Jordan Dawson, Chelsea Randall react to Crows Thebarton move

The captains of the Crows men’s and women’s sides were not the only ones applauding the news the club had finally found a new home.

Adelaide Crows stars and fans alike say they’re thrilled the club has finally been able to declare an end to its decades long search for a new home.

Crows captain Jordan Dawson says he is “super excited” about the new facility at Thebarton Oval after Premier Peter Malinauskas revealed to the Sunday Mail that $15m in state funds would be poured in to “build this thing”.

“For us it’s about having the best facilities in Australia but also growing as a club and to be that top-tier professional team,” Dawson said.

“Hopefully I’ll still be playing by the time we move in here.”

Dawson said the unity between the men’s and women’s teams will be a highlight.

“Having the AFLW team and the men’s team under the same roof will be awesome,” he said.

The $100m redevelopment of the Thebarton Oval will offer a permanent home to the popular Crows AFLW side and will include world class training and administration facilities, as well as hospitality facilities and two ovals.

It will also be open to the public outside of official match and training times.

Crows supporter “since day one”, Brian Watson, 71, said he was also looking forward to the big move.

Crows fans Matilda, Benji, Eva and Jordan with Crows players Sarah Allan, Jordan Dawson and Chelsea Randall. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“It’s absolutely fantastic and we had to find somewhere,” Mr Watson, from Kidman Park, said.

“Supporters can come together now and it’ll be easy access for everybody.”

His grandchildren, Benji and Matilda Jones were also excited by the move.

“I’ve been going (to games) since I was born and this will be really good,” Benji, eight, said.

His sister Matilda, 11, said the new site would be an improvement on the West Lakes headquarters.

“I think it’s really good that it’ll be open to everyone,” she said.

An artist’s impression of the new Crows facility.

The move has been branded as “a positive step” by the local community group, who were concerned about the effect on the nearby King’s Reserve.

“This is one of the only pieces of green space in the area and once it’s gone, we can never get it back,” 5031 Community Facilities and Green Spaces Action Group spokesman Dr Emma Dawes said.

“Today’s announcement is a significant step forwards towards a precinct that can service both the needs of the Crows, and that of the inner west community.”

Dr Dawes said the group spoke to Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis, their local member, to make sure the space was not “cast aside” with the new headquarters.

She hailed the plans as allowing the reserve to “coexist with a football hub”.

But the group condemned tree felling to make way for the development.

“While we are happy the majority of trees on Kings Reserve will be maintained, we still think the Crows designers can do more to preserve more of the 71 trees facing the chainsaw around Thebarton Oval,” Dr Dawes said.

“We’re looking forward to working with the state government and the Crows to make sure this is something we can be proud of.”

But Dr Dawes said “the fight is not over” in maintaining greenery in the area as negotiations continue.

Not everyone is happy with the move however, as local soccer club MA Hawks, who use the Therbarton Oval precinct for training and matches, are set to be displaced.

MA Hawks club president Peter Bouras said he was informed on Friday that the club would move, and now worries about losing revenue.

“There are a lot of questions that I need answers to,” Mr Bouras said.

Club members must decide between two alternatives for their home ground, which have not yet been revealed.

Mr Koutsantonis said the club does “a great job of engagement in the local community” and the government is working to relocate them in the western suburbs.

“They’re a very important soccer club... and we want to keep that culture going in the western suburbs,” he said.

The news comes after at least four sites were identified and then rejected, including the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and Brompton Gas Works before settling on the former SANFL ground at Thebarton in August.

The Thebarton move has not come without local opposition though.

The Crows original hopes of building an MCG sized training ground were scuppered in April when the club agreed to aim for a smaller Marvel Stadium sized facility instead.

Originally published as Jordan Dawson, Chelsea Randall react to Crows Thebarton move