I’m pretty sure it was to try and get a presence in the growth area of Casey.

9 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

Yeah I never understood why we affiliated with Casey after our break up with Sandringham.

Junction Oval had the best surface to train or play on in Melbourne

The surface was like carpet with no mud or slush (sand based?)

Sure, the buildings, stands and underneath the stands were ramshackle and decrepid but that's what the money could have been spent on. Would have been refurbished and paid for, years ago

I could never understand the undue criticisms of the Junction Oval. Players learn how to play footy on an oval with an excellent surface and the Junction Oval was universally regarded as the best (by the old-schoolers)

Would have loved to have played footy or cricket on it but did venture out to the middle on numerous occasions (and the kick to kick after the games)

On 23/02/2026 at 16:09, AshMac said:

The sooking over the location of Casey has been one of the most telling things about the culture of this footy club than anything that's happened over the last however long.

It's so precious and short sighted. Dingley is not exactly in the heart of Melbourne. If you're leaving at 7:30am getting to Hawthorn's new facility from Brighton it'll take you half an hour; from Hawthorn will take over 35 minutes; and if you're a little hipster player living in Fitzroy it'll be a 50-odd minute drive to get there.

If you're an Essendon player training at the Hangar and living in Fitzroy it'll take you over half an hour at 7:30am; 35+ minutes from Hawthorn, over 45 from Brighton.

Moggs Creek is about an hour from GMHBA and I've never once heard Patrick Dangerfield complain, nor anyone suggest that Geelong's location is anything other than a huge asset and benefit.

Casey should've been bought into years ago, developed into a world class facility (likely with the backing of the state and federal governments), and become the envy of the league.

NFL and EPL clubs don't train anywhere near their home stadiums, Brisbane's new facility in Springfield is miles from the inner city suburbs like New Farm that players would be living. That we allow this absurd narrative of players not liking driving to training is one of the most embarrassing things about this club.

If players have the option of playing for Melbourne who train out in the boondocks or Collingwood/Carlton/Richmond etc who are based in the heart of the inner city, which do you think they'd prefer?

It's not really comparable to Geelong, Geelong has the surf coast down the road with the lifestyle that entails to appeal to certain demographics of players, the peninsula isn't exactly the same.

3 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

If players have the option of playing for Melbourne who train out in the boondocks or Collingwood/Carlton/Richmond etc who are based in the heart of the inner city, which do you think they'd prefer?

It's not really comparable to Geelong, Geelong has the surf coast down the road with the lifestyle that entails to appeal to certain demographics of players, the peninsula isn't exactly the same.

The peninsula would be far more appealing to an inner-city kid though. There is way more "life". The peninsula is really just an extension of Melbourne now since they built Peninsula Link. The surf coast is borderline rural.

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

Casey was a poor choice by the bandaid approach by the club on its knees around 20 yrs ago, why we didn’t affiliate with Port Melbourne with equally strong history and sane theme song and a club in desperate need of a revamp of its facilities, great proximity to the MCG, public transport, I bet you players would rather drive to port vs Casey

I doubt that Port would have had us back then. They were a very strongly minded club. We split with Sandringham because they had too much say in selection.

If we had gone with Port and bought the land next door (was the postal sorting building or similar) we'd be laughing... not to mention enjoying Burra Burgers

On 23/02/2026 at 19:16, Dee Dee said:

First time I’ve entered this discussion.

I certainly hope Caulfield goes ahead, but if for some reason Casey is the chosen venue, I wonder what current staff working at the Melbourne cricket ground and AAMI Stadium will think about it. It certainly would be a big move for many of them to travel every day from maybe north of the city to way down south.

I’m sure a number of workers would have to reconsider their positions at the club and find work elsewhere. There are a number of very talented people working for the Melbourne football club who’s expertise and know how would be sorely missed.

Remember it isn’t just about the players where ever the club moves; be it to Caulfield or elsewhere.

If Casey wins out, we'll keep AAMI/Gosch's and the Admin will, in my view, stay where they are (MCG & AAMI (?)

Which is the set-up right now

And I'm not sure that we train at Casey more than once a week anyway

As far as I can make out we use the facilities at AAMI (whenever) and train at Gosch's twice a week

So one off-peak drive to Casey for training and use of the facilities per week? How is that an imposition?

Those thinking it's 5 days a week, it's not. Not even close

It's once a week, maybe twice a week (sometimes)

We have 2 training venues and the player contact hours are set at 15 or 16 (hours)

But I sincerely hope that Caulfield ends up being a goer but even if it is a goer, we may not get there until 2029 or 2030

In the meantime, it's business as usual

Edited Tuesday at 12:291 day by Macca

This is what is achievable with a competent Board and administration:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/this-afl-club-was-described-as-a-carcass-now-it-s-investing-millions-to-build-a-new-suburb-and-secure-its-future-20260224-p5o4x4.html

"The now financially transformed club, which faced a $12 million debt towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and negative net assets, will on Thursday at Port Adelaide’s annual general meeting announce $70 million worth of assets on their balance sheet".

We still dream of having a training base/home after 168 years, while this is what other clubs are doing......

21 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

This is what is achievable with a competent Board and administration:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/this-afl-club-was-described-as-a-carcass-now-it-s-investing-millions-to-build-a-new-suburb-and-secure-its-future-20260224-p5o4x4.html

"The now financially transformed club, which faced a $12 million debt towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and negative net assets, will on Thursday at Port Adelaide’s annual general meeting announce $70 million worth of assets on their balance sheet".

We still dream of having a training base/home after 168 years, while this is what other clubs are doing......

I get your sentiments but 168 years is an exaggeration. Lets not forget that we had THE best training facilities in the league for large majority of that time. Since the use of the MCG was cut we have the worst.

12 hours ago, AzzKikA said:

Yeah I never understood why we affiliated with Casey after our break up with Sandringham.

Schwab

On 23/02/2026 at 09:14, Bring-Back-Powell said:

100%.

You can see it coming that the long term outcome will be Casey.

Unfortunate but only realistic conclusion

20 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Schwab

I'm no fan of Schwab but it was definitely Jimmy behind the Casey push.

The Port development could be smoke and mirrors. I suspect that most of the $70M they are speaking of comes as a result of the Alberton oval being transferred free (or perhaps with limited recourse debt) from the old Port FC. The housing development smacks of wanna be property developers. Very high risk.

Good luck to them but always take a balance sheet with a grain of salt. (North Melbourne perhaps)

Edited yesterday at 01:411 day by Diamond_Jim

14 hours ago, Macca said:

If Casey wins out, we'll keep AAMI/Gosch's and the Admin will, in my view, stay where they are (MCG & AAMI (?)

Which is the set-up right now

And I'm not sure that we train at Casey more than once a week anyway

As far as I can make out we use the facilities at AAMI (whenever) and train at Gosch's twice a week

So one off-peak drive to Casey for training and use of the facilities per week? How is that an imposition?

Those thinking it's 5 days a week, it's not. Not even close

It's once a week, maybe twice a week (sometimes)

We have 2 training venues and the player contact hours are set at 15 or 16 (hours)

But I sincerely hope that Caulfield ends up being a goer but even if it is a goer, we may not get there until 2029 or 2030

In the meantime, it's business as usual

This would be a backward result and will not address the whole club under 1 roof, we will be the only to have this disjointed arrangement! Club needs to solve this issue which has dogged the club since getting kicked off the MCG in fact the whole MCG affiliation has stalled us in finding a training base!

22 minutes ago, Demonsone said:

This would be a backward result and will not address the whole club under 1 roof, we will be the only to have this disjointed arrangement! Club needs to solve this issue which has dogged the club since getting kicked off the MCG in fact the whole MCG affiliation has stalled us in finding a training base!

Might be the result though, so prepare yourself there!

Didn't we win a flag as nomads? Richmond won 3 flags training on a tiny ground

Talent is the key, and lots of it (talent)

Edited yesterday at 02:401 day by Macca

On 24/02/2026 at 10:30, KoltTheRam said:

We surely have to get this debacle sorted out this year... I hope... Maybe...

Perhaps then perhaps not, ….very glad I am not holding my breath……pretty soon it will be mind over matter and I will not have a mind and supporters do not matter

5 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Lets just hypothesise that this is still all a possibility. A 'hurdle' seems to be the dreaded tunnel. Apparently all the OTHERS weren't but this one is ?

Is there a need ? I would say yes. If we're to be located in that bottom left corner as it were with playing fields northerly to any other infrastructure then direct , proprietary even, access would imho be desired. This provides quick easy direct access for the club to the training ovals. Tbh the idea of ferrying around players , or they're driving themselves to the inside is a nonsense in the modern day. They come, eat perhaps, change, train inside maybe, team meetings, presentations etc... and out to the grounds...

You're NOT mucking around going walkies half a mile up the road. That's not happening.

So a tunnel is desirous. Like the trivago bloke, do I really need to say it again... this is EASY. It's just civil construction. You have a plan, you have a schedule... you get to it.

The only equipment needed inside the rails as it were are any plant required for terraforming. If were me... id take off the running surface at an appropriate location... store maintain the grass sods ( same as would for the cut / cover tunnel. You lay a heavy wood 'bog mats' over earth substrate. If its an extended time... replace grass whilst plant working... then repeat process to evacuate equipment when finished.

As far as the training facility infrastructure goes this would be likely the most 'painful' thing to manage but of itself very straight forward.

It's a problem, it's solvable.

The rest is just putting up a factory/warehouse type construct with admin area and fit outs. Absolutely nothing new or prohibitive.

None of this is hard. Some care to the track requires but again.... there are workarounds.

Indeed if you were a bit clever clogs 😉 I'd introduce plant to the inside having dug the trench and ramps for the tunnel.

When needing to bring equipment out then refer back to the bog-mat process.

If super clever you might not need to truck out much if any spoil just relocate it.. I.e use it as part of 'landscaping '. Any other soils sands required for ovals could be brought in whilst trench open and stockpiled.

This is eminently very doable.... just that other little hurdle.... someone saying we can.

Some other issues to think about. The outside of the track must be 2m above the inside, maybe more. A tunnel at a proper depth under the turf at the inside would have to have a very deep entry on the outside near our facilities if it is to be level.

Also, that roundabout at the end of Glen Eira road at the junction of the existing vehicle tunnel is already a bit of a deathtrap. People coming down Kambrook road fight with people coming up Booran road over who is going straight and who needs to indicate. If there's going to be lots of people coming and going to sporting events on weekends, that will need some thinking on...

Went and took another look. Actually, there's four track widths between the site of our facilities and the inside of the track – three track widths + other areas equalling a fourth.... That means a very long and deep tunnel.

Not saying it can't be done. I don't know anything about tunneling except one day as a lad I crawled into a cave in the side of a creek down in Port Fairy and got my arm caught in a rabbit trap. Was a bit of a shock.

On 24/02/2026 at 11:12, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Anyone else constantly checking on here when there's a new post, expecting something to have actually happened?

😄😩

While I'm here, though, if 'Dorkley' is deemed such a winner, there is large, apparently unused, open space about a kilometre towards the city from it, to the west of Spring Valley Golf Club. Does anyone know its ownership/availability/condition?

Anyone?

15 minutes ago, Grr-owl said:

Went and took another look. Actually, there's four track widths between the site of our facilities and the inside of the track – three track widths + other areas equalling a fourth.... That means a very long and deep tunnel.

Not saying it can't be done. I don't know anything about tunneling except one day as a lad I crawled into a cave in the side of a creek down in Port Fairy and got my arm caught in a rabbit trap. Was a bit of a shock.

In my rough estimates the tunnel would need to be 7 metres deep, 7 metres wide, and up to 40 metres long and would provide little change out of 20 million.

2 metres below sea level, allowing for galloping compaction and strength to maintain safety for up to 15 thousand tons of horses and riders and machinery at times.

4 metres high and another metre of road base, concrete and reinforcement.

The length due to the track widths and allowing for disabled access would be around 40 metres long, plus sevices for fire sprinklers and lighting and communications

The old days of covering up a couple of water tanks and drums and calling it a tunnel are well and truly over.

3 minutes ago, bluey said:

In my rough estimates the tunnel would need to be 7 metres deep, 7 metres wide, and up to 40 metres long and would provide little change out of 20 million.

2 metres below sea level, allowing for galloping compaction and strength to maintain safety for up to 15 thousand tons of horses and riders and machinery at times.

When was the last time you saw 30 racehorses in a race at Caulfield and all running together, stretched across the track, at any point in a race? That is the only way your scenario could exist.

Why would heavy club machinery, other than lawnmowers need to go over the tunnel area?

Where did you get the figure of $20m for a tunnel under the track from?

Edited yesterday at 03:531 day by Redleg

The Dutch can do it in 48 hours!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVGRQW1DgbC/

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

When was the last time you saw 30 racehorses in a race at Caulfield and all running together, stretched across the track, at any point in a race? That is the only way your scenario could exist.

Why would heavy club machinery, other than lawnmowers need to go over the tunnel area?

Where did you get the figure of $20m for a tunnel under the track from?

An engineer quoting building loads will always double up.

I have fairly recent experience paying for concrete pumps, council planning, architects, draftsmen. Slabs, driveways. Street drainage, machineray.

Being a member of working parties fitting out high rise offices, data centres.

Renting portable latrines, air conditioned smoko huts.

The costings thrown around here are laughable.

Could easily take 6 months.

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The Dutch can do it in 48 hours!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVGRQW1DgbC/

Great job!

3 hours ago, Macca said:

Didn't we win a flag as nomads?

Everyone were nomads the year we won

3 hours ago, Macca said:

Didn't we win a flag as nomads?

i would argue we were not 'nomads' but instead in 'isolation'

arguably it was the thing that allowed the players to focus and work together as one to build towards the premiership

Edited yesterday at 06:121 day by whatwhat say what