AFL 2025: Melbourne Storm considers Hawthorn Waverley Park approach

Hawthorn’s Waverley Park headquarters has been listed for sale – and a surprise suitor has emerged for the facility. Ed Bourke has more.

Rugby league powerhouse Melbourne Storm has emerged as a key potential suitor as Hawthorn officially put its Waverley Park headquarters on the market on Tuesday.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Hawks went to the Storm to explore a relocation of the NRL club’s training base from the AAMI Park complex closer to the Storm’s heartland in the southeast, where a large portion of its 35,000 members reside.

A spokesman for the Melbourne Storm confirmed a potential move had been discussed with Hawthorn.

“We’ve had discussions and remain open to a range of options as our club continues to grow,” the official said.

Hawthorn is trying to sell its 20-year home at Waverley Park as the club prepares to move to Dingley towards the end of 2025. Picture: Ian Currie

The AFL is open to buying back the oval and the Hawks’ administration and training facilities, which it could use for a permanent base for its umpires or a hub for women’s or pathway football.

“In order to reach our goal of 1 million footy participants by 2033, we need a two new ovals a week every week to keep up with player and club demands,” AFL spokesman Jay Allen said.

“Waverley Park has been an important part of football history, and we will always explore possibilities of keeping footy grounds in the ecosystem.”

Hawthorn’s Waverley Park headquarters and adjoining Good Life gym has been listed for sale via Colliers. Picture: Colliers International

It is understood the league has been exploring a training base for umpires for some time, with whistleblowers travelling to Bundoora for their pre-season training this summer.

Umpires would like access to a full oval for their training sessions, but are confined only to certain sections of the ground during in-season drills at Marvel Stadium.

The Hawks are also selling the adjoining Goodlife Health Club gym, with the two sites expected to fetch a sum in the vicinity of $20 million.

Hawthorn expects to relocate to its new $100 million Dingley headquarters within the next nine months.

Former Hawks president Jeff Kennett, who oversaw the club’s pivotal move from Glenferrie Oval to Waverley Park in 2006, said he expected the club to find a suitor for the facilities.

Vendor Colliers said interest was anticipated from “elite sporting organisations, health and wellness operators and traditional office occupiers”.

“Waverley Park has been a great home for our football club and as served the club very well,” Hawthorn chief operating officer Jacob Attwood said.

Hawthorn has been based at Waverley Park (pictured in 2008) since 2006, but is set to move to its new $100m headquarters in Dingley late this year. Picture: Michael Dodge

“As the club prepares for our imminent relocation to our new facility at Dingley, it is the right time to explore what the future for the current training and administration facility looks like.”

Kennett said a relocation to Waverley Park made sense for Melbourne, with the Demons eager to move to a permanent home and in the early stages of planning to establish a long-term base at Caulfield racecourse.

The Demons share the AAMI Park complex with the Storm and A-League club Melbourne Victory during the season.

“It could easily be a wonderful halfway house until the Demons build their new facility (at Caulfield), if they’re going to do it,” Kennett said.

“If Melbourne was looking for a relatively cheap deal at a place which has obviously served Hawthorn very well since we’ve been there … it’s not all to do with location and the land, but don’t tell me that Waverley in any way limits a club’s ability to perform well.”

A spokesman for the Demons said the club was not considering a move to Waverley Park.

Originally published as AFL 2025: Melbourne Storm considers Hawthorn Waverley Park approach