Gather Round

[Smads57]

People have been queued up out front since 1 pm (gates don’t open till 2 pm). Did a block of the ground and found it a bit of a challenge to work out where the actual entrances are. Ground is surrounded by some
lovely old buildings. Currently sitting in one of the Gather Round parks having to bide my time watching Carlton (insert sad emoji) on a big screen.

[The Adelaide Connection]

People have been queued up out front since 1 pm (gates don’t open till 2 pm). Did a block of the ground and found it a bit of a challenge to work out where the actual entrances are. Ground is surrounded by some
lovely old buildings. Currently sitting in one of the Gather Round parks having to bide my time watching Carlton (insert sad emoji) on a big screen.

The location is excellent. The parade is full of pubs and cafes and Norwood and the surrounding suburbs are pretty great.

The ground is just overdue for a massive upgrade. Anyone on the Eastern wing or behind the Northern goals is going to cook. Most SANFL grounds have grass and plenty of trees, but not Norwood.

i got in line early to get some stand spots. Pretty decent. I am not sure anyone had a spine in the olden days when they designed the bench seats, but a roof over the head is what it is all about.

[Uninformed]

Ha, touché.

*Note: I don’t like any unfiltered tap water from any state.

Fair point!

[josie]

What are Port doing to overwhelm Hawks that we can learn from? Case of Hawks just not turning up? Especially their mids.

Hopefully other teams can show up the hawks, didn’t mind them (apart from Sicily) until their hok ball nonsense.

[jeemak]

Think the Hawks were focusing on aeroplane celebrations and sticking it up Hinkley, without actually planning/ preparing.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Been a little busy and haven't had a chance to get back to round my weekend thoughts out- so:

Was able to get to three games- Collingwood v Sydney at AO on Friday night, Dogs on Saturday at Norwood, and Giants v Saints on Sunday at Norwood.

Local bias and whatnot, but what an epic weekend. There are so many instalments and popups every corner you turn around and it is just an amazing celebration of footy. Nevermind fights, I didn't see one angsty person the entire weekend- everyone was just in such a great mood.

I have always sorta hated Norwood Oval. I think it is probably in part due to the trauma from watching Centrals getting routinely thumped their when I was a kid, but it is also bitumen all the way round (unlike practically every other SANFL ground that has grass areas on the outer). There is also no relief from the sun on an unseasonably hot April day if you aren't lucky enough to snag a spot in the stand. Knowing this, I got there early and lined up- I got a spot in the Southern stand and it was actually pretty great.

By 3/4 time the entire ground was in shade and the outer suddenly seemed pretty appealing- I went down to the bar to grab a beer and there was a super great AO hill type vibe and a pretty great view standing on the terraces. If I didn't have my kids, I definitely would have relocated for the last quarter.

The next day I had a seat in the Western stand (along the boundary) and the view from there was pretty excellent. I also had a bit of an inner sanctum GWS experience, which included getting a brief about the team's plans from Jason Mcartney before the game. It was a "no phones' type of situation and we got matchups and gameplan info and he answered a bunch of questions that people had. I will try to detail some of this later.

Norwood Oval sits right on the parade, so it is pretty excellent that there are a tonne of cafes/restaurants/pubs on the doorstep (and it is 10 minutes from the city, with buses doing the loop). This was needed as the 'in-ground' catering at Norwood has definitely not moved with the times. On Sunday the entire Parade hosted the Norwood food and wine festival and it was pretty epic tbh- such a great way to bookend the footy.

I think Norwood should stay as a venue- the surface is AFL standard and if it wasn't for 35 degrees it would have been pretty great to watch the game from any point in the ground. The joint does need an upgrade, but the upside of the location is worth it.

From all reports, the Barossa was amazing. I was disappointed that I couldn't get tickets, but those I spoke to spoke glowingly of it. The heat was hard work, but dial it down to normal April temperatures and it would have been perfect. I hope the dogs are drawn out there next year so I get first running at tickets- the whole region is a pretty great slice of the world anyway and the festival nature of the weekend apparently went strong right through the region.

The broadcasters apparently don't want to do more than 3 venues, but I would love to see the following:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday early, Saturday night, Sunday night at AO
1x Game at Norwood on Sunday (Food and Wine festival)
1x Game at Glenelg on Saturday Afternoon (with a big Jetty road street party)
1x Game at Barossa
1x Game back at Mount Barker (talking to the Brisbane fans, they said it was amazing)

Honestly, if you haven't been- try to get over next year. It feels like Grand Final week on steroids (with all 18 clubs kicking around the joint). My thoughts are it is probably worth booking an Airbnb or hotel that lets you book without paying now (and cancel before a certain time). I would book three consecutive weekends around the Vic school holidays and when they announce the date just cancel the bookings you don't need. The second that fixture drops things book out and prices soar. Driving will be by far the cheapest option.

Maybe we circle back to this come when the fixture drops post-season, but if we have any interest I could maybe look at organising somewhere in the city for a Woof catchup.

[Bornadog]

Thanks TAC, would love to go and I should get off my backside and book in next year

[Axe Man]

There is talk that they will do what they have done in the Barossa in McLaren Vale and develop an oval to be used for Gather Round in the future. Would be much more convenient personally from my inlaws in the southern suburbs than the Barossa!

[Grantysghost]

Sounds like Radelaide is the perfect spot

[Bornadog]

They need to get the timing right. Playing Footy in hot weather is not good (yeah, I know Brissie is hot)

[The Adelaide Connection]

They need to get the timing right. Playing Footy in hot weather is not good (yeah, I know Brissie is hot)

It was quite unseasonably hot this year . This weekend (low to mid-20's) would be absolutely perfect and more in line with what the historic average is for mid-April.

[The Adelaide Connection]

There is talk that they will do what they have done in the Barossa in McLaren Vale and develop an oval to be used for Gather Round in the future. Would be much more convenient personally from my inlaws in the southern suburbs than the Barossa!

This would also be epic- especially with Mclaren Vale's super close proximity to one of the best stretches of beach in Australia.

[Smads57]

I have to agree with your sentiments TAC re the Gather Round experience - it was brilliant and nothing I can compare it with (except maybe GF week when our team was playing). I stayed in McLaren Vale which was just a hop, skip and jump into Adelaide/Norwood (I travelled in by train from Seaford). As you mention finding shade was the key on match day which I was lucky enough to secure being in the ground early. I'm 'in' for going again next year.

[Axe Man]

I have to agree with your sentiments TAC re the Gather Round experience - it was brilliant and nothing I can compare it with (except maybe GF week when our team was playing). I stayed in McLaren Vale which was just a hop, skip and jump into Adelaide/Norwood (I travelled in by train from Seaford). As you mention finding shade was the key on match day which I was lucky enough to secure being in the ground early. I'm 'in' for going again next year.

Funny I travelled in by train from the next stop at Seaford Meadows.

[Throughandthrough]

Gather round is awesome. Norwood oval is still shit. There’s my summary