Erin Pearson
TORQUAY football lovers will get to witness the breadth of talent of some of the state’s most successful VFL players this April despite a Good Friday timeslot being quashed.
Williamstown Football Club’s 2011 draw revealled the side would suit up against the Geelong Cats VFL side on Easter Sunday instead.
Williamstown general manager Brendan Curry told the Independent the club was pleased to be playing one of its home games in Torquay over Easter, regardless of which day it was on.
Williamstown’s home ground will be out of action for much of 2011 due to $8 million development works, forcing it to redirect home games to various locations including Torquay, Keilor and Wangaratta.
“We’re expecting to showcase VFL footy at its best and attract a big crowd,” Curry said.
“We had to think outside the square a bit and through the great support of the Torquay Football Club, Football Geelong and the Geelong VFL side we’ve been able to tee this up.”
Curry said he hoped the draw could also help the Torquay Football Club in its bid to upgrade grounds facilities.
Torquay Commerce and Tourism Association president Martin Duke said he was concerned the match would attract too many people to Torquay on its “busiest weekend of the year”.
“We have more people turning up to Torquay at Easter than in summer so it would be better to attract tourists down here when we’re not so busy otherwise it will be gridlock,” he said.