MATT WINDLEY AND DAVID DAVUTOVIC,
Herald Sun
Subscriber only
THE six biggest soccer clubs in the Casey-Dandenong region say they would unite behind a local push for an A-League license.The Casey and Greater Dandenong councils also endorse a south-east A-League bid and both have already identified appropriate locations - Casey Fields and Dandenong Showgrounds.
WHERE SHOULD VICTORIA’S THIRD A-LEAGUE CLUB BE BASED? VOTE IN OUR POLL AND HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
Former Springvale City and Socceroos star Vince Grella headlines an impressive south-east production line that includes current players Scott McDonald, Eugene Galekovic, Curtis Good and Jackson Irvine.With a rapidly growing population that already numbers 1.2 million, the south-east is a perfect home for a professional club according to locals.
Each of Dandenong City, Dandenong Thunder, Springvale White Eagles, South Springvale, Berwick City and Casey Comets ardently support an A-League team being placed on their doorstep.“I’ve spoken to a clot of people in the community and there’s a real hunger for soccer. It’s taking off in the south-east and there’s no AFL here,” Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said.
“We’ve got the right spot for it - the Showgrounds, which is only 500 metres from Dandenong Station. It’s a big parcel of land, 40 acres, perfect for a boutique stadium.“Dandenong is the most multicultural council in Victoria and they would back an A-League club.”Casey is the eighth-fastest growing municipality in Australia with a population of approximately 290,000 that is projected to grow to 459,000 by 2036.Dandenong has roughly 155,000 residents and will push 200,000 in 15 years.This year there were 2370 registered players in Casey - only Monash and Boroondara had more in Victoria - while Greater Dandenong had 1946.“If a super club was formed representing the entire region, it would be a raging success,” Dandenong City president Tony Dorotic said.South Springvale vice president Omi Emmanouilidis said such a team could match Melbourne City’s crowds straight away.Casey Comets president Dawn Stone said the club would also attract fans from areas like Monash, Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland.
.A-League expansion is a hot topic, with at least two new teams to be added soon.South Melbourne has formalised a bid, Geelong is in the mix, but Berwick City president Joe Di Iorio said the south-east is another Western Sydney Wanderers in waiting.Thunder president Ferman Zekirija said a bid from the region “should have happened a long time ago”, while White Eagles vice-president Milos Sekulovski said a club in the south-east would be a valuable addition to the country’s youth development stocks.Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said Casey Fields would be a perfect training base for an A-League club.
In my opinion a team from South East Melbourne works.Just some numbers in terms of LGA's and their population.
Shire of Mornington Peninsula: 144,685
City of Frankston: 135,243
City of Casey: 292,211
City of Greater Dandenong: 146,000
Shire of Cardinia: 74,176
City of Knox:149,340
City of Monash: 187,286
City of Kingston: 147,214
City of Glen Eira: 131,013
Combined Population = 1,407,168
Map for reference -
Map for growth until 2036 -
