Joel Selwood has paid tribute to Frank Costa’s vision as the Geelong great toured the new stand named in his honour at GMHBA Stadium.
The opening of the $142m stage five upgrade at the northern end of Kardinia Park puts a full stop on a two-decade run of rolling redevelopments that started with the Reg Hickey Stand on the Moorabool Street wing in 2003.
With Geelong mired in debt and Kardinia Park lagging behind as an AFL venue, Costa – who died in 2021- and then CEO Brian Cook set about moving the Cats into the 21st Century.
“Frank Costa thought this was the best place in the world – and he had travelled around the world,” Selwood said.
“With that, I’m sure he knocked on the door of government many times to see this vision (as) it is today.
“I’m sure he would be looking down very proud.”
Selwood toured the stand with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, local MPs, and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin.
Since it was revealed that the new stand would carry his name, Selwood has regularly used the phrase “blown away” to describe his reaction to the news.
However, the Geelong great expects that his emotions will be further heightened when the 14,000-seat redevelopment is at capacity for Saturday night’s Round 1 clash between the Cats and St Kilda.
“I think it’s amazing,” Selwood said. “Everyone that’s put something into it has done a great job.
“It has gone over its timeline, but good things do. It’s been in the pipeline for quite a while.
“I underestimated how big it was actually going to be.
“But when they (the crowd) come in on Saturday, I’m sure they’ll all enjoy it.”
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