{{Short description|Sports venue in Springvale, Melbourne, Victoria}} {{Infobox venue | name = Springvale Reserve | nickname = | image = Springvale_Reserve_2026_6.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = | address = Newcomen Rd | city = Springvale, Victoria | coordinates = {{coord|-37.94360256164489|145.14756504394123|type:landmark_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = | opened = | closed = | demolished = | owner = City of Greater Dandenong | operator = | surface = | dimensions = | construction_cost = | architect = | tenants = Springvale Districts Football Club (SFNL)<br/>Silverton Cricket Club (DDCA) | seating_capacity = | record_attendance = 5,600 ({{VFL SV}} vs {{VFA Bru}}, 15 June 1986) }} '''Springvale Reserve''' (also known as the '''Springvale Recreation Reserve''' and '''Newcomen Road Oval''') is an Australian rules football and cricket venue located in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale.<ref>{{cite web |title=Springvale Reserve |url=https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/our-environment/open-spaces/springvale-reserve |publisher=Greater Dandenong City Council |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910044234/https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/our-environment/open-spaces/springvale-reserve |archive-date=10 September 2025}}</ref> The name also refers to the wider public park in which the main oval is located.<ref>{{cite web |title=Springvale Reserve $2.1m upgrade begins |url=https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2023-11-16/springvale-reserve-2-1m-upgrade-begins/ |publisher=Star Journal |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910173628/https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2023-11-16/springvale-reserve-2-1m-upgrade-begins/ |archive-date=10 September 2025 |date=16 November 2023}}</ref>
As of 2025, it is home to the Springvale Districts Football Club in the Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) and the Silverton Cricket Club in the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title=People power: How Springvale Districts has become a model community football-netball club |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/afl%2Flocal-footy%2Fpeople-power-how-springvale-districts-has-become-a-model-community-footballnetball-club%2Fnews-story%2Fe6ad72dc0094d0da8d64b13b9432085c |publisher=CODE Sports |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231073642/https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/local-footy/people-power-how-springvale-districts-has-become-a-model-community-footballnetball-club/news-story/e6ad72dc0094d0da8d64b13b9432085c?amp&nk=72d0d2e3b8c2bde12991654a8587148e-1767166613 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> It was formerly the home of the Springvale Football Club and the Springvale Cricket Club.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title='Pains me greatly': Springvale forced to shut down after more than a century of cricket |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/cricket%2Flocal-cricket%2Fpains-me-greatly-springvale-forced-to-shut-down-after-more-than-a-century-of-cricket%2Fnews-story%2F03bba1cee1865a1971f0bba363dbfa34 |publisher=CODE Sports |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231071932/https://www.codesports.com.au/cricket/local-cricket/pains-me-greatly-springvale-forced-to-shut-down-after-more-than-a-century-of-cricket/news-story/03bba1cee1865a1971f0bba363dbfa34?amp&nk=a1d79ca5140346a3f204069345dc53f0-1767165579 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=20 July 2023}}</ref>
In addition to being the home of Springvale Districts, the SFNL often uses Springvale Reserve to host several finals matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Division 2 Grand Final Preview |url=https://sfnl.com.au/division-2-grand-final-preview-6/ |publisher=Southern Football Netball League |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011000647/https://sfnl.com.au/division-2-grand-final-preview-6/ |archive-date=11 October 2025 |date=13 September 2025}}</ref> The ground was also used for Federal Football League (FFL) grand finals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title=A Highett Football Club reunion will celebrate three flags in four years |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/sport/a-highett-football-club-reunion-will-celebrate-three-flags-in-four-years/news-story/d1544136d98e21cfcf907d358c315891 |publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231065849/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/sport/a-highett-football-club-reunion-will-celebrate-three-flags-in-four-years/news-story/d1544136d98e21cfcf907d358c315891 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=18 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title=Reunion of the Springvale team that upset Oakleigh District in the 1977 Federal league grand final |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/reunion-of-the-springvale-team-that-upset-oakleigh-district-in-the-1977-federal-league-grand-final/news-story/b3b4b8de681ccd6e426d1d50533fe306 |publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231055606/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/reunion-of-the-springvale-team-that-upset-oakleigh-district-in-the-1977-federal-league-grand-final/news-story/b3b4b8de681ccd6e426d1d50533fe306 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=23 May 2017}}</ref>
==History== The Springvale Football Club (SFC) was formed in 1903 and moved to Springvale Reserve in 1915.<ref>{{cite web |title=Springvale Scorpions History |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?client=0-118-10449-0-0&sID=55910&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=4877944 |website=GameDay |publisher=Casey Demons |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231055208/https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?client=0-118-10449-0-0&sID=55910&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=4877944 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=1 August 2003}}</ref> The club was admitted into the Victorian Football Association (VFA) – later renamed to the Victorian Football League (VFL) – in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title=Hold the phone: Brian Woodman receives VFL life membership |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/hold-the-phone-brian-woodman-receives-vfl-life-membership/news-story/eeb4e970fcdb35836b972581161438be |publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231060048/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/hold-the-phone-brian-woodman-receives-vfl-life-membership/news-story/eeb4e970fcdb35836b972581161438be |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=14 September 2016}}</ref> The highest recorded VFA crowd at Springvale Reserve was during the 1986 Division 1 season, when 5,600 people attended Springvale's round 8 match against {{VFA Bru}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Springvale v Brunswick |url=https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1986-D1-R08-G05.php |publisher=The VFA Project |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007150522/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1986-D1-R08-G05.php |archive-date=7 October 2024 |date=15 June 1986}}</ref>
By 2000 – the year that the VFL merged with the AFL reserves – the facilities at Springvale Reserve were in a rundown condition, and Football Victoria officials ruled that the ground wasn't up to VFL standard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amy |first1=Paul |title=Casey Demons, formerly Springvale Scorpions, will honour its history with a hall of fame |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/afl%2Fstate-leagues%2Fcasey-will-honour-its-history-with-the-creation-of-a-hall-of-fame%2Fnews-story%2Fd0e22a201889a4af499b9e29dad9377d |publisher=CODE Sports |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251231072634/https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/state-leagues/casey-will-honour-its-history-with-the-creation-of-a-hall-of-fame/news-story/d0e22a201889a4af499b9e29dad9377d?amp&nk=e874bae9d53d3c3514bd45e59a7c5765-1767166000 |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=30 May 2023}}</ref> SFC played all but one of its home matches at Waverley Park during the 2000 season, before moving all home matches to either Moorabbin Oval or Shepley Oval in 2001 and 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=Young Blues upset Tigers |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/young-blues-upset-tigers-20020526-gdu8ni.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231070449/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/young-blues-upset-tigers-20020526-gdu8ni.html |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=26 May 2002}}</ref> In both 2003 and 2004, seven VFL matches were played at Springvale Reserve.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dolphins take the sting out of the Scorpions |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/470583/dolphins-take-the-sting-out-of-the-scorpions |publisher=AFL.com.au |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231073932/https://www.afl.com.au/news/470583/dolphins-take-the-sting-out-of-the-scorpions |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=12 May 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2003 Sandringham Zebras season |url=https://demonwiki.org/2003%2BSandringham%2BZebras%2Bseason |publisher=Demonwiki |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222131101/https://demonwiki.org/2003%2BSandringham%2BZebras%2Bseason |archive-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>
In 2005, SFC reached an arrangement with the City of Casey, which had developed the new Casey Fields multi-sports complex in Cranbourne East and was seeking for a VFL team to play there.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Caroline |title=Demons want land at Casey |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/demons-want-land-at-casey/2008/05/06/1209839651311.html |publisher=Real Footy |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507015918/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/demons-want-land-at-casey/2008/05/06/1209839651311.html |archive-date=7 May 2008 |date=7 May 2008}}</ref> The club moved its training and playing base to Casey Fields in 2006, changing its name to the Casey Scorpions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Talent |first1=Justin |title=Dees' GM of Footy: Scorpions' history won't be forgotten in Casey rebranding |url=https://archive.sen.com.au/news/2016/12/21/dees-gm-of-footy-scorpions-history-wont-be-forgotten-in-casey-rebranding/index.html |publisher=SEN |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231071122/https://archive.sen.com.au/news/2016/12/21/dees-gm-of-footy-scorpions-history-wont-be-forgotten-in-casey-rebranding/index.html |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=21 December 2016}}</ref> Ahead of the move, SFC played all of its home matches at Springvale Reserve during the 2005 season (the first time it had done this since 1998).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Scorps 'Comen Home? |url=https://www.vflfooty.com/scorps-comen-home |publisher=VFL Footy |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231072842/https://www.vflfooty.com/scorps-comen-home |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=26 October 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rhodes |first1=Brendan |title=750 not out: Casey Demons notch up a massive milestone |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/599128/750-not-out-casey-demons-notch-up-a-massive-milestone |publisher=AFL.com.au |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406173018/https://www.afl.com.au/news/599128/750-not-out-casey-demons-notch-up-a-massive-milestone |archive-date=6 April 2025 |date=21 April 2025}}</ref> The final VFA/VFL match at the ground was between Springvale and {{VFL PM}} on 14 August 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=VFA/VFL Grounds |url=https://www.vflfooty.com/vfavfl-grounds |publisher=VFL Footy |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231062055/https://www.vflfooty.com/vfavfl-grounds |archive-date=31 December 2025 |date=25 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong's VFL team: Season 2005 – Cats bottom out |url=https://www.thecattery.com.au/OldSite/vfl_2005.php |publisher=The Cattery |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410125900/https://www.thecattery.com.au/OldSite/vfl_2005.php |archive-date=10 April 2021 |date=20 August 2005}}</ref>
A digital scoreboard was installed at Springvale Reserve in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maskell |first1=Vin |title=Springvale Reserve, Victoria |url=https://scoreboardpressure.com/2015/04/24/springvale-reserve-victoria/ |publisher=Scoreboard pressure |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250927122219/https://scoreboardpressure.com/2015/04/24/springvale-reserve-victoria/ |archive-date=27 September 2025 |date=24 April 2015}}</ref>
During the 2022 Victorian state election campaign, the Labor Party committed to funding which would upgrade the ground's facilities, including the main oval and cricket nets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Foladi |first1=Sahar |title=$2m pledge for Springvale oval |url=https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2022-11-19/2m-pledge-for-springvale-oval/ |publisher=Star Journal |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119024909/https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2022-11-19/2m-pledge-for-springvale-oval/ |archive-date=19 November 2022 |date=19 November 2022}}</ref> The upgrades were completed in July 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Reilly |first1=Sean |title=Springvale North Ward (Council News Article) |url=https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/contact-us/news-and-media/cr-sean-oreilly-springvale-north-ward-council-news-article-august-2025 |publisher=Greater Dandenong City Council |access-date=31 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819181330/https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/contact-us/news-and-media/cr-sean-oreilly-springvale-north-ward-council-news-article-august-2025 |archive-date=19 August 2025 |date=31 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{VFL venues}}
Category:Australian rules football grounds Category:Sports venues in Melbourne Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Greater Dandenong Category:Sport in the City of Greater Dandenong