To ensure our players are as well prepared for this as possible, it is critical the Club provides its teams with the best possible facilities to help encourage and foster peak performance. At present, the dimensions of Punt Road Oval, which has been compressed and realigned over the years, do not match the dimensions of the MCG.
It is apparent from a review of new major sporting facilities across Melbourne that Clubs are striving for the MCG dimensions as a response to ensure a competitive advantage. Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Collingwood, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs either have or are developing a training oval of MCG sizing currently.
In addition to accommodating state-of-the-art training facilities, for our women’s and VFL teams to continue to play and train at our home ground, the Oval is required to be increased to allow for the AFL’s safety requirements. The idea of increasing safety zones through reducing the size of the field of play was explored and ultimately determined that it was not in the best interest of our teams.
Further reductions in the size of the oval will further compromise the playing experience. The players want to train and play on an oval that provides parity with the MCG playing size and as a professional football club, it is our priority to provide this.