AUSSIES: Don't you miss watching the footy game at Waverley park in Melbourne?

Question

I so miss watching football games there when i was little. I used to live only 10 minutes from there until i moved to Melton. What about you Melbournians? interstate people can answer too =)

Answer 1

During my trips from Kansas to Oz, I saw two St. Kilda games at Waverley with my mate who is a St. Kilda member.

I loved Waverley, don't understand yet why the AFL dumped a 70,000 seat stadium when only the G, TD and Geelong are used as venues in Victoria.

Just plain dumb, the end of Waverley Park.

Answer 2

My boss took me to Waverley years ago when I was a first year apprentice to see my first live VFL game, paid child's fare to get in then walked straight to the bar and bought a beer.

Loved Waverley ever since.

Answer 3

Aaahh, the Park! What memories the mere name VFL Park conjures up!

Someone mentioned the pie boys that used to wander the stands crying "Pies, Pasties, and Sausage rolls". Well I was one of those very lads. We'd line up about an hour before  the seniors game, or rather we'd stand outside the wire at a certain spot until a bloke came out and looked us over. He'd point to the 40 or 50 hopeful faces there assembled and say: "You, you, you, you, you, you two, you, and you". The rest would disperse in varying states of chagrin, while the anointed ones would be passed tickets which saved us the .45c entry fee (if you were under 14, and all of us were) and proudly marched around to the large room where further prizes were up for grabs. Some were given yellow 'Four 'n Twenty' vests and a large box to strap around the shoulders before heading out to the stands to tempt the smattering of punters watching the seconds with their cholesterol laden wares. If one was a bit luckier the vest was white, the box a tad bigger, and your cry as you wandered the swelling crowd, was:"Drinks, Lollies, Peanuts and Potato chips!"

Your variety was greater, your prices lower, and your take when it was over, bigger.

But then there were the truly blessed. If you were a proven seller and knew the ropes, you might get one of the dozen or so coveted 'stands'. These consisted of a large, desk-sized red box with 'Coca cola' logo situated on the main concourse beneath the stairs to the stands and were manned by a pair of lucky red-vested lads. Both serving when busy, and one running back to the main store for supplies when quiet.

On several occasions my little brother and I were lucky enough to be given this prestigious post. We worked our butts off, enjoying every minute, watching the game when we could, and raking in the big bucks. All this was wrapped up at three-quarter time when we returned to our base to settle up. I think the biggest profit we took was $16 each - a vast amount of money for a 12-year-old in the mid-seventies. The two of us would then settle in to watch the last quarter, revelling in our newly-won wealth and discussing what we'd buy. Unless of course it was a Collingwood game, when all of my attention was focused on the fortunes of my beloved Magpies (yes, I know I've done the ten points now!). Of course our greatest profits were at Collingwood games, when we needed three arms trying to feed the 80,000 strong crowd.

As the final siren sounded we were both perched on the fence ready to race to the centre to pat our heroes on the back or hurl abuse at our foes. (I nearly got punched out by a pissed off Mick Conlan after calling him something particularly unsavoury, he spun around, fist back ready to 'snot' someone until he saw the terrified twelve-year old facing him. To his credit, he turned and kept jogging although he would've loved to hit someone, suffice it to say I kept my clever remarks to myself thereafter!).

After we spent an hour or so marking some of the hundreds of footies which nearly blackened the sky, attempting 'speccies' whenever possible, we started the long, long walk to the servo on the corner of - was it Wellington Rd? There our mum would eventually pick us up to go home to Dandenong in time to catch the replay hoping to catch a sight of ourselves on telly while we enjoyed a nice warm dinner after a memorable day.

The sight of the forlorn bit of remaining grandstand is nothing short of heartbreaking, as is the sight of yet more estate housing. Waverley was a comfortable ground in an era when standing on filthy concrete steps all day was the norm at many other grounds. It's biggest drawback was its distance from trains, and the nightmare of exiting the muddy car park by car. Just getting to Jacksons Rd. took an hour, and I remember an occasion when a passenger in the car in front of us could hold his bladder no longer, finding relief via a rear window and a marvellous feat of contortion-ism, although this wasn't appreciated by the car immediately behind his. In fact it was the sight of that cars wipers going beneath a cloudless sky which drew my attention to the performance.

Sorry for going on so long, but the memories this question evoked were powerful indeed and I could write for hours more. I will always mourn watching the game at VFL Park, designed to be the home of the greatest game on earth.

Answer 4

I have been in Mel once but missed that. I guess it must be fun

Answer 5

I Miss those days i think i have been to 5 or 6 games since waverley closed.We would go every couple of week to the games before that

Answer 6

Sure do,

yeah o.k, it was nearly always wet, it was REALLY windy, but wasn't that the way footy was supposed to be watched?

The last time i was there was for a preliminary final between Brisbane & St Kilda & yes, it was wet & windy.

I live 1/2 hour away from there, now we have to go to the G or Telstra......not quite the same........ahhhhhh the memories!

Answer 7

I've only ever been to the MCG, Telstradome & Skill Stadium (or whatever Geelong's ground is named) in Vic.

There's not enough leg room in those piddly squashed up seats at the dome. The MCG could do with a good facelift (Some was in progress the last time I was there) as it was grey & dirty (just like the weather on the day!).

Going to the match in Geelong was like attending a bush game.

I'm not a Dockers fan (hate their guts) but if one goes to a Dockers home match at Subiaco Oval after they have lost two games in a row, one can sit wherever - as none of their supporters turn up to watch the game!

Answer 8

Don't miss it at all living down in gippsland it was an awful place to get to by public transport as the only train was always packed by the time it got to Clayton

Answer 9

Ok, heres my answer:  I have no idea because I have never been there :))))))

I am in Adelaide :))

Answer 10

That's a long way from Sydney. The games all look pretty similar on Television you know!

Answer 11

I have never been to Waverly Park, so I can't really comment on this one. But what I remember from seeing it on the TV, it looked good.

Answer 12

It was a lot easier to rock up with a group of mates, sprawl out over those massive bench seats, and not have to squash up against some bloke that you didn't know.

The pie carriers out in the stands with you were better than lining up at telstra dome, and lets not forget that race to the centre of the ground that they no longer allow at the end of the game.

I miss going out there, it felt more like suburban footy, rather than the over priced and upmarket stadiums these days....

Answer 13

I only go to Melbourne for the fantastic horse racing Spring Carnival and visit that monster Crown Casino, i seem to find no time for the Football.

Answer 14

I used to frequent there and used to miss it but my standards have gone up it was pretty crappy there really.

Answer 15

I used to go watch Essendon play at Waverley Park and although it was always wet, cold and uncomfortable..the atmposhere was great.

I drive past the old waverley ground every day and it still saddens me to see a huge housing estate and just a fraction of the old ground..

ahhh the memories!