Jump to content

The Rise and Fall of VFL Park

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

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 by leave it to deever

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1

    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!

  • Quote
    • Clap 2
     
    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.

  • Quote
    • Sad 1

    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.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     

    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.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Haha 1

    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 by Mazer Rackham

  • Quote
    • Haha 2
    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.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    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. 

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    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. 

  • Quote
    • Haha 2

    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. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    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.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    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. 

     

  • Quote
    • Clap 1
    4 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

    I hurt just reading that. Ouch.

    That loss hurt more! 

  • Quote
    • Haha 1
    • Sad 1
    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] 

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    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.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    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..

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    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.

  • Quote
    •  
    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

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    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.

  • Quote
    • Sad 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: Round 09

      Round 9 kicks off out west with the Dockers hosting a Collingwood side resting several stars. Fremantle need to make a statement on their home deck after some disappointing form on the road, while the Magpies will be keen to maintain their Top 2 position. Friday night sees a must-win clash between two sides desperate to stay in touch with the eight. St Kilda have shown glimpses while Carlton are clinging to relevance after a flat start to the season. Saturday’s twilight game at Marvel pits the Bombers against a struggling Sydney outfit. Essendon can’t afford another close match against a lower-ranked side, while the Swans risk sliding down the ladder even further. Up in Darwin, the fourth-placed Suns will look to extend their stay in the top four. The Bulldogs have hit their stride with three big wins on the trot and will be very keen to consolidate on their momentum. The always fiery Showdown looms as pivotal for both clubs. Adelaide are eyeing a spot in the Top 4 with a win, while Port Adelaide’s season could slip away if they drop another game and fall further behind the pack. Sunday begins with a yawn fest between Richmond and West Coast. The Tigers need to bank the points to stay clear of the bottom two, while the Eagles are still chasing their first win of the year. The Giants face one of the league’s toughest road trips as they travel to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats. With GWS at risk of a third straight loss, Geelong will be eager to consolidate their position inside the eight and start their climb up the ladder. The round wraps up with the top-of-the-table Lions heading to Ninja Stadium to take on the second-last Roos. The Lions should easily take care of the struggling Roos who might be powerless against the best in the comp. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Thanks
      • 142 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Hawthorn

      Melbourne and Hawthorn who face off against each other this week have more in common than having once almost merged and about to wear a blue jumper with a red v triangle and an embroidered picture of a bird on the front. They also share the MCG as their main home ground, their supporters are associated with the leafy suburbs of Melbourne and in recent times, James Frawley graced the colours of both teams. Even more recently, both have bounced back from disastrous five game losing streaks to start off a season. Of course, the Hawks turned their bounce into a successful leap from the bottom of the ladder into a finals appearance, making it to the semifinals in 2024 and this year, they’re riding high in third place on the AFL table. The Demons are just three games into their 2025 bounce back, and are yet to climb their way out of the bottom four although they are sitting a game and percentage out of the top eight. However, with the current sportsbet odds of $3.90 to win this week’s encounter, it seems a forlorn hope that their upward progression will continue much longer.

        • Thumb Down
        • Clap
        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Harvey Langford Interview

      On Wednesday I'll be interviewing the Melbourne Football Club's first pick in the 2024 National Draft and pick number 6 overall Harvey Langford. If you have any questions you want asked let me know. I will release the interview on Wednesday afternoon.

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 35 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: West Coast

      On a night of counting, Melbourne captain Max Gawn made sure that his contribution counted. He was at his best and superb in the the ruck from the very start of the election night game against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, but after watching his dominance of the first quarter and a half of the clash evaporate into nothing as the Eagles booted four goals in the last ten minutes of the opening half, he turned the game on its head, with a ruckman’s masterclass in the second half.  No superlatives would be sufficient to describe the enormity of the skipper’s performance starting with his 47 hit outs, a career-high 35 possessions (22 of them contested), nine clearances, 12 score involvements and, after messing up an attempt or two, finally capping off one of the greatest rucking performances of all time, with a goal of own in the final quarter not long after he delivered a right angled pass into the arms of Daniel Turner who also goaled from a pocket (will we ever know if the pass is what was intended). That was enough to overturn a 12 point deficit after the Eagles scored the first goal of the second half into a 29 point lead at the last break and a winning final quarter (at last) for the Demons who decided not to rest their champion ruckman at the end this time around. 

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Hawthorn

      The Demons return to the MCG to take on the High Flying Hawks on Saturday Afternoon. Hawthorn will be aiming to consolidate a position in the Top 4 whilst the Dees will be looking to take a scalp and make it four wins in a row. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 332 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: West Coast

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 5th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse the Demons 3rd win row for the season against the Eagles.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 25 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All