by Ian » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:36 am
I've finally found the on line version, so here's the article in full:
Friday nights at the Parade - nothing better
29May07
THIS weekend the SANFL ventures north to Berri Oval, with West Adelaide playing a home match against Central District on Saturday.
Kudos to the Bloods for taking league footy to their country region, and with Berri Oval reputed to be one of the best grounds in the state, it's sure to be a successful move.
Berri's strength is its playing surface, but what about the SANFL's regular grounds, and more importantly, which ones are the best from the spectator point of view.
For me, Norwood Oval is tough to go past as number one. The atmosphere at the Parade, and the big grandstand behind the goals, is, well, grand.
The elevated stand on the wing gives a great vantage point of the whole field, making the footy easy to follow.
And Friday nights at the Parade hard to beat.
Glenelg Oval rates highly for me, for a similar reason to Norwood the footy is always easy to follow, mainly because the Bay is a small ground the SANFL's SCG perhaps.
At three and four are Woodville and Unley ovals respectively. Both grounds have great surroundings, and aside from the fact that you are at the ground for the footy, both parks are great places to be with or without the footy.
Woodville gets the third placing, the TAB facilities at Woodville putting the Eagles' haunt a nose in front.
Last in the top five is Prospect.
While I'm not a huge fan of the cement steps around the boundary (like Adelaide Oval before the eastern stand was built), the entire venue has a sense of grandeur about it. The big old grandstand dominates the scene. Even arriving at Prospect the surrounding area gives an impression of the North Adelaide tradition.
Elizabeth and Alberton would have to be the two grounds where your enjoyment of a game is most affected by being a home fan or not.
One of Alberton's strengths is the crowd gathering on both sides of the field, creating that coliseum feel.
But Alberton is also the only ground that, quite stubbornly, won't put updated scores up on its scoreboard if the Crows are playing, as they were on Saturday, and the bar fills up with vocal Carlton (or whoever the Crows are playing) fans at each of the quarter breaks.
Elizabeth Oval usually brings in the big crowds, which is a huge plus for any sporting venue.
But while the spacious field allows for free-flowing footy, plenty of running, and long kicks, it also makes for plenty of squinting when the ball's at the other end, as you try to check the number on a player's back against the list in your Footy Budget.
Richmond Oval comes in at number eight. West's home ground is quite similar to South Adelaide in a lot of ways, but with slightly more bearable temperatures.
The grandstand at West provides good viewing, but don't try to venture up there without a pass elderly long-time members of the Bloods will quickly put you in your place.
The biggest, and most unacceptable disappointment about Richmond Oval, is their dodgy digital clock, which, after you've worked out where it is, you will be lucky if it is working, so it's anyone's guess on how long is left in a quarter.
Get your act together Westies, or you'll be venue wooden spooner.
That honour currently belongs to South.
Just as Colonel Light, according to the statue, pointed at the Adelaide Parklands and said something to the effect of ``there I will build my city'', someone in the southern suburbs many years ago must have pointed upwards and said ``there I will build my windy football fortress''. Noarlunga Oval is a battle for footy fans. Even a nice, sunny day is usually turned into ``jumper weather'' by even the slightest breeze whistling through the exposed hilltop that is Noarlunga Oval.
Cars parked around the oval adds a great unique culture to the south, and offers refuge from the cold.
Despite comparatively low crowd numbers, the atmosphere at Noarlunga has its high points, especially on the crowded hill by the northern goals.
It's cold at Noarlunga, but that's part of the fun of league footy battling the elements with your team.
For racing fans, TAB facilities at Noarlunga, Richmond, Elizabeth, Woodville and Alberton may push their ratings higher.
North Adelaide F C : Champions of Aust 1972 : Premiers 1900, 02, 05, 20, 30, 31, 49, 52, 60, 71, 72, 87, 91
and as you haven't been out there this year to see, the lights seem to cover the ground better even than last year. Also, for those that have trouble seeing from one end of Elizabeth to the other, you should also stay away from Woodville as its the same length, Alberton & Richmond are about 5m shorter and Prospect, Norwood & Noarlunga by 10m. As far as across the ground goes, Noarlunga & Thebby are wider with Alberton & AAMI the same width.
