Club’s VFL coup

Erin Pearson
VICTORIAN Football League plans to play its first Good Friday match in Torquay, officials have revealed.
Under the VFL initiative, Western Bulldogs affiliate Williamstown would host Geelong in Torquay on April 22 while Williamstown’s home-ground undergoes extensive renovation works.
The VFL bid follows a Federal Labor pre-election commitment this week of $600,000 for a proposed Torquay Football Club facilities upgrade. The Liberals made an earlier promise of $350,000 for the project.
Torquay Football Club president Ross Henderson hoped the Williamstown match would be the first of many VFL games at Torquay.
Mr Henderson said the VFL plan justified “a lot of hard work” that the club had put into the renovation plans.
“From junior players right through to senior players, any opportunity to watch a high-level sporting game is a great benefit to everybody,” he said.
“Our players are always looking to learn and we’ll be able to watch players, coaches and umpires at the top level.”
Mr Henderson said the renovations were unlikely to be complete by Good Friday but the Williamstown game would still be a “testing point” for the club.
“If it’s a success for the VFL hopefully it will be an annual event or even allow for other opportunities and more games.”
VFL football operations manager John Hook confirmed the Good Friday concept.
The league was waiting for the AFL to sign off on the match, Hook said.
“Williamstown was looking at alternatives and the Good Friday game was one they canvassed with us, along with Geelong, to play that in a regional country area,” he said.
“Playing football on Good Friday is something that’s fairly debatable but some country leagues have already played on the day.
“I wrote to the AFL to ensure they didn’t have an issue with the idea and we’re now waiting for the AFL board to sign off.”
The Independent revealed last month that the club’s proposed $800,000 upgrade included a large balcony, refurbishing player’s quarters, installing disabled toilets, moving umpire rooms, separate facilities for female umpires and addition of a function room upstairs.
Mr Henderson said Surf Coast Shire’s council had budgeted $250,000 for the project in 2011/2012.