ST KILDA Football Club could be on its way back to Moorabbin.
Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill confirmed council has had “a couple of discussions with them [St Kilda]” when asked by The News.
The Saints quit Moorabbin in 2007 amid a disagreement with Kingston Council over the redevelopment of the Linton St facilities.
The club had wanted to move 80 poker machines from Linton St to South Rd premises.
St Kilda subsequently agreed to base its training headquarters at Seaford’s Belvedere Park after Frankston Council agreed to make a financial contribution to the Seaford sporting precinct.
Kingston Council pushed ahead with an $11 million upgrade of the Moorabbin oval as a community facility to include local sports teams although St Kilda remains a tenant at Linton St.
“St Kilda still have the best part of a 30-year lease on Linton St and to some extent as a tenant there they’re free to do whatever they want,” Cr Gledhill said.
The mayor said council’s main focus was on ensuring the Moorabbin redevelopment, yet to be formalised, will proceed with or without St Kilda’s increased involvement but the door is not closed on the Saint’s return.
The project is being funded by council, the AFL and the state government.
“We’ll talk to anyone who’s going to be involved in something that’s going to deliver a better outcome for Kingston and its residents, teams and community group,” Cr Gledhill said.
“This community facility is going ahead. If you can add to it and make life even better for these junior teams in the Southern Football League we will listen to you.”
St Kilda released a statement on Tuesday advising the club would announce it the next few months “if a refurbished Moorabbin or Junction Oval will house their main base”.
Saints CEO Matt Finnis flagged a return to greater community engagement in Kingston after trying to become “the AFL club of the south east” with its move to Seaford.
“We want Moorabbin to be a vibrant place that can grow with the reinvigoration of that broader precinct from the Moorabbin junction from the train station right down to the development of the hospital nearby,” he said.
“There’s opportunities for us to grow with the community in that area.”
Frankston Council pumped $4 million into the deal which saw St Kilda move its training base to Seaford.
Frankston Council declined to comment “at this stage” when contacted by The News.
