NORTH Ballarat Sports Club will push to have its second oval upgraded before AFL games come to Ballarat so it can continue playing football at Eureka Stadium.
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With the AFL imposing strict standards on surface conditions for AFL matches, North Ballarat is already planning to have Northern Oval number two upgraded to cut back the usage on the future home of AFL in Ballarat.
Eureka Stadium plays host to North Ballarat Roosters, North Ballarat City and North Ballarat Rebels matches, making it the most heavily used surface in Ballarat.
North Ballarat Sports Club chief executive officer Mark Patterson said there had been early plans laid down to upgrade the secondary oval, with a view to make it a key training venue as well.
Whether the Roosters or North City will be forced to play on the secondary oval when the AFL comes – which could be as early as 2017 – is not known.
The Western Bulldogs will likely play two or three games at Eureka Stadium each year thanks to a $31 million government pledge to upgrade the entire sporting precinct, with $15 million to be spent on Eureka Stadium.
“It’s about making sure we’re part of the process of how the $15 million gets allocated,” Patterson said.
“We have to protect our venue and that is number one priority and we will have to work with a number of stakeholders to ensure that happens.”
The number two oval is used for junior football but was temporarily forced to close this year when it descended into a muddy bog.
Adequate draining and changerooms would need to be developed for the oval to be used on a year-round basis.
Patterson said he had already met with the AFL, which had given a brief outline of what conditions were required to host an AFL match.
Both Patterson and AFL spokesman Patrick Keane put to bed any rumours that Eureka Stadium would not be allowed to be used for four weeks prior to any AFL match.
“There’s no hard and fast rule. We monitor the grounds,” Keane told The Courier.
“If the turf is holding up all right then you could play games there a week before an AFL game. It’s something we take on a case-by-case basis.”
The Roosters, Rebels and North City were all forced off Eureka Stadium for two weeks prior to a NAB Cup game between North Melbourne and Carlton this year, and had to hold their pre-season training elsewhere.
It is not known what the usage requirements for Eureka Stadium will be before the NAB Cup match between Western Bulldogs and Melbourne in March next year.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au