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 feature a new AFLW/VFLW unisex change room with improved coaches and medical facilities, along with a new canteen and kiosk and upgrades to the drainage system.
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.
Works are anticipated to kick-off in late September starting with the change room refurbishment – which is due to be completed in time for the 2020 AFLW season, with additional new facilities being completed by mid-2020.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon said Council was proud of its partnership with the Melbourne Football Club and the benefits it continued to bring to fruition.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said she was impressed by the designs with the advantages for females in the south-east and beyond being “tremendous.”
Melbourne Football Club CEO Gary Pert said it was an exciting announcement that will “create opportunities that will deliver elite facilities and promote participation for females in the Casey region.”
“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.
Mr Pert thanked the State Government, the City of Casey and the AFL for their support.
The State Government will contribute $5 million in funding towards the project, with Council to contribute $2.5 million and the AFL, $500,000.
