MAIN OVAL

The Main Oval at Geelong College Senior School came into existence as a result of the purchase of ‘Paddy’ Rook’s Paddock facing Aphrasia St, Newtown in 1900. This was a block of land on the western side of the present Main Oval.
Previous to this, the eastern end of the Main Oval had been a junior playing field on land purchased in 1872 to extend the original school block all the way to Aphrasia St along the Talbot St frontage. This junior playing field ‘sufficed for the seconds and middles’. A cricket pitch was established in summer but due to the small size of the ground ‘boundaries counted 2 or 3 runs according to the end from which they were hit.’ The eastern end of the old Oval near the corner of Aphrasia and Talbot St was notorious for its 'sumptous' boggy patch where the old drainage lines through the College property came together.
The Main Oval was constructed in about 1904, and opened together with the Pavilion on Sports Day, 14 December 1904 by the then Mayor of Geelong and College identity, Neil Campbell (1859-1939). At the time it was 210 yards by 140 yards with trees planted on its western side. A feature of the Main Oval was the newly erected Cricket Pavilion.
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The full dimensions of the Main Oval in 2007 are 165 metres goal to goal, 100 metres wide and it covers an area of 1.7 hectares.
Notable cricketers from the College who have competed on this ground include 'Jack' Iverson (1915-1973), Lindsay Hassett (1913–1993), Ian Redpath, and Paul Sheahan. On this ground, Hassett scored 245 of 5-428 against Scotch College in 1932. Both records stand to this day. In 1943, J D Poole took 9-20 against Geelong Grammar School in a match College lost.
Due to early requirements of a 'neutral' ground, up until the 1930s, Associated Public School (APS) football matches were played on the Corio Ground or later Kardinia Park though the College Main Oval was still used for various matches including training, House and Old Collegian vs College contests. Notable footballers from the College who have played on the Main Oval include the first Bronlow winner ‘Carji’ Greeves (1903-1963), 'Milton' Lamb (1909-2006), and Brownlow winner Alistair Lord.
Outstanding athletes known to have competed on the ground include Olympians such as 'Don' Macmillan (1928 – 2004), 'Bob' Grant (1934-2007), and 'Georgie' Clarke.

Source
Austin Gray-Buildings-Pegasus June 1952 p37; Annual Report, 1904 p15.