Hawthorn hopes to build $130 million world-class training base at its Dingley home

They’ve been an on-field power for the best part of four decades, and now the Hawks hope to take it up a notch with plans that could see its new training facilities dwarf those of its AFL rivals.

Hawthorn wants to build one of the world’s biggest and best training bases at its new Dingley home by the end of 2022.

The club has submitted new plans to construct a dazzling $130 million headquarters and community facility across 80 acres.

The Hawks will contribute about $80 million and seek $50 million in Government and AFL funds to complete the Kennedy Community Centre.

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It includes an MCG-sized training oval and elite aquatic and gym facilities for the Hawks men’s and women’s teams.

But the club has dramatically increased the scope of the original design to now also include a local indoor sports stadium including six basketball and netball courts.

There will also be three community sporting fields, including a main oval with a 500-seat stand and full-sized men’s and women’s change rooms.

The proposed new headquarters for Hawthorn Football Club in Dingley.

While the Hawks believe the elite facility will help secure their home in Melbourne’s southeast for the next 100 years, CEO Justin Reeves said about two thirds of the land will be open to community use.

“We have travelled around, and spent a lot of time with Tottenham Hotspur and other elite clubs, and we think this will be one of the best facilities in the world,” Reeves said.

“Certainly, there aren’t many places like it that will combine a world-class sporting club with facilities exclusive to the public in the one area.”

Hawthorn forward Luke Breust said the club wanted to “be bold”.

“It is going to be an amazing facility. Some of the videos we’ve watched are very impressive,” Breust said on RSN radio.

“It is going to be a great community out there in Dingley and there is going to be so much community support and activities and areas where the community can get involved in the facility as well.

“That’s a huge side of it. The other side of it is that Hawthorn continues to push the boundaries and be bold and create a facility that is world class.”

HAWKS PLAN TO BLOW RIVALS AWAY

Hawthorn is preparing to blow away its rivals with plans to convert a former tip into its sparkling new Dingley home.

The Hawks have recently almost tripled their initial budget to complete construction of the $130 million Kennedy Community Centre within four years.

The club initially eyed a $50 million training base, but have embarked on a significant redesign over the past two years to include extensive community facilities, including a new indoor stadium and three training ovals and full-sized men’s and women’s change rooms.

There will be one MCG-sized training oval for the Hawks, as well as elite aquatic and recovery facilities, a state-of-the-art gym and indoor training space for the players and coaches.

The Hawks believe their proposed new facilities can be among the world’s best.

Already the most successful club over the past four decades, Hawthorn’s new home will help the club remain at the front in the annual chase for prospective recruits and superstar free agents.

Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves said the club had ambitious plans to provide its players with the best facility possible, about 20km from the city.

“We think we have good facilities (at Waverley), but we think this will put us ahead of the pack in Australian sport,” Reeves said.

“The feedback from the players is that they are incredibly excited.

“The biggest question I get, of course, is when (will it be completed), because they are on the clock.

“That is one of the reasons why we have brought this to a head because we need to get on this site, from an athlete’s perspective, as soon as possible.

“So we will be in there by (the end of) 2022.”

The plans also include a Hawthorn museum, a running track and more than 1000 car parks.

With the help of some wealthy benefactors, Hawthorn plans to tip-in about $80 million to completely cover the cost of the facilities it will primarily use.

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves (behind) and president Jeff Kennett. Pic: Michael Klein

Improved facilities would further enhance Alastair Clarkson and the Hawks’ chance to lure rival talent. Pic: Getty Images

Former Hawthorn vice-president and Flight Centre co-founder Geoff Harris has donated $10 million, while there was a function on Tuesday night for some other key stakeholders and prominent supporters.

But the Hawks will seek the remaining $50 million from all levels of Government, plus the AFL and other community stakeholders.

The main community training oval, which will feature a 500-seat stand, could be used for VFL and AFLW matches, as well as representative junior or community shield games.

It will also include a community education and learning centre which can be utilised by the club’s community partners and other local groups.

Reeves said the Hawks had “never before received or even asked for money for training facilities”.

He said the club embarked upon the significant redesign to expand the community facilities after consulting with local groups and residents.

Reeves said the club discovered there was a shortage of local sporting ovals and courts within the Dingley area and wanted to address the problem.

Digital images of the proposed interactive museum at Dingley.

“One thing that became really clear to us was that our original vision, which was fantastic, was to essentially build a footy club behind gates,” Reeves said.

“But that doesn’t really work on its own in our business.

“We have got 80,000 members, which are basically the owners of the club, and they need to be welcome.

“They need to be involved and have a place to go. They need a home. We need to benefit the community.

“When you look at the pictures of the 80-acre site, one third of it is what we will use, but two thirds of it are exclusively for the community.”

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Originally published as Hawthorn hopes to build $130 million world-class training base at its Dingley home