Caulfield would be a very good spot. It’s not that far from the G and is well serviced by Caulfield station. 

This would be a sensational outcome. Worthy of enormous praise to the Administration if it comes to fruition. This home base issue is simply extremely complex and difficult regardless of how much and for how long we have all wanted it.

In my opinion, the most importance aspect of high quality facilities and a great location is the attraction and retention of MFC staff. This caufield option seems to ticks a lot of boxes

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Caulfield would be a very good spot. It’s not that far from the G and is well serviced by Caulfield station. 

Assuming the rail line reconstruction ever gets finished, that is.

caulfield would be good for me. get there in 15 minutes easily

 

53 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Assuming the rail line reconstruction ever gets finished, that is.

Its not far off ... new Glen Huntly station coming soon on the Frankston Line and the new Metro Tunnel should be operational in 2025. Caulfield has awesome train connections, also has trams as well.

I believe an inner track has been completed with the do-over at Caulfield but the stands are iconic and give excellent overall viewing if an oval (or 2?) is established inside the inner track (maybe need some old-fashioned binoculars!)

But the scope is quite big for the club if we become a viable partner (of sorts) with the MRC

I reckon 2 full sized ovals could fit neatly inside the racing tracks (remembering that the straight is about 370 metres long and the other 2 sides are around 400 - 500 metres long ... even with the newly established inner track, there's still loads of space

And there will probably be lots of space available at the Neerim Rd end of the racecourse

Not forgetting all the function rooms, dining facilities, office space, corporate areas and the like that are already established at the course (as well as the add-ons)

Makes you wonder about Flemington & Moonee Valley ... footy & racing have always gone together

Edited July 13, 20231 yr by Macca

6 hours ago, Macca said:

I believe an inner track has been completed with the do-over at Caulfield but the stands are iconic and give excellent overall viewing if an oval (or 2?) is established inside the inner track (maybe need some old-fashioned binoculars!)

But the scope is quite big for the club if we become a viable partner (of sorts) with the MRC

I reckon 2 full sized ovals could fit neatly inside the racing tracks (remembering that the straight is about 370 metres long and the other 2 sides are around 400 - 500 metres long ... even with the newly established inner track, there's still loads of space

And there will probably be lots of space available at the Neerim Rd end of the racecourse

Not forgetting all the function rooms, dining facilities, office space, corporate areas and the like that are already established at the course (as well as the add-ons)

Makes you wonder about Flemington & Moonee Valley ... footy & racing have always gone together

Agree, so much room in there. 
My only… concern, isn’t the right word, would be that any buildings we build would have to be away froM the track to not block and views or look out of play for race meets and if we play on a day that requires training when a race meet is scheduled do we get to train? 

2 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Agree, so much room in there. 
My only… concern, isn’t the right word, would be that any buildings we build would have to be away froM the track to not block and views or look out of play for race meets and if we play on a day that requires training when a race meet is scheduled do we get to train? 

We"d probably keep Casey as an option (training) and any building requirements could be situated where the course has some stables (remembering that horses can't be trained at Caulfield any more so there is an excess of stables)

The Neerim Rd end of the course especially

There's a massive amount of area that can be utilised

In theory, non AFLM's games could be played there (practice, reserves or AFLW)

2 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Agree, so much room in there. 
My only… concern, isn’t the right word, would be that any buildings we build would have to be away froM the track to not block and views or look out of play for race meets and if we play on a day that requires training when a race meet is scheduled do we get to train? 

My thoughts exactly. All sorts of analysis with viewing angles and mock ups will need to be done but I'm sure they can make something work. 

Would love to see this put out to tendering architects and see what ideas come up. 

 

11 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Assuming the rail line reconstruction ever gets finished, that is.

The grade separstion works? Inconvenient while being done but transformative once finished (ref. skyrail Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton way.

Caulfield station is a major hub on the south eastern rail lines at the confluence of the Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston lines. If we were to get our base there I'd be ecstatic. Monash Caulfield campus close by. Caulfield Racecourse. Amidst a concentration of our supporters in the Malvern and Bentleigh regions. Easy to get to, much closer to where many players like to reside than Casey.

16 hours ago, Older demon said:

For what it is worth I had a chat with a recent powerbroker at MFC who when asked about a home base, just said keep your eyes on Caulfield racecourse. I was surprised but further discussion was about the height of any structure in the middle and not obstructing the view so clearly some work has been done and will unite the whole club AFL & AFLW.

The mayor of Glen Eira council has been all in for years about the centre of C Caulfield racecourse becoming a sports precinct. He may well get his wish with state govt backing.

Watch this space but keep your eyes on Caulfield

And the mayor says a lot of things depends on which way the wind blows.

11 hours ago, daisycutter said:

caulfield would be good for me. get there in 15 minutes easily

 

And I always thought borewood was 15 minutes from nowhere dc !

For those who worry about the view across the track there are now tracks where the far side cannot be seen from the stands and you simply watch the big screen.

How many racegoers really see the far side these days?

50 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

For those who worry about the view across the track there are now tracks where the far side cannot be seen from the stands and you simply watch the big screen.

How many racegoers really see the far side these days?

10 minutes ago, Macca said:

Nah

everyone watches the big screen or their phone

Binoculars are for Boomers 😉

Edited July 14, 20231 yr by Diamond_Jim

5 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Agree, so much room in there. 
My only… concern, isn’t the right word, would be that any buildings we build would have to be away froM the track to not block and views or look out of play for race meets and if we play on a day that requires training when a race meet is scheduled do we get to train? 

Doesn't make any different these days...  Funny you mention it though...when there the other week  I kinda had a think about that... Not too far from where we were set up was a building...with a rather tall  thing attached....  A screen.. No one gets the 'glasses' out really any more it seems

20 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Nah

everyone watches the big screen or their phone

Binoculars are for Boomers 😉

Well I'll be watching from the creature comforts of the stands with the dining facilities, bars & cafes close by!

So if we're not beamed on the big screen, binoculars it is, DJ

But of course we're no guarantee to be at Caulfield and it should be remembered that we won a flag training out of the outpost known as Casey!

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

For those who worry about the view across the track there are now tracks where the far side cannot be seen from the stands and you simply watch the big screen.

How many racegoers really see the far side these days?

The far side? Hell, a few years back I had the misfortune of being dragged to Flemington for one of the "Spring racing carnival" days, and there were astonishing numbers of attendees that didn't bother/attempt to see a single horse live - near side or far. 

13 hours ago, Macca said:

Makes you wonder about Flemington & Moonee Valley ... footy & racing have always gone together

I think Caulfield racecourse is crown land, whereas Flemington and Mooney are owned by the racing clubs.

The private entities may be easier to deal with!

22 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Caulfield it seems, I can’t read due to paywall.

 

 

This non-paywall link should work.

17 hours ago, No. 31 said:

Its not far off ... new Glen Huntly station coming soon on the Frankston Line and the new Metro Tunnel should be operational in 2025. Caulfield has awesome train connections, also has trams as well.

Yes - they’re powering through the works. Caulfield is very accessible - was it also not once part of our metro zone (along with Elsternwick, Ormond, Bentleigh etc)? Plus, selfishly speaking, it’s only a short hop from the old 3183!

I guess this thread can now be put, well and truly, into hibernation. After the events of today, we haven't got a hope in hell in securing any funding whatsoever from the current state government for a home base

3 minutes ago, dice said:

I guess this thread can now be put, well and truly, into hibernation. After the events of today, we haven't got a hope in hell in securing any funding whatsoever from the current state government for a home base

on the other hand, there is now all this money allocated for sport (comm games) that has now been freed up.

yep, i know i'm kidding mysellf.

3 minutes ago, dice said:

I guess this thread can now be put, well and truly, into hibernation. After the events of today, we haven't got a hope in hell in securing any funding whatsoever from the current state government for a home base

I am not sure that is correct.

They did say that they wanted the community to benefit long term, not just for a 12 day sporting event and added that the community facilities would be achieved.

I am not sure how much money we expected from the State Government anyway, rather the site for the new facilities has been the biggest issue.

On 7/13/2023 at 10:19 PM, daisycutter said:

caulfield would be good for me. get there in 15 minutes easily

 

...and that should be their utmost priority in terms of a training venue!!