A video posted on Collingwood’s social media channels showing off their new-look facilities at the Holden Centre has seen the football club cop a barrage of criticism.
The video features Pies defender Jeremy Howe introducing the new facilities, featuring an inside hybrid sports pitch complete with artificial turf and basketball hoops.
“As you can see, the boys are having a hell of a time in here,” Howe says.
However, social media users were quick to point out the issue with the complex – that it had been built over the court once used by Collingwood’s Super Netball side, which was disbanded in 2023 citing financial constraints.
It takes a pretty brazen shamelessness to showcase that you took your 15 mill grant for womens sports, dumped the netball team that got you the grant then had Jeremy howe showcase how its been used to build more for the boys
But you do you Collingwood I guess
— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) January 20, 2024
Good to see all those pesky netball rings gone. Turned the women’s changerooms into meeting rooms yet?
— Freo Pope (@FreoPope) January 20, 2024
Would be a great set up for a netball club
— Uncle Jack Dahl Tomasson (@only1jackwalker) January 20, 2024
What was there before? Looks like a netball arena of sorts.
— ???????? ???????????????? ???? (@DNW91MELBOURNE) January 20, 2024
That’s some netball court you’ve got there.
— Tommie Sea (@tommie_sea) January 20, 2024
The Magpies’ culling of their netball team was already a point of controversy, given the club was handed a $15 million federal government grant in 2019 to improve facilities for women’s sport.
Given the Pies posted a profit of $7.56 million last financial year, their reporting of a $1 million loss per year for the Super Netball team has also been regarded in some corners as a cost the club could bear.
While it was reported by Fox Sports that the club fully paid for this latest redevelopment, and its AFLW and VFLW sides would also be able to make use of the facilities when their seasons begin, the Pies have been accused of ‘siphon[ing] taxpayer money into one of the wealthiest men’s football operations in Australia.”
Congratulations on using women’s sport to siphon taxpayer money into one of the wealthiest men’s football operations in Australia. https://t.co/fU78n0oWHK
— Dr Hunter Fujak (@HunterFujak) January 20, 2024
I think its really good of Collingwood to release clips showing how that 15 million grant they got for womens sports was spent…
Hey wait a second, I think I can spot some flaws here….https://t.co/tTfEF19G7W
— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) January 20, 2024
When are you returning the grant money to the government?
— Melanie (@melanie_wray) January 20, 2024
Is this using the Government money for the women’s sporting team, that you then axed after receiving the grant?
— Anthony Webb (@anthonyqld) January 20, 2024
Six months is an incredible turnaround for a full refurb.
Given the planning, materials and labour required, one could be forgiven for thinking that boning the netball was less about money and more about football.
— Harry Doyle (@HarryDoyle83035) January 20, 2024
So are you guys going to build the taxpayer-funded netball facilities somewhere else? Or you just going to exploit the funding you guys got and not give it back/ignore women’s sport?
— Professional KLP Enjoyer (@mac_attack20) January 20, 2024
Since my passion is PR I’m genuinely staggered that Collingwood didn’t consider any kind of social media backlash to their we’ve seized the netball court for the boys post
I guess they don’t care or trust a cowed aflm media won’t question a dodgy grant?
All very interesting
— Rebecca Hayne (@BeccaHayne) January 21, 2024
“I’m genuinely staggered that Collingwood didn’t consider any kind of social media backlash to their we’ve seized the netball court for the boys post,” wrote women’s football advocate Rebecca Hayne.
“I guess they don’t care or trust a cowed aflm media won’t question a dodgy grant?”
The Pies’ response to the criticism has also come under fire, with the club’s social media account blocking users asking uncomfortable questions and even hiding comments questioning the video.