Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides, Western Bulldogs, back calls to return AFL games to suburban grounds
The Western Bulldogs have joined the chorus of clubs and AFL legends like Anthony Koutoufides in seeking to play for premiership points at suburban grounds, with hopes they could step onto their spiritual home, Whitten Oval.
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The Western Bulldogs say they will be waiting “at the front of the queue” if the AFL decides to return matches to suburban grounds later this year.
The Bulldogs have held “early stages” talks with the league over the prospect of hosting matches at Whitten Oval should crowds be again locked out of games when football returns.
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Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains applauded the AFL players for agreeing to play up until the end of December this year if required to complete a season once he coronavirus threat subsides.
However, such an extended season would create challenges with many AFL venues already booked out for cricket from mid-October.
“I think what it really comes down to is what venues are available given potential clashes with cricket venues but also considerations around whether fans are attending or not,” Bains told the Herald Sun.
“In those situations I think it makes sense to explore venues like ours that already host AFLW games and could easily host AFL games if you don’t have crowds.
“If everything’s operating like normal you’d love to fill Marvel Stadium. We’ve still got two games fixtured to play at MARS Stadium in Ballarat and Ballarat doesn’t have the same challenges around cricket that others do.
“There are a few options. If it got to the point where the AFL were keen to explore it, we’d happily be at the front of the queue to have games at VU Whitten Oval.”
Several other Melbourne-based clubs are open to the concept including Carlton, North Melbourne, Collingwood and St Kilda.
The AFL would not comment specifically on the issue on Tuesday, but conceded all options would be on the table in the post-pandemic era.
Princes Park, Arden St Oval, Victoria Park and Moorabbin Oval all hosted AFLW or Marsh Community Series matches this year.
If football was able to get back in 2020 it’s likely fans would again be locked out of venues to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Carlton voiced its willingness to play for premiership points at Princes Park recently, as has Collingwood.
North Melbourne is also interested in Arden St Oval being part of a modified 2020 fixture.
For the concept to get off the ground the AFL would first need to broker deals with stadiums, sponsors and broadcasters.
Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides welcomed the opportunity for some throwback games.
“The AFL is going to have to look at alternative ways to save money,” the Australian football Hall of Fame member said.
“If they have to (use suburban grounds) I'm a big supporter of it … I grew up in that era and I thought it (football) was at its greatest in the 1980s and ’90s, so I'd be all for it.
The former Carlton captain played 84 of his 278 games at Princes Park, including the last match for points at the Blues' spiritual home in 2005.
“They were just incredible days at the old suburban grounds and for us, in particular, at Princes Park the 20,000 there was like 80,000 at the MCG,” he said.
“You never ever forget those moments and it was a really sad day when we said goodbye to Princes Park in 2005.”
St Kilda is another club open to the idea of playing games at its spiritual home at Moorabbin.
“If there was a need for additional grounds to be available then we would be open to using RSEA Park,” a Saints spokesman said yesterday.
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“Marvel Stadium looks the most likely option for St Kilda matches but we would of course do what was best for the fixture in order to complete another 16 rounds plus finals.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said yesterday that if advertising signage could be installed at suburban grounds there would be nothing else stopping them from hosting matches.
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