Artists statement

Anderson Hunt vividly remembers the hard-core, hard-working supporters. "I see The Final Siren as a homage to those hard-working Collingwood fans who stood in the outer and barracked their hearts out. Without the hard-core supporters, the club would be nothing. I hope the sculpture gives Collingwood fans a sense of pride; pride that’s like wearing a tight footy jumper with big numbers on the back. I feel honoured to have had the chance to create this sculpture, knowing that what was there beforehand stood for so much.”

Historical information

Victoria Park, the former home of the Collingwood Football Club, was transformed into a major community recreation space in 2011. Yarra City Council and the Australian Government jointly funded the $7.2 million redevelopment of the Abbotsford ground. As part of the redevelopment, Council commissioned multiple works of public art. The intention of these artworks is to recognise the park’s important history and to provide interesting and educational focal points for park. visitors. This work by Anderson Hunt is in place of the original scoreboard which was demolished on 10 February 2011. Anderson Hunt remembers going to Collingwood games as a boy and wondering how the numbers on the scoreboard appeared and disappeared. He remembers being in awe of the size of the scoreboard. “It was like a huge monolith,” he recalls. He remembers a story of how the scoreboard operator, Bob Hill, would change the scores quick as a flash when the Magpies kicked a goal.

Physical description

Large black and white steel sculpture inspired by the form and imagery of the ground’s former scoreboards and clocks. Stylised wing and colours acknowledge the Collingwood Football Club