WESTERN FRONT
Nine A-League games in super summer of sport
GEELONG will turn greenand-black behind Western United this summer, with the revelation the club will play nine home matches at GMHBA Stadium in its first A-League season.
Geelong will host six matches before Christmas, including the blockbuster derby with Melbourne Victory on December 8, as the stadium prepares for a super summer of sport.
But a previous booking by motocross outfit Crusty Demons at the stadium means the club will play its first ALeague clash in New Zealand, before returning for its first game on home soil in Round 2 against Perth Glory on October 19, coinciding with the Geelong Show weekend.
Matches in Rounds 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 will leave soccer fans spoilt for choice up to December 8, before Kardinia Park Stadium Trust’s sporting balancing act shifts to the Big Bash.
GEELONG will turn greenand-black behind Western United this summer, with the revelation the club will play nine home matches at GMHBA Stadium in its first A-League season.
Geelong will host six matches before Christmas, including the blockbuster derby with Melbourne Victory on December 8, as the stadium prepares for a super summer of sport.
But a previous booking by motocross outfit Crusty Demons means the club will play its first A-League clash in New Zealand, before returning for its first game on home soil in Round 2 against Perth Glory on October 19, coinciding with the Royal Geelong Show.
Matches in rounds 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 will leave soccer fans spoiled for choice up to December 8, before Kardinia Park Stadium Trust’s sporting balancing act shifts to the Big Bash.
Western United returns for the last of four back-to-back matches on January 19 and 26 — the latter coming up against the Festival of Sails and Australia Day activities.
Some uncertainty still remains over the ninth and final Western United fixture in Geelong for the season, listed as “TBA” during Round 21 dates February 28-March 1 to manage the stadium’s needs around potential AFLW scheduling.
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief Gerard Griffin said a “spring renovation” after the AFL season would have the pitch ripe for A-League action.
Mr Griffin said the busy schedule reflected the region’s appetite for an “active lifestyle” in the footy off-season, between soccer, cricket and motorsport.
“We’ve got a busy summer ahead. We’re ready to showcase the stadium in another mode in another sport,” he said. “Six games in nine weeks is very doable and we’re looking forward to opening the venue for the people of Geelong to see another code.”
Western United director of football Steve Horvat said the club had seen many firsts but the opening home match at Geelong was at the top of his list to inspire local juniors to pursue “the beautiful game”.
“Playing those six home games early in the season not only gives us an opportunity to set ourselves up in the competition, it’s to deliver football to the fans of this region,” Mr Horvat said.
“People down here have been starved of top-level football for a long time.”