What is Your favourite (and least favourite) AFL ground you have been to?

[SirJimi05]

Favorite team: North.

Least: Essendon or Collingwood

But what about grounds?

 

[benchwarmer5]

ESS vs FITZ in 94
Shit as ground because of no fuking seats lol

 

[TheKanga]

Only been to Etihad (when it was called Telstra Dome) and Aurora Stadium (when it was called york park)

Didn't like York Park much, and i can't remember the details of the Dome as it was a long time ago.

 

[HappyChappy35]

Favourite is Kardinia Park (for obvious reasons), followed by the MCG (don't think that requires an explanation either). Etihad is a mixed bag though, wonderful facilities but the place is a depressing concrete jungle with little atmosphere.
As for interstate venues, I've attended games at Football Park, ANZ Stadium, Subiaco, and Aurora Stadium. Loved Aurora Stadium, for those who haven't been there it is like a suburban ground but with modern facilities. ANZ Stadium and Football Park were good, but the atmosphere at ANZ was somewhat sterile and Footy Park was a pain in the backside to get to. Disliked Subi though, seats there are crap and also found it difficult to get to.
Finally, the old grounds- attended Victoria Park (only once, and as a neutral mind you), Whitten Oval (twice, both times as a young kid), Princes Park, and Waverley. Whitten Oval and Princes Park both had great character and charm about them and offered a real experience. Waverley was somewhat acceptable as a stadium, but with it came many flaws.
And as for Victoria Park, some Collingwood-supporting family took me along to their last ever game there (against Brisbane) as a neutral. I'm honestly surprised the health department never rendered it unfit for human habitation, the facilities there weren't even in the 20th century let alone the 21st. The toilets were even worse and resembled something out of third-world Africa.

 

[E92_]

I've been to 4 (Subi, WACA, Etihad, MCG).


I havn't been to the MCG and Etihad for 5-6 years but from what I can remember they were both great grounds.

I went to a few WCE games at the WACA in the early 00's but can't remember it very well.

And I've been to Subi 10+ times every year since 2002, it's a pretty good ground to watch the footy at but trying to buy food/drinks and go to the toilet before the game starts again is pretty bad. But I'll be pretty sad to see it go when we get the new stadium.

 

[SirJimi05]

And as for Victoria Park, some Collingwood-supporting family took me along to their last ever game there (against Brisbane) as a neutral. I'm honestly surprised the health department never rendered it unfit for human habitation, the facilities there weren't even in the 20th century let alone the 21st. The toilets were even worse and resembled something out of third-world Africa.

This is so true. I went there once and it was enough. The Collingwood supporters there were sub human. Listened to two of them bragging about how they were spitting on players the week before.

 

[Blues_Man]

That's what all my Carlton and Essendon supporting mates say as well. Any chance of Carlton returning to the G full time?

Hopefully they will when the current stadium deal expires in 2013 (i think)

I would imagine they can't wait to get to the G full time

 

[E Shed]

My best memories of footy in the old days are watching the blues at Princess Park in the late 80's early 90's before Freo existed. I also saw great games of footy at Windy Hill, Moorabin, Waverly and the G. I loved the wing at Princess standing in the terrace. You could drink VB's or UDL's out of cans and smoke ciggies. I remember a game between the Bombers & Pies at the G and the fans just belting crap out each other after the game. Scary stuff. My all time memory was watching Plugger kick the winner on the siren against Carlton at Moorabin. The place just went ballistic.
Footy doesn't really feel the same these days. I love the game more than ever and turn out for a Freo training session and all the games but lets just say Subi isn't my favourite place.
The game I've enjoyed most in the last 10 years was a scratchy between Freo and Port at Freo Oval. Seeing the old ground full and a cracking game of footy like the old days of the WAFL.

 

[Quivorir]

1. Metricon
2. Etihad
3. MCG
4. Arden St.
5. Everything else.
6. Skilled Stadium, shit hole not going into it again

 

[pazza]

1. MCG.
2. Waverley - always loved going there.
3. Windy Hill
4. Princes Park
5. Whitten Oval
6. Etihad
7. Kardinia Park
8. SCG.

Never been anywhere else.

 

[yaco55]

Can't understand the Etihad hate. It's an awesome ground for watching footy. Level 1 on the wing is the best place for viewing footy in the country.

Also not sure why people are saying there is no atmosphere? Maybe if North are playing Freo. The atmosphere there is great. Essendon vs West Coast a few yeas back is the best game, atosphere wise, that I've ever been to. This includes grand finals and ANZAC games. It was like there were 80,000 people there and the stand was literally shaking.

Worst is Waverly. Absolute dive of a ground, terrible viewing, always freezing, carparks were always flooded.

100% correct.

 

[calyam]

Of the ones I've been to:

1. MCG
2. Ethihad
3. SCG
4. Waverley Park
5. ANZ Stadium
6. Princess Park
7. Moorabbin

The first three are great stadiums for watching the footy. The final four are pretty ordinary, Waverley Park always seemed like the coldest place in Melbourne, ANZ Stadium has a crap surface which affects the spectacle although the stadium itself would probably be alright with a big crowd.

 

[radiojake]

Only seen AFL at three grounds

1. MCG
2. Docklands
3. Football Park


Football Park gets the lowest rating purely because of the transport access out there - Never went to Waverly, but I imagine it was the same deal in trying to get there.

My mum managed to see Collingwood v Adelaide at Victoria Park in 1995 - I was jealous as an 11 year stuck in Adelaide watching it on TV

Do not quite understand why people are so quick to refer to stadiums by their bought out sponsor name. I read flogs going on about 'tradition and heritage' of the old VFL clubs, but then they spit in its face by referring to Princess Park as Optus or Visy Oval, or Kardinia Park as Skilled (or whatever it is now)

- It's for this reason I only listen to ABC radio broadcasts of the footy!

 

[AFLOnline]

From a spectators point of view, Etihad is hands down the best. Great view of the ground from whenever you are sitting and the best facilities. I'm sure players would all disagree though.

The Gabba was pretty good as well the few times I have been there. Then the MCG which is probably one of the best sporting venues in the world from a players perspective.

Haven't been to any other current grounds.

 

[smasha]

I feel sad in a way for the younger folk who will never get to experience the old Victorian clubs grounds.

Going to the outer at Linton St , Windy Hill , Junction Oval , Lakeside Oval , Arden Street , Kardinia Park , Princes Park , Western Oval and Victoria Park you knew that you were going into a stadium of Dyed in the wool passionate footy supporters.

MCG and Etihad , = constant bombardment by the guys on the Public Address and Scoreboards trying to manufacture fake atmosphere.

VFL Park / Waverly Park was ok , despite the weather. miss the Sepia scorboard screen though

Didn't experience games at Glenferrie or Punt Road

Loved it and miss it.

These days everything is so controlled and regimented at the modern grounds it is nearly a souless experience.

I've been to Subi, the 'G, Etihad, the SCG, and Optus Oval.

If you want to count old suburban VFL grounds, I've checked some of them out.

I've always loved Carlton and the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne. I've documented my like for Optus on here a few times. I need not repeat it. My only experience there was as a 6-or-so year old. But I still love the placement of the ground, and the way it looks – even if it is ugly.

I went to the SCG a few years ago, for the last heritage round. Fremantle got thumped in Connolly's second last game in charge. It was wet, miserable, the Dockers wore an East Fremantle jumper, and full of New South Welshmen... what more could conspire against me?

I'm from WA, but I go to Melbourne a fair bit. My first experience at the 'G was over ten years ago, when I was around the age of 5. My last trip to Melbs (November just gone) was the first time I'd not attended a game at the 'G whilst in the city. I did go to the enjoyable and enviable AAMI Park with my girlfriend though.

But It's always an awesome experience. You don't tire of the place. I've sat on every level and from different angles. Although my experience is limited by age and geography, I maintain that there's no bad seat in the house. You feel the passion everywhere. And the view is always reasonable to perfect. You walk in and the place intimidates you, but so too draws you in. It's so quintessentially Australian and footy. I love the place.

I actually really like Etihad as well. But again, my experience is often ruined by Fremantle. I think one of the last games I saw there was Hawthorn and St Kilda in 2010 (?). The game was unbelievable. Tight, exciting, fast. I was sat mid way up the first tier, between centre wing and the goals, so it was a great atmosphere. That feeling of the draw was absolutely surreal... you can't describe that feeling, no matter how many times you experience the rarity.

The thing I like about Etihad is its ease and modernity. It's central, and it's easy to navigate. I really have issues there.

The less said about Subi the better. I always enjoy going to the football, though. Subiaco is a nice suburb. Playing out the ritual with the old man and just catching the train from Fremantle station, then eating at the same cafe before the game, it never tires. I'll always remember the games of footy we attended (I should add he isn't dead or methed up to the eyeballs. We still go to the footy. I was just getting existential!). But the ground is shameful, and well passed it's use by date. And yeah, there's always that uneasy feeling when you're Freo – no matter your ladder position, the score on the board, the time on the clock... you're always anxious... and half the time you go home on a quite train...

Great post and the pregame ritual is just as fun as the game.
Nothing beats rugging up in your footy gear on the train ,then a few beers and talk up your teams before walking across to the MCG.

Nothing tops that though I love going to Aami Park watching the Victory and having a few pregame jars at The Corner Hotel.

At the end if your team has won,then you can find a bar nearby or band venue and feel like a king for the night lol.

If you lose you can console with fellow supporters.

I love Melbourne town so much.

 

[DirrtyBee]

Out of

Footy Park
Subi
Metricon
Carrara (before Metricon was built)
MCG
Etihad
GABBA
Kardinia Park

I quite enjoyed Kardinia weirdly enough, I just like that smaller suburbian feel. I prefer SANFL grounds to AFL grounds to so that may explain my liking of Kardinia.

 

[nobbyiscool]

to think about it I'm quite surprised how many i've been to.

1. MCG - everything about it feels like "home". great atmosphere, great facilities and accessible. sports museum is awesome too

2. Docklands/Etihad - i can't understand the hate either. maybe it's because i'm only ever in Melbourne as a tourist, but it seems accessible to locals not to snobbish to take the train. great facilities. damn expensive food and beer though.

3. Gabba - the locals do the transport well, it's easy to get in and out and it's well catered. one of few grounds where a line to take a piss is a rarity.

4. York Park/Aurora Stadium - good viewing ground, and you always feel close to the action. close to middle of Launceston, but very undercatered, and over priced for good seating.

5. Homebush/ANZ Stadium - miles away from the city. seats feel miles away from the ground. sucks when it rains. but bonus points because the employ idiots at the bars. i rarely pay full price for my drinks. (go to the caravans in the enclosures outside )

6. SCG - lacks atmosphere, even when watching close games. and Moore Park sucks transport wise. damn, i hate that place.

7. Bellerive Oval/Blundstone Arena - speaking of sucking transport wise, the location of this ground makes no sense. Love sitting on a hill at the footy - except when its wet, which is all the time in Hobart. (yes, i'm going based on VFL games that used to be there)

8. Manuka Oval - another with a hill, but another with disastrous transport. small, overcrowded most days, and yet still no atmosphere. they've been talking about redeveloping a sporting precinct around Canberra Stadium in Bruce for years. i wish they'd do it, cos Manuka oval sucks really badly.

 

[Righteo]

Never seen West Coast play at Subi mate?

 

[Mancey]

The only thing subi has going for it is that it is reasonably easy to get to and from there, and there's some good pubs around the ground to have a few beers before and after.

The ground itself is out of the Jurassic period.

• Crap, cramped seats. If you get the wooden benches god help you
• Poor viewing from the lower levels especially if you're stuck behind the goals.
• Impossible to get food/beers, esp at 3 tier end
• Miniature and sparse toilets.
• No full strength beer

Going to the G or Etihad after spending most of your footy watching life at subi feels like jumping forward 30 years. G probably just has it over etihad due to cheaper tickets, and well, it's the G

 

[nobbyiscool]

Never seen West Coast play at Subi mate?

unfortunately not mate, I've followed them up and down the eastern seaboard, but I only ever fly when there are 2 good reasons, and I never had a second reason to go to Perth. (I don't fly very well, and it's a bloody long way away!)

it's high up the bucket list though.

 

[Luc]

My favourite ground for watching the game was Princes Park.

I always felt that the ground dimensions were perfect for the spectators; Waverley and the MCG were/are often hard to see what's going on when the ball is on the opposite side of the ground.

Sitting on the wing at Princes Park, I never found that a problem. You could easily see what was going on.

 

[hilly]

1. MCG
2. Etihad
3. GABBA
4. SCG
5. Princes Park
6. Whitten Oval
7. Waverley
8. AAMI Stadium

N/A Kardinia Park - only been once, and that was many years ago

 

[The Prosecutor]

1) MCG/Etihad: MCG is easily the best on those days with 70,000 plus in attendance. Any lower and I rate Etihad ahead in atmosphere.

2) GABBA

3) SCG

 

[Stewies Power]

I've been to AAMI, Adelaide Oval, MCG, Etihad and the SCG.

1. Adelaide Oval. Best atmosphere and was a wonderful match to attend.

2. MCG. Been there a few times but most notable was the Collingwood v Geelong game there in 2010 in their August rd 19 match I think. Was on the top tier and was a fantastic match. Also went to Geelong v Hawks rd 1 2009 there and was in the top tier. I would love to be on the bottom level either behind the goals or on one of the wings at the MCG. Then I could truly comment on how good it is there.

3. AAMI. Forget the negative stuff that's said about it, it actually isn't a bad stadium. The facilities aren't the best and it's a bitch to get to, but from a football watching point of view it's pretty good. Especially when there are good crowds in as well which unfortunately for Port happens far less often than what we would like.

4. Etihad (second tier with 22,000 there). Once again if I were in better seats I could give a better opinion on Etihad. I was at the 2010 Port v Saints match here. Sat in the second tier (never again) overpriced and got bad seats as well. Pretty much the 'pockets' of the second tier which is half way between the wing and behind the goals. Terrible atmosphere, but granted there were only 22,000 there. I'm sure if there were 40,000 there my views would be much more positive. Not a bad ground by any means just need to go to more matches there.

5. SCG. Can't say much about it. Nothing special from the Bradman Stand at Swans v Port in 2008. But the new stand was still being built so it's unfair to judge anyway. Will look great once the next stage of redevlopment is complete.

 

[muttweed]

Ones that are still used by the AFL...

1. MCG.

2. Kardinia Park.

3. Gabba

4. ANZ Stadium

5. Etihad

6. AAMI Stadium

7. SCG

8. Subi