Fixing Thebarton Oval

[Aerie]

Seems North aren't happy with the facilities. Andrew Jarman has said he won't go back until the facilities are up to standard and Barry Robran has mentioned the facilities are not up to scratch on the nafc website. North supporters weren't happy with the facilities either. Would be interested to hear from those who have been to Thebby this year and last year on what needs to be done to get the ground up to scratch and whether it is worthwhile playing league games there.

So far toilets on the outer side have been mentioned as a problem, the lack of a temporary scoreboard and timeclock, cold showers, broken headphones. Anything else? What are the stands like? What are facilities like for the media?

The oval surface itself is in great condition and the ground is a perfect size for football. The terraces allow easy viewing around the ground whether you're standing or are in a deck chair. Parking was not a problem with Kings Reserve holding plenty of room next door to the oval and there was no problem with street parking, managing to get a park within 200m of the gate a bit before 2pm. I was standing on the western side and had no problem with getting a beer and the toilets behind the grandstand were fine.

There are five light towers around the ground. How much work would be involved in getting these working properly?

Each game played there so far has attracted over 3000 supporters. I heard numerous positive comments at the ground about how good it was to be watching the Eagles play football there by Eagles supporters. With some work, Thebarton Oval has the potential to be the best suburban ground in Adelaide IMHO.

How do you think the ground should be used, what needs to be done and how can this be done?

[JK]

Haven't been there since footy's been back Aerie, but the word I heard was that it would require A LOT of $$ to bring it up to sufficient standard ... I'd be happy to see it happen though because I think it's in a decent location, whether it does or not though, who knows?

[spell_check]

I think (well hope as well) the SANFL will see Thebarton as a good investment and chip in with money together with the Eagles to get the scoreboard and some other things up to scratch. Probably in future years the lights may be considered, but not for now.

[Leaping Lindner]

Yes improve Thebarton oval as much as possible and move all the Eagles home matches there. Then all they need to do is get rid of that pesky green in their colours and drop that annoying Woodville from their name.

[Aerie]

Yes improve Thebarton oval as much as possible and move all the Eagles home matches there. Then all they need to do is get rid of that pesky green in their colours and drop that annoying Woodville from their name.

Not interested in trolling. Especially coming from Victoria.

[Mickyj]

To be honest yes fix it up and use it instead of Adelaide for neutral games .

[Wedgie]

I love Thebby but the facilities are a disgrace, it makes Noarlunga look like the Telstra Dome.

Having said that Jars should address his complaints to the club who would pass them onto the SANFL, I think Jars has bigger issues to concern himself with. Must have ran out of ideas to fill up the last 2 paragraphs of his collumn, hopefully the Power will lose this week to make it easier for him as he usually enjoys spending several paragraphs baggin them and rightfully so!

[stan]

Aerie it would require plenty of dosh to get the lights up to standard if your talking about night games. I think thats what you meant.

Side note, maybe in that extra space where he would normally bag the power, and instead of having ago at the Thebby facilities maybe he should bag his own team. Instead of worring about the facilities he should worry about his teams performace. Now im not trying to start an arguement here, all im saying is he should worry about North before he worries about a ground that he might play at once or twice a year.

[Wedgie]

Last time I looked North were equal top but Thebby's facilities sure as hell weren't Stan!

[stan]

Last time I looked North were equal top but Thebby's facilities sure as hell weren't Stan!

Hey im not saying North arent in a good position. But still wouldnt you be more concerned with the fact the eagles did a number on your team. Your right about Thebby, we all know thebby needs some work. Im just saying for Jars I thought that the result of the game would have been the bigger issue.

[stan]

Actaully i think the bigger concern is I tipped you guys.

Damn you eagles!

[Wedgie]

Last time I looked North were equal top but Thebby's facilities sure as hell weren't Stan!

Hey im not saying North arent in a good position. But still wouldnt you be more concerned with the fact the eagles did a number on your team. Your right about Thebby, we all know thebby needs some work. Im just saying for Jars I thought that the result of the game would have been the bigger issue.

Unfortunately Jars isn't paid to write about North or how well they're doing or not doing.

He's paid to be controversial and it has nothing to do with another of his P/T jobs in coaching North.
His stuff on C10 is just as controversial (and embarassing) but once again its what he's paid to do.

Plus I'd rather have more characters in the game who try to make the SANFL a more exciting place to be than some of the deadshits with no personality who have a win at all cost philosophy. Noone could argue that Jars isn't good for the game. If they did they'd probably be more suited to the cinema like Artificial Football League.

[stan]

Last time I looked North were equal top but Thebby's facilities sure as hell weren't Stan!

Hey im not saying North arent in a good position. But still wouldnt you be more concerned with the fact the eagles did a number on your team. Your right about Thebby, we all know thebby needs some work. Im just saying for Jars I thought that the result of the game would have been the bigger issue.

Unfortunately Jars isn't paid to write about North or how well they're doing or not doing.

He's paid to be controversial and it has nothing to do with another of his P/T jobs in coaching North.
His stuff on C10 is just as controversial (and embarassing) but once again its what he's paid to do.

Plus I'd rather have more characters in the game who try to make the SANFL a more exciting place to be than some of the deadshits with no personality who have a win at all cost philosophy. Noone could argue that Jars isn't good for the game. If they did they'd probably be more suited to the cinema like Artificial Football League.

Fair enough I guess.

[Wedgie]

Christ, I've got off topic again haven't I?
As a positive the playing surface was in A1 nick.

[Punk Rooster]

Some of the issues that need to be addressed...
Basic infrastructure-
Permanent BBQ Booth, run by local SANFL club (Footy Park Caterers charging Footy Park prices..)
Toilets around the outer
Bars/Canteens around the outer, in place of the (cue Pseudo) Caravans (current set up passable, so this would be a low priority)
Visitors Changerooms (I don't know what the "Home" rooms are like)
The SANFL need to make a long term commitment to Thebarton Oval. Imho, the SANFL don't need Footy Park anymore for the SANFL. Adelaide Oval is an excellent replacement for the Finals, & in turn, Thebarton would be a great replacement for games currently scheduled at Adelaide Oval during the year (minor round games). I think Adelaide is "too big" for H&A games (excepting the ANZAC Day Double Header), but ideal for the finals. As such, Thebarton is easily accessible, & ideal (provided it's brought up to standard) for the neutral "3rd" game of the year.

[Mickyj]

Some of the issues that need to be addressed...
Basic infrastructure-
Permanent BBQ Booth, run by local SANFL club (Footy Park Caterers charging Footy Park prices..)
Toilets around the outer
Bars/Canteens around the outer, in place of the (cue Pseudo) Caravans (current set up passable, so this would be a low priority)
Visitors Changerooms (I don't know what the "Home" rooms are like)
The SANFL need to make a long term commitment to Thebarton Oval. Imho, the SANFL don't need Footy Park anymore for the SANFL. Adelaide Oval is an excellent replacement for the Finals, & in turn, Thebarton would be a great replacement for games currently scheduled at Adelaide Oval during the year (minor round games). I think Adelaide is "too big" for H&A games (excepting the ANZAC Day Double Header), but ideal for the finals. As such, Thebarton is easily accessible, & ideal (provided it's brought up to standard) for the neutral "3rd" game of the year.

I agree with the punk

[am Bays]

My first year as a trainer with Glenelg was 1990 and the 'Torrens juniors still played at Thebby. With the exception of Panther Park (for obvious reasons) the Thebby visitors rooms were the worst in the comp, the ones not under the G'stand. IF they haven't been improved on since then they are not SANFL standard......

I hope they have improved since then as I know the 3rd and 4th worst rooms (Glenelg and Norwood visitors rooms) have improved since then. Even though they are big, the North visitors rooms are archaic and have been surpassed by the Norwood and Glenelg rooms. They are downright disgusting and unhygenic with combined shower and change areas. Glenelg rooms albeit small at least have separate medical and shower rooms

[U LEGS]

Having Thebbie as a neutral SANFL ground is a great investment that they can work on. Maybe they could build an extra stand where the away dressing rooms are with bar facilities and new changerooms and renovate the other rooms for offices or other facilities. Plus have higher fences for around the oval, new lights for night games and have an electronic scoreboard like at Hindmarsh, which would be awesome. They can really make the ground into a great footy complex, which has a great view of our town and playing more neutral games there will really make a huge profit for all games played there!

[Wedgie]

I thought North used the "home" rooms last Saturday? (ie under the Grandstand)

[Aerie]

I thought North used the "home" rooms last Saturday? (ie under the Grandstand)

Correct. But they switched the hot water tank over to the away change rooms before the game