Western Bulldogs hope to play AFL matches at Whitten Oval under $150m redevelopment plan

The Western Bulldogs have revealed a $150 million proposal which could bring AFL back to Whitten Oval within five years. See the full plans.

AFL matches for premiership points would return to the Whitten Oval within five years under a bold $150 million redevelopment plan.

The Western Bulldogs have confirmed they will push to play “heritage” games at the kennel in coming seasons by increasing crowd capacity at their spiritual home to 18,000.

Low-drawing interstate clubs like Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney would be the most likely opponents if the AFL ticks off on the proposal.

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“We would love to see the occasional heritage AFL match return to the ground in time,” Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains told the Herald Sun.

Digital images of how a Whitten Oval redevelopment would look.

“A redeveloped Whitten Oval for AFLW matches, with increased capacity and a first-class match day experience, certainly makes that a real opportunity.”

The redevelopment plan includes demolition and rebuilding of the Whitten Stand, an indoor training field, convention centre, football department, increased seating and broadcast-quality light towers at a cost of about $45 million.

The Dogs want a revamped Whitten Oval to become a central hub for the game’s growing women’s competition.

Whitten Oval’s capacity would be increased to 18,000 under the proposed plan.

State and federal funds and the intended sale of the Bulldogs’ two poker machines venues at Footscray and Dromana will help pay for the Whitten Oval rebuild, Bains said.

“We currently have $1m funding from the State Government to conduct more detailed design,” he said.

“There is also a compelling business case outlining the significant community benefits our redevelopment will bring that will shortly be formally submitted. We expect this to lead to further State Government support.”

The Bulldogs prepare to run through the banner in Round 21, 1997.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula said last night: “We’ve made an election commitment to provide $1 million towards design work for the master plan — we look forward to seeing the plan when it’s completed and talking to the Dogs and the AFL about the Bulldogs’ ambitions.”

A town square-style piazza, public running track and large residential development on crown land at the ground’s Geelong Rd end gifted to the club last year are also detailed.

“Our masterplan reflects the club’s long-term vision of the Whitten Oval precinct as a hub for the west that attracts and connects our community to the football club and gives our club the best chance of success on and off the field,” Bains said.

Digital images of what a redeveloped Whitten Oval might look like.

“Our immediate focus is to improve the experience of watching football at the venue to ensure the Whitten Oval remains one of the key AFL priority venues for AFLW matches.

“It will also involve a slightly reoriented playing surface and broadcast lighting quality, something the AFL has committed to investing in, given it sees the ground as a model venue for AFLW matches, especially at night.”

Bains added: “A redeveloped precinct will provide an amazing base for our four teams, and we expect the football facilities to be a huge drawcard for the club keeping and attracting star players.

“We will undertake member and local community engagement about our plans in the coming months.”

The last match played at Whitten Oval, formerly the Western Oval, was played on August 23, 1997 when the Bulldogs beat West Coast by 18 points.