Opinion What was the most hostile Victorian suburban ground in the old days?

[MCG-Unit]

Victoria Park

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

If you were PM it wasn’t Princes Park

 

[iameviljez]

If you were PM it wasn’t Princes Park

Liberal Party royalty only...

 

[Sphynx]

The old fella has told me stories about Moorabbin - in particular the away change rooms and the race leading out the ground. Use to be called the animal cage or something? Basically just a chain link fence/tunnel type deal that separated the players from all the ferals.

The animal enclosure

 

[Truetiger]

Victoria Park.

From the stories and videos I have seen absolutely,Never got to witness it live

 

[Robroy22]

Vicky Park certainly had an aura about it and opposition sides rarely left there with a win (Fitzroy had an enviable record in the 80's and '90's) but most suburban grounds had their feral supporters and made life in the outer a lesson in diplomacy ( if not survival).
Windy Hill was unpleasant particularly when Des Tuddenham went there as coach, Sheedy's mob were also pretty easily riled. Princess Park with it's mix of Lygon Street and Liberal Politicians was always fun but Moorabbin always gave me the creeps. It was always WINDY and cold at Moorabbin and the centre was always a mudheap. Kardinia Park always reminded me of the MCG members and the Dee's in the 50's. They all wore their blazers and looked like they'd just come in from a foxhunt, classic Western District stock.

Glenferrie Oval was the original dungheap, Kennedy loved it that way as it brought other sides back to his Hawks skill set and then there was the old Lake Ground at South Melbourne which was a lovely ground to play on or to watch footy at but like all the old cricket grounds it had picket fencing and blokes quite often ended up getting knocked into the pickets! They played night footy at the Lake Ground in the 60's but the lights really only illuminated the middle 3rd of the ground so half the time the ball went missing in the dark!

Aeden Street was just another suburban ground, sides didn't mind it too much because they used to win pretty easily out there but the Western Oval was a mongrel of a ground to play if there was a wind (usually either North or South) because it blew straight down the middle of the ground.

Personally I hated Moorabbin the most because I was there when Johnny Greening was king hit and that still gauls me to this day. The crowd became incensed after the initial shock and StKilda people were unable to process what they'd seen as well. I don't know how the Police (on horseback) kept the crowd under control but they did and play recommenced.....but that ground always haunted me after that day.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

The old fella has told me stories about Moorabbin - in particular the away change rooms and the race leading out the ground. Use to be called the animal cage or something? Basically just a chain link fence/tunnel type deal that separated the players from all the ferals.

Moorabbin was the only ground my old man outright refused to take me to, "they are animals" he'd say with a troubled look on his face

On SM-A225F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Not sure if it's "hostile" but Kardinia Park for decades opposition teams have struggled at, going back to the 80s. Not Victoria, but the SCG is probably the other stadium opposition teams really struggle to win at.

 

[Mr Meow]

It's kind of hard to tell, because in the modern era... frankly, we have been pretty good, and the interstate sides and smaller Vic teams (who we host at KP) have been a bit ordinary.

Exactly.

Being excellent at and away from KP has been Geelong's biggest advantage this century. Not that the venue one day magically gave the side a capacity to lift its win rate at all stadiums and become a successful club.

And that's a good point with your latter statement. How many premiers have Geelong even hosted in Geelong over the past 15 or so years? We are much more likely to host bottom 4 teams. All the strong MCG teams we play at the G. Then the interstate sides have been shocking travellers.

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

Vicky Park certainly had an aura about it and opposition sides rarely left there with a win (Fitzroy had an enviable record in the 80's and '90's) but most suburban grounds had their feral supporters and made life in the outer a lesson in diplomacy ( if not survival).
Windy Hill was unpleasant particularly when Des Tuddenham went there as coach, Sheedy's mob were also pretty easily riled. Princess Park with it's mix of Lygon Street and Liberal Politicians was always fun but Moorabbin always gave me the creeps. It was always WINDY and cold at Moorabbin and the centre was always a mudheap. Kardinia Park always reminded me of the MCG members and the Dee's in the 50's. They all wore their blazers and looked like they'd just come in from a foxhunt, classic Western District stock.

Glenferrie Oval was the original dungheap, Kennedy loved it that way as it brought other sides back to his Hawks skill set and then there was the old Lake Ground at South Melbourne which was a lovely ground to play on or to watch footy at but like all the old cricket grounds it had picket fencing and blokes quite often ended up getting knocked into the pickets! They played night footy at the Lake Ground in the 60's but the lights really only illuminated the middle 3rd of the ground so half the time the ball went missing in the dark!

Aeden Street was just another suburban ground, sides didn't mind it too much because they used to win pretty easily out there but the Western Oval was a mongrel of a ground to play if there was a wind (usually either North or South) because it blew straight down the middle of the ground.

Personally I hated Moorabbin the most because I was there when Johnny Greening was king hit and that still gauls me to this day. The crowd became incensed after the initial shock and StKilda people were unable to process what they'd seen as well. I don't know how the Police (on horseback) kept the crowd under control but they did and play recommenced.....but that ground always haunted me after that day.

Love the round the grounds commentary here.

Was intrigued to see most of the old VFL home grounds’ record attendances were in the 40,000s, usually back in the 1960s. Interestingly Moorabbin’s was second highest in the league at 51K v Collingwood one day. Princes Park was top at over 60K for a GF back in the 40s (I’m not including the MCG and VFL Park as standard ‘home grounds’ here).

Did anyone go the footy at The Junction Oval? Fitzroy were tenants there when I was a kid. What was it like? And might be stretching back too far but does anyone have any recall of going to either Glenferrie Oval or Punt Road on game day?

 

[JayJ20]

You might be surprised at the win/loss disparity Geelong have had at their home vs other grounds this century then. Some other Victorian clubs remain much bigger "home ground heroes" in the modern era.

Geelong also doesn't get to play finals at that venue, and is capped at 9 games per season there. So overall a relative disadvantage.

They've won 4 grand finals this century involving zero games at their home ground nonetheless.

10 games now, which is one away from Interstate teams during the H/A season.

Marvel tenants also don't get to play finals at their home ground without the home ground advantage Geelong enjoys.

 

[Mr Meow]

10 games now, which is one away from Interstate teams during the H/A season.

10 is better than what its typically been. Our average this century would be much closer to 8 (including after finals). Most teams that play 3 finals would have 13 games at their preferred venue by the end of the season. 14+ for the MCG teams. So to have an average close to 8 is a disadvantage. 10 at least starts bridging that gap, but the finals discrepancy is here to stay.

Luckily Geelong has improved its away record simply by being a better run organisation this century.

 

[DidakDelight]

Being someone in my 30's and living in WA I'd have no idea about hostile suburban grounds in Victoria, but one memory for me is seeing Darren Milburn lay Stephen Silvagni the f*ck out at Princes Park and the whole Carlton crowd wanted his head and blood. That was pretty crazy.

Silvagni took some short steps that day

 

[Cyclops]

Vic Park. An ex player told me the Collingwood supporters clustered around the race and spat kn him and his team mates as they left the ground.

The racist incidents are well known. I was there for McAdams 9 goal game.

A rekative of my, a Swan, was taken into the Social club by family friends to see South get demolished. 6 years old she was. She piped up a little cheer for a rare Swans goal and a Collingwood member took offense. He hit her on the head with his umbrella and knocked her unconcious. The family of course looked after her, took her to the ambulance...but they waited until quarter time.

My one time in the Social club I saw several fights, and a 70 year old tried to fight me my cousin, and everyone else. Never went back. The rumours were all true, and twice as true about the Social Club.

Some of the aggression was perfornative: when Mick Malthouse brought the Eagles to Vic Park he coolly strolled around the pitch before the game pretending not to notice the howling. Karl Langdon fumbled in the warm up: how we bayed! Poor fellow blushed to his ankles and played a shocker, the crowd had played its part in a big win.

Crows first visit was the same story. Both times the few visiting fans who dared attend were patted on the back and wished well, at least at the Dights Falls end.

My claim to fame was barracking Tony Campbell (Footscray, from Melbourne) about his hair, something anout a horses arse being involved in slicking it back. He looked annoyed, and I'm sure that contributed to Sav Rocca slotting 4 (of 10) in the first quarter on him and getting him dragged.

Western Oval was strangely quiet the one time I went there.

Moorabbin stank, and the Saints fans were as feral as us Pies. Horrible place.

Kardinia Park was nice. The Cats could give and take a bit of chat. Brownless put us out of the finals that day.

 

[iameviljez]

Vic Park. An ex player told me the Collingwood supporters clustered around the race and spat kn him and his team mates as they left the ground.

Best to just assume it was only spit, too.

 

[iameviljez]

Honestly, reading this thread... I know it's not the whole story, but it really puts a lot of the "good old days" per se into perspective.

 

[Jane Doe]

Victoria Park hands down. Went there a few times. Won the reserves game and got told in uncertain terms to put my jacket on to hide my hawthorn jumper and to not say a word for the rest of the day

 

[fake tyrone]

I lived near Moorabbin and as a lad I went there a lot.

It was feral. The worst was an old lady in the outer with an umbrella who stood on a box or something, waving an umbrella and accompanied by her son.

I could always swear with the best of them (and got on the wrong end of the Bentleigh Bashers because of it) but she came up with words and phrases and vitriol I could never have dreamed of.

Happy times. I loved the ground and was disappointed when it got shut down.

Who were the Bentleigh Bashers? Sounds like one of those football firms you hear about from England in the 70s.

Also, I love hearing these stories. I was born after suburban grounds were pretty much discontinued and have basically only been to the MCG, Marvel, Kardinia, and Carrara.

 

[Robroy22]

Love the round the grounds commentary here.

Was intrigued to see most of the old VFL home grounds’ record attendances were in the 40,000s, usually back in the 1960s. Interestingly Moorabbin’s was second highest in the league at 51K v Collingwood one day. Princes Park was top at over 60K for a GF back in the 40s (I’m not including the MCG and VFL Park as standard ‘home grounds’ here).

Did anyone go the footy at The Junction Oval? Fitzroy were tenants there when I was a kid. What was it like? And might be stretching back too far but does anyone have any recall of going to either Glenferrie Oval or Punt Road on game day?

I've attended games at the Junction when Ian McOrist kicked 6 on debut (or was it his second game?) and the famous VFA final there when Frosty Miller kicked a goal from a free before the game had even started! Also played and attended games at the old Brunswick Street Oval (Fitzroy's old ground).

Glenferrie had weird almost square pockets but it was mostly just a mud heap all year round!

 

[theprospector]

Vic Park and second isn't particularly close.

 

[Wallaby]

Did anyone go the footy at The Junction Oval? Fitzroy were tenants there when I was a kid.

Went to the Junction Oval a few times in the 70s (had a Fitzroy mate). Beautiful ground. Lovely atmosphere - all those artists and TV wannabees in the crowd from St Kilda town.

I always thought Princes Park was a bit tame. Ditto Geelong - they treated you like an overseas visitor down at Kardinia Park - no malice - just 'nice to see you - yes, it is a long drive back - particularly after you just lost'.

Moorabbin was more like a zoo of strange animals rather than actually dangerous. I liked it. The Western Oval was like a big country town ground, the one time I went.

Windy Hill, Vic Park - yeah, as described above.

 

[Sttew]

Depends what's worse. Standing in the outer and getting pi55ed on your shoes by a Pies supporter who couldn't be bothered going to the urinal at Vic Park, or having a knitting needle poked in your backside by a Saint supporting granny at Moorabbin

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

Those who didn't put Moorabbin clearly didn't go there very often.

The last time I went was with 4 Hawthorn supporting Police Officers, and even with those boys, we nearly got filled in by the thugs in the animal enclosure.

Muddy, smelt of piss and an amazing ability to house the most accurate aluminium can throwers in the world.

Moorabbin is the only place in the world where if you got hit in the head with a full aluminium can of beer, you could be certain the thrower would come down and ask for it back.

How people didn't get killed there,remains a mystery to this day.



Oh, and the old ladies, who's language would make a Painter and Docker blush.

Moorabbin, hands down.

 

[Pistol Night]

Depends what's worse. Standing in the outer and getting pi55ed on your shoes by a Pies supporter who couldn't be bothered going to the urinal at Vic Park, or having a knitting needle poked in your backside by a Saint supporting granny at Moorabbin

Why not just watch half a game of each and experience both. Or doubled down and done a shit on his. Fight fire with fire

 

[Pistol Night]

Sounds like Collingwood and St Kilda took out their premiership droughts by turning into grumpy flogs in the 70s and 80s. Imagine if Moorabbin was still in use now.