Waverley (VFL) Park Before & After

www.dronevictoria.com.au
A trip down memory lane for one of Melbourne's much loved and sadly missed sporting stadiums. Once earmarked as the nations premier stadium to hold 160,000 it sadly fell into disrepair until its ultimate closure in 1999.
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[@billyalexander5530]

Such a beautiful big ground and stadium, overlooking the Dandenong ranges and south east suburbs, was so good for Melbourne and the south eastern suburbs, Hawthorn fought to the death to keep it ❤💛💚

[@TheFykle]

I reckon if the debate had of happened today, there’s no way it wouldve gone. But there would be now a station, bigger transport hub and rejuvination of VFL parks entire seating and features. The location / general area was a massive bonus to so many people its not funny, i still cant bare to think about what happened 😡 So sick to death of Melbournes city centric mentality, the city is a slum of a joint that so many avoid at all costs, incl myself. But if there were ever another ground to be built in Melb it still def needs to be far outer sth /east subs, but i doubt they’ll ever go for another ground, let alone one deep outside the depressing CBD

[@arisl2370]

@J G Give it up your jerk !! nobody cares

[@darrenbethell5893]

@J G bull not in this country

[@dkb2080]

its better than marvel by long

[@nickhanlon9331]

One of my teachers fessed up that he rushed into Waverley without making a mental note as to where he parked his car. Took him hours to find it after the game had finished.

[@mattyo30]

This was such a cool retro 70s feel stadium, wish it were still around today. AFL in Melbourne needs a 3rd stadium

[@SamDoesGamez]

My suggestion is that Princes Park and Whitten Oval be redeveloped. Princes Park into a 45,000 capacity stadium and Whitten Oval maybe a 35,000 capacity stadium.

[@mattyo30]

@@SamDoesGamez Or Rebuild Waverley :)

[@AlleyCat-em1ih]

True ....Imagine if the ground has just been shut instead of demolished If it reopened , People would flock to it because they're sick of the robot like grounds MCG and marvel follow the dotted line and sit where you're told This ground would be a blast and more popular then the other 2 grounds probably the real reason it was sacked because it wasn't as politically correct and robot therefore posed a threat

[@jecos1966]

@@SamDoesGamez There was a purpose Punt road Oval Stadium of 40.000 right next to Richmond station not far from the MCG plenty of parking

[@LordDavid04]

@@SamDoesGamez Princes Park could easily be over 50,000. Keep the Carlton administration building, demolish all the other stands and do a new oval configuration where one goal end is placed here. Do level crossing removal and move Royal Park Station to be closer to the stadium. As for Whitten Oval, it would need a complete demolition or find a new place for such a venue.

[@ChrisIsOutside]

I remember going to Waverly park as a kid to watch the footy. Then a bit older to watch the baseball I think at one point before they retired the ground

[@craigconstantine196]

Melbourne Reds

[@ChrisIsOutside]

@@craigconstantine196 I'm feeling old because it was the Waverly Reds back then

[@allanwhite3264]

With a designed capacity of 157,000 people this stadium could've held the olympics for Melbourne & AFL grand finals.The blame for its demise sits squarely on the shoulders on the Cain Labor government & the VFL.

[@afstralos2u]

Wow......I remember that. Yes the talk about the capacity to 157000. Real pity

[@jecos1966]

I read 166.000 would been the second biggest stadium in the world at that time but what a wast of money. Boltie was part of death of this once great stadium

[@TheRojo387]

And not only did overgrowth bury it, and not only did its staff lost their jobs, but vandals wrecked and defaced the place inside and out.

[@TheRammMan]

Yes the original plan was for the Sir Kenneth Luke stand to occupy the entire ground. What a sight that would’ve been but Cain had his grubby mitts in the MCC’s pockets.

[@noelroberts8199]

It was the VFL'S fault, it should never been built in the first place, a complete waste of money....

[@lucyxx5895]

I loved this ground. Growing up in Rowville I was there nearly every week. It was a great ground and it’s a travesty that it was sold to Mirvac 😢

[@twomindz79]

Yep. Very true. The afl turned its back on us out our way. I was wantirna. Went to the footy every week until they took the ground from us .

[@bradcruise5673]

people were advised to bring a BBQ because it took.ages to get out of the car park. last game I went to Kernahan kicked the wining goal after the siren against NthMelb

[@Jordan51203]

I would've loved this ground to still be up and running. Never got to see a game there which is a shame because I live so close to it.

[@EBGamez1]

Jordan 51203 I know what it feels like too

[@tonybakas9947]

Same

[@EBGamez1]

I live so close to this ground but I drive there because I live on the other side of the freeway

[@Charles-SG]

Such a beautiful stadium had to be replaced by my least favourite stadium marvel stadium

[@dougbarker3019]

The loss of this stadium is outrageous.

[@302cab]

The Afl betrayed the farmer that donated the land...only ever about money...

[@cooldewd35]

Donated? Sir Kenneth Luke president of the VFL owned the land and in a COI sold it to the VFL of which he was president of.

[@aussiefarang8336]

Ahh good old cuz singing on Gfinal day 91.

[@trainco1643]

If Melbourne was to ever get a new AFL stadium, I definitely think Waverley Park should be rebuilt or have a new stadium built somewhere in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs

[@sliat1981]

If they kept it they could had a bargaining chip when the MCG kicked them out for international soccer games

[@mattyo30]

Is it possible to get up to the top tier? Any tours?

[@DroneVictoria_au]

I'm not sure the public can get up there any more. I think Hawthorn staff can and do. There really isn't enough left to have tours.

[@mattyo30]

@@DroneVictoria_au Would still love to see whats up there, any old cafeterias or toilets, I can just remember going here as a kid.

[@leeoshea2290]

@@DroneVictoria_au i was there a few years ago and the steel stairs go up but don't go anywhere, nor can they be accessed as it's too high up It looks like a huge grinder just sliced off both ends, to my eyes, you can see where the grinder wheel just cut straight through, as in, the swirls are very visible sad to see such an iconic ground reduced to a backyard for units on the other hand, what an awesome back yard I do remember in the 70's, it was a paddock i the middle of nowhere and there was nothing around it long walk back to the train station when you missed the bus sister went to Kiss in 1980/81 what a time to be alive

[@Charles-SG]

Does anyone know why they don’t open up the 4th tier?

[@JohnSmith-bn7bl]

this ground should still be in use today....brilliant stadium. why get rid of an institution.

[@zicomitchell]

I'm sure it has a lot of nostalgia but you can't deny it was it was a poorly planned and developed stadium. There's a reason why it had the nickname Arctic Park

[@noelroberts8199]

FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊

[@dougieboxell6505]

I wonder why it was so poorly designed. The lack of public transport (not to mention freeways, at the time), along with the lack of shelter for seating as you allude to make it practically doomed to fail from the beginning. I wonder why this was the case. Seems like the MCC and the government of the day (yes, I know Cain was a member, but Boltie was premier long before him.....) really didn't want it to go ahead.

[@kevinnewton7689]

MCC Politics killed this ground. A roofed stadium should be there today. Such a waste.

[@adrianbarichievich7756]

For information some of you have got your facts wrong

[@colingarraway7910]

So which facts are incorrect?

[@duyenvo5632]

it was a cool looking stadium but "artic park" never really worked out

[@gorgen23]

Being at the ground with nearly 93,000 in 1981 You wouldn’t have thought that

[@gorgen23]

Being at the ground with nearly 93,000 in 1981 You wouldn’t have thought that

[@humor1095]

The Bellends who destroyed this amazing ground.. pathetic!!! How good would it had been today 💯💯💯

[@DroneVictoria_au]

Still depresses me every time I drive past. Such a big part of my youth.

[@humor1095]

@DroneVictoria_au VFL Park did host the 1991 Grand final Between Hawthorne and West Coast Eagles