Coach John Aloisi hopes the rubber-stamping of Western United's long-awaited move to Tarneit can help his battling charges salvage something from their disastrous A-League Men campaign.
United sit a distant last on the table but received a boost this week with confirmation they would soon be able to train and play out of their long-awaited 5000-capacity stadium.
The club's high-flying A-League Women team will kick-off there on March 17, when they host the Newcastle Jets, and Aloisi estimated their male counterparts would follow in early April.
United's ALM team have lived a nomadic existence, playing home games in Geelong, Ballarat, Footscray, at AAMI Park and even in Tasmania, while training at the Tullamarine base of AFL club Essendon.
“We're hoping that we're going to play at least three to four of our remaining home games there,” Aloisi said ahead of Friday's clash with Newcastle at AAMI Park.
“It's huge for us. We've had to go to different places - Ballarat, Tasmania, and wherever else in these five years.
"We've only played three games in Melbourne so far this season out of 15.
“So to finally not have to get your bags and go on an aeroplane and play a home game, to have your home (is significant).
“Then you're trying to build the club, the people we represent - and that's out west - get the community on board.
"There's still a lot of work to do with that, we know that, but once we're there it's much easier. The players are excited because it's our home.“
Aloisi is contracted for next season and has consistently maintained neither he nor the club were looking for a change, despite a poor 2023-24 campaign.
"I'm planning to be here next season," he said.
"I've said that I've stuck around because I want to be out in the west. I want to be there when we're in heading into Tarneit and that hasn't changed at all.
"I don't think from the club's side it's changed at all either."
United's attempts to salvage something from the current campaign continue against the Jets, when they will need to shut down in-form striker Apostolos Stametolopoulos (13 goals).
“It's not only stopping him, it's stopping the supply to him because he's in good form - the ball comes into the box and he's alive to it,” Aloisi said.
“He feels confident and that's what confidence gives you.”
