Footy grounds around Australia

[Tex_21]

Played at Queenstown in Tasmania about 40 years ago. No grass just stones. Very important not to get tackled.

Played in sleet and snow one day at Smythesdale in the juniors, the ground turned into enough of a bog, that it had bluestone gravel not far under the surface. Everyone came off with cut to shit legs etc. Then anytime it wasn't wet, was hard as a rock.

 

[The Coon Dog]

Ahhhh memories coondog......the guy selling peanuts was also at princes park and jeesus he could carry a big bag.

His name was John Boyd & his nephew is the current Western Bulldogs skipper.

 

[Silent Alarm]

A great thread. I'm really into the history and culture of old Australian footy grounds, so this is right up my alley.

I'm a big fan of the older, suburban grounds. It's to do with a childhood I never had. It's like a nostalgia for something I never experienced. Being seventeen, I've grown up going to the same few grounds. So the idea of going to all these different, rustic, probably shit grounds, is almost romantic for me.

I have to say, I find Etihad really, really great. I don't mind the inflated prices of a pie, because it's like that everywhere. There's barely a bad seat in the ground. And when there's a great match unfolding before you, with a packed stadium, it's an awesome experience. I don't resonate with those who find it 'soulless'.

In fact, we should be quite happy that all AFL games have character (except Metricon and Skoda, but they'll soon create history). Being a soccer fan, and someone interested in British soccer grounds and history, you realise this. The vast amounts of identical looking bowl grounds is absurd. We've avoided that. Each ground offers something different.

But as I saw this thread title, immediately, one place came to mind: Fremantle Oval. What do I like about it? I love how it's nestled between the hospital, how it hides between the markets and the parking bays. It's tucked away. If you were oblivious, you'd likely think there wasn't a ground there. But once entered, I like the old grandstand. I remember a few stories told from family members, which adds to the personal sentiment. Sitting there on a sun-soaked afternoon watching Souths play is relaxing. I believe going to the footy is therapeutic. Four quarters to forget your woes. You carry on and you feel elated come the siren, or deflation all game... Fremantle Oval not only offers that, but it too offers absolute enjoyment. A cheap arvo out. Yeah, my favourite club train there and my WAFL side play there, but it's still an oval full of personal fondness.

Afterwards you could get out on the ground & have a kick. Funny with all those balls being booted out there you never seemed to get hit.

This quote brings back a memory! It also creates a nice segue...

I think I only went to Princes Park once or twice. In about 1998 or 1999, I went to Melbourne (a regular occurrence). My dad, my Melburnian uncle, and a few of his mates all went down to Fremantle - Carlton. Freo came back toward the end of the fourth, and I remember thinking "these Blues fans are scared!". We didn't end up winning, which was of course unfortunate. After the game, we did the ceremonial thing - had a kick on the ground. I remember this bloke, in yellow glasses and a mustard beret, kicking a yellow Sherrin right into my five-year old face. I didn't cry and won some points for that. But I still remember looking at the curved Optus Oval roof as I fell to the ground.

But whenever I bring this up with my old man, he withholds that the bloke didn't even have glasses, nor a beret...

I absolutely love the suburb of Carlton. Princes Park sits in such a nice area, as its chastised by those endless parks. A real shame that I'm unable to ever see an AFL game there again.

Brunswick Street Oval seems lovely as well. I went there with my old man last year. The old bowls club right next door just added to that heritage and culture of the grandstand. I loved it.

 

[Rhayader]

Gardens Oval in Darwin... Mindil beach on one side, a postcard view over the trees to the Botanic Gardens on the other...

Would be great if it was still the main ground for the NTFL, but they built that expensive, soulless place out at Marrara, so I guess they gotta use it...

They had to use Gardens heavily in the first few rounds this season due to ground and drainage works at Marrara, it was a real treat to go there and watch those games...

Gardens is probably a bit small to safely cater for the bigger matches, but the atmosphere with a full house would be something else...

 

[PortBrillance]

Alberton Oval is pretty amazing.

Still have the traditional stand on the members wing.

Have good facilities on the outer for the away supporters. (Some ovals have almost nothing on the outer)

And the facilities in the Alan Scott Building are great for those who use them on matchday. Probably best in the SANFL.

This

Alberton

 

[Butts_JZZ30]

Norwood Parade!

 

[Jock]

Brunswick St is as picturesque setting I've seen in Melb. Yea for a country ground tops it and to the poster regarding the Gardens oval in Darwin I've been there too very nice setting. Mindle markets on sunset after a Sunday game there is magic.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

The G and Etihad obviously have their place but there are some fantastic suburban grounds around. Sadly you barely ever get big crowds at them any more, as that really adds to the atmosphere.

Have watched a couple of ammo games at Camberwell (the old VFA ground) and that always struck me as a really nice, picturesque ground in a nice location.

Of the remaining AFL grounds, Geelong is the best obviously.

There’s still a place and indeed a need for a ~30k stadium somewhere in inner suburbs of Melbourne for about 15 – 20 games a year. Shame it can’t happen.

 

[Dumpstar]

I miss all the old suburban grounds in Melbourne, can remember going to Vic Park, Waverley, Princes Park and the like when I was very young. At the time I thought footy would be like that forever.

Used to love going to Vic Park with my dad when he was trying to convert me to a Collingwood supporter. As others have said, it always seemed to be pretty run-down, I always used to think the wooden seats would break when I, and the rest of the crowd! sat on them. (I was 4 or 5 at the time)

Don't have many memories of Waverley one thing I can remember is going to a Collingwood v Hawthorn game there, on a shit day, shit view, shit weather and Buckley had about 50 posessions.

Can also remember kicking the footy on the grounds! It was so great being able to jump on the MCG after the game and being able to kick the footy, just like your heroes had done. You never lost your ball either!

 

[Stats Man]

what are the best and worst grounds in the local comps? and why?

also - it was quite sad to see waverley go. did anyone manage to buy or find any artifacts from there?

 

[Hill2Pav]

Without a doubt Fremantle Oval is the most loved stadium in WA, still has a heap of character. East Fremantle Oval go eat a bag of dicks, it was the first venue I ever went to and took forever on the bus from Rockingham...we (West Perth) were also taken to the cleaners by the Sharks featuring Peake, Mainwairing etc in 1985. I'll never forget the old Italians paying out on my brothers and I.

This.

Fremantle oval is brilliant, I am more a Souths supporter than a Fremantle Dockers supporter, and the ground is fantastic. Close to pubs, great condition, brilliant to have a beer, lunch and then walk 150 metres from the sail and anchor to the ground.

 

[tonk]

I live opposite the Peanut farm in St Kilda, pretty rough surface but the same dimensions as the M.C.G. and a magnificent view of Luna Park.

 

[Kurtley Beale]

Guess it counts but playing on Scotch's Main Oval is amazing.

 

[BluesMan]

People who say Fremantle Oval, have you played on it recently? I know I have, and It's horrendous! Terrible drainage, patchy every where, and is incredibly small. Sand on the near wing, just crap conditions in the winter (when mostly played on). Might be pretty good to watch from, but to play, no thanks.

Arena Joondalup, though new in terms of some grounds, it has brilliant grass cover, big space, and in perfect nic. Get down and have a look.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

People who say Fremantle Oval, have you played on it recently? I know I have, and It's horrendous! Terrible drainage, patchy every where, and is incredibly small. Sand on the near wing, just crap conditions in the winter (when mostly played on). Might be pretty good to watch from, but to play, no thanks.

Arena Joondalup, though new in terms of some grounds, it has brilliant grass cover, big space, and in perfect nic. Get down and have a look.

I don't think it's the surface people rave about on this thread it's the surroundings, stands etc.

The Arena might have the best surface but it's a horrible place to watch football and that's coming from a West Perth fan.

 

[blueboy25]

The Arena might have the best surface but it's a horrible place to watch football and that's coming from a West Perth fan.

As a fellow cardies fan I agree that the Arena is not a great place to watch footy especially in the middle of winter when the wind is freezing.

 

[BluesMan]

I don't think it's the surface people rave about on this thread it's the surroundings, stands etc.

The Arena might have the best surface but it's a horrible place to watch football and that's coming from a West Perth fan.

Fair enough, Just saw some posts on playing on certain venues.

As a fellow cardies fan I agree that the Arena is not a great place to watch footy especially in the middle of winter when the wind is freezing.

It gets incredibly cold, yes I agree
They want to make it better, but Venues West (owners of arena plus the ground) and West Perth are still butting heads about most things. Though, they are building a new gym for the players, about time too

 

[volcboy]

I always had a soft spot for footy grounds built near the ocean. I enjoyed going down to Sandringham to watch the VFL when I lived there - on the beach side of Beach Road, just next to the Sandy Yacht Club. A good place to watch the footy.

I enjoyed playing at Barwon Heads as a youngster - sandy soil, drained well, covered in thick grass year round. The fact I always seemed to play well there helped!

Other memorable grounds I've played on:

Queenscliffe - had a distinct slope, and when it was wet, the downhill end would be underwater from CHF while the uphill end was dry.

Modewarre - essentially a sheep paddock with posts. Very distinct slope from one end to the other. Played there one day in a gale with the wind blowing down hill. Saw players kicks actually do U-turns and go back over their heads. One point was kicked up hill/into the wind all day, with teams reduced to rugby-style running and kicking along the ground when going that way.

 

[Corrosion]

I grew up right across the road from the Narrandera Oval on Victoria Avenue in the Riverina of NSW. Sydney plys some pre season games there. Absolutely wonderful ground, great little grandstand and the playing surface is peach.

 

[bungareepremiers06]

There's a pearler of a ground in Noorat in country Vic. Kolora Noorat Power play out of there. Definatly one of the best grounds ive played on.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Melville Oval cnr canning hwy and stock rd Perth WA

Reason: Because oposition teams usually hated playing our ground due to its dimensions. Phych


Go the Rams

 

[simba_]

thread is a wake up call, our grounds are nothing but cold corporate entities

 

[Running Dog]

The turf wicket is on the oval next to the footy oval.

Ah yes, you're right, thanks.

Also, I recall a couple of games at North Hobart Oval, which also had a heritage grandstand. It was one of those postage stamp grounds squeezed in between subsequent developments, like Glenferrie. If you blinked you missed it, but the atmosphere was good. Fitzroy played a couple of games there in the early 90s.

 

[Silent Alarm]

My town has a few footy grounds, half near-derelict. My favourite is probably Collingwood Park -- home to North Albany, one of the oldest clubs in Western Australia. The ground is absolutely sublime, the turf a ripe green all year. There's one grandstand. Despite it's 1970's shell, it's nice and tidy and doesn't look trashy. The rest of the ground is surrounded by (again, pristine) green hills, with one side engulfed in overflowing greenery atop gravel. It's definitely a nice place. I always seemed to get a lot more touched there than I did at away grounds.

And some pretty funny moments unfolded at training there. They were my favourite country footy memories.

Yet my favourite is McLean Oval. Is it local? Not really. It's an hours drive, abouts. But my best footballing performance came at that ground. I was about 14 and I still remember running from ruck rover to about 30 from goal. I had about five bounces, and the ground was absolutely huge -- the fifty arc would've pushed 65. Two opposition players tugged the back of my jumper far too many times. That unmistakable adrenaline rush of "risk an embarrassing, greedy holding, or go all the way?". I went on and kicked one of the only goals of my High School footy days (I was always far too skinny, so would have to dish out handballs from the centre). The ground is absolutely surreal as well. The surface is flat. One side is traditional country bush. The other is this gigantic slope, at least 50 degrees. The dug outs are jarrah wood, and the clubrooms look half the size of the 'G. Very intimate.

 

[Bombers 2003]

1-Windy Hill
2-MCG
3-Etihad
4-SCG
5-Melton Park-though it lacks tree cover
6-Skilled Stadium
7- Port Melbourne
8-Albert Park Oval
9-The old fitzroy ground in Brunswick street
10-Fitzroy Street Ground
11-Riddell's creek footy ground
12-QEII(Bendigo)