The Rise and Fall of VFL Park

[Its Time for Another 4,306]

  On 21/03/2024 at 05:23, 640MD said:

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.

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I also watched it from behind the goals at the opposite end to Buckenara's goal. Watched all those misses at that end coming towards me. Eishold, Tony Campbell who just had to handball to Robbie standing on his own in the goal square and instead blazed and missed, and someone else, maybe Yeates. Still a heart breaker. 

[Cranky Franky 2,270]

Used to hitch-hike there from Dandenong. A beautiful large surface made to play fast open footy.

Wish they'd kept it. Could have redeveloped the stands. Just needed to run a train line to it

[In Harmes Way 7,870]

  On 21/03/2024 at 01:24, BLWNBA said:

Can't say I have overly found memories of the place compared to the 'G. 

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I fondly remember us beating WCE there in the 1988 elimination final (I think it was) by 4 pts or so. Garry Lyon kicked a beautiful snap to put us in front with 40 secs to go, then WCE streaming forward from the next centre bounce, only to kick a point and lose (not that any of us noticed this part, we were all still celebrating Lyon's goal).

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

My best memory of VFL Park is my first. It was in 1971 when John “Diamond Jim” Tilbrook made his debut on a wintry day against South Melbourne. 

He was a big man - 184cm and, dare I disclose this in these nanny days, he weighed a massive 94kg. When he ran out onto the ground in the gloomy conditions, he looked like Superman. He was wearing his Melbourne colours but he might well have worn a cape and had an S on his chest. When he took his first kick, he was on the wing and went bang unleashing a monster 70 plus metres kick that almost sailed right through the big sticks. The Dees won easily and I thought we had a new messiah. Sadly, it didn’t turn out that way.

[Its Time for Another 4,306]

  On 21/03/2024 at 01:56, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

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

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I was there too. 1987 Night Grand Final.

It was a bloody miserable and freezing wet night. Robbie was injured and couldn't play and Essendon had their best team in. I was invited out by a friend who's bank manager had invited him to a box. I went out there expecting a loss but a free feed in heated luxury. We had to wear a suit and tie. We got out there and it wasn't a box it was just an area where the seats had a little divider around them. It was right next to the siren. It virtually parted your hair every time it went off. Absolutely froze to death and got soaked and it was bloody glorious. Also the first silver wear I ever saw. Ran onto the ground after the win for the presentation. Robbie was carried to the stage on the players shoulders to accept the trophy as Captain even though he hadn't played. 

[leave it to deever 17,618]

  On 21/03/2024 at 05:29, Cranky Franky said:

Used to hitch-hike there from Dandenong. A beautiful large surface made to play fast open footy.

Wish they'd kept it. Could have redeveloped the stands. Just needed to run a train line to it

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I think they maybe planned a train line.

The lesson is make sure the train is there first.

 

[layzie 34,528]

  On 20/03/2024 at 22:27, Demonland said:

 

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Watched this a couple of days ago. I love Phillip's videos, he's got some great knowledge of Melbourne landmarks. Highly recommend his channel.

[A Bit Of Biff 27]

Loved Waverely Park, for me it was a 15min drive.

Yes the car park was mud but if you knew how to drive it was OK. never got bogged.

Same era you would have similar conditions at the G

Facilities there where great for the day, food etc were good.

Even saw Kiss there, my ears still hurt.

[Sir Why You Little 37,459]

  On 21/03/2024 at 07:13, A Bit Of Biff said:

Loved Waverely Park, for me it was a 15min drive.

Yes the car park was mud but if you knew how to drive it was OK. never got bogged.

Same era you would have similar conditions at the G

Facilities there where great for the day, food etc were good.

Even saw Kiss there, my ears still hurt.

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Those Pink Hot Dogs were disgusting!!!

With the 20 litre Sauce bottles, they could shoot across the room!!!

Facilities were atrocious…

[A Bit Of Biff 27]

  On 21/03/2024 at 07:43, Sir Why You Little said:

Those Pink Hot Dogs were disgusting!!!

With the 20 litre Sauce bottles, they could shoot across the room!!!

Facilities were atrocious…

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But how good is the ****z food they sell at the G

Pies luke warm and chips that as so soggy I would not let my kids eat them

Facilities at the G are so bad I no loger go there with my kids

Train Stations are so over crowdered you are packed in like sardiens

Parking is just junk

[Diamond_Jim 12,774]

  On 21/03/2024 at 06:52, leave it to deever said:

I think they maybe planned a train line.

The lesson is make sure the train is there first.

 

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Yes ... it was to be a spur line from Glen Waverley station

[leave it to deever 17,618]

  On 21/03/2024 at 08:05, Diamond_Jim said:

Yes ... it was to be a spur line from Glen Waverley station

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Thanks DJ.

Would have obviously been an above ground track and a royal fortune to build.

So three trains to get there.

 

Edited March 21, 2024 by leave it to deever

[Diamond_Jim 12,774]

  On 21/03/2024 at 08:06, leave it to deever said:

Would have obviously been an above ground track and a royal fortune to build.

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At the time there was a lot of open space once you got to Ferntree Gully/Wellington Road

Getting there and across Springvale Rd might have been a challenge

[Sir Why You Little 37,459]

  On 21/03/2024 at 07:59, A Bit Of Biff said:

But how good is the ****z food they sell at the G

Pies luke warm and chips that as so soggy I would not let my kids eat them

Facilities at the G are so bad I no loger go there with my kids

Train Stations are so over crowdered you are packed in like sardiens

Parking is just junk

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I haven’t eaten food at the Footy for years

$20 for a Red Rooster Chicken Roll was the last time

 

[Queanbeyan Demon 7,027]

  On 20/03/2024 at 22:46, 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!

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It's riddled with factual errors. I said that in the comments on YT. Another picked up 10 errors.

[redandbluemakepurple 377]

  On 21/03/2024 at 03:21, Its Time for Another said:

Jimmy walking over the mark and the most heartbreaking moment of my life when Buckenara's kick went through the middle.

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I then always think that Grinter didn't need to pointlessly push Buckenara in the back.

[whatwhat say what 23,864]

my only from memory of arctic park was allen jakovich tearing either shane heard or alan ezard a new one in an elimination final

from memory, jako was quiet in the first half and then exploded

[Tim 3,545]

  On 20/03/2024 at 22:46, 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!

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And our very own MFC won our first GF at the old East Melbourne ground in 1900.

[Its Time for Another 4,306]

  On 21/03/2024 at 05:48, Whispering_Jack said:

My best memory of VFL Park is my first. It was in 1971 when John “Diamond Jim” Tilbrook made his debut on a wintry day against South Melbourne. 

He was a big man - 184cm and, dare I disclose this in these nanny days, he weighed a massive 94kg. When he ran out onto the ground in the gloomy conditions, he looked like Superman. He was wearing his Melbourne colours but he might well have worn a cape and had an S on his chest. When he took his first kick, he was on the wing and went bang unleashing a monster 70 plus metres kick that almost sailed right through the big sticks. The Dees won easily and I thought we had a new messiah. Sadly, it didn’t turn out that way.

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I have a similar memory of him from a couple of years after that at the Western Oval. He kicked out from the dead centre of  the ground, I don’t think there was even a centre circle in those days little own a centre square, it went through at post height. Longest kick I’ve ever seen. Of course it went through the points. 

[John Crow Batty 8,893]

Many fans hoped that scores were not too close at the end of games so that they could leave early in junk time and avoid the car park exit gridlock. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,137]

  On 21/03/2024 at 06:52, leave it to deever said:

I think they maybe planned a train line.

The lesson is make sure the train is there first.

 

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There are a number of interesting political nuances which I've heard over the years, but I'm not sure what's true and what isn't:

1. Sir Kenneth Luke, who was the Chairman of the then VFL (and before that, President of Carlton), had a feud with the Melbourne Cricket Club which controlled the MCG and decided to build Waverley Park to spite the MCC once he couldn't get whatever it is he wanted for the VFL at the MCG;
2. The Waverley location was "justified" by the VFL because most of the new housing developments were extending Melbourne eastwards and the suburb of Waverley was expected to be in the demographic centre of Melbourne by the time it opened;
3. Before the decision to develop Waverley Park was made, Luke had advice that the government, with Henry Bolte as Premier, had decided to build a railway line that would pass by Monash Uni and then Waverley Park;
4. For whatever reason (budgetary, maybe?) the government had to make a decision between extending the railway line past Waverley Park or extending a different line which subsequently became the train line to Dandenong;
5. The decision to build the train line to Dandenong was made because Bolte thought a racetrack which went via Sandown Racecourse was a better option than one that would go via a new football stadium.

If anyone can confirm or reject any of the above, feel free to do so. I'm not in a position to confirm any of them. 

[In Harmes Way 7,870]

  On 21/03/2024 at 20:48, Tim said:

And our very own MFC won our first GF at the old East Melbourne ground in 1900.

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But the video did stipulate peace time TIm, and the boer war was still going strong in 1900.

[The heart beats true 18,201]

  On 21/03/2024 at 06:54, layzie said:

Watched this a couple of days ago. I love Phillip's videos, he's got some great knowledge of Melbourne landmarks. Highly recommend his channel.

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I just checked out his other videos and subscribed. Anyone who has a video called ‘Melbourne’s Banh Mi Map’ is alright with me.

Thanks for the recommend.

[Cranky Franky 2,270]

  On 21/03/2024 at 23:19, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

1.  
2. Before the decision to develop Waverley Park was made, Luke had advice that the government, with Henry Bolte as Premier, had decided to build a railway line that would pass by Monash Uni and then Waverley Park;
3. For whatever reason (budgetary, maybe?) the government had to make a decision between extending the railway line past Waverley Park or extending a different line which subsequently became the train line to Dandenong;
4. The decision to build the train line to Dandenong was made because Bolte thought a racetrack which went via Sandown Racecourse was a better option than one that would go via a new football stadium.

If anyone can confirm or reject any of the above, feel free to do so. I'm not in a position to confirm any of them. 

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They expected that a train connection to VFL Park would be built but it never happened.

The Dandenong line (& Gippsland connections) were all operating many years before the footy ground was built.

[Romey 172]

I was there when Warwick Capper took this mark on Chris Langford’s shoulders with his feet above his head!  
 

Probably the best mark I have ever seen live.