Melbourne makes progress on plans for new home base at Caulfield Racecourse

Melbourne will move its football program to Casey Fields to make room for teams competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. And the Dees have their eyes on a long-term fix.

Melbourne has pressed ahead with plans to build a new training and administrative base at Caulfield Racecourse in a bid to finally bring the club under one roof.

The Demons have hit major hurdles across multiple sites over the past five years but have made progress in their attempts to be part of a massive redevelopment at Caulfield.

But the project could still hinge on the community facilities and access for locals as Melbourne attempts to secure significant State Government funding for the project.

Melbourne has had to move its entire football program from AAMI Park to Casey Fields for the next month to make room for teams competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Melbourne is hoping to be part of a major redevelopment of Caulfield Racecourse. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Demons are on the clock to begin works on their new home base after setting a deadline for construction to start on a new headquarters by the end of 2023 as part of the club’s 2020-2023 strategic plan.

In that document the club said it would find a location “within walking distance” of its MCG home ground, but the club has since set its sights on areas further out to find a suitable area.

The club recently upgraded and increased the size of Gosch’s Paddock, but will be based at Casey Fields, where it also has full gym and training facilities 50 minutes’ drive from the MCG.

The Demons are desperate to move into a new state-of-the-art facility closer to the city, and have identified the makeover at Caulfield Racecourse as an ideal option.

There is a parcel of land which could be developed in conjunction with the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust, including significant space inside the two race tracks.

It is a top location for the Demons as Caulfield is in the heart of the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, only 20 minutes’ drive from the MCG.

Demons superstar Christian Petracca trains at Gosch’s Paddock. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A new home is the top strategic objective for the club, which believes it has among the worst facilities in the league compared to some of the new developments across the competition, including Carlton and Hawthorn’s new base at Dingley to be finalised next year.

The Demons have already tipped in as much as $17 million into upgrading their facilities at Gosch’s Paddock, AAMI Park and Casey Fields, with the administration currently based at the MCG.

The club would not comment on Wednesday about the work being undertaken on the Caulfield Racecourse site following a pre-season update to members about its desire to find a site.

There has also been significant assessment of sites adjoining AAMI Park including car parks E and F, which could be used to construct a multi-level facility.

The Demons currently share AAMI Park with Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory and have been frustrated by the knock-backs they have received in recent years, including on a proposed site at Yarra Park next to the MCG.