6 hours ago, Its Time for Another said:

Kate Roffey very specifically and clearly dealt with Fishermans Bend at the AGM. They investigated it. The primary issue was that all of the land that would be relevant for the MFC is owned privately. There is no public land that is suitable for our purposes. Any prospect of buying the private land would be financially not possible. What are you missing. You keep flogging this and it has been covered by the Club. I know this is a forum and anyone can post whatever they like but please move on. 

She made it clear they had welcomed any proposals from anyone and had investigated them all including Port Melbourne. Port would only ever have room for the exisiting oval not another one and the club needs two which they can get at Caulfield. 

My own view is that Fishermens Bend is no where near where most of our supporters/members live and would be a pain in the [censored] to get to in terms of public transport. Caulfield is ideally placed for access and is in close proximity to what the club knows is the centre of our supporter/membership base. Most importantly at this point at least for a feasibility study, it is being backed by the multiple stakeholders who are required to approve and finance it. It's been settled on after years of work. Lets move on.

well without diverting discussion Kate did not and could not detail who she had spoken with ( commercial in confodence0 BUtT

 Has never in any discussion detailed who in the FB board or in our membership identified who she has spoken with.  I   have sought this info in a confidential response.

There does seem to be some capacity for community facilities and if the projections of population are even close better public transport will be a given .I think the projected underground include a station i the precinct can be improved with a  MFC investment.

I could add that in my initial discussion Kate was not aware that Australia Post had a significant warehouse that ad some potential. 

dp while i admire your enthusiasm, do you really know what's required to mount an alternative option to the Club?

Do you know what physical facilities are actually required by the Club? 

Do you know how much physical space would be required to house these facilities?

These are the very first steps before you can look at any possible alternative site. I'm guessing you don't really have these basic ingredients yet.

Only then can you go out looking for suitable public land. I say public because any privately owned land would have a price tag that we could never afford. 

Then the hard part begins. Looking for public land that does not have heritage issues (ie the MCG Precinct); does not cause a loss of public visual amenity (ie the Yarra Park proposal); does not make homeless other sporting or recreation bodies, does not take away much required public open space; a site that can provide public benefit from some of the proposed works; a site that is easily accessible etc etc etc. Then when you think you have all that nailed down, you have to find the financial backing for that site. Therefore, it ain't as easy as seeing a vacant block of land and declaring that would make a good site! 

I'm afraid dp, that without having these basic initial criteria in hand, the Club - while they might appreciate your effort - will not take you seriously. That is most likely why you have not had a number of your questions answered.

But on a more positive note, the Caulfield site really excites me as a proposal - much, much more than anything we had previously proposed in the MCG precinct. (I've been in the Master Planning game for a long time, so i do have some knowledge of these processes). I think we will all be extremely happy if we pull this proposal off. It's almost like we have waited 20 years for Caulfield to come along. 

 

1 hour ago, Neil Crompton said:

dp while i admire your enthusiasm, do you really know what's required to mount an alternative option to the Club?

Do you know what physical facilities are actually required by the Club? 

Do you know how much physical space would be required to house these facilities?

These are the very first steps before you can look at any possible alternative site. I'm guessing you don't really have these basic ingredients yet.

Only then can you go out looking for suitable public land. I say public because any privately owned land would have a price tag that we could never afford. 

Then the hard part begins. Looking for public land that does not have heritage issues (ie the MCG Precinct); does not cause a loss of public visual amenity (ie the Yarra Park proposal); does not make homeless other sporting or recreation bodies, does not take away much required public open space; a site that can provide public benefit from some of the proposed works; a site that is easily accessible etc etc etc. Then when you think you have all that nailed down, you have to find the financial backing for that site. Therefore, it ain't as easy as seeing a vacant block of land and declaring that would make a good site! 

I'm afraid dp, that without having these basic initial criteria in hand, the Club - while they might appreciate your effort - will not take you seriously. That is most likely why

Fyou have not had a number of your questions answered.

But on a more positive note, the Caulfield site really excites me as a proposal - much, much more than anything we had previously proposed in the MCG precinct. (I've been in the Master Planning game for a long time, so i do have some knowledge of these processes). I think we will all be extremely happy if we pull this proposal off. It's almost like we have waited 20 years for Caulfield to come along. 

 

Thanks for your considered thoughts.

Do I know what is required to mount n alternative. Not really but I hope i can recruit enough people with skills and ability to prepare a positive alternative. Although I would be pleased if the club can provide  answers to my questions which show this option is not at all possible.

I have asked the club what physical features they require as the only response i Have had is a total acreage site. I believe there is some flexibility and  the Caulfield option will provide some greater detail as i hope will discussion with the club.

I have some thoughts on the desired requirements and discussion with some members has given me an expanded idea of options and proposals.

I am not sure of the public land requirements in the Port Melb/ Fishermans Bend area but the fact that 80,000 is  projected population  would indicate some need  for public areas which may be fulfilled by an appropriate private public venture .

Fishermans Bend is a greenfield site and with its own board of management it would seem an ideal place to start. there is a lot of potential and I personally do not have the clout or authority to obtain answers..

 I hope there are enough people with interest to appraise an alternative site.

The club entering negotiations with only one option, Particularly when this option is with the racing industry which is in the same competitive space (entertainment/sport) is both good and bad . Good that there is some mutual benefit and economy of scale , bad because the industry is competing with a club. Again I would be pleased to have the club reassure members how this will be adressed.

You seem to have some experience greater than myself or others who have contacted me and I am reassured by your interest.

I would be happy to discuss further with you and invite you to contact me on 0448110212. or alternatively if you can maintain your review of any options I present I would be grateful.

.

 

Could we please move the training ground discourse to the training ground thread?  

Does anybody have any intel if there is training at Casey this Monday? May be able to go if we knew some dates.

2 hours ago, Roy Boy said:

Does anybody have any intel if there is training at Casey this Monday? May be able to go if we knew some dates.

If they tell you that RB they will have to shoot you. 

19 hours ago, dpositive said:

The club entering negotiations with only one option,

In any negotiation and indeed in any strategic decision you need to have alternate solutions 

well done for exploring this one

20 hours ago, Roy Boy said:

Does anybody have any intel if there is training at Casey this Monday? May be able to go if we knew some dates.

The latest update I’ve been given (this morning) is that for the fortnight that the tennis is on, training will be at Casey on Mondays and Fridays, and Gosch’s on Wednesdays. Therefore training is scheduled to be at Gosch’s on this Wednesday the 17th and next Wednesday the 24th.

Of course, as always, this is subject to change. 

AFL Training Sessions

Training sessions are scheduled to return to Gosch's Paddock in the week beginning Monday January 15.

Session information will be provided once the week commences.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

From MFC website @WalkingCivilWar @Roy Boy

Edited January 14, 20241 yr by kev martin

11 minutes ago, kev martin said:

AFL Training Sessions

Training sessions are scheduled to return to Gosch's Paddock in the week beginning Monday January 15.

Session information will be provided once the week commences.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

From MFC website @WalkingCivilWar @Roy Boy

In the week beginning Monday January 15. This can be confusing as one would read it as training at Gosch’s on Monday January 15. But I’ve heard (from one of the trainers) that it’s at Gosch’s on Wednesday this week, and Casey on Monday and Friday.

🤷‍♀️

Edited January 14, 20241 yr by WalkingCivilWar

4 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

In the week beginning Monday January 15. This can be confusing as one would read it as training at Gosch’s on Monday January 15. But I’ve heard (from one of the trainers) that it’s at Gosch’s on Wednesday this week, and Casey on Monday and Friday.

🤷‍♀️

Hopefully they make it clearer tomorrow, if they post session information, as indicated. 

On 12/01/2024 at 13:04, Macca said:

*See image below*

So the building near the winning post (white roof) is the main grandstand.  If you were at the races, the back straight is a fair way away but the 2 training grounds would be a lot closer than that

As for the 2 ovals, one might run alongside the home straight (n.b. the home straight isn't pointed directly West (so no Sun issues) The other oval more towards the back straight (?)

A lot of the existing buildings and stables from about the 2000m mark to the 1400m mark were formerly used for training horse but Caulfield is no longer a training facility.  The horses are brought in on race days and there are heaps of stables behind the main grandstand for use on racedays

So our building requirements could be put up anywhere from the 2000m mark to the 1400m mark ... incorporating a grandstand (?)

The oval at the top (Glen Huntly Park) will give you an idea of the space available elsewhere (specifically inside the actual racecourse) ... you could fit 3 or 4 ovals inside the actual racecourse

Again, the above is just a personal opinion not based on any data or info.  I certainly don't have any inside knowledge.  Others may see things way differently

Here's the image of the course

Further down is a video of a horse well worth following (gamble responsibly)

 

 

 

It's only a rough comparison but this is the Cranbourne racecourse which has a dog track, trotting track and race track on the right is the old Cranbourne football oval, changerooms and netball court.   All looks a similar size to Caulfield

A news grab on Ch 7 says that Clayton Oliver completed his own running session at Gosch’s. A two hour session with a friend. Sounds like good progress 

5 minutes ago, stinga said:

It's only a rough comparison but this is the Cranbourne racecourse which has a dog track, trotting track and race track on the right is the old Cranbourne football oval, changerooms and netball court.   All looks a similar size to Caulfield

And there's a lot of room within the Moonee Valley & Flemington courses as well (both crown land) Not that I'm advocating heading that way

But again, what stands out is how all that land inside the various racetracks has not been utilised.  With all the grandstands already in place (albeit with bleacher views)

I don't care where training is just get the report up by lunchtime FFS!

7 hours ago, Macca said:

Moonee Valley

There is FREE parking in the middle. Luxury!

No idea if we're at Gosch's or Casey, I'm going to take a punt and head to Casey. 

 

This is what my life has come to, heading to random football grounds with no guarantee of the event actually being on and even if it is I'm relegated to standing behind a cyclone fence.

1 hour ago, Matt Demon said:

No idea if we're at Gosch's or Casey, I'm going to take a punt and head to Casey. 

 

This is what my life has come to, heading to random football grounds with no guarantee of the event actually being on and even if it is I'm relegated to standing behind a cyclone fence.

Casey it is good call 

I think WCW has mentioned on here it is Casey until after the Aus Open

My buddy who’s at Casey right now said they just opened the gates for the five spectators that are there. Hopefully this is something they’ll do regularly 🤞🏼 
 

@Matt Demon: we all expect a detailed training report on our desks by midday. 😉

Edited January 14, 20241 yr by WalkingCivilWar

Apparently it’s Richo’s choice as to whether the gates are open. Today he’s decided to have them opened. I’m guessing it’s because there’s so few spectators. It’s something we won’t know in advance.

Also confirmed by one of the trainers: While the tennis is on, training is at Casey on Mondays and Fridays and at Gosch’s on Wednesdays. 

34 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I think WCW has mentioned on here it is Casey until after the Aus Open

Except for the Wednesdays, where it’ll be at Gosch’s. As always, that’s not set in concrete, but as of now that’s the plan. 

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Except for the Wednesdays, where it’ll be at Gosch’s. As always, that’s not set in concrete, but as of now that’s the plan. 

I love a good plan that way when it all goes to [censored] we can blame the planner or is that plannee

Just now, forever demons said:

I love a good plan that way when it all goes to [censored] we can blame the planner or is that plannee

how come you censored [censored] its an every day word these days