I was a bit surprised this was not already appearing here as a topic of discussion, but John Elliot has mooted that the MFC will shift its training base to Docklands (http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-for-docklands-elliott-20120920-269jf.html).

Assuming there is some substance to the report, and considering our poor record there, I think it might not be such a bad move.

(I just realised why this topic is not already being discussed...I'm sitting in New York City reading Real Footy online, and may have seen it before everyone else has woken up)

Edited September 20, 201212 yr by hardtack

Not new HT, as touched on in the article, has been discussed for a few years.

We are not talking Etihad stadium docklands but a brand new facility that would bring all departments of the club together in one location

Old news.... Although it seems like they've been doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Personally I think it would be a great idea to finally have our own training base that fits the club under one roof.

Would be a brilliant idea..the benefits would be many. Not the least of which would be to give the club a geographical location (outside of the MCG) and hopefully a new supporter base which we need. The docklands is getting more and more populated.

Hope Elliot doesn't come in and kill it...it didnt sound like he was behind it did it.

Elliot will run with the hares and hunt with hounds. Hes a a political creature. If he thinks theres somthing tobe gained ( for him ) in facilitating this he will help.

As others mentioned its not new. Its gone through about 4 different incarnations I think from memory. As some sort of longer term aspiration, fantastic

Theyre desperate to give some meaning to that end of the town. The community/mfc sports facility is the anchor project by all accounts.

Greta if it happens, wont hold my breath. That wheels probably got more chance of working Id say currently.

Would be great if it happened, especially if they built/included a social area for supporters to go to after a game. The Gold Coast Titans have a social venue on one of the canals and they take ferries to and from the game (when it's a home game). We could do somehting similar (ie run a ferry up and down the Yarra).

Like B59 though, I won't be holding my breath.

Would be great if it happened, especially if they built/included a social area for supporters to go to after a game. The Gold Coast Titans have a social venue on one of the canals and they take ferries to and from the game (when it's a home game). We could do somehting similar (ie run a ferry up and down the Yarra).

Like B59 though, I won't be holding my breath.

Which they have since sold off as they are under a montain of debt if I recall.

Would need to be very carefully thought out.

Would be great if it happened, especially if they built/included a social area for supporters to go to after a game. The Gold Coast Titans have a social venue on one of the canals and they take ferries to and from the game (when it's a home game). We could do somehting similar (ie run a ferry up and down the Yarra).

Like B59 though, I won't be holding my breath.

half right...

The TITANIUM BAR, or [censored] bar as we called it, where i used to go 3 or 4 times a week (cheap drinks and cheap feed during free poker), is indeed on a canal just off the main strip of surfers paradise.

Their ground (skilled park) is in robina and away from all canals.

What they do do though is run free shuttle buses from 4or5 different locations (mostly pubs) which works really well because it is public transport/ taxi access only.

Pain in the ass trying to leave tho

Not new HT, as touched on in the article, has been discussed for a few years.

We are not talking Etihad stadium docklands but a brand new facility that would bring all departments of the club together in one location

Thanks for clarifying.

Sorry but don't like the idea at all. Our home is the MCG and this only further erodes this, our supporter demographic is east to south east and this is on the other side of town. Melbourne supporters as is won't turn up to games at the dockland stadium and part of the reason at least for my part is that it is difficult to get to.

We don't need to go there and we shouldn't waste money on it.

Sorry but don't like the idea at all. Our home is the MCG and this only further erodes this, our supporter demographic is east to south east and this is on the other side of town. Melbourne supporters as is won't turn up to games at the dockland stadium and part of the reason at least for my part is that it is difficult to get to.

We don't need to go there and we shouldn't waste money on it.

It's a training facility and football oval. You don't need to turn up!

It's a training facility and football oval. You don't need to turn up!

It's also being talked up as a hub with social club and the works, I think you are meant to turn up to that sort of thing aren't you?

Sorry but don't like the idea at all. Our home is the MCG and this only further erodes this, our supporter demographic is east to south east and this is on the other side of town. Melbourne supporters as is won't turn up to games at the dockland stadium and part of the reason at least for my part is that it is difficult to get to.

We don't need to go there and we shouldn't waste money on it.

I have said this before but how in the hell is Etihad difficult to get too? i a stones throw from Melbournes biggest station and is 3 minutes from the other 1? easiest thing in the world imo

Sorry but don't like the idea at all. Our home is the MCG and this only further erodes this, our supporter demographic is east to south east and this is on the other side of town. Melbourne supporters as is won't turn up to games at the dockland stadium and part of the reason at least for my part is that it is difficult to get to.

We don't need to go there and we shouldn't waste money on it.

Im affraid yours is a somewhat achaic view of what and who Melbourne is. This may well have been the case some 50 years ago, but Ill repeat that IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO !! Melbourne as a city has changed all but beyind recognition. Only some things remain the same. Even the "G: isnt the old G Its a modern place of sporting comabt belonging to no one really other than the MCC..Guess what WE ARE the MCC. Out spiritual home will always be the G. But you have to be pragmatic and embrace the times.

We need everything that is Melbourne, as a club, under one roof and with our OWN facilites. Such a move to Docklands would enable this. A purpose built Venue, state of the art 'everything' , MCG replica oval and all smack bang in the middle of the densest ( or to be ) populated enclave in the City.

Weve actually been over and o ver this countless times. Given we would be 'encouraged" to move by the City it would hardly be anything other than win/win..

Melbourne as a club will have only so many opportunites presented.

And the the biggest beneift....Wed be a long way away from those smellyfilth !!

All those people coming to our fair city...The first club they would see would be the MFC from the Bolte bridge )

The bummer will be hidden from view on Melrose Drive..( ducking the planes )

You guys been to Docklands lately? It's a ghost town. So much so that half the shops have closed down.

If it's such a great idea why are we the only club trying for it? Why not North, St Kilda, The Bulldogs, or another team who play at Docklands most of the time?

You guys been to Docklands lately? It's a ghost town. So much so that half the shops have closed down.

If it's such a great idea why are we the only club trying for it? Why not North, St Kilda, The Bulldogs, or another team who play at Docklands most of the time?

Once we remain playing our games at the G Stuie it doesn't bother me that much, if anything moves the club in the right direction such as state of the art facilities I'm all for it

Sorry but don't like the idea at all. Our home is the MCG and this only further erodes this, our supporter demographic is east to south east and this is on the other side of town. Melbourne supporters as is won't turn up to games at the dockland stadium and part of the reason at least for my part is that it is difficult to get to.

We don't need to go there and we shouldn't waste money on it.

We'v e missed the key element we needed, being gazumped by e'd.

The Olympic precinct in Swan st was our opportunity close to trains & trams etc.

I'm over it now as I can see this backfiring. Docklands is an appeal for a whole new membership base, moving the club Geographically away from the 'G', & looking for a totally new member base of high rollers in high risers.

They're taking the club away.

The project will happen as a community sports oval needs to be built in the docklands. It's the time frame that is unknown

It's also being talked up as a hub with social club and the works, I think you are meant to turn up to that sort of thing aren't you?

The only thing they can gain is through a merger with North going out there.

Do the powers want us to take over Nought Melb just up the road?

The project will happen as a community sports oval needs to be built in the docklands. It's the time frame that is unknown

yep....not overnight...but one day . There is some largesse as to scale of facilites as well depending upon which particular version of requirements ( and budget ) they go with.

You guys been to Docklands lately? It's a ghost town. So much so that half the shops have closed down.

If it's such a great idea why are we the only club trying for it? Why not North, St Kilda, The Bulldogs, or another team who play at Docklands most of the time?

Stuie , none of this will happen inside 5-7 years. By sheer force of pressure Docklands will slowly come to life .

Ironically such a move would present an opportunity for the club to actually be adopted in a way by a community. Weve never had that, the only Melbbased club never to have actually had a locality to cal its own.

To those that lament some loss in terms of proximity or claim to the G...what do we do there now....sfa !!

it will still be our home ground. It would be a step in the direction of becoming more professional and resourced.

What happened to AAMI Park and the old Glass House? Am i imagining things or when it was first built, we were in there? Is it now just Victory, Storm and the Scum?

I have said this before but how in the hell is Etihad difficult to get too? i a stones throw from Melbournes biggest station and is 3 minutes from the other 1? easiest thing in the world imo

It might seem like it to you but for me it adds at least another 20 to 30 mins to my travel and as I'm working on Saturday morning it means I get there towards the end of the first quarter. Those stupid 1.45 games screw me at the "G" also.

Im affraid yours is a somewhat achaic view of what and who Melbourne is. This may well have been the case some 50 years ago, but Ill repeat that IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO !! Melbourne as a city has changed all but beyind recognition. Only some things remain the same. Even the "G: isnt the old G Its a modern place of sporting comabt belonging to no one really other than the MCC..Guess what WE ARE the MCC. Out spiritual home will always be the G. But you have to be pragmatic and embrace the times.

We need everything that is Melbourne, as a club, under one roof and with our OWN facilites. Such a move to Docklands would enable this. A purpose built Venue, state of the art 'everything' , MCG replica oval and all smack bang in the middle of the densest ( or to be ) populated enclave in the City.

Weve actually been over and o ver this countless times. Given we would be 'encouraged" to move by the City it would hardly be anything other than win/win..

Melbourne as a club will have only so many opportunites presented.

And the the biggest beneift....Wed be a long way away from those smellyfilth !!

All those people coming to our fair city...The first club they would see would be the MFC from the Bolte bridge )

The bummer will be hidden from view on Melrose Drive..( ducking the planes )

In your opinion it's an archaic view, the demographics just don't back that up. We've given up the old pool to Eddie now we just walk away from the "G"? I think there is still plenty of opportunity in the sports precinct for us and that's where our energies should be spent not at docklands. We will be in the wilderness like some team called Western something...

Currently the club says its working on building a supporter base in Casey, well this is not going to help and as for the idea of a club setting up in docklands and drawing support from there well again look at the demographics. It is not a family environment and is set up for people who work in the city (bed sit community) or wealthy retiree's who already have a club allegiance. The place has no soul and never will.

Doesn't make any sense to me on current and future projections.

Think mate before you go on with garbage about my archaic view, it may not be your view, it may in fact be the wrong view but it is very definitely considered and considerate of where the club sits now and where it is headed.

rjay... show us the demographics you speak of..

If we are going to set up a Hub & it's not in the South East, then it should be around AAMI stadium, eddie or not.

Get into an arrangement wit the Storm to develop a Social & Training Centre at the intersection or Swan St & Punt Rd... before eddie & the Tiges grow, and own us.

http://maps.google.c...ed=0CJ4BEPwSMAg

The Tiges are developing there Social & Training facilities now, as are the Pies well into there development of the old Athletics track in Swan st.