Adelaide Footy League moves division one grand final from Thebarton Oval to Norwood Oval
It’s hosted the division one grand final every season since 2007, but Thebarton Oval will not be the venue for the Adelaide Footy League’s showpiece event this year.
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Thebarton Oval will not host the Adelaide Footy League’s showpiece event for the first time in 14 years following a shake up of the competition’s grand final schedule.
The division one and two grand finals, originally set for the final Saturday in September, will instead be held at Norwood Oval on the October long weekend.
The move was sparked by the requirement for all events in SA with more than 1000 people expected to attend to have a COVID-19 management plan approved by SA Health.
With grand finals for all seven men’s divisions originally planned to be held on Saturday, September 26, the league would have needed a plan ticked off for each individual venue.
Instead it will work with the SANFL grounds, which have already been approved for crowds in excess of 1000, to host the grand finals.
League chief executive John Kernahan said it made sense to share resources with the SANFL clubs.
“Our relationship with (Norwood chief executive) James Fantasia and his crew on The Parade should allow us to combine our efforts for a seamless weekend of footy,” Kernahan said.
“There isn’t too much wrong with the prospect of an October long weekend of footy at a magnificent ground.
“The Parade is a great place to watch footy for spectators and to celebrate what has been a magnificent effort by all our clubs to get a season on the park.”
The division two decider will be played on the Saturday of the long weekend at The Parade with the top flight match following on the Sunday.
Both divisions will play split rounds in August to allow the season finale to be pushed back a week.
Locations for the division three to seven grand finals, which will still be held on September 26, are yet to be confirmed.
Thebarton Oval, where the league’s headquarters are based, has been used as the venue for the top flight decider since 2007.
Prior to that the match was predominantly played at Adelaide Oval or Alberton.
The last time Norwood Oval was used for a division one grand final was in 1984.
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