Collingwood’s spiritual home Victoria Park to host first AFLW game

The Collingwood army has been called on to turn up in force at Victoria Park on Saturday as the famous suburban ground hosts in first AFLW match.

Ash Brazill and Brittany Bonnici ring in the first AFLW game to be played at Victoria Park. Picture: Jay Town

Collingwood’s Ash Brazill has called on the Magpie army to turn up in force on Saturday as the past collides with the future in the first AFLW match at the club’s spiritual home at Victoria Park.

Twenty years on from the last AFL match at the venue, the Magpies’ AFLW team will take on Melbourne at the famous suburban ground that hosted league matches for more than a century — right through until 1999.

AFL BUOYED BY NEW RULES AFTER AFLW SUCCESS

ROBBO: AFLW DOESN’T DESERVE ABUSE, HATE

Although she grew up in New South Wales, 29-year-old Brazill has quickly learnt the passion that comes with supporting or playing for Collingwood, balancing her netball career with the Magpies with her burgeoning AFLW duties.

“It definitely means a lot to be playing here,” Brazill told the Herald Sun after being pictured with teammate Brittany Bonnici, along with the bell that was used at Collingwood home games during its halcyon years.

“I didn’t grow up barracking for the Magpies and didn’t even really understand AFL as a kid, but coming to the club as a netballer, they talk to you about the history and what it means to be a part of Collingwood.

“To hear about it is unbelievable and to be a part of that history ourselves now, that is so exciting.

“No matter where Collingwood plays, I feel as if the supporters are with us. But to play here at the club’s original home, we hope we can get as many fans as we can to the game to show the players what it was like playing here.”

Collingwood AFLW players Ash Brazill and Brittany Bonnici at Victoria Park with the bell used at home games. Picture Jay Town

Collingwood historian Michael Roberts said it was fitting to have Victoria Park host its first AFLW game this weekend, given the role women have played for the club across 127 years.

“Collingwood has always been one of the leaders when it has come to the support of its female fans,” Roberts said.

“We were one of the first clubs to have a separate pavilion for women (1900); we made particular efforts back in the 1890s to bring women and children to the football; and we were one of the first clubs to have full voting rights for women (1983).

“Women have always played a huge part in the club’s success, not just as supporters, but as deadset, one-eyed Magpie fans.”

The club’s VFL team has played some of its home games at the ground in recent years. It will host two AFLW games at the venue this year.

Collingwood players run through banner before the last AFL game at Victoria Park. Picture: Graham Crouch

Brazil said she felt as if she was living out most girls’ dreams in being able to combine football with netball with the same club, and said her wife (Brooke) and her parents had been a great support for her.

“They are starting to love footy better than netball,” she said.

She was Collingwood’s best player in last week’s narrow loss to Geelong, but is hopeful the Magpies can hit back with a win against the Demons on Saturday.

“We’re such a young team, and I love saying that being one of the older ones,” she said.

“You might have 18-year-olds coming through in other sports and thinking they are so young, but in AFLW some of the 18-year-olds are often the best players.

“We can’t wait to play here on Saturday. We’re really looking forward to it.”