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<\/p>\nTHE region is still feeling the sting of Sunday\u2019s announcement with AFL Barwon cancelling the remainder of its 2021 fixtures due to the Victorian Government\u2019s Roadmap.<\/p>\n
However, last week, several clubs based on the Bellarine were recognised by AFL Victoria for possessing some of the state\u2019s most picturesque grounds, following hundreds of submissions to the sporting body\u2019s social media accounts.<\/p>\n
Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, Mortimer Oval and Howard Harmer Oval were special mentions in AFL Victoria\u2019s announcement a week ago, boasting some of the region\u2019s most unique homes for the sport.<\/p>\n
AFL Barwon\u2019s acting commercial partnerships manager Nathan Ervin says under their umbrella there are three leagues that provide for a great mix of city, coastal and rural communities and with these come some extraordinary grounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe footy and netball clubs are the heartbeat of these communities,\u201d Ervin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe grounds the clubs compete on are a direct representation of them, each with their own quirks to make them special in their own right and ensure the players of the past have a meeting point to share the history made on these grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Drysdale Hawks\u2019 Mortimer Oval has been the proud stage for numerous Bellarine Football League Grand Finals in the past.<\/p>\n
Located within Drysdale Recreation Reserve, it boasts a beautiful amphitheatre on the north side of the ground acting as a grandstand surrounding almost half the field providing for mass crowds during primetime events.<\/p>\n
The southwestern side of the ground is also protected with a formidable tree line to limit the harsh winds coming in off the coast making play suitable on any day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful spot to watch a game of footy in all conditions, and it allows the game to be played where it gives the players the best chance to shine,\u201d Drysdale president David Walker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in winter on an ordinary day, it\u2019s a beautiful spot to watch the footy, it\u2019s just fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Borough of Queenscliffe is known for being picturesque in general and Queenscliffe Recreational Reserve is a testament to that.<\/p>\n
Located in the heart of Queenscliff, surrounded by the area\u2019s caravan park and a short walk to Shortland Bluff, the home of the Coutas is as close to the water as it gets, aptly nicknamed \u201cThe Coutabowl\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes our ground unique is that it\u2019s a genuine community oval and a true public space,\u201d Queenscliff president Rowan Martin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe share it with the cricket club, the netball club and other sports clubs, and it has only been enhanced over the past number of years thanks to the hard work done by previous committees and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Martin was first to admit it\u2019s not a perfectly flat ground as it runs up a slight hill on the northern boundary and exhibits a more circular shape than most other grounds, which only adds to the oval\u2019s character he added.<\/p>\n
Last and certainly not least, the Barwon Heads Seagulls\u2019 Howard Harmer Oval which is nestled beside the Barwon River, adds its own uniqueness to the fray from its famous \u201cHill\u201d and \u201cquirky\u201d entrance to its notoriously smaller size.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something in \u2018place\u2019 at football clubs,\u201d said Barwon Heads president Tim Goddard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt comes as a result of where you are, where you have been, where your first games were, where you train and where you have won and lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a real sense of \u2018place\u2019 at Barwon Heads and we feel that. There\u2019s history there and that\u2019s what we love about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the tree on the wing \u2013 it looks after us if you like,\u201d Goddard said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE region is still feeling the sting of Sunday\u2019s announcement with AFL Barwon cancelling the remainder of its 2021 fixtures due to the Victorian Government\u2019s Roadmap. However, last week, several clubs based on the Bellarine were recognised by AFL Victoria for possessing some of the state\u2019s most picturesque grounds, following hundreds of submissions to the […]<\/p>\n