Remembering VFL Park

[Smokey]

Was there that day too Tiga!  Great occasion, lots of excitement because that was when the concept finally looked like taking off.

[WilliamPowell]

Ma Powell took me out to Waverley for a WSC day/night one day game - it was a Xmas present. Train to Flinders Street, then out to Waverley station, then the bus and exhausted by the time we got there

Also remember being one of the last cars let into the car park for the pre-season night GF against the Bombers I think it was

[mightytiges]

While I wasn't a fan of VFL Park, what actually killed it off was political influence. The MCC Trust feared the MCG losing the Grand Final to Waverley and so used its influence within state government to block moves to expand capacity of VFL Park as well as block moves to build a railway line out to Waverley and Rowville.

Originally, the plans for VFL Park were to eventually expand it to a 160,000 capacity stadium with the Sir Kenneth Luke grandstand extending the whole way around the ground.



A second attempt to expand VFL Park in the early 1980s in time to host the 1984 Grand Final was also blocked.

[Diocletian]

I remember it was a shytehole........but we could do with another big stadium again - if only to have every season start at the same stuffing  time.

[Penelope]

first time i saw Richmond play live was at Waverly, 1980 qualifying final v carlton.

then again the next week in the semi v Geelong.

good memories 

[tiga]

While I wasn't a fan of VFL Park, what actually killed it off was political influence. The MCC Trust feared the MCG losing the Grand Final to Waverley and so used its influence within state government to block moves to expand capacity of VFL Park as well as block moves to build a railway line out to Waverley and Rowville.

Originally, the plans for VFL Park were to eventually expand it to a 160,000 capacity stadium with the Sir Kenneth Luke grandstand extending the whole way around the ground.



A second attempt to expand VFL Park in the early 1980s in time to host the 1984 Grand Final was also blocked.

Geez MT, I was only a kid at the time and had no idea all that crap was going on. Doesn't surprise me at all as I bet there were a few "Jock Riley" types floating around the MCC at the time.

I think my love of the ground came from the fact that I didn't have the travel hassles that you and WP had as I lived in Ormond at the time, so for me it was North Rd to Wellington Rd to VFL Park.  It was also a bonus when I played Baseball at Mulgrave I used to duck over after my game was finished to watch matches.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

While I wasn't a fan of VFL Park, what actually killed it off was political influence. The MCC Trust feared the MCG losing the Grand Final to Waverley and so used its influence within state government to block moves to expand capacity of VFL Park as well as block moves to build a railway line out to Waverley and Rowville.

Originally, the plans for VFL Park were to eventually expand it to a 160,000 capacity stadium with the Sir Kenneth Luke grandstand extending the whole way around the ground.



A second attempt to expand VFL Park in the early 1980s in time to host the 1984 Grand Final was also blocked.

This is all true.  The Sir Kenneth Luke Stand was supposed to go around the ground and increase capacity enormously.  It would have been the premier stadium in the world. The MCC blocked this with their power in government.

[Yeahright]

You just restated exactly what MT said

[eliminator]

While I wasn't a fan of VFL Park, what actually killed it off was political influence. The MCC Trust feared the MCG losing the Grand Final to Waverley and so used its influence within state government to block moves to expand capacity of VFL Park as well as block moves to build a railway line out to Waverley and Rowville.

Originally, the plans for VFL Park were to eventually expand it to a 160,000 capacity stadium with the Sir Kenneth Luke grandstand extending the whole way around the ground.



A second attempt to expand VFL Park in the early 1980s in time to host the 1984 Grand Final was also blocked.

This is all true.  The Sir Kenneth Luke Stand was supposed to go around the ground and increase capacity enormously.  It would have been the premier stadium in the world. The MCC blocked this with their power in government.

It would still have had the worst car park in the world.