Gather Round Chat 2025

[GROTTO]

hi guys..

If anyone’s keen to head out to the Barossa today and watch a game of footy let me know.. I have 2xadult 1 kids ticket . No cost.

Just curious how much is an adult ticket?

 

[Cromulant]

The recruiting zones would need to be changed. It would need to be a full blooded move (pardon the pun). "Hills Bloods" a bit like the "Western Bulldogs". Sturt, footy or cricket, are never going to commit fully to the Hills, besides it being a very convenient, close to the city country area, they can bring recruits down for. With a facility as good as Mt Barker Summit and a booming population, not just in Mt Barker itself, but surrounding Hills towns, it should be utilised in full and a team based in the region servicing the region.

I think you overstate how much the hills would actually want that though.

Sturt wouldnt give that up without HUGE financial benefit

 

[glengowan]

I think you overstate how much the hills would actually want that though.

Sturt wouldnt give that up without HUGE financial benefit

I don't think Sturt have any claim to financial benefit and there is nothing stopping the zoning committee making changes.

I agree, the Hills clubs may not necessarily want it, but it would be good for the kids from the Hills, all the way through to Strathalbyn, Murray Bridge etc. to have high quality facilities, with high quality coaching servicing them at their doorstep.

 

[Cromulant]

I don't think Sturt have any claim to financial benefit and there is nothing stopping the zoning committee making changes.

Mt Barker is their 2nd oval, they use the facility more than any other organisation.

Also, youre taking away their biggest recruiting zone, it wont happen.

 

[Reservoir tiger]

Just curious how much is an adult ticket?

No idea… I think they’re sold out

These tickets are free…

 

[Geoffa32]

The Lyndoch model is the right one. The Mt Barker model was like the Footy Park and Waverley models from the 1970's except the HFL was the equivalent of the SANFL and VFL. It's hard to think how they thought it could work in the modern day.

If I was running that oval at Mt Barker, I'd be working hard on enticing West Adelaide FC up there to call it a permanent home, with financial commitments from the SANFL and government to assist. Given WAFC financial issues and Thebarton Oval having the Crows operating from it in a few years, a lifeline to an established SANFL club such as West may be a win/win for all. The River Murray League is also now West Adelaide country zone, so similar to how South can draw from the Fleurieu to Noarlunga. Sturt is too entrenched at Unley Oval to make the move, despite it being such a strong area for their "country" juniors.

The idea of an SANFL club going up there makes sense...but wouldn't Sturt be better suited.

 

[Cromulant]

The idea of an SANFL club going up there makes sense...but wouldn't Sturt be better suited.

The issue for any SANFL club would be the perimeter fencing.

Way too many access points to fence off at a pretty big cost. I don't think there's much of an appetite for a hills SANFL side, there used to be.... but since the big money has come into the HFL it's not likely

 

[1970crow]

The issue for any SANFL club would be the perimeter fencing.

Way too many access points to fence off at a pretty big cost. I don't think there's much of an appetite for a hills SANFL side, there used to be.... but since the big money has come into the HFL it's not likely

Did they half arse it to reduce costs?

 

[Cromulant]

Did they half arse it to reduce costs?

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks very much like it.

They had an open day shortly after it was completed. Everyone rightly looked at the oval itself and went "wow how good is this" which is fine, but as soon as you walked inside the clubroom you knew they'd stuffed it.

The initial PM of the project is a good mate of mine, he's not a sports fan really, and not a footy fan at all. When he was telling me the specifics of it I was stunned.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Councils generally don't like there being drinking venues on their properties. Often non-sporting people are making the decisions.

Their mindset would be no alcohol and they can bring in outside vendors for major events. Likewise kitchen facilities are often pretty basic / non-existent. There are so many rules and regulations around the serving of alcohol / food. Easier not to bother.

They don't appreciate that for grassroots clubs the bar is their lifeblood.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

NWM what a kick

 

[Cromulant]

Councils generally don't like there being drinking venues on their properties. Often non-sporting people are making the decisions.

Their mindset would be no alcohol and they can bring in outside vendors for major events. Likewise kitchen facilities are often pretty basic / non-existent. There are so many rules and regulations around the serving of alcohol / food. Easier not to bother.

They don't appreciate that for grassroots clubs the bar is their lifeblood.

This is pretty much it in a nutshell, particularly a new facility.

If they'd just been renovating the current Mt Barker FC facilities it wouldn't have been an issue, similar to Athelstone and ROCS Grounds.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I don't mind glengowan's idea about West Adelaide relocating to Mt Barker.

Lateral thinking.

I don't think Sturt would ever move there as a home base

The zones are re-drawn every 5 years as it is. Sturt would need to pick up West Adelaide's country zone presumably (Riverland). A bit like how Norwood lost Gumeracha, Lobethal, Woodside when they gained Eyre Peninsula.

West would add foothills eg Belair, Coromandel Valley, Blackwood plus keep Flagstaff Hill, Happy Valley. Plus all the hills, Murray Bridge,

Sturt gain Goodwood, Edwardstown etc.

Interesting.

Unless West became fully country? All hills + Riverland. Sturt all metro.

The SANFL (or would this be Trigg's SA Football Commission?) will need to think outside the square to stay financial and relevant.

 

[FR0GGY]

West would add foothills eg Belair, Coromandel Valley, Blackwood plus keep Flagstaff Hill, Happy Valley. Plus all the hills, Murray Bridge,

Sturt gain Goodwood, Edwardstown etc.

Interesting.

Unless West became fully country? All hills + Riverland. Sturt all metro.

The SANFL (or would this be Trigg's SA Football Commission?) will need to think outside the square to stay financial and relevant.

Isn’t this area south’s?

 

[Cromulant]

Isn’t this area south’s?

Yes

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Isn’t this area south’s?

It's ebbed and flowed between the clubs for ages. Every 5 year review is done using census data and the idea is that each club has access to an equal number of 5-15 year olds in its zone

This is now. Yellow Glenelg, light blue Sturt, Navy South and Maroon is West

 

[Jibroni]

The Lyndoch model is the right one. The Mt Barker model was like the Footy Park and Waverley models from the 1970's except the HFL was the equivalent of the SANFL and VFL. It's hard to think how they thought it could work in the modern day.

If I was running that oval at Mt Barker, I'd be working hard on enticing West Adelaide FC up there to call it a permanent home, with financial commitments from the SANFL and government to assist. Given WAFC financial issues and Thebarton Oval having the Crows operating from it in a few years, a lifeline to an established SANFL club such as West may be a win/win for all. The River Murray League is also now West Adelaide country zone, so similar to how South can draw from the Fleurieu to Noarlunga. Sturt is too entrenched at Unley Oval to make the move, despite it being such a strong area for their "country" juniors.

The Hills is really Sturts region (there womens team have played a couple games there already) and areas towards Strath lean towards South Adelaide.

Sadly Westies seem to be a club heading towards oblivion. They would have been better off having the Crows take them over and becoming there reserves team; but that ship has sailed.

 

[1970crow]

Councils generally don't like there being drinking venues on their properties. Often non-sporting people are making the decisions.

Their mindset would be no alcohol and they can bring in outside vendors for major events. Likewise kitchen facilities are often pretty basic / non-existent. There are so many rules and regulations around the serving of alcohol / food. Easier not to bother.

They don't appreciate that for grassroots clubs the bar is their lifeblood.

And that's perfectly fine, as long as your business model doesn't require an anchor tenant.

 

[Cromulant]

And that's perfectly fine, as long as your business model doesn't require an anchor tenant.

Which the Summit does not.

The soccer side of it works extremely well, facilities are adequate for the sides and they just go back to home base for their meals. Adelaide Uniteds academy sides have played up here, and few NPL games etc.

Country footy doesn't work that way though, as you would know. They've held the Circus on the Oval a few times, which is incredibly ironic

 

[1970crow]

I don't mind glengowan's idea about West Adelaide relocating to Mt Barker.

Lateral thinking.

I don't think Sturt would ever move there as a home base

The zones are re-drawn every 5 years as it is. Sturt would need to pick up West Adelaide's country zone presumably (Riverland). A bit like how Norwood lost Gumeracha, Lobethal, Woodside when they gained Eyre Peninsula.

West would add foothills eg Belair, Coromandel Valley, Blackwood plus keep Flagstaff Hill, Happy Valley. Plus all the hills, Murray Bridge,

Sturt gain Goodwood, Edwardstown etc.

Interesting.

Unless West became fully country? All hills + Riverland. Sturt all metro.

The SANFL (or would this be Trigg's SA Football Commission?) will need to think outside the square to stay financial and relevant.

I'd spit West out there in a heartbeat. Trade out the council peppercorn lease and reinvest at Mt barker. It's not rocket surgery, there's too many metro clubs with not enough $.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

And that's perfectly fine, as long as your business model doesn't require an anchor tenant.

They didn't think it through or listen to those who know.

Grassroots clubs don't have a lot of money. They are volunteer run. Chook raffles and quiz nights. Goodwill of a few sponsors who don't get dollar value back.

The reality is that pretty much every community club in Australia is heavily subsidised by their local council. They pay a lease but this is a pittance compared to the maintenance, watering, groundstaff, mowing etc.

And at Mt Barker they've got a ground where the upkeep is far more than at a typical country or suburban ground. The ground costs more but how did they think a club based there would have more money than Echunga Football Club for example?

I'm interested how Lyndoch will work whereas this one is failing. Yes, they have a tennant lined up in Lyndoch but how are they going to afford the cost long term?

 

[FR0GGY]

They didn't think it through or listen to those who know.

Grassroots clubs don't have a lot of money. They are volunteer run. Chook raffles and quiz nights. Goodwill of a few sponsors who don't get dollar value back.

The reality is that pretty much every community club in Australia is heavily subsidised by their local council. They pay a lease but this is a pittance compared to the maintenance, watering, groundstaff, mowing etc.

And at Mt Barker they've got a ground where the upkeep is far more than at a typical country or suburban ground. The ground costs more but how did they think a club based there would have more money than Echunga Football Club for example?

I'm interested how Lyndoch will work whereas this one is failing. Yes, they have a tennant lined up in Lyndoch but how are they going to afford the cost long term?

Why is the cost more? Do they have to keep the turf to afl standard?
You’d think it would have bells and whistles to make it easier to maintain.

 

[1970crow]

They didn't think it through or listen to those who know.

Grassroots clubs don't have a lot of money. They are volunteer run. Chook raffles and quiz nights. Goodwill of a few sponsors who don't get dollar value back.

The reality is that pretty much every community club in Australia is heavily subsidised by their local council. They pay a lease but this is a pittance compared to the maintenance, watering, groundstaff, mowing etc.

And at Mt Barker they've got a ground where the upkeep is far more than at a typical country or suburban ground. The ground costs more but how did they think a club based there would have more money than Echunga Football Club for example?

I'm interested how Lyndoch will work whereas this one is failing. Yes, they have a tennant lined up in Lyndoch but how are they going to afford the cost long term?

Unlike golf clubs, footy clubs tend to live rent(or peppercorn rent) free. I don't care that much about local footy clubs, but if you own a council asset, sureky you'd make it palatable to a footy club. Otherwise, what's the point of the council asset?

 

[Cromulant]

They didn't think it through or listen to those who know.

Grassroots clubs don't have a lot of money. They are volunteer run. Chook raffles and quiz nights. Goodwill of a few sponsors who don't get dollar value back.

The reality is that pretty much every community club in Australia is heavily subsidised by their local council. They pay a lease but this is a pittance compared to the maintenance, watering, groundstaff, mowing etc.

And at Mt Barker they've got a ground where the upkeep is far more than at a typical country or suburban ground. The ground costs more but how did they think a club based there would have more money than Echunga Football Club for example?

I'm interested how Lyndoch will work whereas this one is failing. Yes, they have a tennant lined up in Lyndoch but how are they going to afford the cost long term?

I have the same concerns about it TBH, but we will wait and see.

Mt Barker Footy Club being one of the worst run footy clubs in the metro area hasn't helped either.

 

[Cromulant]

Why is the cost more? Do they have to keep the turf to afl standard?
You’d think it would have bells and whistles to make it easier to maintain.

It's in their best interests to keep it to that standard. Get some AFL pre season games, SANFL games etc.

It costs 6 figures a year to maintain