If you looked at a recent satellite image of the site of the next AFL match between North Melbourne and Brisbane, you would probably see little more than parched fields and sheep paddocks.
But that's because cartography is yet to catch up with developments.
A few years ago, a decision was made by the Mount Barker District Council in the Adelaide Hills to turn the site into a football oval capable of hosting the highest level of the game.
On Saturday, April 15, that ambition will be realised when the AFL's first Gather Round — an event in which every round five match will be played in South Australia — brings the Kangaroos and the Lions to Mount Barker's Summit Sport Park.
"It means that everybody in Australia for that short period of time, while the match is on, will be watching us on the television," Mayor David Leach said.
The sporting complex sits not far from the base of the peak that gives the town its name.
"We've got the best view out there," Mr Leach said.
"[It's] a view you won't get in any other AFL match."
Mount Barker is one of the fastest growing towns in South Australia, and its population has already jumped by 10,000 in the last decade, to an estimated 40,000.
With barely a fortnight until first bounce, there's a lot of work to be done to turn the town's new ground — which currently has a capacity of 400 — into a site capable of hosting a sell-out crowd of 7,000 spectators.
"Nerves are good but the ground will be ready," said Alison Hancock, the local council's executive manager.
"Everybody is sort of putting their shoulders to the wheel to make sure we get this ground ready to go, with all the temporary infrastructure and the permanent infrastructure ready."
Pub stocks up on parmigiana
As part of Gather Round, six games will be played at Adelaide Oval and two at suburban SANFL ground Norwood Oval, with the remaining one in Mount Barker.
The Barossa Valley was originally tipped to host SA's one "regional" game — but the popular wine region lost out to the growing town 40 minutes from Adelaide's CBD.
"It is a huge opportunity for this council and it's something that we will be really excited about," Ms Hancock said.
Temporary grandstands, lights, giant screens and a scoreboard are expected to be installed in the coming days.
"There's going to be a lot of people from interstate coming," Mr Leach said.
"It's not entirely sure that all those locals that want to come see the match are going to be able to."
John Dinan, who has been the manager of the Barker Hotel for 20 years, said an influx of tourists could be a great opportunity for his business.
He's already ordered more stock to make sure there's enough chicken parmigiana to go round.
"We've realised it's going to be quite a big juggernaut," Mr Dinan said.
"We're in the business of food and beverage and obviously if there's an additional 10,000 people coming into the area, hopefully some of them will crawl in here.
"I think it's also a good opportunity for people to come up to the city and it showcases the area."
'It will be a different experience'
But the boost to the town won't necessarily be just on game day, according to CQUniversity economic development expert John Rolf.
Professor Rolf, who studies the impact that hosting events has on regional centres, said spectacles like Gather Round can create momentum for future sporting and cultural fixtures.
"Once you've got one iconic event in a region, it becomes easier to build other events around it and make it a longer term sugar hit for local businesses," Professor Rolf said.
The council is certainly hoping that holds true — and is already thinking of other sporting drawcards or concerts like A Day on the Green.
"I don't know if Rod Stewart is still available," Mr Leach joked.
"I'd like to see cricket come out here, maybe have an international cricket match."
Among the Mount Barker community, there is optimism that the game could herald the start of an expanded events calendar.
"The introduction of sport into the town is a good thing for the youngsters coming on," local Malcolm Haymoles said.
"It means they don't have to travel as far to see a good game."
Another local resident, Adelaide Crows supporter Kyle Hodgkinson, admits he was hoping for a higher profile fixture than a Kangaroos-Lions clash.
But despite the fact that he "can't stand either team, to be fair", he has bought a ticket for the game.
"It will be a different experience," he said.
"Part of going to an AFL match as opposed to a local match is part of that atmosphere, so I think you're really going to struggle with that in Mount Barker.
"But I got a ticket so I'm looking forward to it."
