Fixture Gather Round - SA announced as host for next 3 years 2024-2026

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16.04.23

GATHER ROUND SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AFL LOCKS IN SA FOR NEXT THREE SEASONS

The AFL in partnership with the SA Government is pleased to announce ‘Gather Round…. A Festival of Footy’ will be hosted in South Australia for the next three seasons.

The inaugural ‘Gather Round’ has been an overwhelming success, with all nine games sold out, more than 220,000 fans attending matches across the Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills and tens of thousands of fans attending the footy festival on the banks of Torrens.

More than 60,000 fans purchased tickets from interstate.

Across 2024, 2025 and 2026, Gather Round …. A festival of footy will be hosted exclusively in South Australia, with Adelaide Oval to be the central venue, with the intent from both the AFL and the SA Government to take regional matches in 2024 to the Barossa / McClaren Vale region.

As part of the three-year term, both the AFL and SA Government have also committed to establishing a community football legacy fund, that will benefit local footy clubs in the state beyond the weekend of matches.

The AFL will lock in the fixture dates of the round in the coming weeks to give fans as much lead time as possible to book travel and accommodation.

Ticketing information will be release later in the year.

“South Australia really turned it on. Gather Round and all the activity across the state, the nine matches, the footy festival and the community football engagement has been some of the best days and events the AFL has ever delivered,” AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“It has been a success because everyone in football got behind the idea, clubs, players, corporate partners and most importantly our fans, to deliver an extraordinary few days,

“While the concept has real momentum, and we plan on taking it to other states around the country, we also feel in order for it to be as successful in the other states we need to continue to build out the concept in South Australia,

“The reality is we only had a few months to pull this together, and we hope by locking it in now we are giving everyone a longer runway to put together a bigger and even better event, and our fans certainty around booking travel and accommodation.

“The match at Mount Barker was a special afternoon on Saturday and an important part of recommitting to South Australia was to establish the community legacy fund, ensuring local footy clubs’ benefit from bringing the Gather Round to town.”

During the round the AFL has facilitated dozens of community club and school visits, held seminars for community club volunteers and delivered more than 10,000 footballs to regional community clubs.

Details on the Community legacy fund will be communicated at a later date.

“On behalf of the AFL I want to thank to Premier Malinauskas and his team in the SA Government who in partnership, delivered an unbelievable few days for footy and the state of South Australia.”

The AFL will also work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players.

“The players have been strong partners in the Gather Round concept and have embraced wholeheartedly the round. We will now work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players in the coming years.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said “The inaugural Gather Round has been a stunning success, in no small part thanks to the willingness of South Australians, and our interstate visitors, to show up.
“We know that this has delivered huge benefits for our state, and that is why I’m so pleased to see it return for the next three years.”

“With more time to plan, we know we can make Gather Round even bigger and better than what it has already become.”

“I want to thank Gillon McLachlan, the AFL, wider footballing community, public servants, councils and others who’ve all worked so hard to deliver such an amazing event in just a few months.”

“But most of all, I want to thank each and every person who showed up.”

“This agreement is because of you.”

-ends-
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Just give me a yes or no to put me out of my misery please.

Should the AFL have fixtured the showdown to be on this round? Given there are only two teams (mine being one - so yes sour grapes) that are disadvantaged by the addition of an extra round and in effect have an extra 'away' game where everybody else simply has an extra neutral game (or in Port and Crows case an extra home game)?

I feel like the clubs that are disadvantaged should play the respective states clubs the following year, twice at home (so we would play Port twice at Marvel in 2024, whilst Carlton play Adelaide twice at either Marvel or the G)?
 
ThePhreshOne said:
Just give me a yes or no to put me out of my misery please.

Should the AFL have fixtured the showdown to be on this round? Given there are only two teams (mine being one - so yes sour grapes) that are disadvantaged by the addition of an extra round and in effect have an extra 'away' game where everybody else simply has an extra neutral game (or in Port and Crows case an extra home game)?

I feel like the clubs that are disadvantaged should play the respective states clubs the following year, twice at home (so we would play Port twice at Marvel in 2024, whilst Carlton play Adelaide twice at either Marvel or the G)?
Click to expand...
No.

Why should one set of fans miss out on a home game to make it neutral?

Alternatively, if you don't have it as a free for all, and you keep it. Why should the away teams fans miss out on a 12th game free as part of their memberships?

And if you want to argue you're disadvantaged. how does it feel having the shoe on the other foot? Tickets are available for everyone equally. Just like the Grand Final. So this situation you're in vs Port is exactly what Sydney had vs you back in 2016.

Anyway, I think we'll be shocked. Carlton fans by all reports have bought up the most tickets for Gather Round. We could see 10-15k there. And when it comes to Saturday? I wouldn't at all be shocked if Essendon/Melbourne/Western Bulldogs combine for more fans than Port Adelaide. And I can see the fans ganging up and drowning out Port Fans so despite it being "at home" it's an anti-port crowd.

My gripe though is that of the 9 matches, 6 of them are only being played here, and aren't double ups. Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs, Richmond vs Sydney and Hawthorn vs Greater Western Sydney I have no problems with them being played here. The other 6 matches can **** off though. Though, I'm not fond of Richmond and GWS being the designated home team both here and in the double up game.

And in regards to your last point. What good does it do? We play 2 games against Carlton in Melbourne? Eh, means less chance of heading to Ballarat. So we win again.

End of the day, it's at least fair that it's a Victorian team who has to do it. Afterall, Adelaide/Port Adelaide only get to play infront of their own fans 13 times this year. Still less than the 14 games the Bulldogs get, and 17 games the Blues get in Melbourne infront of your fans. And it'd be more for you if you didn't sell 2 games to Ballarat. You too get 17 games in Victoria, so you can't even play that hard done card vs Carlton.
 
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Dirty Bird said:
No.

Why should one set of fans miss out on a home game to make it neutral?

Alternatively, if you don't have it as a free for all, and you keep it. Why should the 2 teams miss out on a 12th game free as part of their memberships?

And if you want to argue you're disadvantaged. how does it feel having the shoe on the other foot? Tickets are available for everyone equally. Just like the Grand Final. So this situation you're in vs Port is exactly what Sydney had vs you back in 2016.

Anyway, I think we'll be shocked. Carlton fans by all reports have bought up the most tickets for Gather Round. We could see 10-15k there. And when it comes to Saturday? I wouldn't at all be shocked if Essendon/Melbourne/Western Bulldogs combine for more fans than Port Adelaide. And I can see the fans ganging up and drowning out Port Fans so despite it being "at home" it's an anti-port crowd.

My gripe though is that of the 9 matches, 6 of them are only being played here, and aren't double ups. Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs, Richmond vs Sydney and Hawthorn vs Greater Western Sydney I have no problems with them being played here. The other 6 matches can **** off though. Though, I'm not fond of Richmond and GWS being the designated home team both here and in the double up game.
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Because you're getting an extra home game this year?

The grand final that is played at a ground we play at just as much as Sydney do?
 

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Dirty Bird said:
My gripe though is that of the 9 matches, 6 of them are only being played here, and aren't double ups. Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs, Richmond vs Sydney and Hawthorn vs Greater Western Sydney I have no problems with them being played here. The other 6 matches can **** off though. Though, I'm not fond of Richmond and GWS being the designated home team both here and in the double up game.
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I don't think being the 'home' team at gather round really matters in respect to reverse fixtures (except for the 2 genuinely home teams).

I do agree with your point about how all these games should be double ups.
 
ThePhreshOne said:
Just give me a yes or no to put me out of my misery please.

Should the AFL have fixtured the showdown to be on this round? Given there are only two teams (mine being one - so yes sour grapes) that are disadvantaged by the addition of an extra round and in effect have an extra 'away' game where everybody else simply has an extra neutral game (or in Port and Crows case an extra home game)?

I feel like the clubs that are disadvantaged should play the respective states clubs the following year, twice at home (so we would play Port twice at Marvel in 2024, whilst Carlton play Adelaide twice at either Marvel or the G)?
Click to expand...
Probably technically from a case of pure neutrality of home and away, it's a bit unfair. But given that nothing about the fixturing has ever been completely fair, it's completely on brand for the AFL, and this isn't the hill to die on.

"Paying it back" the next year makes absolutely no ****ing sense though.
 
ThePhreshOne said:
Because you're getting an extra home game this year?

The grand final that is played at a ground we play at just as much as Sydney do?
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Extra home game?

Under 1 argument we have 11, you have 11
Under another argument we have 13, you have 14
Under another argument we have 13, you have 16
Under another argument we have 13, you have 17

Either we're equal, OR YOU HAVE THE EXTRA HOME GAME/S

If it was Fremantle, West Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and even Geelong who had to play Adelaide or Port Adelaide in Adelaide, then sure. They could at least make a sane argument. But from a fan from a Melbourne based team? Bloody hell. Have you been drinking water from the Yarra or something?
 
Dirty Bird said:
Extra home game?

Under 1 argument we have 11, you have 11
Under another argument we have 13, you have 14
Under another argument we have 13, you have 16
Under another argument we have 13, you have 17

Either we're equal, OR YOU HAVE THE EXTRA HOME GAME/S

If it was Fremantle, West Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and even Geelong who had to play Adelaide or Port Adelaide in Adelaide, then sure. They could at least make a sane argument. But from a fan from a Melbourne based team? Bloody hell. Have you been drinking water from the Yarra or something?
Click to expand...

How many games of home ground advantage does each get?
 
Dirty Bird said:
Extra home game?

Under 1 argument we have 11, you have 11
Under another argument we have 13, you have 14
Under another argument we have 13, you have 16
Under another argument we have 13, you have 17

Either we're equal, OR YOU HAVE THE EXTRA HOME GAME/S

If it was Fremantle, West Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and even Geelong who had to play Adelaide or Port Adelaide in Adelaide, then sure. They could at least make a sane argument. But from a fan from a Melbourne based team? Bloody hell. Have you been drinking water from the Yarra or something?
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Port (our opponents) have 12 home games in 2023. Western Bulldogs have 11 home games in 2023.
 
Can any Adelaide or Port fan hazard a guess at the state of AO after 5 games and three days of rain? What is the drainage like?

Of course, we will be playing the 6th game and I am a little concerned about the potential for injuries with our injury list already resembling the length of the Flemington straight.
 
It's a good point. Do the 22 round fixture first, then look at the best games from that where two clubs aren't playing each other twice, then make them the gather round games.

It's not rocket science, it gives so many potential great match up options, much better than the crap auld served up for this weekend's games (he ended up getting lucky on a few that nobody expected to be decent).
 

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Diehard Saint said:
Can any Adelaide or Port fan hazard a guess at the state of AO after 5 games and three days of rain? What is the drainage like?

Of course, we will be playing the 6th game and I am a little concerned about the potential for injuries with our injury list already resembling the length of the Flemington straight.
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I don't think we will get enough rain to saturate the drainage system. We will probably see more wear in the centre and goal squares but I don't think it will compromise the game play or induce injuries like Marvel does on a regular basis.
 
I can't even find where the Lions are playing on a map. Typed in the address from the AFL website for the 'stadium'. Must be a very new build, otherwise we are playing on a farm.

1681220897320.png
 
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Elixuh said:
I can't even find where the Lions are playing on a map. Typed in the address from the AFL website for the 'stadium'. Must be a very new build, otherwise we are playing on a farm.

View attachment 1657244
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It's fairly new and they're really trying to push their field of dreams schtick, but Google need to update their satellite maps. It's on Bing Maps.

www.bing.com

Bing Maps

Map multiple locations, get transit/walking/driving directions, view live traffic conditions, plan trips, view satellite, aerial and street side imagery. Do more with Bing Maps.
www.bing.com www.bing.com
 
Racheles Pocket said:
It's fairly new and they're really trying to push their field of dreams schtick, but Google need to update their satellite maps. It's on Bing Maps.

www.bing.com

Bing Maps

Map multiple locations, get transit/walking/driving directions, view live traffic conditions, plan trips, view satellite, aerial and street side imagery. Do more with Bing Maps.
www.bing.com www.bing.com
Click to expand...

Hopefully no one shanks a drive
 
I find it weird that people carry on about the surface being in trouble etc

Even with the rain, the drainage is elite. You’d have to get a shitload of rain for it to matter too much.

You’ll see wear in a few areas but local grounds hold up pretty well for a couple weeks with a bit of rain (and no drainage) and 15 games played on them a week so I think we’ll be fine.
 
ThePhreshOne said:
Just give me a yes or no to put me out of my misery please.

Should the AFL have fixtured the showdown to be on this round? Given there are only two teams (mine being one - so yes sour grapes) that are disadvantaged by the addition of an extra round and in effect have an extra 'away' game where everybody else simply has an extra neutral game (or in Port and Crows case an extra home game)?

I feel like the clubs that are disadvantaged should play the respective states clubs the following year, twice at home (so we would play Port twice at Marvel in 2024, whilst Carlton play Adelaide twice at either Marvel or the G)?
Click to expand...

I think as long as the Bulldogs and Carlton aren't the away team vs a local team in next years gather round (assuming it happens), that it's fair enough.

Not sure any other correction is needed.

Playing an away game vs a local team isn't the only way to be disadvantaged. Essendon play Melbourne while Brisbane are playing North and Geelong play West Coast. There will always be winners and losers.
 
ibd77 said:
I don't think we will get enough rain to saturate the drainage system. We will probably see more wear in the centre and goal squares but I don't think it will compromise the game play or induce injuries like Marvel does on a regular basis.
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Actually, the Marvel surface is far, far better than in it was in the beginning. There don’t appear to be any more injuries happening there than elsewhere these days.

However, my question was a genuine concern - wasn’t taking a potshot. I mean, how often ARE there 6 games a round played on one ground? we have a very long injury list and I don’t feel like adding to it.
 
offtherails9 said:
I find it weird that people carry on about the surface being in trouble etc

Even with the rain, the drainage is elite. You’d have to get a shitload of rain for it to matter too much.

You’ll see wear in a few areas but local grounds hold up pretty well for a couple weeks with a bit of rain (and no drainage) and 15 games played on them a week so I think we’ll be fine.
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If you’re referring to me, there was no “carrying on”. I asked a genuine question.
When have there ever been 6 afl games played on one ground ( in the wet) on one weekend? With 2 double headers.
perfectly fair to ask about what the state of ANY ground would be in those circumstances - not just AO.

I find it weird that people are so sensitive over a question.
 

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Fixture Gather Round - SA announced as host for next 3 years 2024-2026

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