Herald Sun | A MELBOURNE football club had a rude shock this morning when it discovered one of their oval’s point posts had been hacked down by a vandal overnight.
Healesville Football Club president Felix Fraraccio said police were called after a club volunteer arrived at the Don Road Sporting Complex this morning to clean up from a practice match the previous day and discovered the pointless act.
The reigning AFL Yarra Ranges premier is now in a race against time to repair the damage ahead of Saturday’s Division 1 season opener against Gembrook Cockatoo.
“We had the brand new AFL size goalposts put in last year for the (Yarra Ranges) grand final and also TAC Cup games we’re hosting and now someone has actually gone and got a hacksaw and hacksawed through the aluminium point post,’’ Mr Fraraccio said.
“It’s just disappointing vandalism and there’s no rhyme or reason to it.
“We’ll have a look at it tomorrow but I reckon we’ll be able to patch it up by then (Saturday).”
Mr Fraraccio said vandals had also caused damage to the coaches boxes, “destroying chairs” and a special spot on the hill where supporters converge to watch games.
“It’s what can happen when you have open parks like we have, you’re susceptible to all this kind of stuff,’’ he said. “It’s very disappointing.”
Healesville police were contacted for comment.