MELBOURNE'S top off-field priority of building a training base to accommodate its football and administration staff under one roof is "not a pipe dream", chairman Glen Bartlett has declared.
The Demons have flagged the proposal of building a new headquarters next to the MCG and a training ground on Yarra Park as they position themselves to become a "big club".
When addressing a question at the annual general meeting at the MCG on Monday night, Bartlett reiterated the club's determination to make this happen.
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The chairman also revealed the club had explored other options in different parts of Melbourne, including Fishermen's Bend in Port Melbourne and Burnley, near Richmond.
A working group has been set up to explore all the available avenues and communicate with the different stakeholders.
"It's all about enhancing that area for the community and a proposed club, over the railway lines, so there would be no fencing or no structures in Yarra Park," Bartlett said.
"We've got a lot of work to do. We're consulting with a number of different groups, including East Melbourne resident's group [who are opposed to the development]. We've been listening and talking to a number of different people.
It isn't a pipe dream, it's not a waste of time. It's not a waste of money - Glen Bartlett
"It's our executive board's commitment to deliver a new club and facilities the best that we can for our club for now and for the future."
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Melbourne's five-year agreement to have the club's football facilities at AAMI Park is due to expire at the end of 2020 and recently appointed CEO Gary Pert affirmed in his presentation that following through on the plan would be top of the club's agenda.
Pert said the community aspect – locals and other people would have access to the proposed ground when Melbourne was not training – was one of the big appealing factors.
"Quite a few of the community groups and individuals are really excited by the possibilities. What they're saying is that this is an area where there's no flat ground," Pert said.
"The oval is literally going to be a flat section of ground. Quite a few people are saying this creates opportunity so we want to chat to you and understand everything because that makes it more usable for a whole lot of people."
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Meanwhile, Demons coach Simon Goodwin said the challenge of venturing so deep into September after a successful finals charge had been plain for all to see with a delayed start to this pre-season.
The fact that several senior players had post-season surgeries made life a little tougher and the coach stressed the importance of the sessions straight after Christmas as vital in how the team fared in 2019.
The Demons will head to Maroochydore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for a training camp in late January, as was the case last year, but Goodwin said the preparation would be "meticulous".
Goodwin also revealed the club's draftees, recruits and Category 'B' rookies lived with a senior player as they found their way in the first four weeks at the club are now living all together in a place in Kooyong for three weeks as part of their induction.
Star defender Neville Jetta, long-time board member David Thurin and head trainer John Stanaway were made life members of the club.
