Frankston Oval (Kinetic Stadium)

[Bobby McKenzie 2,208]

I was wondering if this ground is up to the mark for AFLW games and VFL .  Is the surface OK?

Our girls seemed to play pretty well there on Friday though. Thoughts?

[DeelightfulPlay 2,268]

The wings are pretty narrow apparently, so maybe it's a little GMBHA like 

[Dingo 838]

A friend lives in Frankston and says the surface is pretty good.

[WalkingCivilWar 33,489]

1 hour ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

The wings are pretty narrow apparently, so maybe it's a little GMBHA like 

And that’s where the similarity ends. 😁

Frankston Oval is a great ground; a relaxed and happy vibe, a big screen, food and drinks reasonably priced, close to the train station and friendly welcoming ground staff… everything that the sh!tt-hole in Geelong isn’t.

The surface seemed fine. Definitely wasn’t slippery and the players didn’t seem to have any issues with it. 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,208]

7 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

And that’s where the similarity ends. 😁

Frankston Oval is a great ground; a relaxed and happy vibe, a big screen, food and drinks reasonably priced, close to the train station and friendly welcoming ground staff… everything that the sh!tt-hole in Geelong isn’t.

The surface seemed fine. Definitely wasn’t slippery and the players didn’t seem to have any issues with it. 

Thanks WCW

Sounds pretty good. How would it compare with Casey oval?

[WalkingCivilWar 33,489]

1 minute ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Thanks WCW

Sounds pretty good. How would it compare with Casey oval?

I think in most respects they’re about the same. The surface at Casey is just as good as at Frankston but the amenities are better at Frankston. They’re both renowned for being super windy but the wind at Frankston was one-way not the swirly unpredictable wind that is ever present at Casey. Frankston is not out in the middle of nowhere like Casey which is a bonus. For mine though, there’s nothing quite like Ikon. It’s perfect and our girls love playing there which is no surprise since we’ve never lost a W match there. 💪

Incidentally, thanks to the Lions beating North today 🥳 we’re on top of the ladder (equal on points with the only other unbeaten side, that being Adelaide) and with a healthy percentage. ❤️💙

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 4,083]

9 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

I was wondering if this ground is up to the mark for AFLW games and VFL .  Is the surface OK?

Our girls seemed to play pretty well there on Friday though. Thoughts?

All of the above. Here's my obs, fwiw.

Definitely up to the mark for AFLW games. I might check out a Casey game there now; I suspect it's good for VFL, too. No AFL scope, though.

The grass looks (and feels) like Casey, almost carpet-like. It's extraordinary that such large areas can be kept in such condition. Casey has come on quite a bit since Melbourne's first games there, iirc.

I noted elsewhere Eliza McNamara, post-match, pointing out the narrow wings, the consequent issues, and how they dealt with them, and my observation the experience might help them with KP on Thursday. The pockets there are deeper, for the width, though, I think? Frankston is more a true oval, squeezed. I'm not sure pockets are such a problem, though, for 16-a-side and the AFLW game style.

Frankston's flatter than Casey, too, so, with the narrowness, it's easier to see the action on the far side. I watched from the south wing for 3 quarters then the beach end in the last. Tough the sunset reflected off the northern stand windows, while magic, was a brief viewing challenge!

Off field, the facilities were more community market style, with multiple food van offerings and kids activities, at the beach end. So, a somewhat more community experience and atmosphere than Casey.

Street parking proved OK, after a bit of a drive-around. There's no 'broad-acre' car parking à la Casey.

I could have done without the PA'd calls to 'Make some noise, Hawks fans!' And they really didn't.

Edited September 24, 2023 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Frankston Oval is also right near pub corner and the main entertainment precinct in town. So after a game you have a host of options as to where to go.

Need something for the kids, take them to the cinema, Holey Moley or General Public. Want a craft beer, then Hop Shop and Cheeky Squire are right there. Want to hit the night clubs, The Deck and Lona Bar are near by. Want a counter meal and pokies, The Grand is also there. Or want to get in a fight, well Flanagans is also close by!

Perfect positioning for what the town has to offer.

Edited September 24, 2023 by MadAsHell

[Nascent 7,469]

Guessing the oval has good energy

[WalkingCivilWar 33,489]

4 hours ago, Nascent said:

Guessing the oval has good energy

Absolutely! Really family-friendly which is awesome since with so many kids there it made for a very buoyant and heartening atmosphere. Also, most fans (they were predicting 1500 would attend but 2500 turned up!) were *passionate devotees as opposed to neutrals lobbing up coz they live in the area.

*in stark contrast to yesterday’s VFL GF at Ikon where apart from the Suns cheer squad pretty much every “Suns fan” I spoke with was there because they live nearby and because free Suns caps and scarves were being given out at the ground pregame. The Werribee supporters seemed to be true fans, though. 

[WalkingCivilWar 33,489]

5 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

I could have done without the PA'd calls to 'Make some noise, Hawks fans!' And they really didn't.

On this subject, the music being played during the breaks was ridiculously loud. The loudest I’ve ever experienced at any ground. I thought it was just because I’m old and grumpy 😁 but I asked the opinion of the kids and teenagers who were with us and they agreed wholeheartedly. Granted, we were not far from the speakers, but even at Casey - where we’re closer to the speakers - it’s not nearly as deafening. I asked the DJ about the volume (this time it is coz I’m old and grumpy 😁) and he said it’s so people on the other side of the ground could hear clearly. I guess no one thought to put speakers on the other side. 🤷‍♀️ 

[Old Bear 388]

Did a preseason there in 74 seemed bloody huge then with the No of laps required by the coaches 😡

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 4,083]

21 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

On this subject, the music being played during the breaks was ridiculously loud. The loudest I’ve ever experienced at any ground. I thought it was just because I’m old and grumpy 😁 but I asked the opinion of the kids and teenagers who were with us and they agreed wholeheartedly. Granted, we were not far from the speakers, but even at Casey - where we’re closer to the speakers - it’s not nearly as deafening. I asked the DJ about the volume (this time it is coz I’m old and grumpy 😁) and he said it’s so people on the other side of the ground could hear clearly. I guess no one thought to put speakers on the other side. 🤷‍♀️ 

...except they did (I was between 2) so there's porkies, right there!

I did notice the one in your ears as I came in. Commiserations!

Sun. Speakers. All senses assaulted, eh? I trust the smells were acceptable. I noted the coffee van was nearby...

[WalkingCivilWar 33,489]

14 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

...except they did (I was between 2) so there's porkies, right there!

I did notice the one in your ears as I came in. Commiserations!

Sun. Speakers. All senses assaulted, eh? I trust the smells were acceptable. I noted the coffee van was nearby...

The coffee van copped a hiding!
Nice coffee + reasonable price + me = healthy profit for coffee van. 😁

Watched the replay yesterday and was disappointed that there wasn’t a single shot of us (apart from one 2-second shot of our two largest flags) when we probably were quite the spectacle. We recently got new giant heads and they were being held up all in a row but this wasn’t shown. All good though, the girls saw us and that’s what matters most. They appreciate everything. I was holding Goldie’s head and at one point she was in the goal-square, play was up the other end, and she looked over and smiled and waved at me. Love those girls so much. 

Edited September 25, 2023 by WalkingCivilWar

[Dees_In_October 3,346]

6 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Watched the replay yesterday and was disappointed that there wasn’t a single shot of us (apart from one 2-second shot of our two largest flags) when we probably were quite the spectacle.

I always look (and listen) for the Army when watching at home! Could definitely hear the chants at times. Agree it's really annoying when the crowd is on the non-broadcast side and they don't show it. Even at Casey where usually the crowd is in-camera, at the Dogs game everyone was bunched at the ends on the other side to get out of the sun, which probably didn't show up on camera.

Watching a few other games this season, I have noticed that commentators are drawing attention to this more often and the cameras are showing the crowd on the non-broadcast side more at grounds like Ikon, GMHBA and Windy Hill.