St Kilda takes on Fitzroy at the Junction Oval in 1957. Credit:Peter Ralph Both Cricket Victoria and the state government has each placed a minimum $10 million apiece on the table to help fund the project, which currently faces a $15 million shortfall. The state government, which could increase its funding by up to $3 million, remains hopeful additional funding will come from the federal government, the MCG and the corporate sector. The deal with Cricket Victoria would put an end to cash-strapped St Kilda's ill-fated move to the Linen House Centre in Seaford and remove Sheffield Shield Cricket from the MCG. This would make the AFL's biggest stadium and traditional home available for home-and-away games earlier in March. The historic project will ultimately involve federal, state and local government, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, the AFL, St Kilda Football Club, St Kilda Cricket Club, the Old Melburnians amateur football club, the MCG, the MCC, Parks Victoria and St Kilda Park Primary School. The redeveloped Ian Johnson Oval would also be the home ground of Old Melburnians, who are currently based at the Junction Oval. The amateur football club has pledged $250,000 towards the proposal which could see the club train under new lights at the nearby Fawkner Park's Cordner Oval. The Old Melburnians would also have a new home ground pavilion at St Kilda's training base.

The Junction Oval today. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones In what will be promoted as a win-win for professional sport, amateur sport and the local community the adjacent St Kilda Park Primary School would benefit with new recreational facilities. McLachlan's team has also worked closely with Parks Victoria to secure the landmark move. With the state election fixed for November 29 the government is determined to resolve the multi-sport quandary involving cricket, football and the MCG. However, Cricket Victoria and the AFL have also lobbied the state Labor Opposition in the event the Napthine Coalition minority government loses the November poll. Both sporting bodies remain hopeful the project will receive bipartisan support. The Junction Oval will also continue to house Victoria's oldest local cricket club, St Kilda. Both heritage stands at the ground - the Blackie-Ironmonger and the Kevin Murray - would be retained and restored. The Junction Oval last hosted a VFL game in 1984 when Fitzroy hosted St Kilda. The ground hosted the first two VFL grand finals in 1898 and 1899 and was home to the Saints between 1901 and 1941 and again from 1944 to 1964, when the club relocated to Moorabbin.

St Kilda faces a multi-million loss this year and will almost certainly bow out of the 2014 season on Sunday as the AFL's wooden spooner. The club has struggled to sell its attempted commitment to the Seaford and Frankston area after leaving Moorabbin in 2010 following a dispute with the City of Kingston. The AFL has also won state government support in its search for a new tenant at Seaford. There is a proposal that could involve local football leagues or clubs moving to the facility to which the City of Frankston contributed close to $4 million. St Kilda holds a long-term lease at Seaford which runs until 2035. While initially only cautiously enthusiastic about the AFL joint venture, Cricket Victoria through its chief Tony Dodemaide now appears supportive of the move which would finally see the multimillion-dollar development of the Junction Oval into a cricket academy and training facility. The ground would host first-class cricket and remain available for the Sheffield Shield final. The optimistic view is that should bureaucratic obstacles be overcome, the entire redevelopment could be completed within two years, with the potential for shield cricket and one-dayers - currently played in front of diminishing crowds at the MCG - to move to the Junction Oval in time for the 2016 season.



The state government has indicated some enthusiasm for a vacant MCG over the summer following the completion of its Test cricket and international one-day commitments, which would open up the world-renowned facility for concerts and other major events.