Cranny stands its ground

By Jarrod Potter
CRANBOURNE Football Club has beaten a City of Casey Council proposal to move it off the main oval at Casey Fields.
A busload of Cranbourne’s teenage players went to the council meeting to protest the proposal.
The proposal would have moved Cranbourne from the AFL-standard oval one onto two smaller ovals to maintain the playing surface of the main oval.
Cranbourne Football Club president Gerry Kelly said the decision at Tuesday’s council meeting was a great victory for the club. He applauded the efforts of the councillors who stood up for the Eagles to stay put.
“I think councillors Geoff Ablett, Kevin Bradford and Amanda Stapledon are doing an outstanding job of representing our club and the ward,” Kelly said.
“All we want is to play our seniors, reserves and under 18s games at a stadium that has a real aura about it.
“Hopefully, now the Cranbourne Football Club can just get on with being a local sporting club, reaching out to all sections of the community,” he said.
Cranbourne under 18s coach Alan Courtney moved training night so his players could be at the meeting. Courtney said the victory ensured the club would stay together at the main oval, but it was disappointing for this result to go to a council vote.
“With oval one now definitely staying as Cranbourne’s home ground, the under 18s have a pathway to the seniors and a sense of belonging,” Courtney said.
“It’s a real shame it took practically minded councillors, who know local clubs and know the community, to fight the council officers for Cranbourne’s right to a home ground,” Courtney said.
Cranbourne U18s, Reserves and Seniors play Devon Meadows on Casey Fields Oval One from 3pm Saturday.