Image: Lachie Chugg
AFL Victoria is pleased to announce that Mornington Peninsula Shire’s redevelopment of the Alexandra Park Pavilion has been named the winner of the 2025 AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award.
The redevelopment of Alexandra Park was a collaborative effort between local council, state government, federal government, community groups and AFL Victoria, with the new facility hosting its first football match since the redevelopment earlier this year.
A community group known as the Alexandra Park Project Group, raised $400,000 in donations to contribute to the project, an inspirational example of community advocacy, supported by an additional $100,000 contribution from AFL Victoria.
This was bolstered by a partnership with The Bays Healthcare and the Federal Government’s Community Health and Hospitals Program, which saw $2.6 million contributed to the shared facilities, along with $4.5 million from the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and $2.9 million from the Victorian Government through the Growing Suburbs Fund.
The redevelopment was designed to address major concerns with the outdated and rundown facilities, including the old, open showers, inadequate changing rooms, a lack of unisex amenities, and insufficient space for social gatherings and functions.
The $10.5 million project marks a significant milestone for the Mornington community, with the redevelopment transforming the park into a premier sporting and community hub. The two-storey, multi-use pavilion houses improved football and cricket facilities along with allied health and medical suites as a result of the partnership with The Bays Healthcare.
The pavilion now offers gender-neutral home and away change rooms, complete with shower and toilet cubicles, medical and trainer rooms, all compliant with the AFL’s Preferred Facility Guidelines.
The Mornington Junior Football Club, Mornington Football Netball Club and the Peninsula Raiders AFL Masters teams will benefit from the upgraded facility, offering more space for functions, meetings and training sessions.
The facilities were officially opened by the local council late last year, with the first football matches being played there in early 2025. Since then, the football clubs that share Alexandra Park have seen a 5 per cent increase in registered participation, with more than 750 locals now part of a football program across the junior, senior and AFL Masters clubs. This growth in participation also includes a 4 per cent increase in women and girls’ registrations compared to 2024.
The AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award is announced annually to recognise best practice in community football facility development across the state, along with the people, clubs and other stakeholders driving the best projects in Victoria.
As winner of the AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award, Alexandra Park will be put forward as the Victorian nomination for the national AFL Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award.
AFL Victoria Venue and Government Partnerships Manager Jessie Doull said:
“On behalf of AFL Victoria, I am thrilled to acknowledge the redevelopment of Alexandra Park Pavilion as the deserving winner of the AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award for 2025,” Doull said.
“As football participation continues to grow in Victoria, it’s important that our facilities evolve to support increased demand. This redevelopment supports the growing football programs here in Mornington and also provides a community hub for the wider Mornington population to enjoy.”
Alexandra Park Project Group President Mick Wunderly said:
“The Alexandra Park Pavilion is a fantastic achievement showing what can be done when the community, government and council come together.”
Past winners of the AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award include:
• 2024: City of Casey – Clyde Recreation Reserve
• 2023: Mildura Sporting Precinct *NATIONAL WINNER*
• 2022: Warrnambool - Reid Oval *NATIONAL WINNER*
• 2021: City of Moreland – Coburg City Oval
• 2020: Melton City Council – MacPherson Park *NATIONAL WINNER*