News We’re going to Dingleyland! Teams to move in mid 2025!

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[A Diakos]

Andy Gowers needs to be talking about this

 

[wahawk]

Andy Gowers needs to be talking about this

To who ?
You ?

Seriously, at this stage that sen grab means nothing. It’s a journo talking without any input from anyone else.

A bit like Harley Reid telling WCE he refuses to go there. Never happened, just dreamt up by a gutter licking scum journo

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Set backs and delays happen all the time. The Hawks wont be the first or last business to experience a set back or delay.

We will review, adjust and continue on with the build.

Must be a slow news day for the media.

 

[A Diakos]

To who ?
You ?

Seriously, at this stage that sen grab means nothing. It’s a journo talking without any input from anyone else.

A bit like Harley Reid telling WCE he refuses to go there. Never happened, just dreamt up by a gutter licking scum journo

To us the members yes

The journo has made some serious statements about the most significant project in clubs history

He absolutely needs to be communicating

 

[pattymalone00]

Need to pull the pin sooner rather than later if that is all true. Costs will have gone up 50% since we bought the land. We cannot risk getting ourselves into financial trouble. At least scale it right back. Forget the AFL ground - Box Hill is being upgraded in the summer of 24/25.

Isn’t the problem that box hill can only be used currently for half the aflw season due to cricket?

 

[A Diakos]

Set backs and delays happen all the time. The Hawks wont be the first or last business to experience a set back or delay.

We will review, adjust and continue on with the build.

Must be a slow news day for the media.

The article speaks about “significant delays “ cost blowouts and half the board wanting to abandon the project + key personnel defecting to collingwood

Let’s not trivialise what’s been claimed

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

The article speaks about “significant delays “ cost blowouts and half the board wanting to abandon the project + key personnel defecting to collingwood

Let’s not trivialise what’s been claimed

No point crying over spilt milk.

The Hawks board will review and deal with it. Dingley must forge ahead!

 

[Walshawk]

Isn’t the problem that box hill can only be used currently for half the aflw season due to cricket?

True, However, the AFLW season will be starting earlier from next season. Once Tassie come in it could go to 18 games, starting early July. You could get seven games in at Box Hill then play the last couple of home games at Frankston. There is zero revenue in AFLW games, and we have to keep costs down.

 

[tommyk72]

The article speaks about “significant delays “ cost blowouts and half the board wanting to abandon the project + key personnel defecting to collingwood

Let’s not trivialise what’s been claimed

The article speaks about it, but didn’t provide any direct evidence or facts and figures. So many projects these days run over time and over budget. This doesn’t worry me that much.

 

[Flukey!]

Set backs and delays happen all the time. The Hawks wont be the first or last business to experience a set back or delay.

We will review, adjust and continue on with the build.

Must be a slow news day for the media.

Construction is a tough game and always comes with risk of variations and "force majeure" events.
We can just hope they have some contingency parked somewhere to cover it.
The blowout should be almost expected in this climate but it doesn't sound too large at less than 10% of project cost.

As others have said, it doesn't sound like the club has much choice if we want to again have world-class facilities.

 

[Walshawk]

Caro strong on Footy Classified that Dingley is a debacle and that we need to walk away from ‘a dangerous white elephant before it is too late’

 

[pattymalone00]

 

[Glenferrie Arty Deco]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I actually wouldn't be too disappointed if we cancelled Dingley and instead invested the money into upgrading/remaining at Waverley. Something about the whole Dingley thing seems fishy, slightly further away/built on a rubbish tip/not really Hawthorn heartland/poor connections to get there/costs a fortune/building it seemingly been delayed by half a decade now... Waverley has been incredible for us for nearly 2 decades, why drastically change something that isn't broken?

I actually look at the likes of Carlton/Collingwood/Richmond/Melbourne/Doggies with a bit of envy, as they get to train and have the hub of their club in somewhat of a traditional home/location. Waverley has definitely provided that for us too, Dingley most certainly won't let's be honest here.

 

[Walshawk]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I actually wouldn't be too disappointed if we cancelled Dingley and instead invested the money into upgrading/remaining at Waverley. Something about the whole Dingley thing seems fishy, slightly further away/built on a rubbish tip/not really Hawthorn heartland/poor connections to get there/costs a fortune/building it seemingly been delayed by half a decade now... Waverley has been incredible for us for nearly 2 decades, why drastically change something that isn't broken?

I actually look at the likes of Carlton/Collingwood/Richmond/Melbourne/Doggies with a bit of envy, as they get to train and have the hub of their club in somewhat of a traditional home/location. Waverley has definitely provided that for us too, Dingley most certainly won't let's be honest here.

Somewhat agree, but, Dees don’t have a home, split between a Gosch’s paddock and Casey, and Pies are not at Vic Park. If we can afford it comfortably, then do it. It there is even the slightest risk of running into financial trouble, we must pull the oin ASAP.

 

[Elhawko]

Somewhat agree, but, Dees don’t have a home, split between a Gosch’s paddock and Casey, and Pies are not at Vic Park. If we can afford it comfortably, then do it. It there is even the slightest risk of running into financial trouble, we must pull the oin ASAP.

The Dingley thing always worried more than the racism scandal or the board upheaval. The cost is just so high and the risk to the financial stability of the club is scary if there are blow outs. Plus if we don’t do this really really well instead of being an attraction to potential recruits it could become the opposite, a half-done training hub in a not overly attractive area ( and I can say that because I live in a neighbouring suburb!). The plans we sometimes see here do seem to be becoming less ambitious with each iteration, as if there is a thought we might have bitten off too much. If we did pull the plug we’d have to return the gov funding we received I’d assume. On the other hand, if we have bought the land, that could be sold to developers and might make us a profit?

Does anyone here have a good understanding of what is really going on with this and what our commitment is?

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

I am always amazed how external parties are always so worried about Hawthorn and their financial viability

 

[Charchi]

The thing about HFC owning the land is that the club can proceed at the pace and scale that suits HFC.
Why do we need two ovals to start with? We will still have Waverley and Box Hill City Oval to train on if needed.
If the AFL doesn't stump up some money, why do we need to play AFLW games at Dingley in 2025, we still have Frankston or Box Hill to play AFLW at.
If community facilities (to get KCC cash) are too expensive, then don't build them until HFC are ready.
Is there a buyer for the facilities at Waverley, eg. AFL to put the umpires training centre there?
Owning the land means there are a multitude of options.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

A whole lot of nothing in Caro’s arrow with lots of rehashed stuff from the Edmund article.

She’s never understood the Dingley venture, choosing to claim its “out of Melbourne” and that we’re “turning our back on our history” when it’s in one of the biggest growth areas of the South East, within a couple of minutes drive of a major arterial, and 15 minutes from bayside suburbs where a bunch of our players like Day, Moore and Lewis have already moved.

In fact, when I was at training earlier this year Mitch Cleary was within in ear-shot talking to his cameraman about how Dingley was just as easy to get to as Waverley and how good it would be.

We’re a stand-alone club, we’ll make our own decisions on what’s best for the club and I have full faith that Dingley is still part of that.

 

[lethalselbow]

All good things take time. Anyone ever done a renovation or had a house built and had the thing go according to budget or length of time?

Once Dingley is built we will OWN the peninsula and be a little like Geelong with a great base and lifestyle.

Smart decision. Lots of journalists looking for a story. Yawn

 

[pattymalone00]

A whole lot of nothing in Caro’s arrow with lots of rehashed stuff from the Edmund article.

She’s never understood the Dingley venture, choosing to claim its “out of Melbourne” and that we’re “turning our back on our history” when it’s in one of the biggest growth areas of the South East, within a couple of minutes drive of a major arterial, and 15 minutes from bayside suburbs where a bunch of our players like Day, Moore and Lewis have already moved.

In fact, when I was at training earlier this year Mitch Cleary was within in ear-shot talking to his cameraman about how Dingley was just as easy to get to as Waverley and how good it would be.

We’re a stand-alone club, we’ll make our own decisions on what’s best for the club and I have full faith that Dingley is still part of that.

has she not had to try and get a car park at Waverley aswell

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

We can't stay at Waverley. Southport probably has better facilities than we do at Waverley and there is no room for us to build a Premier League style facility.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

We can't stay at Waverley. Southport probably has better facilities than we do at Waverley and there is no room for us to build a Premier League style facility.

Exactly. Waverley has terrible facilities. They were amazing in 06 when we moved, since then we have been unable to upgrade and renovate.

Back in 06 many people criticised the move, much like people are criticising the dingley venture.

 

[theiaofseed]

I swear some people mainly the people over 50 have their head so far up their arse that they permanently live nostalgia. There is no heart land for clubs anymore in the AFL we're now over 20 years since clubs played at a traditional venue, we have people in their mid 30's that don't know any but the MCG and Docklands.

The only thing that matters is, if we can afford to build the facilities we want and how attractive the area is. We can already answer one of those two questions and it's a massive YES it's a popular area thats booming.

 

[wahawk]

I swear some people mainly the people over 50 have their head so far up their arse that they permanently live nostalgia. There is no heart land for clubs anymore in the AFL we're now over 20 years since clubs played at a traditional venue, we have people in their mid 30's that don't know any but the MCG and Docklands.

The only thing that matters is, if we can afford to build the facilities we want and how attractive the area is. We can already answer one of those two questions and it's a massive YES it's a popular area thats booming.

I’m in favour of Dingley.
I’m over 50.
I’d love to go watch Hawks play live every week & did growing up.

Under 50’s could be accused of having their heads up their own arses too.
I mean there’s a lot on here who whinge about & refuse to go to games at Marvel.
Spoilt much ??

Those that whinge should have gone to games at Victoria Park, Windy Hill, Princess Park ,etc
You wouldn’t whinge about Marvel if you watched footy at any of those grounds

 

[smish]

As long as it doesn't have the look and feel of the soulless lifeless "Hangar" at Tullamarine I'll be happy.

Initially I was a bit concerned about the distance from the inner suburbs and how this will affect player attraction, however I think Essendon's move to the Tullamarine could be a good precedent for this. It hasn't negatively affected their player attraction/retention and is in a worse spot than Dingley.

It could also be an opportunity to really solidify our position in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I'm sure the club has some comprehensive data about where our members and supporters are located and our targeted growth areas.