The Rise and Fall of VFL Park

[Demonland 66,604]

 

[leave it to deever 16,232]

Possibly may have worked if there was a rail line within 30 kms of the place.

And the car parked was sealed so you didn't need a tractor to tow you out.

Tx for posting this.

Also nicknamed Artic park.

And it was.

Edited March 20 by leave it to deever

[gs77 3,443]

Ummm... towards the end this video claims Waverley hosted the only AFL Grand Final outside the MCG in peacetime. I think not!!!  2021 says hello!

[leave it to deever 16,232]

Fond memories of seeing Simon and Garfunkel there.

[Redleg 38,124]

15 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Fond memories of seeing Simon and Garfunkel there.

I have not so fond memories of nearly breaking my hand there.

When Bucky got the 15 metre penalty against Jimmy and kicked truly after the siren in the 87 PF, I ran back and smashed what I thought was a tin pipe with my fist. Trouble was it was solid concrete.

[leave it to deever 16,232]

19 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I have not so fond memories of nearly breaking my hand there.

When Bucky got the 15 metre penalty against Jimmy and kicked truly after the siren in the 87 PF, I ran back and smashed what I thought was a tin pipe with my fist. Trouble was it was solid concrete.

I hurt just reading that. Ouch.

[Demonland 66,604]

50 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Ummm... towards the end this video claims Waverley hosted the only AFL Grand Final outside the MCG in peacetime. I think not!!!  2021 says hello!

I commented on that in the comments on YouTube.

 

[rjay 24,067]

Waverley or Docklands?

Waverley every day of the week for me.

[Master Chief 72]

I’m still stuck in the car park. HELP!

[dl4e 5,652]

Did not mind arctic park. Park down Jacksons road. Only a 10 minute exta walk. What I did hate was the white crow sauce for your pies.

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

1 hour ago, gs77 said:

Ummm... towards the end this video claims Waverley hosted the only AFL Grand Final outside the MCG in peacetime. I think not!!!  2021 says hello!

1991. Think Angry Anderson and the batmobile. And Lisa Ondeiki's hubby trying not to kill himself laughing.

(edit: oh. "only" GF. Still, worth it to remember the batmobile.)

Edited March 21 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

I ran back and smashed what I thought was a tin pipe with my fist. Trouble was it was solid concrete.

1 minute ago, dl4e said:

What I did hate was the white crow sauce for your pies.

Let's face it, Waverley Park couldn't do anything right.

[gs77 3,443]

26 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

1991. Think Angry Anderson and the batmobile. And Lisa Ondeiki's hubby trying not to kill himself laughing.

(edit: oh. "only" GF. Still, worth it to remember the batmobile.)

Angry Anderson getting poked in his leather-clad backside by the fin on that ridiculous batmobile was hilarious. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 7,371]

A soulless, windswept kip of a venue. It’s only redeeming feature today is that the housing estate that replaced it has an Ibrox Street. 

[BLWNBA 369]

Played my one and only halftime Auskick game out here. From memory it was a Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions game. 

Definitely attended a few games out here. Can't say I have overly found memories of the place compared to the 'G. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,534]

31 minutes ago, BLWNBA said:

Played my one and only halftime Auskick game out here. From memory it was a Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions game. 

Definitely attended a few games out here. Can't say I have overly found memories of the place compared to the 'G. 

One fond memory was attending the Night Grand Final we won in the 1980s. Our first piece of silverware since 1964.

[Its Time for Another 4,058]

Many memories seared into the brain from that place. The long long trip out on public transport. Especially as a kid.

You could never ever find your car in the car park after a game. It took forever to leave once you found it. 

Went to the first ever World Series Cricket game out there. Me and I believe officially 172 other people including the mate I went with. 

The '87 Prelim is seared in the memory. Watched the ball in slow motion from the kickout to Buckenara's free kick which Robbie always maintained should never have been paid as the siren went before it got to him. Jimmy walking over the mark and the most heartbreaking moment of my life when Buckenara's kick went through the middle. The only time we were behind in the game was minutes after the final siren. 

It was unknowingly built in a rain belt so was nearly permanently wet out there when it was dry everywhere else. 

 

[deegirl 1,337]

4 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I hurt just reading that. Ouch.

That loss hurt more! 

[Sir Why You Little 34,980]

3 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

1991. Think Angry Anderson and the batmobile. And Lisa Ondeiki's hubby trying not to kill himself laughing.

(edit: oh. "only" GF. Still, worth it to remember the batmobile.)

I have Roy and HG Commentary for the whole afternoon on VHS at home 

one of the biggest laughs that one

Angry in the Batmobile. 
i think that’s when i realised that the AFL was run by complete [censored] 

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,187]

Went to a few games out there and graced the turf in a VicKick game or two.
Attended the Lighting Premiership there in '96.

Traffic, parking and relative isolation gave it an almost lonely feel.
My major issue was the seating arrangement and the huge space between the boundary line and the fence, made you feel too far away from the action.  This is something that Marvel does quite well, most likely in direct response.

[rjay 24,067]

6 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

My major issue was the seating arrangement and the huge space between the boundary line and the fence, made you feel too far away from the action.  This is something that Marvel does quite well, most likely in direct response.

I used to like the view at Waverley...

Also used to park up at the Wheelers Hill Hotel and walk down to the ground.

A long walk back when you lost but at least there was a pot and parma to be had before heading home..

[DeeZone 8,001]

We attended a number of games there including the game where the Wiz I think won goal of the year running from backline to forward line after kicking to Gaz and Gaz hand balling back then kicking the goal against Hawks. Also attended the infamous Prelim in ‘87 which left us shattered. We lived at Knox at the time and quite close. We moved to Diamond Creek the following year and only occasionally ventured out after that, although went out and watched Sandringham win the Granny there in I think 2000 but the facilities were neglected by then. I worked at Colonial/Telstra/Etihad and now Marvel Stadium when I retired from real work and enjoyed my time there, the seating and vision far superior to Arctic Park although took them a long time to get the surface right.

[Neil Crompton 4,877]

Wasn’t Waverley the site of the Packer cricket circus, and the site of the world’s first drop in wicket? 

[Sir Why You Little 34,980]

6 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Wasn’t Waverley the site of the Packer cricket circus, and the site of the world’s first drop in wicket? 

Yes i went to those first WSC Games at Waverley

Fantastic Games with very small crowds, but it didn’t take long to catch on

[640MD 3,015]

1 hour ago, Its Time for Another said:

Many memories seared into the brain from that place.

The '87 Prelim is seared in the memory. Watched the ball in slow motion from the kickout to Buckenara's free kick which Robbie always maintained should never have been paid as the siren went before it got to him. Jimmy walking over the mark and the most heartbreaking moment of my life when Buckenara's kick went through the middle. The only time we were behind in the game was minutes after the final siren. 

 

 

Watched from behind the goals as well, knew once our goal was missed or that we did not tie it up that was our opportunity gone.  

It was like watching a slow motion train wreck.  I could see it all panning out wrong.