Footscray’s Whitten Oval will receive a $1.5 million makeover to boost women’s football and bring match day facilities up to AFL standard.
The funding includes $500,000 each from Maribyrnong council and the state government and $250,000 each from the AFL and Western Bulldogs.
Upgrades will include two new women’s change rooms, coaches’ boxes and ground lighting improvements to allow more training.
The move will allow for AFL preseason games at the spiritual home of the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick welcomed the funding. “We’re very excited to partner with Maribyrnong City Council to invest in further boosting Victoria University Whitten Oval credentials as a true community and sporting hub of the west,” Garlick said.
Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles said the upgrades would also make it possible for school children and junior and women’s teams to play at the ground. The oval will host regular Victorian Women’s Football League and Western Region Football League games.
“These new developments will help grass- roots football flourish in Maribyrnong,” Cr Miles said.
The funding announcement falls on the eve of Footscray Bulldogs’ grand final appearance against Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate, Box Hill.
Bulldogs legend John Schultz and president Peter Gordon have also launched the second volume of the club’s Historic Player Register.
The book is available from the Bulldogs shop in store and online.
