ODFA boss Brian O’Reilly has encouraged Woodsdale to buy its home ground from council for $1

In a deal that seems too good to refuse, Woodsdale can end its long-running stand-off with Southern Midlands Council by purchasing its ground for a pepper corn price as well as a one-off sweetener of $45,000.

If it does not, Southern Midlands will list the land on the open market and sell it to the highest bidder, a process that could start as early as next week.

O’Reilly believes the best move for Woodsdale is to secure the site and pursue the funding to bring its facilities back up to standard.

“For Woodsdale to move forward and play, the only option for them with the council is to take over ownership of the ground and get the facilities back up to scratch,” O’Reilly said.

“That’s their only option.”

After a seven-year recess, Woodsdale returned to the field in 2022 but was refused games at its home ground, based on the council assessment that its facilities had fallen behind acceptable standard.

The Lions have been playing their “home” games at Kempton, about 60km away, making it a 120km round trip for Woodsdale locals.

Woodsdale had lobbied Southern Midlands to upgrade facilities at its home ground, but the two hit a stalemate over the cost of running the oval.

The club wanted the one-off $45,000 grant increased to $70,000, for the council to pay for an upgrade to the venue’s sewerage system, which council estimated to be about $80,000, and an annual subsidy of $10,000 for operational costs.

“The council have told them they don’t want to be responsible for a ground, and they bent over backwards dealing with Woodsdale,” O’Reilly said.

“As far as the council is concerned, if Woodsdale want to play football long-term, they have got to do a deal with the council and get the facilities up to a standard that is suitable for the ODFA, the AFL, the insurer and the council.

“That’s the sticking point – the buildings are not up to scratch and they have got to get them up to meet acceptable standards in 2025.”

Woodsdale will hold a board meeting this week to discuss the proposal.

O’Reilly said Woodsdale was a valued member of the ODFA, which also consists of reigning premier Bothwell, Triabunna, Campania, Mount Pleasant and Oatlands.

“We are very much in favour of Woodsdale continuing,” he said.

“But the only option for them to play at Woodsdale is to buy it off the council and do the work.”

A sticking point in the proposed transfer of ownership is that if Woodsdale goes back into recess, the ground reverts back to the council.

“The council is happy to sell it to them, but getting the facilities, change rooms, toilets, umpires rooms, up to scratch is not an easy thing,” O’Reilly said.

Originally published as ODFA boss Brian O’Reilly has encouraged Woodsdale to buy its home ground from council for $1