Stage 2 of the redevelopment of the NMFC Kangaroos’ home began in January 2022 and is supported by $7.3 million from the Victorian Government.

It will result in a modern facility that bridges the gap between AFL and AFLW high-performance and match day facilities, and supports women’s participation in football at all levels from amateur to professional.

“This redevelopment will help us meet the demands of our teams and our community and will be an important stepping stone to further expansion,” Kangaroos CEO Ben Amarfio said.

“Arden St is now home to four elite programs - AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW - and we are keen to welcome greater numbers of people to our facility, from local schools, sports clubs, cultural groups, universities and residents.

“We are extremely grateful to the Victorian Government for their assistance in helping to keep our Arden St facility at the cutting edge for our players, coaches and staff,” he said.

In addition to the Victorian Government’s contribution, NMFC has also secured more than $724,000 for the project with another $180,000 being provided through its community arm, The Huddle.

A top tier training complex

Stage 2 of the Arden Street Redevelopment will transform the facility into a world-class education environment. It will give younger generations the opportunity to continue learning, growing and develop a sense of belonging through The Huddle.

Upgrades to The Huddle include new learning spaces with high-tech interactive audio-visual equipment, additional administration space and new amenities.

“We would like to thank the Victorian State Government for its ongoing support,” The Huddle CEO Cameron McLeod said.

“It’s important that we integrate cutting-edge technology with our award-winning programs in a safe and inclusive space for young people and our community to strengthen their education and employment pathways.

“We’ve also got an incredible number of volunteers who donate their time to The Huddle, so providing allocated space for them to assist youth to learn, grow and belong is vitally important.”

The new and improved Arden Street is due to be completed in August 2022 and is expected to be revolutionary for not only NMFC, but also for umpires and away teams.

New player and umpires’ changerooms and an away team medical and drug testing room are part of the redevelopment.

Other improvements include a new multi-purpose meeting space, media studio and office areas for NMFC staff.

The project will be tied together with landscaping and a commercial kitchen that can be used by NMFC and the local community.

Supporting the local economy

The Stage 2 works are being delivered by Melbourne-based contractor Harris HMC. They are expected to create seven new jobs and support 28 existing jobs.

The project builds on the Victorian Government’s Women and Girls in Sport funding initiatives, which have helped fund projects that level the playing field for women in sport.

This latest expansion follows Stage 1 of the Arden Street Redevelopment, which was completed in 2019.  It delivered new training and match day facilities to accommodate the Club’s AFLW and VFLW teams.