Hey Blues! It’s Hailey Brownlow Winslow, back for Round 4 of Brownlow’s Blues! This blog takes a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening around the Carlton Football Club and helps you get to know some of the people here that make all the magic happen off the oval and behind the curtain. This week’s topic ventures just beyond my cubical window to Princes Park, the stadium surrounding Carlton’s headquarters, where the boys train. I have the two who know this territory the best in the recording studio with me to clarify answers to questions often asked about this facility. But first a bit of a history…
 
And the history of Princes Park dates back to the league’s inception. Located in Carlton North, Princes Park was the home ground for Carlton from 1897 until 2005, where during that time, the Blues won about two-thirds of their games. It currently stands as the third largest Australian-rules football venue in Melbourne, after of course, the MCG and Etihad Stadium. It’s gone under the alias Optus Oval, MC Labour Park, Visy Park and most recently, Ikon Park.
 
Following the transfer of Carlton’s home games to the MCG and Etihad Stadium in 2006, the Carlton Football Club Board along with support from the federal & state government, the AFL and Melbourne City Council commenced a $20 million redevelopment project that involved demolition of the George Harris Stand, known as the Carlton Social Club, and the Robert Heatley Stand. The much needed training facilities for the football club consisting of a gymnasium, aquatic recovery, a lecture theatre, medical and rehab offices and locker rooms.
 
Over the years the ground has hosted international cricket, rugby and soccer matches, world-title boxing and even an opera.
 
Aside from Carlton, it’s been home to Fitzroy, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs as well as various home games for Richmond, North Melbourne and Melbourne. .
 
The Blues’ backyard also used to host the VFA Grand Final, including the 1945 VFL Grand Final - the famous blood bath between Carlton and South Melbourne - which delivered the Blues its seventh premiership.
 
Ensuring our men consistently get the best conditions to train on is Venue Coordinator Alan Pfeiffer and figuring out how we make that happen and afford to do so is Head of Venue Operations Martin Shannon.