South Melbourne Hellas, Victorian Premier League Options

[xenofon]

Yes sheriff this may be true, but most people (especially non soccer people) will know the ground as the victorian athletics stadium, and not SM's ground.

In the past Middle Park and BJS were known ONLY as SMFC's home ground.

I realise the club didn't have much say in the matter but I think this is another move that takes away from the club's standing and history. Only a move to the AL, and that needs to happen in the next 2-3 years, will save SM. Otherwise, we will become another Heidelberg.

[RED SHERIFF]

i think we need to understand the landscape of sport in this state..

If Collingwood and Hawthorn play at a cricket ground owned by the MCC...Then we are lucky to be at Lakeside our spiritual home..


this is not Europe.....there are no karaiskakis,toumba,white heart lane,anfield, old trafford...etc in victorian sport...

This post has been edited by RED SHERIFF: Dec 16 2011, 04:05 AM

[xenofon]

Yes, but.....

Hawthorn and Collingwood (especially) literally have hundreds of thousands of supporters and they moved away from their suburban homes because their grounds could not fit the supporters in.

Unfortunately SM is not in that situation. Yes the new stadium is very good by vpl standards, but it is not a football stadium and I dare say would NOT be good enough for the A league if we ever were admitted.

[mikanos21]

Yes sheriff this may be true, but most people (especially non soccer people) will know the ground as the victorian athletics stadium, and not SM's ground.

In the past Middle Park and BJS were known ONLY as SMFC's home ground.

I realise the club didn't have much say in the matter but I think this is another move that takes away from the club's standing and history. Only a move to the AL, and that needs to happen in the next 2-3 years, will save SM. Otherwise, we will become another Heidelberg.

How many of the A league teams play at stadiums known for them?

Newcastle Jets play at the rugby league ground of the newcastle knights, MV play at etihad (afl ground) and aami park (storm/rebels), The Roar play at the famous rugby league suncorp stadium, sydney fc rugby league sfs...most non soccer ppl as you say dont consider these venues as homes of the A league clubs...South is just an extension of that, fark all pure soccer infrastracture exists in this country, the only thing Hellas has going for it that the A league clubs dont are about 20 odd junior and womens teams.

Dont really understand the heidelberg refererence alexandros were dying getting 1500-2000 a game even when they were in the nsl, in 10 yrs time South will still have its 500-1000 ppl watching vpl, and Lakeside stadium is definately up to national league level, more so then what the previous bjs was, some of the biggest clubs in the world play in athletics/olympic venues, and at least ppl know where South is based, how many ppl know that melb heart are based at latrobe uni bundoora? hardly anyone knows where these teams even train.

This post has been edited by mikanos21: Dec 18 2011, 03:20 AM

[xenofon]

True but what the average supporter sees is the ground and not who owns it, and the fact it may be used for rugby doesn't matter because they are similar shape and size to football.

BJS since it was built was a football specific stadium and only linked to SM with no other tenant, now its main purpose is athletics. It is a nice ground but I don't think it would be up to national standards. Look at the other AL stadiums and if I'm not mistaken none have running tracks around them and they are significantly bigger (irrespective of whether they are filled or not).

Yes, many clubs around the world use stadiums with running tracks, but they all want their own football specific stadium.....see PAO, Juventus (now in a new compact stadium), olympiakos, Bayern in the past, etc, etc. Football as a spectacle just doesn't belong in all purpose stadiums.

[mikanos21]

True but what the average supporter sees is the ground and not who owns it, and the fact it may be used for rugby doesn't matter because they are similar shape and size to football.

BJS since it was built was a football specific stadium and only linked to SM with no other tenant, now its main purpose is athletics. It is a nice ground but I don't think it would be up to national standards. Look at the other AL stadiums and if I'm not mistaken none have running tracks around them and they are significantly bigger (irrespective of whether they are filled or not).

Yes, many clubs around the world use stadiums with running tracks, but they all want their own football specific stadium.....see PAO, Juventus (now in a new compact stadium), olympiakos, Bayern in the past, etc, etc. Football as a spectacle just doesn't belong in all purpose stadiums.

I agree about the shift away from these type of stadiums but lets not be greedy here this is Australia, AAMI Park is too big, even Victory today couldnt fill half of it (14,000)...the reality is running track or not Lakeside stadium and its 15,000 capacity is about right for the A league, nice purpose built football venues are nice but meaningless if they are always empty...the last time a ground was full here week in week out was way back when MV played at Olympic Park...the running track sure didnt keep the fans away, in terms of South i think the club had become so insignificant the past few yrs that it didnt matter if it was the sole tenant, the future for a club like South is forming relationships with its co tenants (athletics/VIS).

[xenofon]

Yes I agree with what you say and it is true most of the AL stadiums are mainly empty.

Lakeside is as you say almost a perfect size for a team like Heart and SM (if they ever return to the big league) but obviously not Victory at the moment.

I hope the new arrangements do work in favour of SM but we must somehow again be considered for the AL because the club will not grow in the vpl and there is the danger of fading into obscurity, like Heidelberg, Preston, etc. And of course that is easier said than done.

[pao_melbourne]

^^^ I think everyone involved at South have done a pretty good job with this new stadium/arrangement.

Fact is, it's not our money, so obviously there was a great deal of comprise required. But it's given us a chance of a-league we otherwise most likely would not of had. And in terms of taking the club forward, it's of up-most importance.

Anyway... enough about the stadium... we should have some practice games lined up soon surely.

Hellenic Cup starts Jan29.

[GreekLunatic]

Its not our money but we get lumped with the track due to that Collingwood in the afl get a free olympic park as their training ground

[pao_melbourne]

Cant even compare; Collingwood have 50k members or so, average 50-60k to their games, and get the highest tv ratings. They're probably the biggest sports club in the country. And as for the Olympic Park facilities, I'm sure they pay top dollar for it.

This post has been edited by pao_melbourne: Dec 19 2011, 03:38 AM

[pao_melbourne]

Merry Christmas to all South fans out there!!!

Looking forward to a massive 2012

[pao_melbourne]

Not too long till the season starts

[pao_melbourne]

Season starts in just over two weeks!

Who's going to the season opener against Moreland Zebras at the new stadium?

[Thrylos Chick]

I am this Sunday. Kickoff at 5.00 pm

[ZOOM2]

Bentliehg smashed Green Gully 4-1 last night in the first match of the vpl big upset

[pao_melbourne]

4-0 winners

[pao_melbourne]

If anyone is keen the whole game is on YouTube, two hour video.

Derby against Oakleigh friday night away!!

[Thrylos Chick]

Sunday was a great game. We played well and deserved to win.

Friday will be good. Chokeleigh away. I wonder what problems a certain person will cause this time? No names mentioned.

[pao_melbourne]

Rama, J.Krncevic, and Zois all playing for Oakleigh these days.

Wanted revenge for the finals last year!!

COME ON HELLAS!!

[Thrylos Chick]

I don't think Zois is playing anymore. Interesting about Jesse though considering what happened with Eddie & Rama last year.