Change is afoot at Melbourne, and there’s more coming.
Former president Kate Roffey, who presided over the Demons’ 2021 premiership, stepped down from the role following a disastrous radio interview in which she admitted she hadn’t spoken to Christian Petracca about his future.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Melbourne players raise concern over Casey facility.
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Petracca, arguably the Demons’ best player, has effectively forced Melbourne’s hand to make change after he sensationally refused to deny reports he wanted out of the club, despite being bound by a long-term and lucrative contract.
The 2021 Norm Smith medallist has been disgruntled with the club over its handling of his life-threatening spleen injury on King’s Birthday against Collingwood, and a dwindling level of professionalism since the drought-breaking premiership.
Former Demons president Joe Gutnick has even suggested that coach Simon Goodwin should follow Roffey out the door to make a clean slate.
CEO Gary Pert’s position has also come under scrutiny in recent weeks, and the veteran football executive has faced criticism since declaring in October last year that Melbourne’s culture was the best he had seen in 40 years.
Regardless, there has been an external review commissioned to identify any remaining shortcomings at the club.
7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary said one thing certain to come up in the review was the Demons’ multiple training facilities.
“Keen to see what the players and the club put forward as part of this review. One is around the Casey facility,” Cleary said on Talking Footy.
“The players drive out to Casey twice a week at least, as part of training. It’s an hour out of the CBD of Melbourne, and I understand a lot of players have concerns with the fact they have to go out there.”
The Demons currently split their time between Casey Field and Gosch’s Paddock at AAMI Park.
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Plans are in place to explore a potential move to Caulfield Racecourse though, with a feasibility study launched last December.
“And still there’s no great movement on this Caulfield facility,” Cleary said.
“They’re doing the feasibility study, the word around Melbourne is they are confident it’s heading in the right direction, but still it’s going to take 18 months of planning, and then at least another 18 months, two years of actually building the thing.
“There are players at the footy club for the next four, five years that may not have a permanent facility. They split their time between AAMI Park and Casey.
“It does cause headaches for a lot of players.”