Waverely Park

[Henry Jr]

Does anyone remember what assistance if any we got financially from the AFL or Governments when we redeveloped the Waverely Park complex.

Seems both the doggies and now the roos are getting financial assistance from both the AFL and the Government.

This is not a kick "Roos and Doggies" thread but can someone explain whats the point of the Hawks doing their Tassie deal when they could of just sat on their hands here in Melbourne and cried poor?

[JiMaRaS]

I know we got assistance for moving to the MCG for a few years but im unsure as to whether we got assistance for the redevelopment from the AFL. From memory we were meant to assist MIRVAC with the commercial advertising of the Waverley Park area and in return they would redevelop the complex and hand it over for a measly dollar.

[Hawkk]

In fairness, the AFL did help with the push to get us to relocate to Waverley when the Victorian Government heritage listed the stand. In comparison look at the scant regard the AFL has given to Melbourne's plans to relocate to Casey.

The choice to relocate to the MCG or TD was HUGE for us. Unlike St Kilda, the Bulldogs and Kangaroos who were all pushed into signing poor stadium deals with the TD, we were given the opportunity to set roots at the MCG. I have no doubt that's a big factor why our membership and numbers at games have increased markedly in recent times compared to the clubs based at the Dome.

Don't get me wrong I think we've been dudded in recent years by the AFL, but at least we haven't been put under the same pressure North have in Carrara in recent times. If the AFL was pushing us to relocate to Tasmania, do you think the members would be as understanding of the Tasmanian games as they currently are?

For clubs that are trapped into playing large number of games at expensive stadiums that are too big for their support bases, their really isn't anywhere for them to go now the AFL scrapped Waverley Park, Princes Park and the MCG is filled to the brink with tenants.

These clubs shouldn't be going cap in hand to the AFL, but you can understand that the stadium deals in particular are circumstantial.