Demonland

Melbourne is on the brink of ending its decades-long search for a permanent home base. Negotiations between the Demons and key parties including the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust have advanced significantly in recent weeks. A new option being pushed by the race club would see Melbourne’s $100 million high-performance and administration facility built on land opposite the Caulfield train station where an existing tunnel beneath the track would be used for access to two full-sized training ovals. Further progress is expected at a meeting involving Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos next week. Talks have gathered pace after Melbourne relented on a series of demands surrounding public access to the ovals, payment of rent and control of subleasing. Melbourne insists it will be able to fully fund the project through a combination of government grants, cash and members’ donations. Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse. The Demons’ long-running failure to secure a home base was not lost on outgoing senior coach Simon Goodwin when he half-jokingly declared at his farewell press conference that he would not miss the daily commute out to Casey. Former Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert was hired by the Melbourne board in 2018 largely on the promise of delivering a “state-of-the-art” training and administrative headquarters. The club’s first ambitious bid to secure a site in Yarra Park near the MCG was embarrassingly shot down by the state government just hours after the club had publicly declared it a live option. Other concepts were floated and abandoned above an AAMI Park car park and beneath the Bolte Bridge before the Dees changed tack to focus on Caulfield. Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse. The initial blueprint involved the construction of Melbourne’s headquarters in the southwestern wedge of the racecourse precinct before it was ditched earlier this year in favour of a new patch in the southeastern corner, near Neerim Road. The latest option would see the Dees set up shop on the existing “Guineas car park” off Normanby Road as part of a wider development that will allow fans to hop straight off a train to watch their team practice. Pert was pushed out last October but was retained as a “consultant” to help steer the Caulfield project, however insiders say he hasn’t been sighted in months. “Pert has gone fishing and it might just be the only place where he lands a catch,” an insider said.

Dees Caulfield home base moves a step closer https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-plans-to-establish-home-at-caulfield-racecourse-progress-key-meeting-set-for-this-week/news-story/289ce5e10a03bc0bfb03b14806efb27f?giftid=isjgq3Cd7j

Indigenous Round Narrm time isn’t a standard concept—it’s the time within the traditional lands of Narrm, the Woiwurrung name for Melbourne. Indigenous Round runs for rounds 3 and 4 and is a powerful platform to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, community, and Australian culture. It This week, suburban footy returns to the infamous Victoria Park as the mighty Narrm take on the Collingwood Magpies at 1:05pm Narrm time, Sunday 31 August. Come along if you can. The Match-up The Pies posted an admirable win last week against the Giants at home, but Coach Sam Wright will find the Dees a much tougher proposition this Sunday. I'm expecting Collingwood to look to nullify our scoring strengths. Good luck with that, Sam! The Magpies are missing several key leaders through injury—captain Ruby Schleicher, Bri Davey, Jordyn Allen, and boom recruit Mattea Breed. They’ll rely on promising youngsters to step up, including No. 1 draft pick Ash Centra, who impressed last week with some crunching tackles. She’s shaping as a future star. Despite having some big names out, Naarm Coach Mick Stinear still has a deep list to draw from, and the talent chasm should see Narrm win—and win well. Selection this week Narrm is missing four or five first-choice players—nearly a quarter of the team. We’re in top-up territory, with ex-Pie Sophie Casey and ex-Geelong VFLW player Mekah Morrissy joining the squad. Liv Purcell, in career-best form, is heartbreakingly out for the season with an ACL (her other knee). She joins Tahlia Gillard (MCL), Sarah Lampard (calf), Blaithin Mackin (knee), and Sinead Goldrick (shoulder) in the rehab group. Ryleigh Wotherspoon has been named in defence, while Lily Johnson, Alyssia Pisano, potential debutants Amelia Dethridge and Jemma Rigoni, and the top-up players round out the extended bench. Milestone Treble (75 games) With the women’s season having roughly half the games of the men’s, 75 games is equivalent to 150—a significant milestone. This week, premier ruck star Loz Pearce (an inaugural), championship full forward Eden Zanker, and Melbourne’s top-rated gun midfielder Tyla Hanks all run out in the red and blue for their 75th game. Congratulations, superstars! Meggs’ musings Tayla Harris, with 10 coaches’ votes last week, is primed for a big 2025. Paxy Paxman, the evergreen warrior, will be vital in Mackin’s absence. Expect Eliza McNamara and Megan Fitzsimon to support the three H’s—Hanks, Heath, Hore—in the middle. Hanksy is currently equal second in the coaches award. Wotherspoon and Dethridge have played on-ball in the VFLW and acquitted themselves well, giving Mick some flexibility on match day. We’re top of the table after Week 2, averaging 75 points for and just 15 against. Our defence may be weakened by Irish absences, but the young guns—O’Hehir and Ebert—have settled in nicely, and Chaplin leads with poise. With our three-pronged tall forward line—Harris, Gall, and Zanker—Narrm should be too strong and kick a winning score. Go Dees! Tip: Melbourne by 32 points THE GAME Round 3: Melbourne v Collingwood Sunday 31 August 2025 at 1:05pm (Narrm time) at Victoria Park – Wurundjeri Country HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Melbourne 5 wins | Collingwood 2 wins At Victoria Park: Melbourne 1 win | Collingwood 1 win Coaches: Stinear 1 win | Wright 0 wins MEDIA COVERAGE 7, 7Plus, Foxtel, Kayo, AFL Live Official App THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 11.8 (74) defeated Collingwood 4.3 (27) Season 9, Round 11 – 2 November 2024 at Ikon Park Goals Narrm: Hore 3, Bannan 2, Zanker, Pisano, Hanks, Gall, Fitzsimon, Campbell Collingwood: Bonnici 2, Butler, Barnett Best Narrm: Hore, McNamara, Hanks, Purcell, Fitzsimon Collingwood: Bonnici, Schleicher, White, Brazzale Crowd: 1,854 at Ikon Park It was the final chapter of Narrm’s handicapped and doomed season. Carlton failed to beat Essendon, denying us a finals berth despite a late-season surge. Still, our women entertained with flair and smashed the Pies by nearly eight goals to finish ninth. Kate Hore, returning from injury, starred with three goals. Hanksy was her usual brilliant self, and Eliza McNamara capped off a stellar season with 30 disposals. Rhi Watt stunned TV audiences by announcing her retirement mid-match—on the boundary line! THIS WEEK’S TEAMS MELBOURNE FB [19] Laela Ebert [28] Saraid Taylor HB [12] Ryleigh Wotherspoon [11] Molly O'Hehir [13] Maeve Chaplin C [22] Eliza McNamara [5] Tyla Hanks [4] Paxy Paxman HF [24] Megan Fitzsimon [6] Alyssa Bannan [7] Tayla Harris FF [29] Eden Zanker [9] Georgia Gall FOL [15] Lauren Pearce [30] Shelley Heath [10] Kate Hore I/C [1] Georgia Campbell [3] Alyssia Pisano [20] Maggie Mahony [33] Lily Johnson [43] Jemma Rigoni [14] Amelia Dethridge [36] Sophie Casey [33] Mekah Morrissey EMG IN Wotherspoon, Pisano, Rigoni, Dethridge, Casey*, Morrissy* OUT [31] Blaithin Mackin [2] Olivia Purcell [23] Sinead Goldrick (all injured) *Top-up players COLLINGWOOD FB [27] Lucille Cronin [23] Lauren Butler HB [29] Tarni White [10] Muireann Atkinson [21] Amber Schutte C [36] Airlie Runnalls [16] Ashley Centra [7] Sarah Rowe HF [35] Kalind Howarth [17] Nett Morris-Dalton [13] Grace Campbell FF [1] Sabrina Frederick [22] Lily-Rose Williamson FOL [4] Imogen Barnett [25] Mikala Cann [8] Brittany Bonnici I/C [12] Georgia Knight [2] Eliza James [22] Mikayla Hyde [19] Georgia Clark [30] Carly Remmos [26] Violet Patterson [5] Annie Lee [9] Alana Porter EMG IN Barr OUT Plane (omitted) Injury List: Round 3 Melbourne Gab Colvin — knee / 2 weeks Sarah Lampard — calf / 4 - 8 weeks Denby Taylor foot — / 4 weeks Tahlia Gillard — knee / 5 - 7 weeks Grace Beasley — knee / 8 - 10 weeks Blaithin Mackin — knee / 10 - 12 weeks Jacinta Hose — knee / Inactive Olivia Purcell — knee / Inactive Collingwood Ruby Schleicher — concussion / Protocols Jordyn Allen — calf / 2 - 3 weeks Kellyann Hogan — shoulder / 4 - 6 weeks Charlotte Taylor —foot / 7 - 9 weeks Bri Davey— ankle / TBC Mattea Breed — knee / Season

Fan voted team

Prospective Team selected by afl.com.au reporters

Footy Classified saying Cameron Bruce isn’t interested in the Dees coaching job.

Just a guess but based on the graphic. Petracca to Carlton Walsh to Port Butters to Dees 🤪

Big news dropping?

trst

Melbourne are considering a major overhaul of their football department by creating a new position, as incoming CEO Paul Guerra eyes further change ahead of the 2026 season. Competition sources have confirmed the Demons, who are on the lookout for a new senior coach after the sudden sacking of Simon Goodwin, are also making inroads into creating a new senior role – to be in charge of strategy. The West Coast Eagles did a similar thing at the end of last season, hiring their premiership coach John Worsfold to oversee the football department in a role that the club said would include coaching structure, development, performance and culture. If the club were to make the appointment in the off-season, it would mean that current football boss Alan Richardson, who is contracted for 2026 is part of the club’s subcommittee to choose the next coach, would answer to the new appointment. The role would essentially sit between the football department and Guerra, who officially starts as chief executive on September 8. The club wouldn’t be drawn into commenting when contacted on Monday. The Age can also reveal the club’s psychologist, Stephen Rendall, has resigned after nearly four years at the Demons. The club said Rendall, a performance psychologist, would continue to work for the club in the background up until the national draft until a proper handover was organised. Rendall, who formerly worked as North Melbourne’s psychologist, has worked for the club during a turbulent period for the playing group, including a difficult trade period last year when star midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca both tried to leave but were denied trades by the Demons. Rendall is the third major departure from the club in recent weeks, who has parted ways with Goodwin and one of his right-hand men, Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark “Choco” Williams. Guerra, who did the radio rounds on Friday night before the Demons’ tight loss to Collingwood, said he and the club have shown they are not afraid to make tough decisions. He said the club will announce a new coach by preliminary final weekend. “I think a new coach coming in means that there will be more change in there,” he said. “We want to set this coach up, whoever it is, to be successful over the next decade. There’s no doubt they’ll have a view on the game plan that they want to play, and we want to be able to support that. “They’ll probably have a view on who they want as some of the assistants as well. “We’ve got a number of assistants that will carry through, we’ll obviously look to see what the new coach wants to do as well, and we’ll support that coach to make sure that they’re going to be successful.”