Training Ground?

[daisycutter 29,616]

49 minutes ago, D Rev said:

As the bird flies I do, by car its probably the same amount of time, no idea about public transport.

My point was more about having a central (Melbourne) location than one in the SE suburbs.

 

 

caulfield racetrack is 9.5km se from the melbourne town hall, or 8km from mcg

given majority of our membership are east or south of the city, i'd say it was pretty central and still close to the city/mcg

more importantly, it would be a very convenient location for players and staff

[Rednblueriseing 824]

2 hours ago, daisycutter said:

caulfield racetrack is 9.5km se from the melbourne town hall, or 8km from mcg

given majority of our membership are east or south of the city, i'd say it was pretty central and still close to the city/mcg

more importantly, it would be a very convenient location for players and staff

I'm a 20 plus year member, I live in the NW and if the board think this is the best available place for our home for the next 100 years then im all for it, there is no reason to not back there decision given the incredible turn around our club has made in the last 10 years.

I cant wait to make the trip down for family day and enjoy the premiership memorabilia in a proper home for our club. 

[Demon Disciple 12,141]

So when Pert said that they had scoured every suitable place in Melbourne and that Caulfield was it, does that mean that if Caulfield falls through any subsequent locations would mean us compromising on our facility (something that they aren't willing to do)?

Hopefully the club gets the Caulfield shindig up and running, otherwise it would appear that we may have backed ourselves into a corner of Caulfield or nothing.

[DeeSpencer 25,715]

18 hours ago, D Rev said:

Thanks for this but it all feels a bit like we are being sold a monorail.

Firstly, I don't think its brilliant logistically and it's certainly not in the 'heartland'.  It's the Melbourne Football Club, not Caulfield.  It may be on 3 train lines, but they certainly aren't the 3 that all members or fans are on.  It's very limited thinking to have the view we are a inner SE club, we need to think bigger than that.

Also, Caulfield is not 10 min from the MCG unless you have a helicopter.  Again, monorail.

While the racecourse "could" house two MCG-sized grounds, will it?  There doesn't seem to be any solid plans or even drawings that have been shared, and no word from the VRC around their agreement to any of this.  It's like buying a Toyota Camry and saying "it could go 400km/h" - without saying you need to drop it out of a plane to do so.

A principal agreement really doesn't hold much water.

There may well be a need for facilities in the area, but that's hardly reassuring around who is going to pay for it or support it.

 

Short of building at Fed square there’s no site that is accessible by all train lines.

The inner south east is accessible for players and staff. That’s the main function of a training base. 

And yeah, it works for our fans for the 3 or so open trainings the club actually want fans at a year.

What’s aiming bigger than that? Move to Seaford like the saints tried? Move to Geelong and copy the cats? I’d love to have the cash for a Hawks Dingley set up but even old tip sites aren’t cheap.

The train from Caulfield to Richmond is 11 minutes, that’s a fact. Obviously you’d need a pretty quick fold up e-scooter if you want to race between the race course to Caul station, Rich station to mcg but it’s a quick commute.

Renderings of the ovals (2 footy and 2 soccer fields) have been shared in this thread. 

It’s very early stages but there is confidence. I’ve got no doubt the ovals will happen at some time regardless of the mfc’s involvement, it’s wasted public space right now. The council want it, the state government needs to get use and revenue in to the area because the Caulfield trust are losing money maintaining dirt and a lake.

The MRC don’t have a strong say in this. They rent the track and the grand stand area from the Trust. They will be co-tenants. There’s an opportunity to partner together but just as equally they can do their thing on race day and we can do our thing in the infield on non race days. 

[beelzebub 23,378]

I sense some are confusing 'central' with accessible..

Further ...and again.... central to what and/or whom ? 

Central in any Melbourne context is actually somewhat misleading.  The CBD was never Central...but was the centre of Commerce.

Melbourne's biggest shopping area ? Nowhere near FB/PM

Are we just the MCG footy team...  or the

MELBOURNE Football Club 

[Deemania since 56 6,650]

On 12/07/2023 at 18:00, old dee said:

I don't think we are any closer than we have ever been George.   silence tells us there is nothing happening

 

It seems such a pity ... we need a home facility, the 'G is too crowded with all but the MFC, Caulfield has so many possitives associated with it and for the Club and supporters, patrons, spheres of influence, superb development potentials and access, etc. 

[old55 23,600]

On 18/12/2023 at 22:11, Diamond_Jim said:

Have we missed out on a big opportunity at Port Melbourne....

A highly sought-after piece of industrial land in Port Melbourne will be turned into open space and sporting grounds after the local council won a bidding war, quashing the state government’s plan for a new primary school on the site.

City of Port Phillip Mayor Heather Consulo announced on Monday the $38.8 million purchase of a 1.54-hectare site adjoining North Port Oval – also known as ETU Stadium – at 509 Williamstown Road in Port Melbourne and the wider Fishermans Bend precinct. The land was the site of an Australia Post warehouse.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/school-v-sports-clubs-the-future-of-this-port-melbourne-site-decided-20231218-p5es6q.html

I.54 hectares is not very big. A rectangle big enough to accommodate the MCG playing surface is 2.5 hectares

[sue 9,107]

For those who want us to be near the centre, have a look at this map.  Geographically at least, it is not near the MCG.   Other than questions of finance, negotiating difficulties, sufficent space etc, the only real issue is ease of access for players and staff. Caulfield is fine.

[old dee 23,792]

4 hours ago, daisycutter said:

caulfield racetrack is 9.5km se from the melbourne town hall, or 8km from mcg

given majority of our membership are east or south of the city, i'd say it was pretty central and still close to the city/mcg

more importantly, it would be a very convenient location for players and staff

Covered it beautifully DC.

[george_on_the_outer 7,604]

This proposal at Caulfield is for an Administration and Training facility. 

How many people on here have visited ( out of the 70K members ) who have actually visited the MCG offices, the AAMI offices or even attended a training session during the year?  Not just at finals time. 

It is not for the fans,....... it is for the club, the players and the administration.  And if it is to be in Caulfield, Port Melbourne or Timbuktu, it has to serve that purpose alone.   MCG precinct is DEAD.  It was never an option because no matter what site was proposed, there just isn't enough land available. 

[demon3165 2,719]

24 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

This proposal at Caulfield is for an Administration and Training facility. 

How many people on here have visited ( out of the 70K members ) who have actually visited the MCG offices, the AAMI offices or even attended a training session during the year?  Not just at finals time. 

It is not for the fans,....... it is for the club, the players and the administration.  And if it is to be in Caulfield, Port Melbourne or Timbuktu, it has to serve that purpose alone.   MCG precinct is DEAD.  It was never an option because no matter what site was proposed, there just isn't enough land available. 

Spot on, I think sometimes people expect a social club aspect to it, those days are well and truly gone as long as the whole club is there and facilities are of a high standard then that's great, and as George said, how many members watch training every week.

[D Rev 629]

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

I sense some are confusing 'central' with accessible..

Further ...and again.... central to what and/or whom ? 

Central in any Melbourne context is actually somewhat misleading.  The CBD was never Central...but was the centre of Commerce.

Melbourne's biggest shopping area ? Nowhere near FB/PM

Are we just the MCG footy team...  or the

MELBOURNE Football Club 

Absolutely Beelzebub, that is one of my core points too.  We are the MELBOURNE Football Club - not the SE Suburbs football club.  I would love for the club (and some of the supporters) to have that view.  Does Collingwood think it's base is around the inner north?  No. It thinks it's base is in every toothless head on the planet.

I don't think anyone would argue that the MCG is our home, our heart and soul, and for all the illogical things that following a football team involves, it does include a heart and soul.

It would be brilliant if we could have our base at the MCG, including a social club and training facilities, but I'll take 2 out of 3.

This is one of the reasons I have been in favor of the option closer to the MCG for a training / social club venue.  It doesn't have to be Port Melbourne, I'd just like it to be closer to the 'G.

Go Dees.

 

[old dee 23,792]

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

This proposal at Caulfield is for an Administration and Training facility. 

How many people on here have visited ( out of the 70K members ) who have actually visited the MCG offices, the AAMI offices or even attended a training session during the year?  Not just at finals time. 

It is not for the fans,....... it is for the club, the players and the administration.  And if it is to be in Caulfield, Port Melbourne or Timbuktu, it has to serve that purpose alone.   MCG precinct is DEAD.  It was never an option because no matter what site was proposed, there just isn't enough land available. 

Got it in one George. Caulfield or bust.

Edited December 21, 2023 by old dee

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,795]

31 minutes ago, D Rev said:

Absolutely Beelzebub, that is one of my core points too.  We are the MELBOURNE Football Club - not the SE Suburbs football club.  I would love for the club (and some of the supporters) to have that view.  Does Collingwood think it's base is around the inner north?  No. It thinks it's base is in every toothless head on the planet.

I don't think anyone would argue that the MCG is our home, our heart and soul, and for all the illogical things that following a football team involves, it does include a heart and soul.

It would be brilliant if we could have our base at the MCG, including a social club and training facilities, but I'll take 2 out of 3.

This is one of the reasons I have been in favor of the option closer to the MCG for a training / social club venue.  It doesn't have to be Port Melbourne, I'd just like it to be closer to the 'G.

Go Dees.

 

There clearly isn't anything suitable - meaning size, redevelopment cost, development opportunity, suitable soil (meaning it doesn't have toxic soil which many post-industrial sites would have) anywhere near the MCG. It's not like the MFC haven't been looking. The only way I could see the MFC getting land near the MCG would be if Collingwood or Richmond gave up their training facilities. And that's not going to happen.  

[beelzebub 23,378]

37 minutes ago, D Rev said:

Absolutely Beelzebub, that is one of my core points too.  We are the MELBOURNE Football Club - not the SE Suburbs football club.  I would love for the club (and some of the supporters) to have that view.  Does Collingwood think it's base is around the inner north?  No. It thinks it's base is in every toothless head on the planet.

I don't think anyone would argue that the MCG is our home, our heart and soul, and for all the illogical things that following a football team involves, it does include a heart and soul.

It would be brilliant if we could have our base at the MCG, including a social club and training facilities, but I'll take 2 out of 3.

This is one of the reasons I have been in favor of the option closer to the MCG for a training / social club venue.  It doesn't have to be Port Melbourne, I'd just like it to be closer to the 'G.

Go Dees.

 

I understand that view. That is unlikely. The requirements are 2 ovals ..An enclosed training space.. General training areas/equipment.   Sports Medical and Admin.  That requires a bit of space. To my knowledge nothing able to incorporate all of that as OUR facility exists in term if space near ...even remotely the G.

I think the club has taken the bigger holistic approach.  Again this about sports training/admin.. not us. Fine by me. More than enough options abound for a beer or a wine. 

You would have to think they would incorporate a retail facity and perhaps a cafe/bistro open to all...i mean why not..   but it needn't be big.

I think not only can Caulfield tick all those boxes bu there may be other positives we haven't even considered. 

This will be modelled on world class best practice... not archaic footy niceties.

[daisycutter 29,616]

15 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

There clearly isn't anything suitable - meaning size, redevelopment cost, development opportunity, suitable soil (meaning it doesn't have toxic soil which many post-industrial sites would have) anywhere near the MCG. It's not like the MFC haven't been looking. The only way I could see the MFC getting land near the MCG would be if Collingwood or Richmond gave up their training facilities. And that's not going to happen.  

actually i suspect the filth and the ferals will at sometime in the future be looking for a new home. the need for a 2nd oval and a hangar plus having now 4 teams is not possible in their current sites. an alternative could be that they operate 2 sites but they'd still have to find suitable locations for such.

[Demon Disciple 12,141]

2 hours ago, demon3165 said:

and as George said, how many members watch training every week.

Im sure the club could arrange for @picket fence & @WalkingCivilWar to have personal parking spaces inside the racetrack, after all, it’d be for providing a huge community service………. the Demonland community!

[Demon Disciple 12,141]

2 hours ago, D Rev said:

Absolutely Beelzebub, that is one of my core points too.  We are the MELBOURNE Football Club - not the SE Suburbs football club.  

We are more the MCCFC due to our inception.

[rjay 24,931]

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

actually i suspect the filth and the ferals will at sometime in the future be looking for a new home. the need for a 2nd oval and a hangar plus having now 4 teams is not possible in their current sites. an alternative could be that they operate 2 sites but they'd still have to find suitable locations for such.

Yes, I think this is right.

C/Wood would be on track to having the worst training facilities in the AFL if they don't make moves soon

[beelzebub 23,378]

19 minutes ago, rjay said:

Yes, I think this is right.

C/Wood would be on track to having the worst training facilities in the AFL if they don't make moves soon

Be a shame eh........

[whatwhat say what 22,772]

As the MELBOURNE Football Club I’d be very happy for us to have a training / administration base at Caulfield, with a satellite base at Casey, and afl games played at the MCG, aflw at princes park and Casey, and vfl and vflw at Casey

Representation all over the city!

[tiers 2,840]

41 minutes ago, rjay said:

Yes, I think this is right.

C/Wood would be on track to having the worst training facilities in the AFL if they don't make moves soon

They could have Goschs back when we are finished. Don't laugh, two flags have been won from Goschs.

The ferals might have bigger problems. But who cares.

[ANG13 2,063]

2 hours ago, daisycutter said:

actually i suspect the filth and the ferals will at sometime in the future be looking for a new home. the need for a 2nd oval and a hangar plus having now 4 teams is not possible in their current sites. an alternative could be that they operate 2 sites but they'd still have to find suitable locations for such.

It will be very interesting who out of Collingwood and Richmond end up getting Gosch’s in the year 2050 when we finally move out. 

[No. 31 1,236]

3 hours ago, rjay said:

Yes, I think this is right.

C/Wood would be on track to having the worst training facilities in the AFL if they don't make moves soon

Quite possibly, would be amusing 😄

Richmond are planning to have a major re-development of the Punt Road Oval which should see them have a great, modern facility. They will only be lacking a second oval and I could see them renting Gosch's Paddock Oval for the secondary oval if MFC were to move to Caulfield.

[Demon Disciple 12,141]

3 hours ago, rjay said:

Yes, I think this is right.

C/Wood would be on track to having the worst training facilities in the AFL if they don't make moves soon

Just watch them lobby the AFL and swoop in on Caulfield now.