- Published:
- Saturday 2 December 2023
North Melbourne Football Club is raring to go for a blockbuster AFLW Grand Final, with the new world-class training facility as part of the Stage 2 Arden Street redevelopment works now complete, thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today toured the completed upgrades at the historic home of the Kangaroos as their AFLW team prepares for tomorrow’s season decider against the Brisbane Lions.
The project has transformed Arden Street Oval into a world-class training facility with new changerooms, umpires’ rooms, an away-team medical room, and a multi-purpose meeting space.
The upgraded facilities bridge the gap between the men’s and women’s programs, giving the club the capacity to boost female player development and help foster the next generation of North Melbourne stars.
The upgrades not only help football programs for the Kangaroos, they have also benefited the local community through the club’s community engagement arm The Huddle which uses the learning spaces and multimedia facilities to connect people across different ages, genders and cultures.
Local schools, sports clubs, cultural groups, universities, and residents can also use the facilities for a range of events as the main oval being open to the public all year round.
The Stage 2 works complement the Stage 1 project completed in 2019 that delivered match day and training facilities enabling the club to introduce its AFLW and VFLW programs.
The project builds on the Labor Government’s Women and Girls in Sport funding initiatives, which have helped fund projects that level the playing field for women in sport.
Since 2018, the Government has invested more than $150 million in elite women’s Australian football infrastructure projects to grow the women’s game, benefiting all 10 Victorian clubs.
Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
“Victorians love their sport, and our investment in this new home for four elite women’s and men’s teams at North Melbourne Football Club, helping them reach their potential and nurturing our future superstars.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt
“This project is a win for football, a win for the development of elite women’s teams, and a big win for community sport and local community groups who will also utilise the facilities.”
Quote attributable to North Melbourne Football Club Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Watt
“The redeveloped facilities at our traditional home in Arden Street have helped foster a winning environment as we prepare for tomorrow’s AFLW Grand Final.”
“The Arden Street redevelopment means that we can not only continue improving our footy on the field across our four teams – AFLW, AFL, VFLW and VFL – but it also allows us to deliver world-class education programs for the community via The Huddle.”
“We thank the Victorian State Government for their ongoing support and we look forward to working with them as we seek to embed North Melbourne as the beating heart of the new Arden Precinct.”