Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, AFL game was so different, with all those suburban grounds and their unique characteristics.
There was the animal enclosure at Moorabbin along with that very muddy middle of the ground, where the players would stick like glue when they ventured there.
Arden Street at North Melbourne had the Gasometer, Glenferrie Road at Hawthorn contained the train line and Victoria Park Collingwood, wow! That ground was tough for the visiting team and their supporters, where being spat on was par for the course.
Then there was the Western Oval out at Footscray. It was famous for a gale blowing generally at the Williamstown end along with the rickety high wooden coaches box on the Doug Hawkins wing. Who could forget Mick Malthouse, then coach of the Dogs, hanging out the window of that box and barking instructions.
AFL footy returned there last Saturday for the first time since 1997 and guess what? The wind is still strong at the Williamstown end, but that coaches box is gone.
That famous old grandstand on the Western side still exists, but there is the relatively new football department and administrative facilities, which gives the ground the modern look it needed.
Capacity at the oval now is around about 14,000, and they had almost 10,000 on Saturday for the Dogs’ pre-season match with Richmond. It looked a picture with the banks and the terraces virtually full and there was a wonderful atmosphere.
Earlier this week, the Bulldogs even flagged the possibility that it could one day become a boutique ground and host AFL matches during the premiership season. Though I think at the moment that’s pie in the sky stuff as they would need to increase the capacity.
Car parking has always been a problem and nothing had changed on the weekend, although the West Footscray train station does help. It depends where you are coming from as you may have to use two or three different train lines, but if you are keen enough you will get there.
I think the days of the Whitten Oval being a bona fide AFL ground for premiership matches is long gone, but for pre-season and VFL games it is perfect. It’s a ground that will never change, always back the team kicking to the Williamstown end in the last quarter!
Penster
Guest
What a legend he was, such a kick. Loved the variety of travelling to different ground each week, but Western Oval was always a pain to get to and a scuzzy joint, so was Kardinia - and dangerous after the match too if you'd beaten them.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Since we're going down memory lane, I actually remember a Tucky torp down at the Western Oval. It was around the early 80s when the dogs were struggling a bit. There was a gale heading towards the Geelong Road end and Tucky had the ball on the boundary, around 70m out, and he's gone back for a shot at goal, split the sticks with a beautiful torp. It was during the 3rd quarter, and it was 11 goals to one in the one quarter, game over.
Penster
Guest
If the AFL were feeling generous, they'd sling the occasional small crowd match the way of the suburban grounds and give sausage sizzle rights to local sporting/ school/ charity groups, let them get a bit of the action and the punters a nice cheap sausie sanga and cake stall! Give the kids of today a taste of what it was like in the olden days, and us oldies a Tucky torpedo down memory lane.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think you're onto something there Franko, not a bad idea at all.
HarryHP
Guest
As per your article the old grounds are fine for pre-season games. The Dogs should be concentrating on building big crowds, and the best way to do that is at Etihad (only a couple of k's away) and by playing well. We do not need to go back to the old grounds - there is a reason why the NRL look at our 2 main stadia policy with envy, and their average crowds are half our size.
Franko
Guest
Sunday, 31 August (4:40 pm) Western Bulldogs 15.19 (109) def. by Greater Western Sydney 18.7 (115) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 14,725) What a drab send off that match was for Gia, remember a potential grab from a Dogs player (Crameri?) that turned in to a falcon and cost them the game. It was a sparse and desolate occasion. Round 9 Saturday, May 30 2015 Footscray v GWS Make it a sellout at the ole Western Oval...!!!!!!!!!
andyl12
Guest
I went to the Western Oval alone as a teenager in the 90's. Since my team played at Waverley I'd only had a few experiences of terraced viewing at suburban grounds. I found my way to the northern-end goals where some old men (Footscray fans) said I was welcome to stand with them, that they would protect me from the bogan element of the crowd. There was no negativity from them all day, just a desire to see their boys give their all. It was a close game and we ended up losing by 5 points, but I enjoyed the day. And yes, the wind played a big factor in the game. No way will the ground ever get improved to AFL standard, but I'm glad I got the chance to go there. Victoria Park, on the other hand............