Melbourne Demons given 60-day deadline to prove they can fund Caulfield home base

April 30, 2026 — 4:55pm

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The head of the government-appointed trust that manages the site proposed for Melbourne Football Club’s Caulfield Racecourse development has criticised the Demons for wanting to build a “Taj Mahal” home base with a “budget for a granny flat”.

This masthead can reveal the Demons have been given a 60-day deadline to prove they can fund the $100 million training centre or the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust will look for alternative tenants.

This follows the shock dismissal of Melbourne chief executive Paul Guerra on Tuesday after only seven months in the job.

Guerra, who previously headed the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was seen as a key figure in the Demons’ search for a new training and administration centre because of his state government connections and his role as a Racing Victoria board member.

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Melbourne president Steven Smith was asked about the status of the Caulfield plans after the Guerra axing on Wednesday.

“We’re getting very close on Caulfield; we’re confident on Caulfield,” said Smith, who also announced the appointment of a new club CEO, Dan Taylor.

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However, trust chairman Sam Almaliki told this masthead the onus was on Melbourne to deliver a commitment of “funding to the project”.

“The one critical piece that is beyond the trust’s role and responsibility in this is the funding required to make the project a reality,” Almaliki said.

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“The critical vitamin that’s missing is ‘vitamin M’ [money], and Melbourne have not been able to deliver that to date.

“The truth is, they’ve tried to build the Taj Mahal, and so far they’ve only got budget for a granny flat.”

A source familiar with the situation, who declined to be named because the process is confidential, said Melbourne’s memorandum of understanding with the racecourse trust was extended until June 30 this year “for Melbourne to make sure that the project is feasible and that it’s got the financial backing”.

This masthead reported in June last year that Melbourne was expected to provide $15 million from cash reserves and $15 million in a fundraising drive, but needed to convince the state and federal governments and the AFL to contribute the remaining $70 million.

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A Melbourne Racing Club source told this masthead the racing club (which runs the track) had been dealing with the Melbourne board and not Guerra for some time, but they did not have an issue with the former CEO.

The MRC insider, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said the racing club could not see a future in which the Demons had a home base at Caulfield.

A separate racing industry source, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said Racing Victoria’s views were aligned with Melbourne Racing Club – that it preferred a minimal disruption to racing, and that sites other than Caulfield were preferable for Melbourne Football Club to establish a new base.

The Demons had requested a longer extension to the MOU with the trust, but that was denied.

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“From the trust’s perspective, if the Demons in working with government and other stakeholders cannot demonstrate that Caulfield is feasible and has the financial backing needed, this project is dead in its tracks,” a source said.

In response to questions about the Caulfield deadline, Melbourne said they were working closely with government and key stakeholders to build a new training and administration facility.

“We are excited about what lies ahead and the opportunity this project presents for the club and wider community,” a club spokesperson said.

But the Demons did not answer questions about how they would fund their new home.

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Almaliki, who has been chair since the trust’s inception in 2018, wrote to Premier Jacinta Allen this week, reinstating the trust’s commitment to the project and welcoming its prioritisation by the government.

“The trust continues to collaborate with the Melbourne Football Club, the state government, the Melbourne Racing Club and other stakeholders to deliver a training and administration facility for the Demons at Caulfield,” he said.

“Our commitment has not changed and has been consistent. It is now up to all other parties to deliver, to make this happen. That includes the Melbourne Football Club as the party that is looking to call Caulfield home.”

Almaliki would not comment on Guerra’s role while at the Demons or on the club’s decision to move him on.

He said it was the trust, with support from the previous Melbourne Racing Club administration, who first approached the Demons about relocating to Caulfield.

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“The trust’s interest is in delivering community benefit through improved access and activity at Caulfield for everyone,” he said.

“Throughout the journey, we’ve taken every opportunity to remove any obstacles in the way of making this possible.

“The one outstanding component that nobody has been able to deliver is a commitment of funding to the project. And really the onus rests on the Demons to deliver that. Everything else can be worked through.”

The source said the trust asked the Demons and then CEO Gary Pert late in 2024 to start building football fields inside the racecourse to show their commitment to the project, and to prove their intent to potential donors.

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More:

AFL 2026

Melbourne Demons

Victorian racing

Danny Russell is a racing writer for The Age.

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