What to do with the Junction Oval

[telsor]

I doubt it would be overly "specialised" as such.

Can't help thinking about the potential for us Roys to return to a redeveloped Junction Oval at some future stage

I doubt it. One of the attractions for Cricket is having a year round training facility.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

I think we're talking at cross purposes, perhaps.

Having a year-round training complex there wouldn't automatically preclude us playing league matches at the ground, I'd reckon.

But that's a possibility some way off at this point in any case.

 

[telsor]

I think we're talking at cross purposes, perhaps.

Having a year-round training complex there wouldn't automatically preclude us playing league matches at the ground, I'd reckon.

But that's a possibility some way off at this point in any case.

Perhaps a few games, although I suspect they'd have issues with playing a full season there, let alone training, and would probably want the pitches (center and net) ready for pre season practice by mid August.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Maybe so.

But hopefully it'd be a situation similar to Queensland Athletics at QE2 up here, as far as one or other football club using the ground over the course of their season.

 

[The_Wookie]

Ideally, Cricket want it for a year round facility and state level matches. To make it more cost effective the government would love to get an AFL team to base its training in there. Not really any good for matches. Maybe a HQ for umpiring (currently Princes Park IIRC)

However if the AFL really thought about it, they should throw some cash at it to make sure its a least 20-30k. At least then there are options for low drawing matches.

 

[Kwality]

A home for Victorian cricket is well overdue. Forget it as a venue for a crowd of 5k plus.

 

[mianfei]

It is interesting to speculate what would have happened if the league had not admitted St. Kilda (and common sense inasmuch as St. Kilda were too far from industrial patronage to ever be financially viable in the VFL before moving to Moorabbin).

• Would the Junction Oval have become the State’s main cricket venue (there were enough conflicts over the MCG in the early years of the VFL)
• Would the MCG, sans summer Test cricket, have not been developed to the same level as it is now??

 

[telsor]

It is interesting to speculate what would have happened if the league had not admitted St. Kilda (and common sense inasmuch as St. Kilda were too far from industrial patronage to ever be financially viable in the VFL before moving to Moorabbin).

• Would the Junction Oval have become the State’s main cricket venue (there were enough conflicts over the MCG in the early years of the VFL)
• Would the MCG, sans summer Test cricket, have not been developed to the same level as it is now??

In days gone by (until sports started to go fully professional), cricket was a far more equal partner, so your scenario is unlikely.

If it happened though, I imagine Cricket would have scored a more centrally located venue (they had lots of political power)...Maybe they would have pushed Richmond off Punt Road and played there, or perhaps Gosch's paddock.

 

[millsy29gopies]

It is interesting to speculate what would have happened if the league had not admitted St. Kilda (and common sense inasmuch as St. Kilda were too far from industrial patronage to ever be financially viable in the VFL before moving to Moorabbin).

• Would the Junction Oval have become the State’s main cricket venue (there were enough conflicts over the MCG in the early years of the VFL)
• Would the MCG, sans summer Test cricket, have not been developed to the same level as it is now??

I think it's fair to say that cricket has not been the driving force in redeveloping the MCG. Football has made the MCG what it is today. Olympics and Commonwealth games have helped but footy is the main thing.

 

[bomberman31]

would love to go to a cricket game at junction oval, the MCG is a dungeon to watch state cricket at!!! it would be good to see an AFL club train their , not so sure about games. NAB cup??

 

[La Vache]

I have fond memories of watching Rieffel, Fleming, Dodamaide, Deano, Ayres, Berry etc at the Junction in '91/92 with dad. I reckon the Vics won that season as well. Probably the only time I have taken a real interest in State cricket.

Maybe it was because I was only 11 but the standard seemed so high back then. Every match we'd be playing against world class cricketers and that summer we would just stroll 15 minutes down Brighton Road and sit in the sun watching. Dad brought his sketch book and would draw on and off all day. I'd try and yarn to the fielders on the fence.

I reckon I still have those sketch books somewhere so might try and dig them up.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

That is a much better way to watch state cricket, looks like a really relaxed and fun day out. MCG kills state cricket dead.

State cricket kills state cricket.

Hardly anybody attends it.

That photo is from a match featuring the 'World XI' of course.

 

[Perry Pie]

State cricket kills state cricket.

Hardly anybody attends it.

That photo is from a match featuring the 'World XI' of course.

I not surprised no one goes - its a horrible atmosphere. Would you take a customer there? Never, its just no fun.

Look at the photo, with half than many there it would have been a good day out. More people would go if it was played at a ground that was the right size and had the right facilities. A decent informal atmosphere would be so much better - some beer tents, deck chairs, BBQ catering would change it considerably (decent toilets too). Playing at the G has no soul when there is less than 20,000 people there.

 

[SJ]

I've been to the Junction a couple of times, most recently when Victoria won the Shield in 2009 but I also went a few years earlier when Warne played his first game back from suspension. He was batting and was in the runs, might have hit a half-century. His partner ran him out and he walked past me into the change rooms underneath the stand. He must have thrown his bat because there was an almighty crash that everyone heard, followed by profanities!

 

[finders]

The Junction Oval could be also used as a ground for the VFL ABC TV telecasts and finals.

The VFA used it for their finals from 1945 to 1987 and sometimes got 30,000 plus to their GFs thats when it had 4 grandstands that held 8000 +.

Unfortunately two of the stands were pulled down in the 1990s including the most modern the St Kilda Cricket Club stand