A long-standing AFL club in Logan has found a new home in Yarrabilba, with hopes that the move will strengthen its junior pathway system and help expand its community presence.
The Park Ridge Pirates have secured a lease for McKinnon Sports Park North, marking a significant milestone for the club after years of searching for a suitable facility.
Club president Daniella Greig said the decision to move was made with the club’s future in mind.
“With the situation we were placed in, our senior side is growing rapidly, and we knew we needed a space that could accommodate that growth,” she said.
“When the opportunity in Yarrabilba came up, we jumped on it as a club. We all had a discussion and thought it would be the best move for us.”
The new facility includes multiple fields, which will allow the Pirates to work alongside other local sporting groups to maximise the space’s potential.
“We’ve been in contact with different clubs and community sporting facilities to hopefully arrange agreements where we can all benefit,” Mrs Greig said.
“Our end goal is to enforce healthy habits in Yarrabilba and really focus on community spirit.”
The relocation also allows the club to re-establish its junior development programs, which have been a crucial part of its history.
“Discussions have already started with high schools and primary schools in the area to facilitate programs that help grow AFL in the region,” Mrs Greig said.
“We had a really strong relationship with Park Ridge State High, and we’re looking to do the same in Yarrabilba. Our goal is to build a massive AFL club and, eventually, climb the ladder to be at the top.”
While the move represents a fresh start, the decision to leave Park Ridge was not made lightly.
The club has called Park Ridge State High School home for many years, but outgrowing the facilities, along with challenges such as limited infrastructure to include a women’s side, made the decision necessary.
“It wasn’t suitable for our expansion, especially if we wanted to introduce a women’s side and grow our juniors and youth teams,” she said.
“When we lost our junior program, it was a huge hit to the club, so having the opportunity to rebuild that in Yarrabilba is massive for us.”
The Pirates also plan to work with other sports groups in the area to foster a broader sporting community.
“We’ve been in contact with cricket, soccer, little athletics, and other community groups,” Mrs Greig said.
“We want to pull the community together and ensure Yarrabilba becomes a strong sporting hub.”
Despite the excitement of the move, Mrs Greig acknowledged that the transition came with mixed emotions.
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” she said.
“We’ve built incredible relationships at Park Ridge, and we’re grateful for all the support we’ve received, especially from people like Tim Frazer, who has been a huge advocate for us. But this move was necessary for the survival and growth of our club.”
As for the club’s identity, discussions are ongoing about a potential name change to reflect the broader region while maintaining the Pirates’ legacy.
“Our identity as the Pirates will stay,” Mrs Greig said.
“We have a meeting coming up where we’ll vote on potential changes to the name, and that should be announced soon.”
The Pirates hope to be fully operational at Yarrabilba by mid-season, depending on infrastructure approvals and logistics.
Mrs Greig remains optimistic about the club’s future.
“This is a fresh start,” she said.
“It’s a chance for us to grow, help build a healthy community and create something special in one of Logan’s fastest growing cities.”
