MELBOURNE expects to finalise plans for a new training base within its heartland by the end of this season.
The Demons are exploring a number of different options for a new facility they hope will be in place by the time their current five-year agreement at AAMI Park expires in 2020.
The club remained tight-lipped on potential venues, but said an ideal situation saw it avoid large-scale facilities like Essendon's in Tullamarine and Hawthorn's vision for Dingley.
"All going well, we hope we can land on a preferred option sometime during this year," CEO Peter Jackson told AFL.com.au.
"If we have our preferred choice, we'd like to be around here somewhere (Melbourne Park precinct).
"We hope that's possible. At this stage we're not looking at far-away places with large open land banks.
"We're looking more around here to stay connected to what is our spiritual home, which would be a different type of facility on that basis."
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Currently the Demons' football department is based at AAMI Park, players training at Gosch's Paddock, with all administrative staff at the MCG.
"Being under one roof is highly desirable but there's two main issues for us," Jackson said.
"That's security of tenure and going forward for the next 25-50 years, the second one is earning a commercial return out of the facility.
"We think we're at a competitive disadvantage at the moment with the costs for our facility."
It is believed fellow AAMI Park tenants Melbourne Storm (rugby league), Melbourne Victory (soccer) and Melbourne Rebels (rugby union) would explore the chance for more space should the Demons depart.
The search for a new home comes as Melbourne finally welcomes increased on-field expectations.
"It's not finals or bust, but as Simon Goodwin said, it's good to have expectations at last," Jackson said.
"We haven't had some for so long, so we welcome some expectations. It's no secret we'd like to play finals this year."
The Demons play 11 matches at the MCG, the third most of any club behind Richmond and Collingwood.
Jackson was hopeful the MCG's 80m exclusion zone for public parking and complete bans for blockbusters such as the Demons' Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond wouldn't hinder fans attending.
"I don't know how that will affect crowds, I hope everyone learns how to catch public transport and public transport can keep up with the crowds," he said.
Melbourne hosts two of the five matches scheduled for complete parking bans – the Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond in round five and the round 12 Queen's Birthday fixture against Collingwood.
