COMMUNITY football leagues have thrown their support behind the expanded $29 million Moorabbin Reserve redevelopment project.
New state-of-the-art facilities will provide a new headquarters for community leagues that represent over 14,000 players from the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL), South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) and TAC club Sandringham Dragons.
The community leagues are also looking forward to building stronger links with the St Kilda Football Club including access to the AFL clubís coaching staff to help further develop talented young players.
Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said the expanded project was about far more than the St Kilda Football Club and would have incredible benefits for thousands of community footballers.
“This is a great opportunity to invest in our community by providing a community football hub that will boost community football leagues that serve thousands of locals,” Cr Gledhill said.
“It will also provide a much-needed indoor sports court that the community is crying out for, a great new playground and improved parkland.
“Instead of crumbling infrastructure that’s an eyesore for local residents, Moorabbin Reserve will boast quality parkland, a great new playground, fantastic facilities for community sport and provide a home base for the St Kilda Football Club.”
SFNL Vice Chairman Garry Cranny said the league was “extremely enthusiastic” about the expanded redevelopment of Moorabbin Reserve that incorporates St Kilda AFL returning to Moorabbin Reserve as their training and administration base.
Mr Cranny said the shared community football hub would allow many levels of football to work together to boost participation and also provide a place where people can feel included, connected and supported.
The SFNL currently represents 33 Member Clubs with 92 Australian Rules football teams and 51 Netball teams – boasting around 5000 players and a volunteer support base of thousands more.
It includes teams from Kingston, Glen Eira, Bayside, Monash, Greater Dandenong, Stonnington, Casey, Port Phillip and Frankston.
The South Metro Junior Football League’s president Peter Ryan said “St Kilda coming back to Moorabbin gives our clubs the opportunity to use some facilities that potentially they have never had before.”
“One of the things we hope is to develop some leadership incentives for the kids. To be able to bring some of our teams train here and use the new facilities will be fantastic.”
The SMJFL includes teams from Kingston, Glen Eira, Bayside, Port Phillip, Monash and Stonnington.
The Saints’ move back to Moorabbin Reserve from Seaford has not been all smooth sailing. Several Kingston councillors have voiced concern about spending $5 million of ratepayers’ money on the expanded Moorabbin Reserve project after St Kilda FC ditched Moorabbin as its base in 2007 after a bitter dispute with council over pokies machines.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 May 2015
