The Werribee Tigers are seething after having to move their showpiece VFL season-opener against rivals Geelong for the second season running.
The Tigers were left red-faced having to call the Cats asking to switch home games after the playing surface at Chirnside Park was deemed unplayable by a VFL turf consultant 36 hours out from play.
The VFL season started later than usual this season, but there was still limited time for Wyndham council to prepare the Simonds Stadium oval after a two-day second XI cricket grand final on March 28.
“Works occurred after the grand final for two weeks and five days and most people tell you that you need four weeks,” Tigers chief executive Mark Penaluna told Star Weekly.
“The council did what they could in the time that was allowed and, unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough.
“That’s a bitter pill in our mouths; it’s two years in a row now that we’ve lost round one [hosting rights].
“We really need to be playing round one games here, given that we vacate at the end of the year to allow the western region [WRFL] finals to be played here. It’s somewhat embarrassing and very much hurts our hip pocket.”
It also puts the future of Chirnside Park squarely on the agenda. There have been calls to make the Watton Street ground a football-only venue. Proposals to find the cricket club an alternate venue have been made, but Penaluna says: “We’re waiting to see … there is a meeting in a few weeks to talk about the future of the football and the cricket being located on this ground.
“This city is going to be the size of Tasmania in 15 to 20 years and I think we need to start planning accordingly. The cricketers have gone on the record and they’re happy to relocate from this ground,” he said.
“We’re showcasing the city of Wyndham, so let’s give us the chance to do it.”
Early estimates are the Tigers lost upwards of $20,000 because of the game
relocation to Geelong. The club also had to cancel a pre-game president’s dinner that had 180 confirmed guests and was advertised in print, radio and social media.
All that is without taking into account the on-field result, which saw the Tigers lose to Geelong by 18 points. The club and council are now working around the clock to have the ground ready for the Anzac Day clash against North Ballarat.
