Deakin Ducks is a small football club based at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, but - as far as the number of teams and registered players is concerned - it is a club that is bursting at the seams.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that the Ducks are pretty much operating at capacity, it isn’t stopping the essentially student member club from, literally, seeking greener pastures...

Deakin’s woes regarding the state of their University playing pitch has recently forced the Ducks to seek alternative match day venues, shifting last weekend’s home games to Surf Coast FC’s impressive Banyul Warri complex in North Torquy. As of next year, that will all change.

It was recently revealed, a new, state of the art, synthetic football pitch will be installed at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus and will be ready for the start of the 2016 GRFC season.

According to Deakin Ducks president, Shaun Moloney, after years of putting up with games having to be transferred and lobbying the University to improve the sporting facilities, things are about to change in a major way.

“We have been informed that the University has granted funding for a FIFA 1-star synthetic pitch with dugouts and viewing area. It will be put in where the ground is now,” he said.

“They (Deakin) are taking over the grounds in mid-August, in readiness for the construction of the pitch, which will also include A Grade floodlighting,” he said.

 According to Moloney, an athletics track will encircle the pitch, which will be part of a major multi-sports precinct at the University grounds.

 “There will be new baseball grounds, a basketball court, the athletics track as well as improved amentities and a lecture theatre style grandstand for the PE/Sports science students.

 “We’re also hoping there may be scope for new dressing rooms, but that may come down to available funds,” he added.

 According to the Deakin president, approximately 70 percent of the players at the Ducks are current Deakin Uni students, with the remaining 30 percent made up of past students and players from the local area.

 In keeping with the rise in popularity of football in the region, the Ducks have experienced an impressive growth in registration numbers.

 “Just a few years ago, we only had three men’s teams participating in the local competition. Last year we grew to four men’s and one women’s, this year we have a total of five men’s teams and one women’s team.

 “We’re basically operating at capacity level. We might field two women’s teams next year, but that would be about it,” Moloney added.

 “It really is an exciting time at Deakin, we are looking forward to next season for obvious reasons,” concluded Moloney.

 In the meantime, with the Men’s first team just two points behind the leaders in Division One and the Women’s team just one point behind the second placed team, the run to this year’s final series is going to prove just as exciting for the Ducks.

PHOTO: An architect's impression of what the new soccer facilities will look like at Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus.