Western United will play their first ever A-Leagues fixture in Tarneit over the weekend as the Liberty A-League leaders host Newcastle Jets.
History will be made on Sunday when Kat Smith’s Western welcome the Jets to the Regional Football Facility for their Round 20 matchup in the west, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00pm AEDT.
Western are a point clear at the top of the table, while Newcastle are seventh and three points outside the top six.
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“Sunday can’t come soon enough for us, and I am eagerly awaiting the moment when we truly arrive in our home in Tarneit,” said executive chairman Jason Sourasis of the major milestone.
“We have been working hard to ensure we are ready to create a fantastic event for our players, fans and the viewers at home.
“With the assistance of Wyndham City Council, we intend on making every game in Tarneit an event that the local community can attend and be proud of.
“Like all homes, we will move in and feel out what suits us best and continue to invest in the precinct to create the best possible atmosphere for our members and fans.”
Since their inception in 2019, Western have played at a myriad of home venues as they have awaited construction of their promised venue.
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The club’s A-League Men’s team has hosted matches at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, Ballarat’s Mars Stadium and Morshead Park, AAMI Park in Melbourne’s CBD, Whitten Oval in Footscray and matches in Tasmania – in both Launceston and Hobart.
Meanwhile, the A-League Women’s side have called City Vista Reserve in Fraser Rise home since their arrival in the competition last season.
“It was a non-negotiable for us that we’d get our girls a home fixture at Tarneit,” Sourasis said.
“Kat Smith and the team have been doing an incredible job, and we urge everyone in the West to come out and get a taste of the best female footballers in the country playing in their backyard.
“We are all delighted to bring our team and our members and stakeholders to only the second rectangular stadium in Victoria that is compliant for both A- League Men and Women matches.”
For rising Western United star and Tarneit resident Avaani Prakash, it is a big moment.
“I’m extremely excited to play at our new home on Sunday, in my own neighbourhood in front of my new home community in Tarneit,” said the 17-year-old.
“My parents take me to the games, so they are probably the happiest that it is only a five- minute drive. I have loved calling Tarneit home and I can’t wait to see all the locals come out to support us.
“The whole team is looking forward to Sunday and to starting to make Tarneit a Green and Black fortress to really build a home ground advantage.”
