AFL Victoria has announced a shortlist of finalists for the 2024 AFL Victoria Best Community Facilities Project Award, with four recently developed community football facilities in the running for the top honour.
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.
The winner of the AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award will be announced at the end of each calendar year and put forward as the Victorian nomination for the national AFL Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award.
The 2024 winner will be selected by AFL Victoria and announced on Wednesday 11 December.
2024 FINALISTS
City of Casey - Clyde Recreation Reserve Redevelopment in Clyde
The City of Casey upgraded and expanded Clyde Recreation Reserve by constructing three Australian Rules football/cricket ovals and two multipurpose pavilions, along with two netball courts, and eight tennis courts to meet significant demand for active open space in the local area.
The Clyde Cougars Football Club will benefit from this redevelopment to their home ground facilities, which came at a total project cost of $21.5 million.
Clyde Cougars Football Club President Craig Chapman said the redevelopment has had a significant impact on the rate of female participation at the club, due to the increased facilities available.
“Developments like this are not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about creating opportunities and providing equal opportunities for girls and boys to play our great game of AFL and all the other sports that get to use these magnificent facilities,” Chapman said.
“We’ve not only grown but doubled in size from last season because of the magnificent facilities. We’ve gone from less than 10 girls enrolled last season to approximately 50 this season and that’s an awesome achievement.”
Since the club has relocated back to the reserve post-redevelopment, it has been able to field three girls-only football teams for the first time in the club’s history.
City of Greater Geelong - Lara Recreation Reserve Pavilion Development in Lara
The City of Greater Geelong Council delivered a new multi-purpose pavilion at Lara Recreation Reserve to service the local football and baseball clubs. The pavilion includes gender-neutral player and umpire changerooms, a social room, café, public amenities, a timekeeper’s box, and ample storage facilities.
The Lara Football Netball Club will benefit from the brand-new pavilion at their home ground, which came at a total project cost of $5.5 million.
Deputy Mayor and City of Greater Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken said the new facilities will support the diverse needs of the Lara community for years to come.
“These comprehensive and all-ability facilities will take sport and recreation in Lara to the next level, especially in women’s sport,” he said.
The brand-new pavilion and football club facilities helped Lara FNC to host the AFL Barwon Junior Girl’s Grand Final earlier this year.
Kingston City Council - Regents Park in Aspendale
The Kingston City Council constructed a brand-new double storey pavilion to support the local football club, including gender-neutral player and umpire changerooms, a social room, alongside the development of two brand-new netball courts.
The Edithvale Aspendale Football Netball Club will benefit from these upgraded facilities at their home ground of Regents Park, costing a total of $8.9 million.
Edithvale Aspendale Football Netball Club President, Verity Connellan said that the redeveloped facilities will help the Club to provide a more inclusive and welcoming football environment, including boosting female participation.
"The new pavilion and upgraded netball courts represent a significant leap forward for our club,” Connellan said.
“These facilities not only enhance the playing experience for our athletes, but also foster a welcoming environment for our women's teams, promoting inclusivity and community spirit.
"We're excited to see how these improvements will inspire the next generation of players and strengthen our club as a whole."
The Ken Lyons Pavilion at Regents Park is named after Ken Lyons who served as Club President in the 1970’s and as a Board Member of the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.
Melton City Council - Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve Redevelopment in Diggers Rest
The Melton City Council delivered a brand-new double storey sports pavilion and a new community pavilion, along with a full redevelopment and realignment of the oval with new LED lighting and associated infrastructure upgrades including car parking, fencing, shelter, gender-neutral changing facilities and an electronic scoreboard.
The Diggers Rest Football Netball Club and the Riddell Football Netball League Umpires Association will benefit from the redeveloped facilities, that came in at a total project cost of $16.6 million.
A Melton City Council representative said that the redeveloped facilities will have a lasting impact on strengthening the local community’s connection, by providing the region a dedicated space to host a range of events.
“This project has transformed the Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve into a major sporting hub for our rapidly growing community,” they said.
“The upgrades will help the Reserve grow with the community and address current and future sporting and community needs.’’
“The new pavilion is more than just a place to celebrate local sport, it’s a hub for the wider community with a dedicated space to host a wide range of events.”
Since opening , the venue has hosted interleague football matches, league finals and various come-and-try events to engage and strengthen their connection with the local community.
2023 WINNER - CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
Mildura Sporting Precinct was the 2023 AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project winner, with the $10.8 million development being also honoured as a joint national winner of the AFL's annual Ken Gannon Community Football Facility Awards for 2023.
For more information about facilities and funding opportunities available to Victorian clubs, visit play.afl/victoria/facilities.