1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Also with Tassie coming in, the TV rights will increase and the AFL may have more to provide if there was a shortfall.

Will they? I am not so sure Tassie coming in will increase the amount the TV rights will be worth.

16 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Are you saying that if the government don’t come to the party the project is dead?

I'd say this is likely.

The club owe us a helluva lot more transparency with this project. The updates of 'progress is being made but we can't provide an update' will no longer cut it. I'm calling on the board to provide us with honest and upfront details, in line with club values of TRUE.

If it is that we awaiting government funding, then so be it. Us supporters are going to be no more restless than we have been for the last 10 years. The bits and bobs you hear suggest that this is the cause of delay and not the Racecourse Reserve, Glen Eira Council or MRC.

Edited January 5Jan 5 by Dannyz

Meetings are taking place with key governmental stakeholders. I think this will get done.

Working with government agencies in my line of work, I know they have strict announcement clauses and announcing to members is made difficult for this reason.

I've been a big critic of the administration over the last little while, but I'm prepared to give them a little longer.

What I would advise is that the administration STFU about announcing any updates to members, because it sets a perfectly reasonable expectation from members for a promises to be kept.

It's a difficult funding environment at the moment, but I think they potentially need to get more creative. It's in the Monash precinct, a partnership with their sports science faculty seems a no brainer that I've never heard any discussion around.

If state and/or federal funding falls through, we need to strengthen our case for that funding by value adding. Education spending is always a pretty good angle. I'd have been exploring that route before going to governments. Maybe they did, but I doubt it.

Edited January 6Jan 6 by Adam The God

I’m pretty sure that supporters would be more than happy to significantly contribute to raising money if the club informed us of concrete action.

3 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

I’m pretty sure that supporters would be more than happy to significantly contribute to raising money if the club informed us of concrete action.

Pity is, this should have been started years ago.....it could have been a "future home base" Fund. Just like Hawthorn have done...

How much would members have contributed to it, post the 2021 Premiership? Yet not a damn thing was done.

How much would we have in the bank if there was a small membership levy toward that future project?

We have to stop waiting for handouts or white Knights, and do something ourselves....

6 hours ago, chookrat said:

Per other comments above I cannot see the State Government not contributing given they have an obligation to contribute financially to the facilities of all Victorian AFL clubs, that we have recieved by far the least funding of all AFL clubs and have the worst facilities of any AFL clubs. If this is genuinely a stumbling block then perhaps we start talks with the NT Governments re what they could offer if we relocate.

An obligation to contribute! Governments seldom spend money on an obligation. It is always to make themselves look good. For a Labor party government that is broke spending money on silver tail clubs like racing and football is not a good look to their voters who's electorates are crying for funds. Just one item Take a drive around the outer west, the roads are in terrible nick with a multitude pot holes etc. There are no labour votes for giving money to the MFC. IMO finance i

7 hours ago, Redleg said:

I don’t see a Government contribution of say $30m being removed, as scuttling the project.

First, it would be unlikely to not get anything, if that was the figure that was originally promised, even if there was a reduction and secondly, say 30000 adult members of the MFC, if there was no other way to get the missing contribution, would only need to up their membership by $100.00 a year for 10 years to cover that whole amount.

That member contribution of course relates to the whole $30m and without any other efforts to find that amount.

I don’t see us losing a Government contribution, given the contribution made to other clubs.

Also with Tassie coming in, the TV rights will increase and the AFL may have more to provide if there was a shortfall.

Then of course there will be the extra money we will get for winning the next few flags.

s the big one for us. If we had $50 millions to contribute to the project it would under way now. As is don't hold your breath. With the election on 10 months away this project will remaining in the planning stage for another year or two. How long has the rail link to the city been discussed? At least 20 years and still not a sod turned.

22 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Are you saying that if the government don’t come to the party the project is dead?

That will be the reality, there will be no deal if the Govt. doesn't put up a % of the Funding...

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Pity is, this should have been started years ago.....it could have been a "future home base" Fund. Just like Hawthorn have done...

I doubt a ‘future fund’ would get much success, as supporters have been told many a time that something is coming soon and have rightfully figured out that it is just bs.

Many, myself included, will be reluctant to donate to a cause that remains a dream. I’m sure when/if the time ever comes that we finally break ground, money will quickly flow in from supporters.

4 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Pity is, this should have been started years ago.....it could have been a "future home base" Fund. Just like Hawthorn have done...

More than 3/4 of their Dingley home base was funded by 1 pub/pokies sale. They got lucky, as usual

Edited January 6Jan 6 by dice

12 hours ago, dice said:

More than 3/4 of their Dingley home base was funded by 1 pub/pokies sale. They got lucky, as usual

Our 'one club/pokies' sale funds sit in a 'future fund', I believe, and is ring-fenced from this capital spend.

Can someone remind us why?

1 hour ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Our 'one club/pokies' sale funds sit in a 'future fund', I believe, and is ring-fenced from this capital spend.

Can someone remind us why?

The future fund is an attempt to "future proof" our finances. Spending it on an unsaleable training facility defeats the purpose somewhat.

Ask North Melbourne whether their leasehold improvements at Arden Street have any real value.

Have a look at Collingwood's future fund if you want to get an idea of a well financed club in the modern era.

We really stuffed up leveraging off that 2021 win from a financial viewpoint.

What is the financial structure of the Club's presence in Casey and at Casey Fields?

On the one hand, does the Club lose any funding if we reduce or cease our presence there? On the other, does the Club have any realisable equity in the facilities there?

I don’t know the funding breakdown, but someone mentioned $30m from Government.

If that’s true, guessing a Federal State even split, that is $15m each.

That is a drop in the bucket.

The State Government is according to media reports spending over a billion dollars on its Treaty program, so what is honoring say a $15M promise to a football club, that unlike others you have given heaps to, has not received a cent from you.

A small waste saving by both Governments would cover it easily.

Even if the Governments walked away, creating perhaps 100000 angry Dees and community voters, I believe we could find the money as I have posted earlier.

There are many ways to raise money, just for example, increased membership, voluntary membership fee increase for a period, with added benefits like store, restaurant and attraction discounts and MRC membership , raffles, merchandise sales, new sponsors, donors, Council assistance, etc, etc and we would just have to work harder and smarter to get it.

Hopefully see you all at Caulfield training in a couple of years.

Edited January 6Jan 6 by Redleg

On 06/01/2026 at 09:59, Dannyz said:

I'd say this is likely.

The club owe us a helluva lot more transparency with this project. The updates of 'progress is being made but we can't provide an update' will no longer cut it. I'm calling on the board to provide us with honest and upfront details, in line with club values of TRUE.

If it is that we awaiting government funding, then so be it. Us supporters are going to be no more restless than we have been for the last 10 years. The bits and bobs you hear suggest that this is the cause of delay and not the Racecourse Reserve, Glen Eira Council or MRC.

I’ve been thinking about this since I asked the original question. I’m in agreement with others who believe the club should be able to raise the funds with or without government input. In saying that surely I can’t see a situation where the Fed and State governments don’t offer a financial input. The community benefit is an easy sell. The area is largely a wasteland used by a handful of NIMBY dog walkers.

It is not lost on me that I am probably getting up a few people's nose going on about the nexus between Scopus, all three levels of government and MFC's ambitions for a home base at Caulfield.

But, I don't think I'd get too much push-back when I say that Governments at all levels and persuasions only like to announce their involvement when all the ducks are firmly in a row and the timing suits them politically. (Note: there is a Victorian State election in Nov 2026)

Below is an extract from the Melbourne Racing Club 2025 Annual Report.

Scopus entered into an "option" agreement to buy the Caulfield site.

Until Scopus can fund the $195mil purchase via the sale of their Burwood campus site, I don't think we will hear anything.

But I choose to be glass half full!

Once Scopus Caulfield is definitely a goer, the grand vision for a unified Scopus school campus that incorporates other Jewish community facilities, plus some form of limited integration with a MFC sports facility, there will be enough of a compelling business case for all three levels of Government to make an appropriate, but meaningful contribution.

On 06/01/2026 at 16:02, Demon Disciple said:

I doubt a ‘future fund’ would get much success, as supporters have been told many a time that something is coming soon and have rightfully figured out that it is just bs.

Many, myself included, will be reluctant to donate to a cause that remains a dream. I’m sure when/if the time ever comes that we finally break ground, money will quickly flow in from supporters.

DD there a lot of members who could not afford it. A lot struggle to buy a membership a hit of $100 would be the straw.

9 hours ago, Redleg said:

I don’t know the funding breakdown, but someone mentioned $30m from Government.

If that’s true, guessing a Federal State even split, that is $15m each.

That is a drop in the bucket.

The State Government is according to media reports spending over a billion dollars on its Treaty program, so what is honoring say a $15M promise to a football club, that unlike others you have given heaps to, has not received a cent from you.

A small waste saving by both Governments would cover it easily.

Even if the Governments walked away, creating perhaps 100000 angry Dees and community voters, I believe we could find the money as I have posted earlier.

There are many ways to raise money, just for example, increased membership, voluntary membership fee increase for a period, with added benefits like store, restaurant and attraction discounts and MRC membership , raffles, merchandise sales, new sponsors, donors, Council assistance, etc, etc and we would just have to work harder and smarter to get it.

Hopefully see you all at Caulfield training in a couple of years.

There are approx 50k members and perhaps a few more supporters who don't put their hand in their pocket. A very large percentage of that number have never voted for Labor in there lives. I will be generous and say if 50k got their nickers in a not after no money being supplied to the MFC it would make no difference to a election as unlike clubs like Geelong, a membership largely in a recognised area our members are spread across the state. IMO

Losing a few thousand votes spread across the state will not change the government. Actually they don't need to commit now they can easily delay for 10 months .

On 07/01/2026 at 10:01, Redleg said:

I don’t know the funding breakdown, but someone mentioned $30m from Government.

If that’s true, guessing a Federal State even split, that is $15m each.

That is a drop in the bucket.

The State Government is according to media reports spending over a billion dollars on its Treaty program, so what is honoring say a $15M promise to a football club, that unlike others you have given heaps to, has not received a cent from you.

A small waste saving by both Governments would cover it easily.

Even if the Governments walked away, creating perhaps 100000 angry Dees and community voters, I believe we could find the money as I have posted earlier.

There are many ways to raise money, just for example, increased membership, voluntary membership fee increase for a period, with added benefits like store, restaurant and attraction discounts and MRC membership , raffles, merchandise sales, new sponsors, donors, Council assistance, etc, etc and we would just have to work harder and smarter to get it.

Hopefully see you all at Caulfield training in a couple of years.

The $30 million evenly split btw State and Federal Government seems roughly inline with other clubs. I do wonder if we end up self funding whether we would press the AFL to uninvite or at least make State and Federal Government officials pay to attend any matches that we play in.

On 07/01/2026 at 14:19, Blind_turn said:

It is not lost on me that I am probably getting up a few people's nose going on about the nexus between Scopus, all three levels of government and MFC's ambitions for a home base at Caulfield.

But, I don't think I'd get too much push-back when I say that Governments at all levels and persuasions only like to announce their involvement when all the ducks are firmly in a row and the timing suits them politically. (Note: there is a Victorian State election in Nov 2026)

Below is an extract from the Melbourne Racing Club 2025 Annual Report.

Scopus entered into an "option" agreement to buy the Caulfield site.

Until Scopus can fund the $195mil purchase via the sale of their Burwood campus site, I don't think we will hear anything.

But I choose to be glass half full!

Once Scopus Caulfield is definitely a goer, the grand vision for a unified Scopus school campus that incorporates other Jewish community facilities, plus some form of limited integration with a MFC sports facility, there will be enough of a compelling business case for all three levels of Government to make an appropriate, but meaningful contribution.

I understand this part of it, but what I don't quite understand is how MFC is tied in with Mount Scopus.

Do we share board members? Are there coterie and donors attached to the college and the MFC? Or is it simply interest in the same parcel of land tying the two together?

18 hours ago, chookrat said:

The $30 million evenly split btw State and Federal Government seems roughly inline with other clubs. I do wonder if we end up self funding whether we would press the AFL to uninvite or at least make State and Federal Government officials pay to attend any matches that we play in.

As we want to build on crown land there is no point in antagonising the government.

14 hours ago, Vandenberger With The Lot said:

I understand this part of it, but what I don't quite understand is how MFC is tied in with Mount Scopus.

Do we share board members? Are there coterie and donors attached to the college and the MFC? Or is it simply interest in the same parcel of land tying the two together?

We are not tied to the Mt Scopus development

but there would be a stronger case for developing community sporting facilites in the centre of the course if the school goes ahead.

14 hours ago, Vandenberger With The Lot said:

I understand this part of it, but what I don't quite understand is how MFC is tied in with Mount Scopus.

Do we share board members? Are there coterie and donors attached to the college and the MFC? Or is it simply interest in the same parcel of land tying the two together?

The One Scopus project not only involves building a new school but also a range of community facilities, including an indoor pool, gymnasium and community meeting rooms.

If the MFC were to develop a complex solely for the Cub's use, we could not expect much in the way of government funding.

But by integrating our requirements with those of Scopus and the broader Glen Eira community, a business case can attract significant government funding.

If you examine nearly every AFL club's recent training base improvements, you will find that they pretty much all enjoyed government support, but only if the broader community also benefited.

For example, Hawthorn's Kennedy Community Centre received $15mil of State Government funding on the proviso offered access to some of its facilities for a minimum of 20 hours per week. (Source: Victorian government).

As Melbourne Members & Supporters we have been trained over many decades to look at glass half empty.. hope we are proven wrong.. let’s see whilst Richmond complete their new training centre before we even start ours!

Edited January 9Jan 9 by Demonsone

4 hours ago, Demonsone said:

As Melbourne Members & Supporters we have been trained over many decades to look at glass half empty.. hope we are proven wrong.. let’s see whilst Richmond complete their new training centre before we even start ours!

And similar to Hawthorn....this is their second one/redevelopment while we have nothing to show. The glass is totally empty.

On 06/01/2026 at 08:11, Redleg said:

I don’t see a Government contribution of say $30m being removed, as scuttling the project.

First, it would be unlikely to not get anything, if that was the figure that was originally promised, even if there was a reduction and secondly, say 30000 adult members of the MFC, if there was no other way to get the missing contribution, would only need to up their membership by $100.00 a year for 10 years to cover that whole amount.

That member contribution of course relates to the whole $30m and without any other efforts to find that amount.

I don’t see us losing a Government contribution, given the contribution made to other clubs.

Also with Tassie coming in, the TV rights will increase and the AFL may have more to provide if there was a shortfall.

Then of course there will be the extra money we will get for winning the next few flags.

Maths might be slightly out here @Redleg . 30,000 members would have to pay an additional $1,000 to get $30 million. $100 a pop would only generate $3m.