CHAIRMAN Glen Bartlett says ‘The Welcome Game’, which was first held against St Kilda at the MCG in round 21 last year, was an overwhelming success, and he is eager to build on it this weekend.
Melbourne will again host the Saints for ‘The Welcome Game’ to be played at the ‘G on Sunday, and Bartlett said there was no better place to experience football for the first time than at the home of football.
“[More than] 53,000 people attended [‘The Welcome Game’ last year], but the most important thing was that this is the game where everyone belongs,” he said.
“We really want to welcome everyone – anyone who is new to Melbourne. It’s one of those special days and it is historic.
“To welcome people for the first time to a game at the MCG and to watch the oldest club – what a way to do it. It’s both synonymous with the city of Melbourne and it’s a really special game.
“We’d encourage all of our fans to bring a friend – somebody from school or a neighbour who hasn’t experienced the game before. We’ll have extra staff on to welcome people and it’s a really exciting day.
“It was a great day last year and I’m looking forward to a huge day this week.”
Bartlett said Melbourne embraced diversity and welcomed all new fans to the club.
“We represent Melbourne and share the name with the city of Melbourne, which is the most multicultural city in Australia,” he said.
“It’s really important for us to grow our club and grow our fan base, and what a way to do it at the MCG. Our team’s playing an exciting brand of footy and we’ll welcome everyone to come along.
“We want to grow our fan base, our membership and keep driving forward.”
In assessing the season so far, Bartlett said it had been a solid start by the red and blue.
“The players and coaches have put themselves in a good position to attack the second half of the year [and] we’re really looking forward to that,” he said.
“We’ve said from the start [of the year] that we’re aiming to play finals, and win finals. Every day it’s about getting better and better as a footy club and that’s what we’re working on.
“We got burnt at the end of last year, and people across the club really felt that. But we’ve put ourselves in a good position to finish the second half of the year strongly.”
Meanwhile, Bartlett said a potential club football and administration facility in Jolimont was “still in the early stages of consultation”.
“It’s exciting, but what I’ll make really clear is that we’re not planning to build anything on Yarra Park. The new clubhouse and community facilities will be above the rail lines near Jolimont Station,” he said.
“Then, in terms of a training space, there is plenty of space, and I think for the community it’s about enhancing the area and to give young kids [an area to use]. We would use the community oval for no more than six hours a week, so it’d be a community space for young kids to come and kick the footy … before games and after games.
“Let’s not forget that there was another ground in this space for 61 years, where football and cricket was played, but football was played for 61 years in Yarra Park.
“This is a historical connection and we’re really committed about working with the groups as we go forward. It’s really important for our footy club, for the game and for the heritage of the whole area.”
