Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct

Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct

Deakin Geelong Stadium
Location	75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria
Coordinates	38°11′49.6″S144°17′57.13″E / 38.197111°S 144.2992028°E / -38.197111; 144.2992028
Owner	Deakin University
Capacity	10,000 [1]
Field size	157 metres × 130 metres (Football oval)
Surface	Grass (Football oval) Artificial turf (Soccer pitch)
Construction
Broke ground	12 September 2015
Opened	19 May 2016
Architect	SportENG
Builder	Pitchcraft [2] Civilex
Project manager	SportENG
Tenants
Geelong Football Club (2016–present) Deakin Ducks Football Club (2016–present)

The Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct is a series of sports venues located on the campus of Deakin University in Waurn Ponds, Victoria. The precinct's Australian rules football oval is used as a training facility by the Geelong Football Club's Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women's (AFLW) teams, and as a secondary home ground by its VFL Women's (VFLW) team.

History

Sporting facilities at Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus were previously limited to a large natural turf playing surface and two dilapidated baseball diamonds. ^[3] The creation of the precinct was first announced by the university in a media release in September 2015 at a cost of $8.1 million, with construction expected to be completed by April 2016. ^[4] The total cost grew to $8.4 million by the time of completion. ^[5] More than 40,000 square metres of turf was brought in from South Australia as part of the project. ^[6]

The Australian rules football oval was specifically constructed to the exact dimensions of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, allowing the Geelong Football Club to gain vital experience practising on a finals-like venue, as opposed to the narrow playing surface of Kardinia Park. ^[7] The Cats have used the precinct as an "alternative training base" since its inception.

The first competitive sporting game took part at the precinct in July 2017, when Geelong hosted St Kilda Sharks in round 7 of the 2017 VFL Women's season. ^[8] The Cats' VFL Women's team played an elimination final at the venue in June 2022. ^[9]

Facilities

The precinct caters for multiple sports and is used by both professional sporting clubs and community sporting clubs.

It includes: ^[10]

• An Australian rules football oval, identical in size to the Melbourne Cricket Ground
• A synthetic soccer pitch, constructed to FIFA standards
• An eight-lane 400-metre running track, accredited by World Athletics
• A 50-metre long jump track and sandpits
• A baseball diamond
• Basketball and netball courts
• An outdoor teaching hub.

References

1. "AFL Venues – Deakin University". AFL.com.au . 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
2. "Deakin University Waurn Ponds Sports Field". Pitchcraft. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
3. "Multisports design for Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct". SportENG. 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
4. "Elite sporting precinct for Deakin University in Geelong". Deakin University . 12 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
5. "Deakin welcomes Cats as MCG blockbuster looms". Deakin University . 19 May 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
6. Dundas, Greg (18 May 2016). "Geelong Cats to train on MCG-sized oval at Deakin Uni". Geelong Advertiser . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
7. Ryan, Peter (18 May 2016). "New training base to give Geelong MCG advantage". AFL.com.au . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
8. "Australian Football - Match Details: 2017 R7 Geelong WFC (VFLW) vs St. Kilda Sharks WFC". australianfootball.com. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
9. "VFLW Final Locked In at Deakin Uni". Geelong Cats . 30 May 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
10. "Waurn Ponds – Elite Regional Sports Precinct". DeakinACTIVE . 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.