46 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i think the mt scopus site was always private property and not crown land

Correct.

I can understand why we went from first area to second area as second was bigger and had easier access.

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

All three areas are Crown land leased to the MRC.

I suspect the MRC are happy for us to go in this third area and see some synergy in it. There is plenty of room for what we would need and car parking as well.

Given recent comments of the MRC Chairman, it appears we are all now aligned and it is happening and hopefully announced soon, maybe even at the B and F and maybe even with the new Coach present. Maybe even the Judd McVee signing announced finally, making it a big night after a disappointing season. That is all just my speculation of course.

I can imagine for starters a new type of membership being a MFC/MRC one where you become a member of both clubs giving rise to more benefits for the members, increased sponsorship opportunities and of course increased membership of both clubs.

We are both called MELBOURNE of course.

There may even be some new joint facilities mooted, again my speculation only.

As Big Kev used to say on TV years ago, “I am excited” and not just because I am a lifelong Demon fanatic and former official of the club, have owned and bred racehorses, still racing a few, am a Life Governor of the school, that will be a neighbour on the other side of the racecourse, though I went to MELBOURNE High School, live nearby and will be able to go to a lot of training and spend time with Ghosty and her mates, but because this will be the best thing for the MFC, besides premierships, that has happened in ages and maybe ever, our own state of the art Demon home.

Go Dees, I love this club. ❤️💙

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Redleg

10 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

Maybe look at who's been involved.....

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

I would say that is the reason.

I was in the area on Friday and noticed it is about 2km from the Neerim Rd end to Caulfield station end.

For those that don't know the area the Neerim Rd end is quite suburban. The station end has a pokies/sports type club (The Glasshouse) on the edge of the course and it is a short walk to various eateries on the NE side of the station. The club won't need to provide a social club/gathering place on site. Also, various tram lines are nearby.

The station end will make it easier to keep admin and FD staff (and attract new ones) if using public transport otherwise they would face a decent walk. Ditto for fans.

A home at last! Can't wait to congregate there on the day after another premiership ❤️💙

btw, thanks for keeping us updated.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Lucifers Hero

21 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Correct.

I can understand why we went from first area to second area as second was bigger and had easier access.

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

All three areas are Crown land leased to the MRC.

i think the main problem with the 2nd option (south east corner) was no close access to ovals. i.e. no tunnel and probably mrc not wanting a new tunnel to be built, and of course the extra cost of a tunnel.

and of course the reasons of transport difference luci explained

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by daisycutter

I get off at Caulfield station for work and usually zip into the Coles nearby before heading up to the office on Wattletree Road. Pretty soon the Sunbury line which I live on will have trains that connect straight through the new underground stations without changing, making it super convenient for staff at the new MFC training & admin facility to get there. Great for retirees that live locally to track watch as well, although I suspect they will be able to lock the gates like they do at Casey?

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Correct.

I can understand why we went from first area to second area as second was bigger and had easier access.

I am unsure why we are now looking at this third area, which is narrower and longer, but closer to transport, shops and a short walk to the tunnel under the track into the mid field, where the ovals would go.

All three areas are Crown land leased to the MRC.

I suspect the MRC are happy for us to go in this third area and see some synergy in it. There is plenty of room for what we would need and car parking as well.

Given recent comments of the MRC Chairman, it appears we are all now aligned and it is happening and hopefully announced soon, maybe even at the B and F and maybe even with the new Coach present. Maybe even the Judd McVee signing announced finally, making it a big night after a disappointing season. That is all just my speculation of course.

I can imagine for starters a new type of membership being a MFC/MRC one where you become a member of both clubs giving rise to more benefits for the members, increased sponsorship opportunities and of course increased membership of both clubs.

We are both called MELBOURNE of course.

There may even be some new joint facilities mooted, again my speculation only.

As Big Kev used to say on TV years ago, “I am excited” and not just because I am a lifelong Demon fanatic and former official of the club, have owned and bred racehorses, still racing a few, am a Life Governor of the school, that will be a neighbour on the other side of the racecourse, though I went to MELBOURNE High School, live nearby and will be able to go to a lot of training and spend time with Ghosty and her mates, but because this will be the best thing for the MFC, besides premierships, that has happened in ages and maybe ever, our own state of the art Demon home.

Go Dees, I love this club. ❤️💙

love this

i often wonder whether the 'go dees' car that's often parked on tooronga rd belongs to someone on this board

On 30/08/2025 at 08:17, rpfc said:

This is more unnecessary scope creep from fans that can’t agree on what this should be.

Entertainment and retail? Wut?

Is it elite training facilities?

Is it facilities closer to where players want to live?

Is it co-location of admin?

Is it a place for the fans to gather and have a beer?

I mean, WTF are we talking about here.

Just got to this

The intervening comments show that the current understanding is resident in some nebulous state.

All your questions have been responded to and I think the answer will be unlikely to satisfy most

Is it an elite training Facility?, Certainly sold as this and should be. Not sure and replicates CAsey

Is it closer to where players want to live? Again not sure no player poll has been identified. I dont think this should be a major concern They all probably want to live near Geelong

Is it Co location of Admin.? Agsin presented as such. Should certainly be so and should allow for expansion as we grow..

Place for fans to gather? not sure from whats being presented now. I believe it should be but it may be limited in capacity. It seems Redleg and a few may be well catered for. The train access should attract greater numbers and I believe the club should leverage off that to achieve some retail return.

Anyway it will be interesting to watch developments. I see many are still sceptical. I am concerned that we will be minor players in a site benefitting the racing industry.

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

love this

i often wonder whether the 'go dees' car that's often parked on tooronga rd belongs to someone on this board

I work really close by in a building on that junction and pass it every day. I first saw it during the 2021 finals series. It looks like it’s lost a couple of decals since then.

13 hours ago, Oxdee said:

I dont think so. Mt Scopus didn’t spend $200m to buy a leasehold. I think the Carpark in question can be sold off as a freehold

Thats because the bought private land owned by the MRC. Mt Scopus is not being built on Crown Land.

4 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Great for retirees that live locally to track watch as well, although I suspect they will be able to lock the gates like they do at Casey?

The only time the gates will be locked is on race days.

25 minutes ago, Fritta and Turner said:

The only time the gates will be locked is on race days.

And the major meetings are on saturdays in February and September and October.

What does Paul Guerra Craig Kelly John kanga and Andrew Dillon have in common....

An in-depth conversation in jeans amd runners amongst the crowd while watching the dees and pies AFLW.....

No idea what they are discussing but you can be damn sure its not an accidental meet up

20 hours ago, Oxdee said:

I dont think so. Mt Scopus didn’t spend $200m to buy a leasehold. I think the Carpark in question can be sold off as a freehold

Mt Scopus didn't buy crown land. Our plan is to build on crown land, hence a lower cost and certain concessions needed by our side.

20 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

One does have to ask the question....why in the hell did a "feasibility study" take 12 months, and then a "business case" take another 12 months, when we still don't know where the building will be built.

How do we know the club doesn't now know where the building will be built? As the HS article suggested, the MFC had to make certain concessions. I've been as critical of the board as anyone, but this does sound like genuine progress. Pert seemingly had nothing or little to do with it though, so that was definitely a soft landing provided by the board that hired him in the first place.

I went past Caulfield this evening to have a look at the area mentioned in yesterday's report. That car park opposite the station is enormous, even with some of it fenced off as the set up begins for Spring Carnival. So there would be absolutely no problems for space if the club could build on this land.

To have an elite training facility in this precinct, so close to public transport and the inner suburbs of Melbourne would be an absolute win.

I left thinking that we could go from having the worst training facilities in the league to the best when this development is done. Bring it on.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Swooper Northey

This place is much better than the second as far as public transport goes. Heaps of it here and it’s closer to it . The southeast point is the further est point from Caulfield station in the park. Thr se point is far closer to Glen Huntley road trans And Glenhuntly rail station on the Frankston line. Caulfield station is a main hub. Much better in my view

4 minutes ago, 640MD said:

This place is much better than the second as far as public transport goes. Heaps of it here and it’s closer to it . The southeast point is the further est point from Caulfield station in the park. Thr se point is far closer to Glen Huntley road trans And Glenhuntly rail station on the Frankston line. Caulfield station is a main hub. Much better in my view

But a long way from where the ovals are supposed to be - right? I suspect the article may have got its "plots" a little mixed up....

3 minutes ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

But a long way from where the ovals are supposed to be - right? I suspect the article may have got its "plots" a little mixed up....

Not really. An existing tunnel beneath the track would lead straight to the infield where the ovals would be.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Swooper Northey

17 minutes ago, Swooper Northey said:

Not really. An existing tunnel beneath the track would lead straight to the infield where the ovals would be.

The earlier two "plots" would have involved a short tunnel under the track and straight up on to the ovals (or heaven forbid a walk across the track). The latest proposal would require a mini-bus.....or a warm-up run (like they don't do from AAMI to Gosch's at the moment....)

5 minutes ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

The earlier two "plots" would have involved a short tunnel under the track and straight up on to the ovals (or heaven forbid a walk across the track). The latest proposal would require a mini-bus.....or a warm-up run (like they don't do from AAMI to Gosch's at the moment....)

I dare say they'll use a section of the enormous racecourse reserve closer to the training and admin base to develop the ovals. There is an existing tunnel from that side of the racecourse to the infield.