dRoy
Junior Member
Posts: 73
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Post by dRoy on Jun 19, 2012 9:26:09 GMT 10
Fml
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 19, 2012 12:23:45 GMT 10
Not only that....have it on very good authority that there will be a significant turnover in the front office and coaching staff. Possibly several import players from interstate also. Watch this space...... I heard the other day that Tom Brice is moving to Melbourne.........does that mean he will be with the Aces next season? I can't confirm that, I just heard it, it could just be a vicious rumour!!
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Post by pirates on Jun 19, 2012 13:10:24 GMT 10
Not only that....have it on very good authority that there will be a significant turnover in the front office and coaching staff. Possibly several import players from interstate also. Watch this space...... I heard the other day that Tom Brice is moving to Melbourne.........does that mean he will be with the Aces next season? I can't confirm that, I just heard it, it could just be a vicious rumour!! moving to "MELBOURNE" in more ways is from what i have been told is 100% correct.
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 19, 2012 14:49:32 GMT 10
If true, then I think that means a few more shirt buttons will be unbuttoned in the Hangar...which might not be good for attendances.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 19, 2012 14:52:49 GMT 10
Sorry Stu, you lost me with that one??
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 19, 2012 15:20:31 GMT 10
Journey,
The Aces 'cheer squad' is called The Hangar, and as they sat on the first base line at The Showgrounds over the last few years, they did get into some banter with some visiting players as the visiting dugout was on the first base side.
Tom was perhaps the first player the group had good fun with. Before his first AB at the show there was some banter, and he then teed off with a long home run. Second time up, bit more banter, longer home run. Despite his dominance against the Aces that series, and his throw to nail Andrew Russell in Game Two of the finals series in season one, he became a favourite of the group.
Now, Tom doesn't do all the buttons up on his playing shirt, and it was picked up by the group last season. Angry at striking out in a clutch situation, Tom was in a dark mood, until glancing into the crowd and noticing a few guys had removed their shirts in tribute, at which point he cracked up. He is a good sport and even had his photo taken with the group after a game last season.
Tom's not alone. Boss Moanaroa, Pat Maat and Trent D'Antonio were all fantastic from Sydney, Kevin Kiermaier and Drew Dowl from Canberra shared a laugh or two and Allan de San Miguel realised a few of the boys had good memories. I can only think of Michael Collins of the Cavalry who seemed to cut up rough.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 19, 2012 15:26:12 GMT 10
Ah, thanks for the explanation. I've had a bit to do with Tom over the years, coaching him as a player, and coaching with him at Nationals back in 2007. And he is a quirky character, but in a nice way. If he is going to play with the Aces, it is your gain, and very much our loss.
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alfie
Junior Member
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Post by alfie on Jun 19, 2012 16:23:22 GMT 10
also heard that a key member of the Bite coaching staff will join the Aces this coming season.
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Post by farnt on Jun 19, 2012 20:25:04 GMT 10
M A A A A A A A A A A A A T was GOLD Hanger team. More please.
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 20, 2012 14:44:25 GMT 10
Interesting to see that the Canberra Cavalry have announced their membership prices for the season. $290 for reserved seating in the grandstand and $180 for general admission. Narrabundah has also seen the upgrade to seats and not benches in the grandstand.
The Cavalry are the third team behind Perth and Sydney to announce membership prices. The Aces, despite their website having touting that memberships are now available (has been changed during the week to say 'soon), still have not released their membership structure for the coming season.
Another date that is quietly approaching is the 13th of July, the date in 2011 when Phil Dale was announced as head coach of the Aces for the 11-12 season. With just over three weeks before that anniversary, one wonders whether an announcement on a head coach will be made before or after that date in 2012.
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Post by mc15 on Jun 20, 2012 19:03:40 GMT 10
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 20:48:13 GMT 10
Very impressive administrators who would be an asset to any sporting code, mc15.
As a baseball dinosaur coming through a different era, I’ll still go to a game because of the contest itself, not for any of the peripheral stuff. But that is me.
Society has changed and a couple of hours of onfield play is no longer enough - for most people – with far more now demanded in the way of entertainment.
Whether we like it or not, “putting on a good show” and “selling the brand” are of fundamental importance, as Mr Gauci points out.
It’s a fair call to strive to benchmark entertainment against the very best in any sport – not just to accommodate the lowest common denominator. The largely inane and repetitive stuff that the Aces have offered up for the past couple of seasons has been cringeworthy.
In recognising that it is not easy to get people at games – especially with a relatively new sporting club – Storm administration quite rightly has sought to focus on quality entertainment, with a family-friendly focus.
Allied to that are the club’s community involvement and its insistence on the highest possible standards of off-field conduct. These things are pretty much self-evident, even though individuals may sometimes fall off the wagon.
To the Melbourne Aces’ credit, I believe there has been some recognition of those principles – which need to be led and nurtured by a strong and uncompromising administration. Anecdotally, Aces players have made a decent fist of relating to their fans and they have certainly won plaudits for their involvement in junior programmes.
Related to ongoing discussions regarding mainstream media coverage, events of the past couple of days prove just how much the landscape has changed. While there will always be a place for quality journalism, there will be increasingly far less reliance on the print media – demanding that any sporting code (and club) needs to strengthen its online presence.
Adequate resourcing remains an ongoing issue for the Aces (and presumably for the ABL). We can talk about quality entertainment as much as we like, we can demand timely and articulate reporting on the sport and we can seek to insist that our players are positive and inspiring role models on and off field.
But if there is a not a reasonable monetary outlay directed to those areas, if the ABL continues to rely heavily on well-intentioned volunteers and to expect freebies, then professional baseball will again have a limited shelf life.
While baseball should certainly be studying other, thriving sports, there remains a financial imperative that can never be ignored. And there is the rub. If the money is not available for the ABL to take it on in a big way, baseball cannot lobby for increased government funding. Not can it present a cogent case for major sponsorship.
If baseball is not in the position to lobby, or if it cannot present the case to potential sponsors, then it will remain largely self-sufficient - despite our best intentions and our belief in the great worth of the sport.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 20, 2012 20:55:41 GMT 10
Well said KC, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink! springs to mind.
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 20, 2012 22:28:36 GMT 10
I’m sorry to see Bobby’s post is no longer on the board, as my post was in part surrounding what he presented.
For those who read it, to somewhat illustrate Bobby’s point, my far better half works at a radio network in the advertising department. Last off-season, she received a call from a young man who said something along the lines of “I’m calling from the Melbourne Aces, have you heard of us?”
Now, fortunately for the young man, my wife is also an Aces member and was able to tell him as much. Apparently he was quite relieved that he didn’t have to go through the whole spiel about who the Aces are, where they were playing etc etc. Of the places he had already contacted, he’d had to go through the spiel every time.
From that, perhaps we can appreciate just how hard it is for the club to get outside corporate support without much of a foothold within the Australian sporting arena. Consequently, we as baseball followers should be indebted to firms such as Jet Couriers, Dennis Family Homes, Clark Rubber and Tandarra Estate for supporting the club during its fledgling years. Hopefully we’re in a position come the end of the decade where we look back at a vibrant, prosperous club and are able to reflect on not only where the club is, but salute those who helped the club reach such a position.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 20, 2012 22:33:09 GMT 10
Was Bobby's post taken down by him or someone else?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 22:46:10 GMT 10
Stuart, the support of current sponsors that you mention has been invaluable.
We - and they, I expect - would dearly love to see the Aces enjoy great success as a Victorian sporting entity.
It's a tough gig, as Ron Gauci mentions in the SEN programme. Valued and as generous as their sponsors are, the Aces have looked to - and have thus far relied upon - the baseball community for funding support.
After a couple of seasons, it is a worry that we are not at a more advanced point than that.
JM, the post appears to have been taken down by the member, for whatever reason.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 20, 2012 22:55:08 GMT 10
Thanks kc.
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Post by moose on Jun 21, 2012 7:21:17 GMT 10
In truth I think that we (Aces) start further behind the 8 ball than did the Storm when they first started. At least most Victorians were aware of what Rugby was. Maybe not the subtle variations that exist between League and Union but they had heard of it.
We on the other hand have the problem of breaking down the "Americanism tag" and therefore the 'distrust' of the game that exists in most peoples minds, before we can entice them to see a game live. My wife calls it "Bloody Rounders" and she's exposed to the game far more than most are.
Now we all know that once people see the product then most people admit its not as Mickey mouse as they believed it to be and THEN we stand some chance of them returning. That's why sponsors, local ones as well as the big ones are the best way of getting ourselves known locally. What does local footy clubs do to promote themselves locally and to raise much needed funds? Junior footy can be quite expensive these days.
Asian community's are another area that needs exposure. I sit with Pang in the hanger and He's amazed that there is no connection with the Asian community here in Melbourne.
Any way just a few ramblings.
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 21, 2012 8:18:41 GMT 10
It appears that Brisbane also have their membership prices out.
$170.00 for early bird adult and $75.00 for early bird juniors.
The Aces are now one of just two clubs who are yet to announce their membership prices.
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alfie
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by alfie on Jun 21, 2012 18:02:02 GMT 10
It appears that Brisbane also have their membership prices out. $170.00 for early bird adult and $75.00 for early bird juniors. The Aces are now one of just two clubs who are yet to announce their membership prices. Don't worry about ticket prices....what about a venue, some players and some coaches. Is the Bite coach rumoured to be coming going to replace Phil Dale, or Any info would be good.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 21, 2012 20:30:41 GMT 10
Is the Bite coach rumoured to be coming going to replace Phil Dale, or Any info would be good. Give us a name, the Bite don't have that many coaches who could take over.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2012 22:37:36 GMT 10
JM, while alfie may or may not be trying to wind us up, it is a concern that no announcements have been made on Aces coaching staff (or anything else, for that matter).
Although there are a few rumours about who may or may not be involved, it seems that some of last season's staff may not even have been extended the courtesy of a phone call.
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Post by larry42 on Jun 22, 2012 9:54:58 GMT 10
Windsor obviously reads this page occasionally so here's a question or two for you and if you answer great, if not then so be it.
We always hear of this membership drive for the Aces so my main question (for a baseball person who has an entire family of baseball people - wife and two young sons) is why should we become members of the Aces?
I'm not privvy to know what's going on behind the scenes (and wouldnt expect to know) however i don't hold a lot of confidence in an organisation when promises continually fail to be kept on timing, and the perceived or actual communications failure is as bad as it is. I'm listening to other members and while it may be a small band, that's enough i reckon.
I love good baseball and i'll go regardless of where its played. I often go to Div 1 mid weekers because they are usually the games i can get to. A young baseball family and other commitments make it hard for some of the Aces games. There is no doubt the baseball itself, without any of the peripheral stuff, is enough for me and the sole reason i'd go to games. But i'd be happier to know the the people behind the team are trying to do the best by all involved. it shocked me that tandarra Estate was left for a period of time without any communication, and took to MC15 having to announce his frutsration on this forum.
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alfie
Junior Member
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Post by alfie on Jun 22, 2012 10:25:44 GMT 10
Is the Bite coach rumoured to be coming going to replace Phil Dale, or Any info would be good. Give us a name, the Bite don't have that many coaches who could take over.[/qu ote] Tony Harris.I heard he was offered a job to go with a coaching role.
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 22, 2012 11:10:44 GMT 10
Should be a quick and easy rumour for the Aces to quash if not true.
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Post by mc15 on Jun 22, 2012 14:11:48 GMT 10
So here are my thoughts on a Friday afternoon and as always, take them or leave them as you see fit. This is but a snapshot of my thoughts. But it should give you an overview.
I’ve been thinking about a cliché of late that has slipped into everyday conversation in sport that frankly annoys me as much as due process, best practice, value add and thinking outside the box. And that phrase is high performance. Ironically, the context of high performance in this thread is actually applicable in its truest sense.
Somehow over time, this phrase has made its way into business teams and job titles which have nothing to do with the phrase. Because high performance is an adjective for a certain kind of action.
True high performance is one thing - Pure practice and courses of action to achieve one objective. It requires a certain type of obsessive commitment to achieve the outcome. It is about the realisation that solutions need to be found to simple and complex situations and process put in place in expedited time frames to achieve the objective. It’s understanding the importance of problem solving through inclusiveness and the resourcing of the right people or organisations that can assist in solving the task within the short timelines allocated. It cannot be stubborn, exclusive, arrogant, indecisive, inefficient and above all else, it cannot take it’s time.
Key characteristics of high performers that are on display ALL THE TIME are: Energy, time management, resource management, decision making, communication skills, objective thinking, non-linier thinking & problem solving skills, engagement and obsession (guided).
But above all else, it requires a level of ruthlessness to measure and assess process and create change immediately to achieve the objective. If that means cutting ties with an individual or an allied organisation because the expected standards are not met, then the decision is made without hesitation due to the probable inhibitory effect on achieving the outcome.
A snap shot of high performance organisations Apple NASA Red Bull Racing Special Air Service Regiment (SARS) Hospital Emergency Rooms
A snap shot of successful organisations who are not high performance Australian Federal Politics Ford Motor Company Qantas NewsCorp Professional Sporting Clubs (Insert any clubs name here)
The reality is that most of us simply cannot function at a high performance standard. And this is o.k. You can be quite successful in near all tasks while not functioning at this level. For some, the cost is too high or the effort is too great and they are happy to work at this sub level. I have equal admiration for those who choose to go about this business in this fashion. If however, you wish to compete with the big boys and as Steve Jobs stated “change the world”, it needs to be reflected in the way you measure your actions.
The Melbourne Aces have chosen to compete in one of the single toughest and ruthless markets in world sport... Melbourne. As such, as organisations (VBA, ABF & ABL included) must start adopting high performance practices if they want sustainability from this team and league. I will leave it to you to decide if they are functioning at a high performance level in what is a high performance environment.
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alfie
Junior Member
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Post by alfie on Jun 22, 2012 14:33:58 GMT 10
Well I don't know about anyone else but I would vote 1 for mc15 for GM! But back to the coaching positions, her's what I've heard. Tony Harris is a builder, one of the Aces sponsors is Dennis Homes. Harris has coached with the National team with Phil Dale as his pitching coach...Dale to the bullpen. Harris is also the Australian junior head coach where Shanahan is 3rd base coach. Craig Watts is not coaching in SA this season. Watts, Harris and Brice come in. Where does that place Allen, Hogan, Black, Burke, Clarkson and M.Deeble?
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Post by mc15 on Jun 22, 2012 14:38:31 GMT 10
No thanks Alfie. I'm quite happy saving the rain forests from my current desk.
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Post by bobby on Jun 22, 2012 14:39:42 GMT 10
Alfie Tony Harris is not a builder, he is into property develoment...I would be very surprised if he left S.A to come and coach here in Melb.
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alfie
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by alfie on Jun 22, 2012 14:48:09 GMT 10
Splitting hairs Bobby. Don't property developers build houses?
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