Melbourne Football Club training oval receives funding for major upgrades

The Melbourne Football Club training oval at Gosch’s Paddock will be redeveloped to align with the standards of other AFL clubs, with the Victorian government joining with the AFL and Melbourne in funding the project.

Larger dimensions and new surface area will also benefit the entire community with the Olympic Boulevard oval available for public recreation all year round when not in use by professional clubs.

Victorian Minister of Tourism, Sports and Major Events Martin Pakula confirmed the state government’s contribution of $ 2 million to the redevelopment of the Gosch Paddock Oval, with AFL and Melbourne combining to contribute $ 1 million.

Minister Pakula said: “The remade oval will be a victory for the many community members who use the area year round for running, walking, throwing a Frisbee and having fun.

“This means the Melbourne women’s and men’s teams will have a tied oval with other Victorian AFLW / AFL teams – and that’s good for football.”

The oval is currently shorter and narrower than the MCG, where the AFL Demons team play the majority of their home games.

This project will increase the dimensions of the oval to better match the measurements of the MCG and Marvel Stadium and create a surface that meets AFL / AFLW standards. Lighting will be improved and nets behind the goals and camera posts will be installed.

Thorough pre-planning enabled the reconfiguration to be carried out without loss of trees. Work is scheduled to begin this month and be completed before the start of the 2022 AFL Premiership season.

The Victorian government funded a series of facility upgrades at AFL training bases, many providing improved facilities for elite players and all providing significant benefits to the community.

These include major works at Kardinia Park in Geelong, Princes of Carlton Park, Western Bulldogs’ Whitten Oval, St Kilda’s Moorabbin Oval, Tullamarine Base in Essendon, Headquarters from Arden Street in North Melbourne, to the Punt Road Oval in Richmond and to the AFLW House in Victoria Park in Collingwood.

Melbourne Football Club Managing Director Gary Pert said “with our AFL and AFLW programs playing their home games on larger ovals – the MCG and Casey Fields – this upgrade will be essential in enabling our coaches to perform drills that mimic match day conditions “.

AFL Managing Director Gillon McLachlan thanked the Victorian government for its continued partnership and support, adding “from the community level to the elite, they continue to make football more accessible to all.”

Image courtesy of Melbourne Football Club

Related Articles

August 8, 2017 – Melbourne Football Club partners with SportsHosts to boost fan engagement

July 1, 2021 – Victoria regional venues see prospects for hosting AFL Premiership matches

July 31, 2021 – AFL and NRL games canceled as instant lockdown is introduced in South East Queensland

July 30, 2021 – AFL community returns to Victoria

July 28, 2021 – No crowds allowed at AFL games in Victoria despite easing of COVID-19 lockdown

July 23, 2021 – Vicsport’s partnership with AFL SportsReady creates more job opportunities

July 16, 2021 – Victoria Records Two New Cases of COVID-19 Linked to AFL Game at MCG

July 6, 2021 – Steve Hocking leaves AFL House to become general manager of the Geelong Cats

June 30, 2021 – State lockdowns see 18 AFL clubs move to Victoria

June 19, 2021 – ‘MCG of the Desert’ hosts its first competitive AFL game

June 16, 2021 – COVID-19 lockdown sees AFL move games from Melbourne to Tasmania

June 9, 2021 – Former AFL club executive appointed new CEO of Netball Australia

June 7, 2021 – AFL hits Adelaide Crows with $ 50,000 fine over violation of COVID-19 protocols

June 4, 2021 – “Social impact” identified as key factor for proposed AFL Northern Territory club

June 2, 2021 – AFL clubs unhappy with new League sponsorship rules

May 29, 2021 – AFL Western Bulldogs Reach Australia First Shirt Sponsorship Agreement With Cryptocurrency Company

May 28, 2021 – Victorian COVID lockdown forces AFL to change weekend game plans

May 25, 2021 – AFL appoints John Holland to undertake site and enclosure upgrade at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne

May 21, 2021 – Concepts Unveiled for AFLNT’s New Darwin Stadium Plan

May 17, 2021 – Construction begins on new AFLW Brisbane Lions stadium

May 6, 2021 – AFL clubs reach one million members by 2021

May 2, 2021 – Coronavirus fears see fans excluded from AFL Western Derby at Optus Stadium in Perth

April 19, 2021 – AFLW’s 2021 season sees continued growth

April 17, 2021 – Therabody Announced as Official AFL Recovery Partner

April 7, 2021 – AFLW Grand Final to be hosted as a standalone event with MCG as a possible venue

March 20, 2021 – Colin Carter appointed to review Tasmania case for AFL team

March 17, 2021 – Marvel Stadium to sell $ 2 pies in the first and second rounds of the AFL season

March 16, 2021 – Quayclean prepares venues for the 2021 AFL season with comprehensive hygiene regimes

March 11, 2021 – AFL aim for the return of the 2021 Grand Final as a full-capacity daytime match at the MCG

March 2, 2021 – Queensland government and AFL launch $ 8 million partnership to support community facilities and participation

March 1, 2021 – AFL Tasmania announces new model for women’s competition

February 26, 2021 – MCG to welcome 50,000 fans for AFL season opener

Ask for a little favor
We hope you enjoy the news we publish so while you are here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish on www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free to you, with no pay walls or annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask you to support us by subscribing to the print version? Australian Leisure Management magazine – if you don’t already.

Published bimonthly since 1997, the print Australasian recreation management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical articles covering water sports, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and management sites.

Subscriptions cost just $ 90 per year.

Click here register.