thereabouts team.
Me staying humble over Port Melbourne is rare, listening to Digs for over a decade has affected me !!!
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
Being a thereabouts team is still a step up from last year. Meanwhile I'm unironically thinking that not being in the bottom four will be a pass mark for Frankston.
True, I guess we have been spoilt over the years and expect good showings yearly. After having 3 bad seasons which only saw us win 14 wins in 3 seasons (their were recent times we got more wins in a single season) I don't blame the ones that have begun to doubt if we still have what it takes to build a side that's a genuine heavyweight.
Is Frankstons main issue in getting players money and geography? I would have thought with the positive crowds and sponsorship that money wouldn't be too big a issue.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
I honestly don't know what the issue is internally. I'm trying to be more active within the club outside of just going to games, but I'm not involved in the football department or anything. My suspicion is that it's a combination of things:
- Geography: hard to entice players to come here and stay at a semi-pro club if they don't live in the area. Thrilled we still have Jack Newnes but we're lucky he lives on the peninsula.
- Money: I don't know the exact finances of the club. It comes down to whether we're paying the full salary cap or not. Even if we are, it's ordinary pay for having to go up against AFL players frequently. So I don't know what more we can do unless the cap gets raised.
- There's also a thriving local comp down here, and plenty of local clubs were you can probably make more money and not have to play against full-timers every week. So we're probably not the most attractive option unless you want to get drafted.
- The modern perception of the VFL as a feeder competition, and Frankston itself leaning on that for recruitment. You can't build on-field stability on "this is a place you can get drafted from" because if they don't get drafted, they have no reason to stick around.
- We've become known for mediocrity. The reality of any sport is that a team's success is going to be measured by its trophy cabinet, and our only senior flag at state level is a 1978 Division 2 flag. And even when we let a few get away (1996 for example) we at least had fairly good on-field results during those years, especially on our home ground. But since making finals in 2008 we really haven't been close. More than a decade of being seen as a weak club with no money and unruly fans. Good luck selling that to potential players and supporters.
There's just a lot that works against us in my opinion. I've also heard some vague rumblings about players leaving because of a falling out with club officials, which I won't get into because I don't want to speak for other people. It's just a hard sell in this day and age where fans mostly get their suburban footy fix from local leagues instead and the VFL is seen as a development comp. I'd love to know what Port and Williamstown are doing that we're not.
At a guess perhaps a few things entice players to Port and Willy over Frankston,
Geography - more likely to have players who live, work or study nearby rather than travel to the outermost suburb
Money - Ports finances have been relatively stable the last few years and would pay close to the salary cap (if not the entire thing). Williamstown with its pokies venue would be extremely well funded and therefore be able to look after their stock.
History and reputation- these clubs have a history of success and people expect they will put out strong sides therefore may sign on with the belief that they will have a successful and enjoyable season rather than getting trounced weekly. Hard sell to potential Coburg players (who a few seasons back were doing ok) when they see that they have hardly won a game past few seasons.
17 PREMIERSHIPS, 19 X Runners up
THE VFLS MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB - THE MIGHTY PORT MELBOURNE BOROUGH!
I'M PORT MELBURNE BORN, I'M PORT MELBOURNE BRED, I'LL BE PORT UNTIL I'M DEAD!!!
MegaA,
Just one man's opinion, and it won't be popular among others at the club.....but I have been around the place (quietly) for 40 years and have seen a lot of change, but seen a lot stay the same. To preface, I don't think finances are the problem. Unless we have lost money somewhere, I was told that by last season we had the ability to pay the full salary cap. That would be backed up by the fact that we are now employing a coach full time instead of part time. Can't do that if we can't pay a playing group. Yes we are getting crowds each week that are the envy of most other clubs. The club appears to do a good trade in merchandise. There is no reason that we shouldn't be able to compete financially.
History - yes, it's not a great look that we have one senior premiership, and that was in second division. Three division one grand finals, two of which we went in as strong favourites and came away with nothing. Recent history is clearly a debacle. Since 2008 we haven't played a final, and many of those years were spent as bottom or bottom couple. Of course everyone knows what happened in 2016. To the club's credit, we have fought hard since then and have even produced some reasonably competitive sides. But, until we actually play a final or two, I can understand competitive beasts thinking they would be better off somewhere else, somewhere that finals and a flag are possibilities. We have to work our way into their thinking by producing a consistently performing group. That's the challenge.
AFL draft breeding ground - I think many have seen Frankston as having one goal - to get players drafted. That has led us to getting many talented, yet selfish footballers. History shows that these blokes disappear once it's clear they won't be drafted, and even more gallingly they get drafted, get delisted.....and then show up on someone else's list. Jackson Kornberg has said a couple of things early that give me hope we are going to ditch this well-meaning yet unworkable aim. We are not the talent league, we are a footy club whose survival depends on winning. Can't do that with mercenaries.
Mornington Peninsula footy culture - this is not spoken about, but I believe it's a factor. Yes the MPNFL is a strong league, with an plethora of great players. Watching their interleague team has made me want to cry as I see the cohesiveness and talent on display for them and not us. Unlike the metro area, there are a hell of a lot of blokes down here that don't take footy too seriously. They are happy to be well paid by a local club and play with their mates, have a beer while watching the twos, etc, rather than plying their trade at state league level. I could pick a team from the MPNFL right now that would give the VFL flag a shake.
Club Culture - I know we have a lot of hardworking and dedicated people at Frankston, but we have been hampered many times in recent years by off field upheavals. I have seen many people become immersed in the running of the club, at the place all the time, then suddenly vanish, not to be seen anymore. I do believe some people see the place as their own little boutique corner of the footy world to enjoy. We desperately need to escape that. I believe we have lost our last two captains due to politics / and/or poor communication within the club. And now bad a look is it to lose your two best players in two seasons.....your captains and beating heart of the side no less.
Thanks NorthPort, Not sure whether it's me or my money your after.
We might be from the bush. but we ain't green
"I could pick a team from the MPNFL right now that would give the VFL flag a shake."
While I agree with much of what you said above AJ, I respectfully disagree with that bit. From personal experience, I think the MPNFL standard is light years off the VFL. An all-star MPNFL team might be competitive for a quarter, but they'd get run off their feet shortly after that.
Back to Port, I think they've definitely recruited well, the question is how quickly can they pull all the pieces into a cohesive team that can compete with the best?
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