Barossa Park shines as community football venue

By PETER ARGENT

Barossa District’s inaugural match at its new home was a success on all fronts.

On a perfect autumn day, a strong crowd of 2000 spectators watched the Bulldogs play their opening game at the venue, with the hosts enjoying an emphatic win in the A grade, defeating South Gawler by a comfortable 43-point margin, despite being inaccurate in front of goal – kicking 12.19 (91) to the Lions 7.6 (48) – on Saturday, May 10.

In a magical transformation, at a cost of $45.7 million, Lyndoch Oval has been converted into a marquee regional sporting venue within 12 months, now known as Barossa Park.

In September 2023, the Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association (BLGA) played its grand finals at the venue and, after two AFL games at the ground as part of Gather Round on April 12 and 13, the Barossa District Football and Netball Club hosted its first home games at the spectacular redeveloped venue.

Barossa District Football Club president Simon Carpenter said the weekend was a major success for the football and netball club.

“It was a fantastic christening for our new facility, which we all agreed was a raging success for our club,” Carpenter said.

“Whilst we only had a short time to set up the new facility, we had very few issues running the day, although we have learned some lessons about doing it better that we will address for the next home game.

“It was fantastic to have our junior games back (playing) with us again after so many years at Sandy Creek, and great to have our senior women play after the A-grade game under lights.”

Carpenter said that having past players and officials and life members mark the special day in the club’s history was important and added to the celebrations, with Barossa Mayor Bim Lange and Ashton Hurn MP also special guests at the half-time function.

It was a weekend of festivities, with BLGW junior football teams from Barossa, South, Willaston and Gawler Central also playing on the main oval on Sunday for Mother’s Day.

Adding to the success of the day, club captain and long-time Bulldogs stalwart Hayden “DOS” Traynor played his milestone 200^th senior game on this special day.

A member of the only set of triplets to have played BLGA A grade football – along with brothers Jarrod and Bradley, back in May, 2017 – Traynor was chaired from the ground post-game by teammates Nathan Casboult and Jack Carpenter.