Casey Fields is set to receive $8 million in upgrades to support elite women’s football, further securing the venue as Melbourne Football Club’s AFLW base for the long-term.
The State Government, City of Casey and AFL are jointly funding a major upgrade at the Cranbourne East venue which will deliver a range of new facilities to cater for high-performance training, including a state-of the-art strength and conditioning facility and an indoor training space with synthetic grass.
The project will also include the development of a new, dedicated AFLW/VFLW unisex changeroom with improved coaches and medical facilities, along with a new canteen and kiosk and upgrades to the drainage system.
The plans were unveiled on Saturday 10 August as part of the City of Casey Round at the MCG – an annual event which celebrates and showcases the 30-year partnership between Casey and the Melbourne Football Club.
The State Government, through Sport and Recreation Victoria, has announced $5 million in funding towards the project, with Council to contribute $2.5 million and the AFL, $500,000.
City of Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said council was proud of its partnership with the Melbourne Football Club and the benefits it continued to bring to fruition.
“This latest investment in our premier sporting precinct, Casey Fields, demonstrates the commitment to further strengthening AFLW and female football in general in Casey,” she said.
“While this project will deliver enhancements to improve the facilities for AFLW/VFLW competition and training, it will also have positive flow-on benefits for our community. This includes the improved participation outcomes that come with having elite sport on our doorstep to inspire the next generation of footballers and solidify a clear pathway to play elite football for women and girls across the region.
“We thank the State Government and AFL for their contribution towards this project and supporting council and Melbourne Football Club to further establish Casey Fields as the home of female football in the south-east of Melbourne.”
Melbourne Football Club CEO Gary Pert said this was an extremely exciting announcement for the Casey region and the Melbourne Football Club.
“The elite training facilities will not only benefit our AFLW and VFLW teams but also create a pathway for the next generation of female players,” he said.
“This funding will enable Melbourne to accelerate the expansion of AFLW and VFLW programs at Casey Fields and create opportunities that will deliver elite facilities and promote participation for females in the Casey region. This further strengthens our commitment to the Casey community.
“The facilities will not only benefit our AFLW and VFLW programs but will be made available for community sport which is great news for the local residents of Casey.
“We would like to thank the Victorian State Government, City of Casey and the AFL for their ongoing support and active role and commitment to this project as we continue our investment in women’s football.”
It’s anticipated that the project will kick-off in late September, commencing with the changeroom refurbishment – which is due to be completed in time for the 2020 AFLW season. Additional facilities will be completed by mid-2020.
