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City of Casey’s redevelopment of Clyde Recreation Reserve has secured the 2024 AFL Victoria Best Community Facilities Project Award.

The AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award is announced annually to recognise best practice in community football facility development across the state, along with the people, clubs and other stakeholders driving the best projects in Victoria.

The City of Casey upgraded and expanded Clyde Recreation Reserve by constructing three Australian Rules football/cricket ovals and two multipurpose pavilions, along with two netball courts, and eight tennis courts to meet significant demand for active open space in the local area.

The Clyde Cougars Football Club will benefit from this redevelopment to their home ground facilities, which came at a total project cost of $21.5 million.

Clyde Recreation Reserve has provided an opportunity for the tenant clubs to increase participation in sport, particularly among females and diverse communities.

Since moving back to the reserve, Clyde Cougars Football Club was able to grow their club with an additional 86 registered football participants and this included 44 new females to the club.

Through this growth the football club was able to establish three new girls only teams for the first time in their history.

The redeveloped facility has provided the club with a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all participants and their families, along with the broader Clyde community.

As the winner of the AFL Victoria Best Community Football Facilities Project Award for 2024, Clyde Recreation Reserve Redevelopment will be put forward as the Victorian nomination for the national AFL Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award in 2025.

The award was presented this week by AFL Victoria to the City of Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen and Clyde Cougars Football Club President Craig Chapman at Clyde Recreation Reserve.

AFL Victoria Venue and Government Partnerships Manager Jessie Doull said that this redevelopment was the work of collaboration between the Victorian State Government, the local council and the local football club and enthused "It's fantastic to see the results of this collaboration, driving positive outcomes for the local community.

"This redeveloped facility has provided the club with a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all participants and their families, along with the broader Clyde community."

City of Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen shared "Sport is very important and the key to our community, showing the importance of having good sporting facilities, where communities can gather, we have a diverse community in Casey.

"Facilities like this provides a place for people to socialise and meet others through sport, this facility is vital in building strong communities and there is a lot of pride for the community in this facility."

Clyde Cougars Football Club President Craig Chapman said the redevelopment has had a significant impact on the rate of female participation at the club, due to the increased facilities available.

"What has been built here is truly inspirational and are able to provide a safe and welcoming environment, it is not about changerooms and footy ovals but this is a place for the entire community to gather," Chapman added.

"This is a place where the players and their parents can come back and celebrate their achievements on and off the field.

“Developments like this are not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about creating opportunities and providing equal opportunities for girls and boys to play our great game of AFL and all the other sports that get to use these magnificent facilities.

“We’ve not only grown but doubled in size from last season because of the magnificent facilities. We’ve gone from less than 10 girls enrolled last season to approximately 50 this season and that’s an awesome achievement.”

The AFL and AFL Victoria have partnered with stakeholders from state government through to local councils, local football clubs and community groups across the state  in 2024 to deliver access to 23 new ovals, 66 more grounds with at least 100 lux lighting while 58% of local football venues now have gender neutral player change facilities, up from 54% in 2023.

For more information about facilities and funding opportunities available to Victorian clubs, visit play.afl/victoria/facilities. 

Image top. An aerial view of the completed redevelopment at Clyde Recreation Reserve. Credit: AFL Victoria; Image centre: The award was presented by AFL Victoria to the City of Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen and Clyde Cougars Football Club President Craig Chapman. Credit: Carly Ravenhall / AFL South East; Image below: Jessie Doull (AFL Victoria), Jennifer Dizon (City of Casey - Councillor), Stefan Kooman (City of Casey Mayor), Craig Chapman (Clyde Cougars President), Katie Atkins (Clyde JFC Vice President), Jordan Crugnale (Member for Bass). Credit: Carly Ravenhall / AFL South East

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