Geelong Falcons eager to play more games in the region and are open to new or improved base
Highton Reserve is synonymous with the Geelong Falcons. But with six programs to cater for, is it still fit for purpose? Their talent lead reflects on that and their desire for more home games.
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The Geelong Falcons are eager to play more games in the region and are open to a new or improved headquarters in the future to give boys and girls draft hopefuls the best opportunity to thrive.
The Falcons boys and girls under-18 sides will play just one match in Geelong this season – a double header at West Oval on June 29 – and each play six ‘home’ games at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee.
It comes as Geelong Cats chief operating officer Marcus King said that proposed further investment in the Kardinia Park complex – including Anthony Costa Oval, Geelong Cricket Club’s main oval and Cats’ planned indoor training – could help support the Falcons.
Geelong Falcons talent lead Jesse Drever, who has worked for the Falcons for 12 years in a multitude of roles since 2011, said there is an appetite for more games in Geelong.
The Falcons’ clash at Torquay’s Spring Creek Reserve last year was well received by players and parents, but games at local grounds are challenging to organise given they are generally used by community clubs.
“I think from our perspective we want to have games in the Barwon region in Geelong, we are very lucky to have the relationship we have had with Werribee Footy Club and we have had that for many years,” Drever said.
“Even last year’s game that we were able to bring to Torquay for our boys, which was impromptu … internally the feedback we got from our players and our parents, it does mean a lot to have games in our region.
“For us that is a really important part of it, so we will always be really supportive of an opportunity that gives us the chance to have some games in Geelong.
“And obviously the benefit of it being a venue that isn’t also home to a local club means we aren’t as restricted by fixtures that happen within the AFL Barwon region.”
The Falcons have been based at Highton Reserve since their inception, but the space has not had a full-scale renovation since 2010.
The talent pathway club is a shared tenant of Highton Reserve with Alexander Thomson Cricket Club and AFL Barwon.
In the past fifteen years the Falcons has grown significantly from one and a half programs to six, accommodating for boys and girls across under-18 Coates Talent League, the under-16 development competition and under-15 V-Line Cup.
Highton Reserve only has one changeroom which means boys and girls programs must train on different nights, and the ground is not big enough for under-16 and under-18 games to be held at the venue
Drever said that Highton Reserve is synonymous with the Falcons and he is appreciative of the work City of Greater Geelong has put into the venue, but he conceded there are some limitations with their current base.
“Highton itself has been home to the Falcons since day one, so it is a really special part of the Falcons program and it is recognisable in what we do,” Drever said.
“But at the end of the day, our priority for the program is always: ‘How do we provide the best environment for our players, and our people to develop as part of the system’?
“Highton is great in a lot of ways, it has got some areas that we are always kind of looking to advocate for: how do we maximise the opportunities we’ve got?
“I’m not going to say: ‘Look, we’re going to close our eyes because we’re kind of focused on our own patch’.
“If truly there was something that was going to help our players, I’ll always want to be in those conversations.”
The Falcons also train at Kardinia International College from September to March due to ground space limitations during cricket season.
“That’s proven really successful for us, that we have our own space and some of our own ground space,” Drever said.
“What could that then transition to going forward, if there was another kind of area within the region that we could have as our own - either in conjunction or in replace of (Highton Reserve)?
“It’s something that is definitely front of mind in terms of what we want to do as a program in the future.”
Further investment at Kardinia Park will open up GMHBA Stadium to other events, say Cats
Further investment into Anthony Costa Oval, Geelong Cricket Club’s main field and the Cats’ planned indoor training hub at Kardinia Park will allow for more filming to occur at GMHBA Stadium in the future and perhaps provide a home for the Geelong Falcons.
That’s the belief of the club’s chief operating officer Marcus King after the Cats moved to train at Deakin University and Kardinia Park’s cricket oval in recent weeks, with scenes from an upcoming film about an NFL underdog shot at GMHBA Stadium over the past fortnight.
“While we will continue to support other events where possible, in order to achieve more content at GMHBA Stadium, we do rely on other places to train,” King said.
“An investment in St Mary’s’ oval, Geelong Cricket Club oval and a multipurpose indoor training venue in the precinct would help us achieve that.
“Investment in these facilities might also support the Geelong Falcons who currently don’t have a venue to play home games at in Geelong.”
It comes as US President Donald Trump’s announcement that all films made outside the US would be hit with a 100 per cent tariff.
New St Mary’s president Sally Flynn said a realignment of Anthony Costa Oval and consolidated netball facilities remained at the top of the club’s priorities.
However, this masthead understands some sporting interests would like to see more use of Geelong’s premier cricket oval over during winter.
The Geelong Football Umpires League also accesses the ground for training two nights a week.
The Saints use the ground for junior games on Saturday and training on Thursdays.
In a statement to this masthead, Geelong Cricket Club president Jennie Deckker said it welcomed junior access that doesn’t incorporate the wicket square.
“In an agreement with council and the GFC, Geelong Cricket Ground was built as a cricket only ground to move Geelong Cricket Club from GMHBA as its home ground,” Deckker said.
“Given the requirement for the wicket to be ready for play in September, further use over winter would impact preparations of our wicket.
“Our club has players striving to play at the highest level with players that are state and nationally contracted.”
She said the club would continue to work with the council and the trust on the masterplan for the park, while protecting the existing agreement to have a ground which meets Premier standards.
Meanwhile, King said the club was supportive of future filming arrangements at GMHBA Stadium.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge that the starting point for us and (Kardinia Park Stadium Trust) is to try and make these things work,” King said.
“We want to attract more content at the stadium or in the precinct for the benefit of the region.”
“In season from a club perspective it can be tricky to navigate.
“However, what we’re trying to do as a starting point is say well let’s work out how we can achieve it.”
Meanwhile, he said there continued to be “really strong alignment between the trust, the council and Geelong on how Kardinia Park can improve, including a planned indoor training hub with a proposed 60m by 40m indoor training field, plus capacity for community access.
Ben Cameron
Originally published as Geelong Falcons eager to play more games in the region and are open to new or improved base
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