The Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club

The Melbourne Football Club has a proud and rich heritage dating back to 1858. The Club was one of the founding members of what has become the Australian Football League. Over 150 years, the Melbourne Football Club has won 12 premierships, and it been home to many of the game’s greatest champions, from heroes of yesteryear such as Barassi, Ridley and Flower to modern legends Stynes, Lyon and Neitz.

The Club’s Olympic Park campus will be the home of the MFC Football Department, and provides access, on a shared basis with Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory, to elite training facilities for our players.  General administration will remain at the MCG.  The Football Department administration area covers around 800 square metres, and includes a variety of facilities, from reception to physiotherapy, multi-purpose meeting rooms, staff offices, as well as IT amenities and change rooms.  Other major  features will include a ‘Heritage Walk’, honouring premierships, major contributors and memorable images of the past, to be treated via etching, timber and displays throughout.

The key elements of the Club’s tenancy at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium are:

Exclusive

• 800 m2 of office and change room
• 1000 m2 gymnasium and warm up area
• Four lane pool, spas and plunge pools
• Video statistics room (26 cubicles)
• Players’ lounge
• Other facilities (including property room, laundry, storage)

Non-Exclusive

• Access to training ovals in the precinct – primarily ‘Gosch’s 1’ and, following the redevelopment of Olympic Park, ‘Gosch’s 2’
• ‘Gosch’s 1’ is being refurbished for use by three tenants – MFC, Storm and Victory.  This will not be a major issue, as we really only have to negotiate training times with the Melbourne Storm – the AFL season coincides with Melbourne Victory’s off season
• Access to ‘Gosch’s 2’ – Collingwood’s current training ground – after the redevelopment of Olympic Park (estimated time – three years)

Kicking Goals Program

In 2009, just over 1,700 students from 13 schools participated in the “Kicking Goals” pilot program - a meaningful and successful program aimed at grades 3 – 6.  The six week program focuses on Healthy Eating, Respect, Fair Play, Harmony, Leadership and Teamwork.  The program is facilitated by Monash Advanced Practicum students and or PE teachers within the school.

The AFL Learning Management system and the AFL Schools website supported the program.  The “You Can Kicking Goals” - “Mascots” (3 & 4) and “Rookie” (5 & 6) resources provided the students with a work book which reinforced the important values that are integral to the building of stronger and more harmonious communities.

The “Kicking Goals “program is linked to relevant learning outcomes as prescribed in the curriculum frameworks.  Along with the student resources, teachers were also provided with a 10 lesson classroom teacher and learning curriculum to assist with the delivery.

In 2010, The participating schools have increased to 20 and to help with facilitation of the program, we will be working with Deakin University and Monash to place Advanced Practicum Students within your school to drive or assist with the facilitation.  It is our intention to offer a Level 1 coaching course and PD to these students/teachers to ensure they are equipped with the appropriate skills.