Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Important SN update for SouthlandThe AFL completes deal to buy back Waverly Park
Ashley Browne • June 24th, 2025 2:23 pm
Waverley Park is back in AFL hands after this week’s purchase of the historic venue from the Hawthorn Football Club.
The price was undisclosed, but the venue, which staged League games between 1970 and 1999 and has been Hawthorn’s training and administrative base since 2006, was listed for sale for $20 million.
It is understood the League beat out bids from other AFL clubs, as well as rival sports and education institutions for the property that includes an MCG-sized playing ground and an office and training complex inside the heritage-listed Sir Kenneth Luke Stand.
It is a significant purchase for the AFL, with chief executive Andrew Dillon describing it as a “rare and timely solution” that will support the League’s growing needs in talent development, community football, and umpiring programs.
“Waverley Park has had a long history in footy, being the first venue to be designed and built specifically for Australian Rules Football,” Dillon said.
The acquisition comes as the AFL sets ambitious targets, including reaching 10 million attendees across AFL and AFLW games, two million club members, and one million participants nationwide.
Dillon emphasized that to meet these goals, the League will require access to two new ovals every week for the next five years.
For the Hawks, it was a great business outcome, having paid developer Mirvac a nominal fee just $1 for the then vacant facility in 2004 and is the final piece of the financial puzzle ahead of the move to the Kennedy Community Centre at Dingley later this year.
“A lot of work has been done to ensure the best possible outcome for both the club and the future of Waverley Park,” said Hawks chief operating officer Jacob Attwood.
"With the facility changing hands to the AFL, we are confident that its historical significance of Waverley Park will be preserved.”
In its history, 732 AFL/VFL matches were played at Waverley Park, 70 of which were finals and one a Grand Final.
It also hosted World Series Cricket, baseball and concerts from Rod Stewart, Kiss, David Bowie, U2 and Simon & Garfunkel.
