No. 31

Caulfield is in the middle of nowhere? It is pretty much where the inner city meets inner suburbia in the South Eastern direction. It only happens to be in the vicinity of Caulfield Station which services 3 lines and will also have easy access to the new metro tunnel stations next year (Caulfield is one of the top 10 train stations in Melbourne by passenger numbers) and on a tram line (No. 3 tram). Road connection are very good there as well. If the potential MFC facility is located at the southern end of the Racecourse Precinct there will also be access to the new Glen Huntly station (Frankston Line) and the 67 tram from Melb Uni to Carnegie. It is located on the doorstop of Monash University Caulfield Campus and also new apartment developments such as Caulfield Village (with more developnents to come). Definitely scope for Demons proselytising amongst the foreign student cohort ...

The Demonland Lost Souls Club 😁 I am a Carlton supporter, checked out this forum and stayed after I saw numerous TISM references splattered around. Take that [insert balaclava clad emoji]. It is probably anathema to many, but I do have a 'second club' I support and it is MFC. I don't just keep an eye on their scores and catch a quarter or two here and there on tv. I catch almost every match on Kayo/C7 and even catch some live matches at the MCG (I had a 3 game membership for last season). I wasn't born into a footy family, my parents are migrants and they followed the Saints as the first suburb they lived in was St Kilda. Most of my extended family followed Richmond, St Kilda or North Melbourne. There was pressuure/bribery on little No. 31 to follow the Saints, Tigers or Kangas. I rebuffed all of these overtures and threw my lot in with Carlton (more on that later). In primary school in the 1980s I grew up in one of Melbourne's traditional recruiting zones in the South Eastern 'burbs and Melbourne footballers used to come to our footy clinics. I remember being excited that Robbie Flower came to one of our clinics and he taught me how to handball, afterwards I always kept an eye out for him in games. Ultimately that lead to me always having some sympathy for the Dees and I actively followed their rise in the late 80s and late 90s and was a fan of footballers like Stynes, Lyon, Schwarz, Farmer, Neitz, Yze, Leoncelli and Woewodin. As for Carlton, I declared them to be my club as I was born in Carlton (at the old Royal Women's Hospital) and my local junior club were the Ormond Blues. It certainly helped that the Blues were a powerhouse in the early 80s. As a child I found the Navy Blue with the White monogram to be so stylish and elegant and having been born in the 3053 postcode sealed it for a young No. 31. Had the Dees been a strong club in contention in the early 80s, I may well have barracked for them given the Demons footy clinic connections (and I thought the Demons nickname was pretty cool and that they were named after Melbourne rather than a suburb of Melbourne). PS - I did spend a number of years living in Newtown, Geelong (as an adult) and I could see Kardinia Park from my balcony so I would go and watch the Cats sometimes. I never really developed an attachment to the Cats like I did with the Demons though.

Finally some movement on the Caulfield front, hopefully this odd chatter about Royal Park and Melbourne University a few pages back can now be covered by a Glen Eira morning fog ... really, that part of inner Northern Melbourne is the domain of another club, what was coming next, a proposal to develop Princes Park?!? 😁 Now, Caulfield certainly can create some synergies for the MRC, the Trust administering the area inside the race track and Melbourne FC. There is clearly enough room there to develop a modern, fit for 21st century purposes training facility for the Demons and now the club is openly discussing it means that negotiations have progressed to a certain stage where the parties think it is doable.

... and voluntarily retired from politics, consequently relinquishing power ... very dictatorial.

Yeah, I couldn't really see Bob M, sinking beers with fans standing in the outer 😁

Yes, Carlton had decades long links to the Liberal Party. That was a dynamic probably more at board level rather than those drinking Carlton Draught tinnies on the outer at Princes Park though. Despite, the 'Blue Blood' historical connections at Princes Park, it did not stop the Gillard ALP Government splashing cash to upgrade facilities at Princes Park back in 2009 and the upgrades were named after the original 'Teal' himself, the late Don Chipp (who played a few games for Fitzroy in the VFL and was a passionate Carlton supporter). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-08-23/gillard-announces-45m-to-upgrade-princes-park/1400354 Football club support can and does cross party political lines, what is important is lobbying, constant lobbying. MFC members should be trying to lobby local politicians in Caulfield and nearby areas from all tiers of government - Local Government, State & Federal. The squeaky wheel gets the oil ...

Agreed that H. Reid will want out if WC Eagles are still garbage in a few years time. As for Carlton, after digging themselves out of a huge mid season hole and going on a powerful run deep into September, the self belief at Parc de Princes will be very high going into 2024. They have also culled a few weak links in the list and should have better depth in 2025. If the injury Gods are kind to the Blues they should do well in 2025 with players like Walsh, Cerra, Weitering, De Koning, McKay, Curnow and Motlop all capable to step up another notch.

Both parents and his brother represented Australia in Taekwondo. His mother represented Australia at the 2000 Olympics. Thinking motivation and a competitive sporting ethos probably won't be an issue. He had injury issues which probably explains his slide as a potential top pick. Could be a good late 1st round pick up for the Blues. Can be an understudy to Jack Martin and cut his teeth in the VFL for a year or two.

A paper bag in the middle of the road huh, fancy tripe eating pants! You rich people want to just rub it in ... we lived under tree bark in a laneway at the bottom of a hill where the rain water would pool! It was a long time ago! PS - reckon WC will do a deal for pick 1 on draft night.

Decent fixture for next season for the Dees. No trips to Geelong or Tasmania. Pity only one game against Carlton, with both clubs aiming for the top 4 and two very closely contested games with huge crowds late last year it warranted a second game. Wishing the Dees all the best next season, except on 9 May 😁

I too like Ron the 3rds speech. RDB wasn't just a footballing legend, he was a father too. It was a human angle to the footballing legend. I grimaced when I saw Eddie M was hosting and there were many C'Wood references but then again it was hard to avoid given how many times RDB played in a side or coached a team that defeated them on the big day. However, I thought Eddie M. did a decent job and there was some genuine emotion from him at times.

I prefer this 👍 Now make the monogram larger, white and rename MFC to Casey (or Caulfied) and then it would look uber stylish 😜

Anyone have a Digital Membership? Looks like good value. Ditch Kayo and get an MFC Digital M'ship, still get Kayo and save $110 p.a. 😊

Carlton's "good finish" was winning 9 in a row where a loss in any of those matches could have ended finals aspirations then and there. They actually showed a mental toughness that most Carlton supporters thought the players may not actually possess. That achievement wasn't dimished by an iffy call on Caleb Marchbank's "hand of god". The other close calls in the finals were probably all correct. Agreed that the Dees weren't that far from another flag this year. They could have and should have beaten the Pies because they outplayed them. Woeful kicking for goal cost them against the Blues. The forward line and delivery to it was lacking for most of the season TBH. A midfielder with some polish in kicking into the 50m arc and a quality key forward and the Dees would have swept all before them this year I say.

Good luck to Oscar, he looked to show some promise at Princes Park but was cut short by serious injury. Hopefully he has recovered and can give it another crack out West.

I like symmetry too. Perhaps the MFC logo could be on the back, centred on the red yoke (written in Navy Blue)? 🤔

Monograms are elegant I say! 😁

Some truth to that I feel. The pain of losing 4 consecutive finals and the recent media pile on has to burn and motivate the players. One of the reasons why Carlton developed an edge in the home straight of this seadon was the burn of being openly ridiculed by opposition players and the media in the horror mid season slump.

It wouldn't be your typical lease. The land in the centre of the racecourse is Crown Land. For instance, Carlton FC have been leasing Princes Park (Ikon Park) since 1896 and there is an Act of Parliament that also sits behind the lease.

Well MFC wouldn't be signing a 10 year lease. I would be thinking of something closer to a 99 year lease.

Yes lease length will probably be an issue and the area inside the racecourse is governed by a trust. There is some land that is MRC owned on the perimeter of the racecourse as well. Will take time to work through the issues but Caulfield is the best bet for a single permanent home for the Demons for many reasons which have already been fleshed out in this thread.

The other option for the Lions is an upgrade to the Brisbane Showgrounds: https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/brisbane-showgrounds

Once the new Metro tunnel opens, Caulfield Station will be even more easily accessible from other parts of Melbourne. Caulfield Station is fine as a destination station in its own right, needs upgrades as a transiting station though. It is the largest train station outside the inner city core and where the Cranbourne\Pakenham and Frankston Lines branch out. As far as PT and road links are concerned, Caufield is an A grade location. What I am curious about is where within the racecourse precinct would the Demons facilities be? If they are at the Southern end then Glen Huntly Station and the 67 tram are probably the better transport options. Glen Huntly has a new train station that opened recently as part of the level crossing removals.

Sure Ed Curnow has great running endurance but let the man retire in peace! How would you use a veterinarian at the Demons though? I am sure Andrew McKay would take good care of any club affiliated pooches 🐶 PS - may need pick 41 instead of 46 to get this trade over the line 😁

Reality is he has been a flop for the Blues considering he was a No.10 draft pick. Has shown ability and promise on occasions but never delivered consistently. His 2022 season was decent and I thought 2023 was the season for Lochie to step up to another level. Alas, he hasn't been able to grasp his opportunities and appeared to regress from the previous season. If there is room in the Demons list he might be worth a punt. Would see him primarily as a Casey player and as back up. This would be his last chance so that might motivate him to make the changes he needs. I think a draftee would probably be a better option to be honest. Ollie Hollands at Carlton was a new draftee and a revelation as a winger (No. 11 in the 2022 draft) and is certainly a first 22 player at the Blues now.