SANFL Grounds

Couldn't agree more with your ratings, Phil...

I love the spot at Norwood and Elizabeth is of course a favourite as well...

I'm a little reluctant to comment too indepth on the individual grounds, particularly with the catering staff looking after us during the year (Special mention to Westies and Angela Jacka heading up in the 2nd quarter with armloads of BBQ for commentary teams), but overall agree with many of the sentiments here.

I will make one specific comment on Richmond and Phil H raised this already - visiting stats teams encroaching further and further into radio broadcast space. I won't name the two clubs here, but in the past 18 months, there were issues with two clubs who each had a member of their stats staff that decided to be as inflexible as possible with space. One club had a stats person that insisted on placing a large bag, complete with large amounts of clothing, right underneath the communication jacks where we plug in the equipment, despite being asked to move it more than once, and then complained when we stepped next to the bag, warning us not to step on it - there were plenty of other spots to put it, but they decided to make life difficult in leaving it there.

Another club unfortunately decided at another game to have a representative push stats equipment further and further into the radio broadcast spot, to the point that radio commentators were almost in the aisle - again, there was plenty of room to put the equipment, but some sort of juvenile protest was underway about space.

The other 6 clubs - and in fact, all other members of the other 2 clubs - were more than happy to co-exist in the area without incident. There is certainly full acknowledgement from radio outlets that stats teams need space to operate and do their job, and the stats teams do a fantastic job all year. It was unfortunate two people during the period decided to make life difficult while pushing their own agendas, but overall, a rate of two per the 50 or so that do stats for their clubs, is a small amount. The stats teams of all clubs, without exception, are to be warmly thanked for providing the stats to radio callers during the breaks, which really enhances a broadcast.

Most other issues are outside of the respective club's control and all clubs have excellent aspects of their commentary boxes. While Phil mentioned about Unley, for example, with weather, I personally really like being so close to the crowd, as well as the past player's area right behind us.

This stuff is really interesting and presents a wide range of aspects to the overall spectacle of suburban footy.

Can we have something on the BBQ / catering and beer prices.

Here is something to ponder re catering: Richmond
And on the beer prices: Unley

Interesting stuff, Phil & CK.

I'll bring this up with Mark Mickan and see if it's possible to get the Richmond facilities improved.

So far we've had reviews on surface and visitors facilities, and I'll put the scores up for these shortly.

Currently we're looking at radio broadcast facilities.

Other criteria we'll look at include:

Catering (we can break this down into 'on-field' such as bbq's, canteens etc and 'off-field' such as bistros)
Grandstand facilities
Car parking
Scoreboard

If anyone has any other criteria they'd like to add, let me know and I'll add them in.

And the first results are in:

For the results I will use the 'traditional' names of the grounds.

Criteria: Surface
Alberton 12
Noarlunga 10
Richmond 8
Elizabeth 6
Norwood 5
Woodville 4
Unley 3
Glenelg 2
Prospect 1

Criteria: Visitors Facilities

Woodville: 12
Prospect: 10
Richmond: 8
Noarlunga: 6
Elizabeth: 5
Unley: 4
Alberton: 3
Glenelg: 2
Norwood: 1


Overall
Noarlunga: 16
Richmond: 16
Woodville: 16
Alberton: 15
Elizabeth: 11
Prospect: 11
Unley: 7
Norwood: 6
Glenelg: 4

Good work, Bt.

I think size of the grounds should also be ain the criteria. That's not to say biggest is best, but how each ground is for playing football.

Another might be the overall look of the ground for spectators.

A general category of "access" would be good. ie how long before you drive up to the ground can you park and get to your favourite spot at the oval. For mine Noarlunga is the quickest.

What about the nebulous concept of "atmosphere" as a criteria.
Maybe that's where smaller grounds can have their day.

Yes, I agree, Chambo.

Atmosphere is a very important factor and the small grounds often provide a better experience in some ways because of this. Norwood, of course, would excel, Unley also, except for having no spectators on one side.

I will again be a bit careful about commenting too specifically on clubs and grounds where I can, due to maintaining neutrality in my various roles, but must admit, Coopers Hill on a Friday night with a big crowd is very hard to beat for atmosphere. I stand in the same spot (if not calling for radio) - people who know me will know where that is - and catch up with great mates from both teams, and love the "Feel" of the place.

From a pure calling perspective for atmosphere, Woodville is excellent, for such proximity to both the coaches boxes and the grandstand crowd and gives a great "feel" for radio - ditto for Noarlunga in that respect, where the open topped coaches boxes make it easier to hear things from there filtering out.

If I'm solely there as a watcher, the north-western hill at Noarlunga is a top atmosphere for the crowd, and night games at Richmond also give a very good feel overall for the crowd.

This is not to say the other grounds aren't excellent in their own way too. Elizabeth has some great banter between the fans, as does Alberton. I must confess to bursting out laughing on air at one ground mid-commentary due to just catching a comment from a fan in the grandstand and having to helplessly tap my colleague on the shoulder to finish the passage of play.

Thanks for all the input guys, I'll add them all to the list

Norwood for mine, I just love the place. But then again, I'm biased

Aren't we all.

Surface - Even pre-AFL inhabitants, Alberton Oval surface has always been one of the very best in the competition.

Glenelg and Prospect the very other end of the spectrum.

Correct, booney.

I ran around all of these grounds for 20 years running water and Alberton has always been pretty good. Even allowing for my bias, so has Richmond.

Adelaide Oval was the only ground where I made sure I replaced all the divots

Alright the following criteria will also be assessed over the coming weeks

Catering
Grandstand
Car Parking
Scoreboard
Size of Grounds
Accessibility
Atmosphere

I'll assess the scoring of the broadcast facilities in a moment

Criteria: Radio Broadcast Facilities
Elizabeth: 12
Norwood: 10
Woodville: 8
Alberton: 6
Noarlunga: 5
Glenelg: 4
Unley: 3
Richmond: 2
Prospect: 1


Overall:
Woodville: 24
Elizabeth: 23
Alberton: 21
Noarlunga: 21
Richmond: 18

Norwood: 16
Prospect: 12
Unley: 10
Glenelg: 8


The next criteria to be assessed: Catering

Criteria: Catering

Top 3:
Richmond: Best barbecue in the league by an absolute mile. Decent canteen facility as well.
Elizabeth: Cheap barbecue that is the best behind Richmond, several canteen facilities, easy access.
Alberton: Good barbecue, good canteen facilities, canteen on both sides of the ground sees it in top 3 for me.

Mid-table:
Woodville: Good smattering of facilities around the grandstands and the northern end of the ground, and no trip to Woodville is complete without a famous doughnut.
Glenelg: Good smattering of facilities, reasonable offerings.
Unley: Locations are good, supply can be an issue though, especially when Wendy's don't rock up (have seen supplies run dry during the reserves once), but has improved over the past couple of years, saving it from bottom 3.

Bottom 3:
Norwood: Ok variety, can be a bit pricey, poor and very expensive barbecue (but I guess that's what happens when you outsource it to teenagers rather than club volunteers). Chicken shop outside the southern entrance a good substitute.
Prospect: If you can find the food and drink, you're doing a good job. Poor variety, but slightly better than Noarlunga.
Noarlunga: Barbecue under the shelter is awful, with the one on the hill marginally better. Terrible catering, don't sell bottled soft drink (only cans of Pepsi products). You'd be better off eating at Colonnades.

Best BBQ: No contest here at all. By the length of Milner Road, Richmond. Excellent value for money, great service and always want to head back for more

I won't comment on others, in case they remember me during the year on a cold Friday night . Suffice to say, all have their good points.

I'll also put in a good word for the ladies'table at Elizabeth.

Nice cakes and goodies at a bargain price.

Ive got to say that i hate Prospect, it's the hardest place to find a carpark, for an afternoon game. The council are killing this oval.!! Its not too bad, if i can get there before 11am but this isnt always possible so in most cases i dont go. I just cant afford the parking fines.
Apart from the parking issues, Prospect Oval is great.!

I realise the surface criteria poll is done on past seasons..but wait till you see Glenelg Oval this year..it looks the best i have ever seen it..i think maybe due to the SACCA usinging it next year for cricket..there looks to be a new type of grass laid. Also they have replaced the oval cyclone fence with white pickets to give it a Adleaide Oval type look with no sponsors signs..

Maybe they pick up the Bradman Stand and transfer it to Snout's Hill?