Future still not clear at fields
FOOTBALL is all but certain to return to Tony Cecco Field in 2019 but Merrimac’s resurrection is no fait accompli.
The withdrawal of Oak Tree Group’s development application for a 94-unit retirement village at the ItaloAustralian Club last week has reopened the door for the Clear Island Waters venue to host football for the first time since 2017.
But while the club committee is keen to make it happen, a number of options remain on the table for next year.
Among them is a Merrimac return after a season in exile – a move that could also be pushed back to 2020 – while the Australian Football Academy may also look to extend its use of the field beyond its current training agreement, which is due to expire on December 21.
Newly sworn-in Italo-Australian Club committee member Bruno Tomazov, a former coach at Merrimac and longtime supporter, has been given the task of finalising the plans for the fields and will meet with AFA officials “ASAP” to discuss their intentions.
“There’s many possibilities,” Tomazov, who joined the new committee five months ago, said.
“At the moment, AFA are using the fields. I spoke with them (yesterday) morning and asked them to come back to me with a proposition ASAP. As soon as I have a meeting with AFA, we will take it from there.
“Merrimac have a rich history (since 1976). I hope Lazarus will rise again. (A return in 2020) could be an option.
“Even though football is very, very close to my heart, I have to consider how the (Italo-Australian) Club will benefit the most. My main concern at the moment is for the football fields to be used by players … juniors, seniors, it doesn’t really matter.
“I want the facilities to be used what they were made for. None of us can perform miracles but we can do our best.”
The deal with Oak Tree Group was signed by the nowdeposed Italo-Australian Club board, with Tomazov thankful “common sense has prevailed”.
“Thank god (we have saved) a sporting field from being a building site. The committee over the last five months is working hard to restore the damage the club has suffered since the non-existence of football,” he said. “The ItaloAustralian Club will not survive without football – it is like pasta without sauce.”
The Bulletin’s attempts to contact AFA officials yesterday were unsuccessful.