SANFL grand final winning team’s colours to be displayed on 42-metre tall Brickworks kiln chimney stack

The West End brewery is gone – but the colours of the SANFL grand finalists have a new home. Pity about the forecast, though.

The colours of this year’s SANFL champions will adorn a new site next week, after the traditional chimney stack display at West End’s Thebarton brewery was cancelled due to its closure.

The chimney of the Brickwork’s shopping centre at Torrensville was chosen as the location to don the colours of the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles or Glenelg football clubs after this Sunday’s grand final.

Only 3.4km from the traditional site at West End, the 108-year-old Hoffman-style kiln, which is the last of its kind remaining in the country, was picked as the spot to continue the yearly display.

It has been a key part of the SANFL’s post-grand final celebrations for more than four decades.

City of West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon said he was proud to keep the tradition in the western suburbs following the closure of the brewing operation in June.

“To be able to maintain that tradition in West Torrens is pretty cool,” Mr Coxon said. “It is important to note that this ceremony has been taking place in West Torrens for more than 40 years and with the closure of the brewery, we wanted to secure its future at its home in the inner west, in West Torrens.

(From left) City of West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon, West End sponsorships leader Tim Moffat and SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler stand at the new site. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The 108-year-old kiln at Brickworks will don the colours of the winning team. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“All the residents and ratepayers I’ve spoken to when I do my evening walk have all commented and been very positive about having this outcome in our city.”

On Tuesday, the winning team’s colours will be unveiled on a replica 2.5m-tall chimney as strong winds deemed the painting of the 42m-tall chimney stack too dangerous.

When the weather eases, the colours will be fixed on an Alucobond aluminium shell on the kiln’s chimney, set to remain until next year’s final.

Echoing Mr Coxon’s sentiments was West End sponsorship and events leader Tim Moffat, who said keeping the chimney stack display close to the former brewery was important for heritage.

“The colours themselves have been up in the City of West Torrens for over 40 years so, certainly from a West End perspective, we’re very pleased that it’s able to continue in the same council, and it’s certainly a great fit,” Mr Moffat said.

The 2019 unveiling of premiers Glenelg at West End Brewery on Port Rd at Hindmarsh. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“The way it’s going to be presented will be consistent with the history of the events, we are really looking forward to it.”

SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler said he was excited to see fans embrace the change.

“We’re the oldest state league in the country and we’re very parochial about the quality in our league and what it means to our community here,” he said.

Mr Moffat said it was vital for fans to continue the tradition. “We know how important this tradition is to local footy fans and we were determined to do everything we could to see it continue,” he said. The final is shaping up as an action-packed affair, as Glenelg and the Eagles were number one and two on the premiership table for the last 10 rounds of this season.

On Sunday, 26,500 fans are expected to attend the game. The 2021 SANFL Chimney Unveiling Ceremony will take place at 11am, October 5, with about 500 tickets available.

Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite from 6pm this Sunday.