RMIT Oval

RMIT Oval

Interactive map of RMIT Oval
Location	Bundoora, Victoria
Coordinates	37°40′47″S145°04′04″E / 37.67972229443514°S 145.0678809766216°E / -37.67972229443514; 145.0678809766216
Owner	RMIT University
Capacity	1,000
Construction
Renovated	27 February 2018;7 years ago (27 February 2018)

RMIT Oval (sometimes referred to as RMIT University Oval or Bundoora Oval) is an Australian rules football venue located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora. ^[1] It is part of the RMIT Sports Centre, a multi-sports complex located at RMIT University's satellite campus in Bundoora. ^[2]

The ground was the home of the RMIT Redbacks when it competed in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) from 2019 until the end of the 2021 season. ^[3] Since 2023, it has often been used for practice matches, including those involving Victorian Football League (VFL) clubs. ^{[4] [5]}

RMIT Oval matches the size of the playing surface at Docklands Stadium, although the ground has limited spectator facilities, including a lack of seating. ^{[6] [7]}

History

RMIT Oval in August 2017, prior to redevelopment

RMIT Oval was unused for more than a decade because of drought-related damage that occurred in the late 2000s, with redevelopment beginning in October 2017. ^[8] The ground reopened on 27 February 2018. ^[9]

In 2019, the RMIT Redbacks entered the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) women's competition, playing its home matches at RMIT Oval. ^[10] The club's first match at the ground was a 120-point defeat to Caulfield Grammarians in the Premier B reserves competition. ^{[11] [12]} In the seniors match that followed, RMIT was defeated by 56 points. ^{[13] [14]}

Five NAB League matches, including the season opener, were played at RMIT Oval in early 2020, prior to the season being curtailed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[15] [16]}

The Redbacks withdrew from the VAFA shortly before the start of the 2022 season. ^[17] Since then, RMIT Oval has remained in occasional use for VAFA matches, with Coburg using the ground for a Premier Women's home match in 2024 after it was moved from Coburg City Oval. ^{[18] [19]} Additionally, Kew played several practice matches at the ground in March 2024. ^{[20] [21]} In the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL), the Fitzroy Stars played three senior matches at the ground during the 2023 season. ^{[22] [23]}

An electronic scoreboard was installed at the ground in 2022, which was followed by the addition of a manual scoreboard in 2024. ^{[24] [25]}

The Northern Bullants used RMIT Oval for training sessions during the 2025 VFL season. ^{[26] [27]} A practice match against Williamstown was played at the ground in February 2025. ^{[28] [29]} The Bullants were scheduled to play a home match at RMIT Oval against Southport on 31 May 2025, which was set to be followed by Darebin playing against the Geelong Cats in the VFL Women's (VFLW), however both matches were moved to Preston City Oval. ^{[30] [31]}

Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) club South Croydon played two practice matches at RMIT Oval in March 2025, while NFNL club Banyule trained at the ground prior to the start of the 2026 season. ^{[32] [33]}

References

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2. "Students get active on campus". RMIT University. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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4. Rhodes, Brendan (24 February 2023). "Smithy's VFL Practice Match Squads – Week 1 Saturday". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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11. "RMIT University 0.1-1 def. by 17.19-121 Caulfield Grammarians". GameDay. VAFA Results Archive. 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
12. Tonkin, Sam (6 April 2019). "Women's reserves match report: Round 1 – RMIT University vs Caulfield Grammarians". Caulfield Grammarians Football Club. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
13. Armistead, Nick (8 April 2019). "Collegians down Wellers, Fields on fire". VAFA. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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17. "2022 Fixture: Division 2 Women's". VAFA. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
18. Miller, Susan (22 December 2023). "2024 William Buck Premier Women's Fixture". VAFA. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
19. "The Amateur Footballer, Week 7, 2024". VAFA. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
20. "PRESEASON MATCHES". Facebook. Kew Football Club. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
21. "Our U19s looked great last night under lights, in a dominant performance vs Endeavour Hills". Facebook. Kew Football Club. 24 March 2024. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
22. "2023 NFNL Premiership Season - Division 3". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
23. "2023 NFNL Women's Premiership Season - Division 2". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
24. "Latest news". RMIT University. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
25. "Latest news". RMIT University. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
26. "As we wrap up the year, head coach Rohan Welsh thanks all members and sponsors for incredible support throughout 2024". Facebook. Preston Football Club. 23 December 2024. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
27. "2025 fixtures". VFL Footy. 26 February 2025. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
28. "Seagulls Impress in Opening VFL Practice Match". Williamstown Football Club. 25 February 2025. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
29. Rhodes, Brendan (10 February 2025). "2025 Smithy's VFL practice match schedule". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
30. "2025 Smithy's VFL and rebel VFLW fixtures released". Geelong Football Club. 25 February 2025. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
31. VFL / VFLW [@VFL] (20 May 2025). "The VFL wishes to advise of an update to the venue and start time of two matches on Saturday 31 May" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025– via Twitter.
32. Cencic, Daniel (26 March 2025). "EFNL 2025: Eastern league practice matches revealed". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
33. "PRE SEASON". Facebook. Banyule Football Club. 30 October 2025. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.