The oval at Casey is first class but for the spectator it’s just terrible. I went to the Saints game there, got as high up as I could but still couldn’t identify clearly who the players were on the other side of the ground. I came home and watched the replay to see what had happened. So not only is the ground so far away (I can cope with the drive) but you don’t see much when you get there. And of course the weather conditions out there are problematic made worse by the lighter smaller ball the women use. It’s like the AFL don’t want the women’s game to succeed.

There are so many good options already mentioned it’s pathetic the AFL hasn’t done better.

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

It’s like the AFL don’t want the women’s game to succeed.

⬆️ The crux of it all ⬆️

20 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Having been to Punt Rd for a few VFL games it has very little room between the ground fence and the road for a lot of the ground

Yep. Punt Road was probably the worst venue I've been to to watch the women (although from memory it was a scorching hot evening, which didn't help).

45 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Yep. Punt Road was probably the worst venue I've been to to watch the women (although from memory it was a scorching hot evening, which didn't help).

One of its problems is that the large space behind the goals (non train line end) is used for the ground maintenance tractors and big shed etc. This area is closed off on game day but cleared of the tractors etc it could accomodate 200-500 people. The Swinburne centre almost touches the ground fence.

TBH it's probably not a goer for crowds moving forward.

AFLW needs to get attendances right before it goes after TV audiences. In other words build the buzz. I can understand the expansion but now there's too much product for the demand. Perhaps they should have started with combo teams. Heretical to die hards but 18/19 teams is 8/9 too many

Thanks everyone for your responses. I know the vast majority of Dees fans are on the same page about this, but I think some of us here have tried to hold back on too much talk about it, to give the club the best chance to make it work. But Round 2 and the positive experience of getting to Vic Park (wow that sounds weird to say) was kind of the final straw on that for me.

And I do want to add that the atmosphere at Casey itself once you eventually get there has always been top-notch (aside from some really weather-affected games where it felt like there were tumbleweeds blowing by).

A huge, huge part of the great vibe has been the commitment of our cheer squad, literally from day one, in being there week in, week out, putting up a proper banner (unlike many clubs in AFLW), engaging with young fans, etc. And the club puts on a great day out. Once you're actually there, it's the most family-friendly vibe of all the grounds I've been to for AFLW, with maybe only Moorabbin coming close. If you've ever gone to a footy game with young kids and struggled to keep them seated for the whole game, the vibe at Casey Fields is built for that exact situation.

All that said, for me, the trek is wearing thin. It's getting harder to get others interested in attending, even those who've enjoyed it before. They say they love the girls, love the vibe, it's just too far. And I'm not even close to putting in the kms that others here are! It's unfortunate, because I know that attending is the best way to support the league, so that it can move up to better venues, so it's a bit of a viscous circle.

12 hours ago, Slartibartfast said:

It’s like the AFL don’t want the women’s game to succeed.

I actually saw Dillon with his wife out at Vic Park for the game against Collingwood.

I think he gave a nod and a wink to the umpires before they went on that free kick spree that nearly got the Pies over the line. Or that could be just a viscous rumour

For those who went how was the Casey experience. Other than for Collingwood games it looked like a bigger crowd than most VFL games

6 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

For those who went how was the Casey experience. Other than for Collingwood games it looked like a bigger crowd than most VFL games

Pretty typical Casey day - windy, about a standard sized crowd, and a Dees win. 😁