Nostalgia always runs the risk of becoming self-serving drivel.
Take the X-Files reboot. One of the great TV shows of its time, adored by millions, reduced to seeing how many times writers can work the catchphrase “the truth is out there” into the formerly fiery exchanges between Mulder and Scully.
But, as anyone who attended the packed Princes Park pre-season friendly on Sunday can attest, it doesn’t have to be like that. A February practice match has never felt so proper.
Yep, the queues were too long; there’s no doubt the joint needed far more than a lick of paint. And sure, stadium politics is a complicated business, with existing deals intricately positioned by negotiators.
But what price for an investment in the game’s soul, to turn this welcome one off into an old-meets-new component of home-and-away footy into the future?
Let’s be clear: the argument for Princes Park being brought up to AFL standard again isn’t well made by sledging the Docklands. That’s a tired case that no longer compels as it did in the stadium’s protracted teething years.
Nor is this an exercise in saying that ground rationalisation hasn’t been a positive for the AFL, and in turn the game; footy’s relative footprint has never been bigger. It has more cash swirling around now, and trumps all games before it.
Does this commercial primacy guarantee maximum emotional buy-in from fans, though? That’s less clear, with evidence of how it’s possible to fall out of love just down the road after the last few horrible years at Essendon. At the very least, attachment can’t be taken for granted. Like a romantic relationship, it requires constant attention and curation.
The passion at Princes Park on Sunday was palpable, the smiles contagious. Granted, mainly from us over-30s who grew up with suburban stoushes. But why shouldn’t the formative years of today’s Melbourne kids going to the footy include the palm trees of Carlton North as well?
To adopt the first-do-no-harm principle, would returning some league games at Princes Park make what we have worse? To answer that, let’s go through the reasons that were cited for decommissioning the ground; some were more understandable than others, all were very familiar.
First, the car parking. What a struggle it used to be! ‘
But has anyone ever driven to the Docklands to watch a game? Of course not, because unless you’re a corporate, you can’t. People are used to getting a train to the footy now. That’s a good thing.
Oh wait, there’s no train station in Carlton right? Right now, true. But when the Melbourne Metro rail project is complete by the middle of next decade, Parkville mega-station will be a gentle saunter down Royal Parade past the university.
How about the wooden seats in the Hawthorn Stand? Let’s make them a virtue; a part of the re-born experience. Besides: if you don’t fancy sitting on benches the way everyone did for so long you need to revaluate your rugged individualism. Or sit in the Legends Stand.
It’s instructive and welcome that Carlton are in the cart for this conversation, albeit gently-gently. Their CEO Stephen Trigg made some fair points on radio, namely that it would cost a lot more money to upgrade than appears immediately obvious and that their deal with the Docklands is crucial to their balance sheet.
But he also acknowledged the “love and affection” for a place that hosted league football for over a century as he kept the door ajar. Not a couple of years. Not a couple of decades. A century. That’s not for nothing when trying to forever marry old and new, one of our game’s great aces.
To get this job done is to be agnostic about the details in the first instance. It’s a bit like wanting to see Australia become a republic; if you care enough, you’ll be open-minded to compromise. To make this work would take leadership (and cash) from the league. They’d need to get resourceful and we’d need to be patient.
But if they can start new clubs in places that were less interested in footy than we are in rugby league, and made them work, surely this isn’t something beyond their all-encompassing powers.
One Saturday afternoon a fortnight, a few times a season, one super-weekend? Any combination would be a good starting point in the lead up to the Docklands becoming a fully-owned asset of the AFL nine years from now.
Including other clubs beyond Carlton would be sound if serious about rekindling the suburban experience. With more teams in the competition than ever before, there are no shortage of fixtures that would comfortably classify as boutique.
The point is, as The National sung, you need not try to figure out everything at once.
Instead, like any good campaign, for starters we need people talking. It can’t be forgotten about when the real stuff starts in a couple of weeks. As footy people – as Melbourne footy people – we need to keep this on the agenda.
That we want this back. That we value suburban footy. That we always did. That we always will.
That isn’t nostalgia; it’s culture. And when it comes to our game, this is why it wins out every time.
Adam Collins is a cricket writer and radio commentator, mostly with the ABC. When not following the sun he can be found carrying on in standing room watching Hawthorn win. You can follow Adam on Twitter @collinsadam
Emre Kruse
Roar Rookie
Great article. I actually despise the growth of the AFL for depriving me of the suburban vibe. However, perhaps one day in the future clubs will be of requisite wealth to own and operate stadiums individually, like in the English Premier League. I would love to attend Victoria Park as an away supporter. That's what being a fan is about.
Seano
Guest
I'm all for it, but not princess park. What about a redeveloped Brunswick st, keep the old stand and build a new one opposite. Have all lions Melbourne games there, plus smaller games other weeks at 2.10 on a Saturday. Finish the game and have a feed or a beer in Fitzroy. Perfect and I grew up in the outer at windy hill.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Oh ok, just found out it was a ticketek stuff up - tickets on sale again Monday.
tubby
Guest
I hate ANZ for rugby games but quite like it for AFL. Even the cheap sets get a great view of the entire ground. SCG is well behind in terms of access and facilities and the football stadium is just about the worst of all worlds. However a 3 minute walk away from ANZ and you've got spotless, which to me is just about the perfect mix of modern facilities with the suburban ground feel, and plenty of space and activities for the kids. Easily my favourite ground in Sydney for AFL
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Sydney's early pull out of the Olympic Stadium deal for the nostalgic SCG has cost us a seat to the Collingwood blockbuster.
Gecko
Guest
Yep, it could attract 15,000. In Melbourne, the same game could attract 70,000. Maybe Tassie could be used as a punishment for whichever side finished 2nd bottom the previous year. Wooden spooner plays in Cairns or New Zealand.
Stewie
Guest
Whilst I'm a bit young to have seen the Blues play at Prinny, I have had the pleasure of playing Uni football in the general area. Nothing like playing a game then wandering over to Naughton's or the Clyde for a cool frothy afterwards!* Bringing back one game a year at these suburban grounds would be amazing I reckon. It's a good start to have NAB games there *drink responsibly
marron
Guest
I cant find the dimensions but I've watched a preseason game there and don't remember any issues. Magic place to watch a game at. I was sat behind the picket fence listening to the crunches and calls and boot on leather. Picturesque stands and figs. Freedom to move around. Old time. Brilliant.
Patrick
Guest
Great article Adam, I too was at the game and took my 9 year old son along and had a kick on the field after the match. I reminisced with other mates who were along as Dads with "I was here when... Kouta took 18 marks against West Coast. When fans almost jumped the fence to get at Milburn when he took out Silvangi." The tribal feel of footy is most poignant at the smaller grounds. I agree that particularly against the interstate clubs these grounds could be fantastic. Also car parking is a non issue when you can ride along the capital city trail and park your bike right outside the ground. Loved the experience of getting down to Princess
Lroy
Guest
Im pretty sure the Perth clubs would rather play at Princess Park rather than the artic wind swept paddock they play on in Tasmania... crikey, if its such a good thing for Football, why dont collingwood or Essendon have to play down there??
Mark
Guest
Now I have to go listen to Boxer. Great article, too.
Ozzie Bob
Guest
Why couldn't they move one game a year? Say the home game against either GWS or the Suns? A bit like the Bulldogs in the NRL have done with one game a year at their spiritual home!
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I still remember standing on still beer cans in the outer at Glenferrie oval to get the best view of Huddo kicking another bag. Still feel the rip in my heart when we left there in 73 and were never made welcome at Princess Park :( Love suburban footy and its tribal feel, always wish they would redevelop the old Junction Oval or Western Oval to be Melbourne's third venue. Those grounds had such awesome atmospheres and are so accessible to the city. Sadly, 'the game for the people' is now all about the corporates. It died a sad death when that abomination Ethihad was built :(
AGO74
Guest
It is interesting the Sydney situation. I am a lifelong Bulldogs supporter and first went to belmore over 35 years ago and must have been to countless games there over years. Like most bulldog fans Homebush doesn't really do it for me - but despite having a wonderful trip down memory lane afternoon at Belmore last year when we played the Sharks (we lost mind you) it is clear to see why why in the modern world small stadiums don't work beyond 1 or 2 games a year max. As maligned as Homebush is it does offer more for fans and corporates (who are critical in this) than bel more ever could. And as revered as Leichhardt that ground makes Belmore look like the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. Good for 1 or 2 a year but that's it.
Freycinet1803
Roar Rookie
The physical ground size I reckon would be too small
Perry Bridge
Guest
It's interesting - at present the AFL is locked in with little wiggle room (wriggle room) due contracts at Docklands (Etihad) and the 'G. There's again talk about the AFL buying out Etihad early (and then additional suggestions it should be bulldozed - the land sold for a billion and invest instead in a ground up the rail line around North Melbourne (E-Gate?). Given the close quarters shadowing of the outside of Dockland stadium now compared to the grass and trees portrayed in the original designs - it's clear that open space and recreation aren't at all a priority in the precinct (other than expensive water craft over the road in Vic harbour itself). Were the AFL to buy it (Etihad) out and retain it for use - obviously being 100% owned (land and venue and rights) the AFL and probably the tenant clubs (with an improved financial outcome) would be keen to maximise their returns at the venue. Perhaps parking costs might come more within reason too. Esp when a club like North or the Sainters host a club like the Giants/Suns/Dockers etc. (variable/dynamic price parking??) Princes Park would do such games very well - ideal for 15,000-20,000. (or it was). However - depending how much money was required in it's sufficient upgrade and ongoing upkeep - then that's got to be balanced against hopefully a better financial/spectator etc outcome at a 100% AFL owned Etihad. Or - new E Gate or wherever stadium. Personally - I feel there's too great an element of 'sameness' with 9 Melbourne based clubs (half the league) playing out of two Melb venues. Ground rationalisation reduced the grounds available to those 9 clubs. Outside of that, the 2 Perth share one venue, 2 Adelaide share 1, Geelong stand alone, Suns and Lions have 1 each, and Swans 1.15 (counting ANZ) and Giants have 2 venues (RAS and Manuka). Yes - of the Melb teams North and Hawthorn have Tassie sojourns for a bit of variety. So - half the league use around 8 to 9 grounds (counting ANZ) and the other half reliable over 90% on 2 venues. That alone is perhaps an 'exposure'. And certainly the scaled variety of offerings that a boutique Melb venue for sub 30K crowds seems somewhat logical. Perhaps the Govt can sell AAMI park to a consortium of FFA, NRL and ARU and with the funds put that into Princes Park!!!
Adam Collins
Expert
Punt Road gets spoken of in the same breath as PP in terms of third grounds (due to proximity to the 'G), but it's just not big enough. But great to dream! Loved watching Sheffield Shield games there in the late 90s.
Adam Collins
Expert
Thanks for having me, Paddy. Sydney contrast interesting. Recall well the huge cash that went into Manly's ground the day before the 2010 election. That's kinda pork barrelling.
Adam Collins
Expert
Cheers, Gyfox. The Gardiner Stand and Hawthorn Stands in particular were an utter delight on Sunday.
Adam Collins
Expert
Don't mind it at all. I also fancy the idea of one weekend with two games at Princes Park, 2pm start. As a starting point.