WHAT a wasted opportunity this year’s grand final day will be!
To think that the best multi-purpose sporting complex in the region could even be voted against as the preferred destination for the SFNL football and netball grand final day is just mind-boggling.
What is even more baffling is the complex that garnered more votes at the SFNL boardroom table was the dinosaur known as Brian Weightman Oval, or (No. 1) City Oval.
To say the chosen complex to hold this year’s biggest day on the sporting calendar is past its use- by date is an understatement. I couldn’t even tell you the last time the changerooms were upgraded, you need a full pre-season just to get from the changerooms to the oval when you do run out before the game.
The oval itself is not up to standard and to be honest, as a player or spectator, if you had to choose an oval in the region with the best atmosphere, City Oval would be at the bottom of the pile.
Not to mention the behind-the- scenes issues between the Mildura Harness Racing Club and the radio broadcasters. You may have noticed any games called from City Oval recently that the broadcasters have been sitting outside in the grandstand as they do not have access to the Ray Hepworth Centre like years gone by to do their calling from. While the location of the new broadcast box at the Mildura Sporting Complex is less than ideal (virtually behind the Deakin Avenue end goals rather than directly side-on to the oval) – at least it is inside to minimise outside noise or distractions.
So the word on the street is that the main reason this year’s grand final day will be held at City Oval is that there are no outdoor netball courts. And due to the competition being an outdoor competition, that playing it inside at the new complex would compromise the pace of the game and therefore wouldn’t be consistent with the external conditions that they normally play in.
I’ve also read the argument that playing indoors at the new complex was too hot for one club. To fix this problem is essentially as easy as flicking a switch, literally. All you need to do to fix this issue is turn on the airconditioning, it’s that easy! Now I will admit I am no netball expert, but if these are the reasons we have decided to stick with City Oval, then all I can say is WOW!
Let’s for a second point out the advantages the new Mildura Sporting Precinct has and also its limitations to see what we are dealing with here so we can really look at the complete picture when comparing the two.
The advantages are that the two best football teams get to battle it out for the flag on an AFL-standard oval, one that is good enough to host an AFLW game this year along with the recent NAB Cup game between the Bendigo Pioneers and Murray Bushrangers. The change-rooms are absolutely first class with everything you could hope for inside and located no more than 10 metres from the oval itself.
The upstairs function centre where you could entertain the major sponsors and life members of the league is exceptional. The indoor netball courts will have grandstands and theatre-like seating, making the spectacle for a fan watching the game both comfortable and unique and present the players on local netball’s biggest stage with an atmosphere like that they have never experienced before. Oh, and the big electronic scoreboard at the oval is amazing, too. But the scoreboard at City Oval is pretty special – if you like using an old chalkboard to keep score.
Now for the limitations. Elevated seating is nonexistent, however, four big blue grandstands in each pocket can fix that quite quickly given that two will be shipped into City Oval on grand final day, so the “lack of seating” argument I continue to hear is in my mind is just ridiculous. The broadcast box is not in an ideal position and I know this first hand, having called three games there this year, but it will certainly beat sitting at the top of the grandstand at City Oval, I’m sure.
As mentioned by some, the complex is still under construction, so wait until it is fully complete. Unless the construction of the oval or netball courts or function centre is not complete then this is just an excuse for the sake of an excuse and a very weak one at that. Yes there are no outside netball courts, but gee I hope it doesn’t pour down with rain (or heaven forbid get too hot …) as I have no doubt this will affect the pace of the game too and I can assure you there will be no little switch to fix that.
Overall the decision not to hold this year’s grand final day at the new, state-of-the-art and modern $45 million Mildura Sporting Precinct over that of the chosen venue of City Oval is just mind blowingly near sighted.
So to all the SFNL board members who did vote against it, along with seven of the nine club presidents, I might add who agreed with this decision, I would honestly love to hear a solid counter-argument that will convince not only me, but all the players, umpires, spectators, club committee members, sponsors and people of the general public whom I have spoken with since the decision was announced that are still scratching our heads as to why City Oval is our best option of the two. We would all love to hear it!
