VFL 2019: Sandringham, Frankston take VFL back to Moorabbin
A young Dane Swan played for Williamstown in the last VFL match at Moorabbin. State league football returns to the ground on Sunday when Sandringham meets bayside rival Frankston.
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AFTER a long absence, VFL football returns to Moorabbin this Sunday.
And with free entry, a crowd of 4000 is expected to watch a double-header at St Kilda Football Club’s redeveloped Linton St home.
The last VFL match at the ground now known as RSEA Park was in 2002, when Springvale played a Williamstown team featuring future Brownlow Medal champion Dane Swan.
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Willy, coached by Bradley Gotch, defeated the Ken Sheldon-coached Springy.
The Vales were then aligned with St Kilda, but the Saints are now with Sandringham, which has transferred one of its home games to Moorabbin.
The Zebras will wear a clash jumper predominantly carrying the St Kilda colours.
Sandy are playing bayside rival Frankston, with a VFL Women’s game between Southern Saints and Collingwood raising the curtain the 12pm.
“There’s a lot of excitement around the day and there has been for a while,’’ Zebras CEO David Cannizzo said.
“A lot of football history is attached to Moorabbin and I think people are looking forward to going back there and seeing how it’s been redeveloped.
“It’s quickly being recognised as a hub of community football.’’
Moorabbin is home to not only the Saints, but TAC Cup club Sandringham Dragons, the Southern Football Netball League and the South Metro Junior Football League.
Cannizzo said that with free entry, the crowd could top 4000.
Cannizzo was working at the Southern league when the redevelopment was being planned, and he said it had been a “stunning’’ transformation.
“I was on the community side and perhaps had some say on the plans and vision for what it would be,’’ he said.
“And now I come here as the CEO of Sandringham, which is nice. It’s a fantastic hub.’’
Sandringham and Frankston are both coming off the bye, and are looking to stoke their seasons.
The Zebras lost their first two games but knocked over Williamstown in Round 3.
The Dolphins have made a doleful start, being thrashed in their first three games.
The VFL Women’s match is a Round 1 affair and the Southern Saints team will include AFL W recruits including Cat Phillips.
There will also be a jumping castle, face painting and giveaways courtesy of Dare and Eukanuba.
THE LAST VFL GAME PLAYED AT MOORABBIN
ROUND 20 2002
Williamstown 5.1, 10.6, 14.11, 19.18 (132) d Springvale 5.5, 8.9, 9.10, 11.11 (77)
Williamstown goals: Pearce 3, Molloy 2, Smoker 2, Podsiadly 2, Lloyd 2, Steinfort 2, Lovett-Murray, Kinnear, Betheras, Fletcher, Swan, Dimattina.
Best: Steinfort, Smoker, Betheras, Cole, Molloy, Dimattina.
Springvale goals: Smith 2, Pitt 2, Harrison 2, Caples, Carmody, Davis, Oliver, Rigg.
Best: Caples, Davis, Carroll, Harrison, B Schwarze, Cranston.
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