News Home base: Caulfield

[Proper Gander]

They most probably don't want any training done during a race meeting, there are only 7 race meetings April, May & June club should be able to work around this.

Presumably the track is also used for training horses? I wouldn’t really know but I assume some of them need to practice running around in circles and not freaking out in that gate thing, especially as horses freak out at pretty much anything real or imaginary. How close are these ovals to the track? Also remembering the presence of some of our players who are well capable of hitting a horse rather than a forward.

It’s a hysterical idea though and I want it to happen.

 

[Fork n Hell]

Presumably the track is also used for training horses? I wouldn’t really know but I assume some of them need to practice running around in circles and not freaking out in that gate thing, especially as horses freak out at pretty much anything real or imaginary. How close are these ovals to the track? Also remembering the presence of some of our players who are well capable of hitting a horse rather than a forward.

It’s a hysterical idea though and I want it to happen.

no horses are trained out of Caulfield anymore, they shut down the training complex there last year. i think they still might do a few jumpouts and trials there though.

 

[Proper Gander]

Is there a reason why we can't develop the Gosch's paddock area? That would be ideal. I'm assuming there's too many parties that use it. Too costly etc.

I think there are some reasons. I’ll post them here so long as you understand that I’m following the lead of Theseventhhamster and basing this on conversation with someone who may or may not know their shit.

What I understand is that Gosch’s encompasses not just the oval where we often train but also the rectangular oval used by Victory / Storm and any other groups, elite sports or not, that overcome the hurdles to getting use of the space from time to time. And the whole area, including the bits where random dogs crap or crazy people attempt chin-ups on tree branches, is under the custody of a trust or some such. Olympic Park trust or something like that.

Melbourne’s idea was essentially to sheer off a small corner of local dog crapping area and build our own admin and training facilities, like gyms etc. on a very small area. And obviously take full time exclusive lease of the round oval.

It’s not the loveliest area ever, what with its proximity to Punt Road, but who cares. Richmond won three premierships recently with the traffic noise. It isn’t the silliest idea MFC have ever had.

Other than the challenges of a multi level bespoke club building on a small footprint, the really big challenge is to persuade the trust - Melbourne and Olympic Park trust I think (?) to permit this. Power groups all behave much the same way. They want to add to their hand, and not relinquish control of pretty much anything. It would take extraordinary measures ($$$$$$$$$$$) to get them to release that control - even on some kind of long-term lease basis. Like the Yarra Park plan, I don’t think Melbourne ever had confidence that the idea would bring fruit - they were spitballing and bringing their members along with the journey. I don’t mind that. Better than several years after where they discussed nothing other than cheer louder.

The Caulfield Racecourse plan almost seems just as crazy, but at least they are bringing their members along for the ride. At least they are disclosing their wilder ideas to the people who are paying for the feasibility studies etc. Also the training ground bordered by a race track is pretty wild and I’ll jump on board with the narrative just to see where it goes. However loony, it seems a better bet then a small club prising out a corner of Gosches

 

[Crusty Demon]

I think there are some reasons. I’ll post them here so long as you understand that I’m following the lead of Theseventhhamster and basing this on conversation with someone who may or may not know their shit.

What I understand is that Gosch’s encompasses not just the oval where we often train but also the rectangular oval used by Victory / Storm and any other groups, elite sports or not, that overcome the hurdles to getting use of the space from time to time. And the whole area, including the bits where random dogs crap or crazy people attempt chin-ups on tree branches, is under the custody of a trust or some such. Olympic Park trust or something like that.

Melbourne’s idea was essentially to sheer off a small corner of local dog crapping area and build our own admin and training facilities, like gyms etc. on a very small area. And obviously take full time exclusive lease of the round oval.

It’s not the loveliest area ever, what with its proximity to Punt Road, but who cares. Richmond won three premierships recently with the traffic noise. It isn’t the silliest idea MFC have ever had.

Other than the challenges of a multi level bespoke club building on a small footprint, the really big challenge is to persuade the trust - Melbourne and Olympic Park trust I think (?) to permit this. Power groups all behave much the same way. They want to add to their hand, and not relinquish control of pretty much anything. It would take extraordinary measures ($$$$$$$$$$$) to get them to release that control - even on some kind of long-term lease basis. Like the Yarra Park plan, I don’t think Melbourne ever had confidence that the idea would bring fruit - they were spitballing and bringing their members along with the journey. I don’t mind that. Better than several years after where they discussed nothing other than cheer louder.

The Caulfield Racecourse plan almost seems just as crazy, but at least they are bringing their members along for the ride. At least they are disclosing their wilder ideas to the people who are paying for the feasibility studies etc. Also the training ground bordered by a race track is pretty wild and I’ll jump on board with the narrative just to see where it goes. However loony, it seems a better bet then a small club prising out a corner of Gosches

Thanks for that PG.

BTW, how embarrassing for us that we're in this position where we are all praying that we can land a base in the middle of a horse track. Thank f* for that flag, because it really has been amateur hour since the mid 60s for us hant it lol

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Thanks for that PG.

BTW, how embarrassing for us that we're in this position where we are all praying that we can land a base in the middle of a horse track. Thank f* for that flag, because it really has been amateur hour since the mid 60s for us hant it lol

For my part, I didn't mean to piss in anyone's cornflakes, it's just that, well, we're trying to build a training base in the middle of a racetrack.

It's literally just some peanuts who were at the races and thought, "**** it, this looks mostly free, we could use it!"

 

[Proper Gander]

Thanks for that PG.

BTW, how embarrassing for us that we're in this position where we are all praying that we can land a base in the middle of a horse track. Thank f* for that flag, because it really has been amateur hour since the mid 60s for us hant it lol

It’s been special.

One of the reasons I mostly like Melbourne supporters is that we are so used to this world where life just takes the piss every weekend in the winter season. And most have adapted to see the funny side.

Successful teams breed complacent supporters with dull posts. I’d rather be the Chief idiot an a town comprising idiots.

Which reminds me, I’m going to go vote before the cut off on Sunday

 

[Proper Gander]

For my part, I didn't mean to piss in anyone's cornflakes, it's just that, well, we're trying to build a training base in the middle of a racetrack.

It's literally just some peanuts who were at the races and thought, "**** it, this looks mostly free, we could use it!"

Oh yes. It’s nuts and I don’t think it will happen.

It’s only a half-step away from the utter implausibility of the Yarra Park plan (hilarious). And only a few steps more plausible than my great idea to move the Shine just a bit, claim some of the Botanical Gardens and build there. I should have shared this idea with Jessica

 

[markm106]

Reality is we have nowhere to build that’s within a reasonable area for fans and players. It sounds a bit strange to put in the middle of a race track but the plans look pretty good if we can get it going.

 

[Crusty Demon]

It’s been special.

One of the reasons I mostly like Melbourne supporters is that we are so used to this world where life just takes the piss every weekend in the winter season. And most have adapted to see the funny side.

Successful teams breed complacent supporters with dull posts. I’d rather be the Chief idiot an a town comprising idiots.

Which reminds me, I’m going to go vote before the cut off on Sunday

The Melbourne supporter at any party is always the quietest when it comes to talking footy. Not sure what it is. We just don't have much to puff the chest out over. I found out a close mate was a Dees supporter years after first meeting him lol. I like to think of us as just being more humble.

 

[mrmonkey]

The Melbourne supporter at any party is always the quietest when it comes to talking footy. Not sure what it is. We just don't have much to puff the chest out over. I found out a close mate was a Dees supporter years after first meeting him lol. I like to think of us as just being more humble.

I met this dude was a massive dees fan. He was wearing a dees polo top when I met him circa 2011 when we were a promising team but still shit, but pre 186. I said to him 'ay a dees man'. He said to me almost in a sheepish way 'yeah, who do you barrack for?' I said 'the dees', it was almost like a relief/shock for him because I wasn't going to give him shit.

 

[Crimson Azure]

Who paid the guy to burn the place down? Genius move!