Dees move new Caulfield HQ plans from south-western wedge to south-eastern corner

Melbourne is desperate for a new headquarters to help restore its reputation as a destination club, but its battle to establish itself in Caulfield has taken yet another twist.

Melbourne has switched sites for its new $100 million training base at Caulfield Racecourse in the latest twist to its decade-long search for a new home.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Demons have binned plans to construct a facility on the south-western wedge of the Caulfield precinct in favour of a new area in the south-eastern corner of the reserve.

Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse.

The club is desperate for a new headquarters to help restore its reputation as a destination club for new recruits amid increasing frustrations about the shared arrangement between AAMI Park, the MCG and Casey Fields which splits up club staff, players and coaches.

In September last year, Melbourne publicly released designs for a new training and administration facility on the south-western side alongside Booran Rd which would be connected to two ovals on the inside of the track as well as community sporting facilities.

But those plans have been secretly pushed aside after the club was surprised by the potential $195 million sale of a parcel of adjoining land to Mt Scopus Memorial College which has complicated matters.

In recent months, Melbourne has since quietly set its sights on a new area and new plans in the south-eastern corner of the precinct close to Neerim Road and Queens Ave.

The club would not comment on the site switch on Monday as it strives to maintain support from key stakeholders for the major project which remains about four or five years away at best.

The club is hopeful the new site will deliver a bigger and better result for the Demons, but the overall project still hinges on receiving significant financial support from the cash-strapped State Government.

Melbourne’s new facility is tipped to cost between $80 – $100 million which could be split 50-50 between the club’s own cash reserves (and donor pledges), and government money.

Artists' impression of the Melbourne Football Club plans for new headquarters at Caulfield racecourse.

But it remains a difficult time to secure funds for sporting projects, leaving the Demons at risk of being left behind by rivals across the country who have undergone significant upgrades in recent times.

Melbourne officials are firm in the belief they currently have the AFL’s worst facilities, but still overcame any disadvantage winning the 2021 premiership.

Club bosses remain confident the project will be ticked-off with strong AFL support in-line with rival club’s new facilities such as Hawthorn’s new home at Dingley and Western Bulldogs’ $78 million redevelopment at Whitten Oval.

Former chief executive Gary Pert, who remains as a consultant to the project, said last year a new “magnificent, state of the art” high performance centre was a much-needed development.

“We’re acknowledged at a government level and by the AFL that we’re clearly on the bottom of the ladder for facilities,” Pert said.

“If I was to talk to anyone at the AFL and say, ‘I’ll meet you tomorrow at the Melbourne footy club,’ basically you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about because we’re in three, four, five different locations.”

Melbourne training at Gosch’s Paddock. Picture: David Caird

Melbourne is hopeful its business case on the new site will be complete by the end of the year amid what the club says is broad support from local residents for the project.

However, Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga last year said some locals were against it due to the impact on a dog walking area.

“They (Demons) are also looking at using the inside (track) area for professional sporting fields … (but) we need to also remember and be conscious that it is a public reserve for the residents,” Kanga said.

“We, and me, personally use that dog park, and it is a very, very important aspect of community life.

“They don’t want to see it taken away, and neither do I.”

Melbourne is adamant there will be no impact to dog walking areas and will only improve community sporting facilities for residents.