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

[Festerz]

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-

 

[sataris]

Why isn't this held at Marvel?

 

[Peter Doherty]

Imagine being a Victorian and complaining about the equality of the fixture

I know these posters aren't representative of the vast majority of Victorians, they must make the other Vics cringe.

Just on ticketing, they never should have made the AFC and Power games free for members. Shoukd have just made them cheap. How many members redeemed their free ticket in Dec and now won't go?

Will be surprised to see anything over 45k on Thurs, likely 40ish. Could be wrong!

 

[Elixuh]

TBH seeing images of the Adelaide Hills ground, it looks in far better condition than Marvel where half the grass is dying or dead.

 

[kickazz]

Having a Showdown this week would indeed be a waste.

Adelaide and Port get a slightly unfair advantage with an extra home game.
Carlton and Doggies get screwed a bit with an extra away game.

You could try doing other things with the fixture to remedy this. But I think the best thing, if Gather Round happens every year, is to rotate these two 'away' games between the Victorian clubs year on year.

Perspective:

• Carlton and Bulldogs are being asked to play a nominally NEUTRAL game at an AWAY venue for premiership points.
• In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; Sydney, West Coast, Sydney, Adelaide and West Coast were respectively asked to play a nominally HOME game at an AWAY venue for THE PREMIERSHIP.

Time for the Vics to HTFU.

 

[Elixuh]

Having a Showdown this week would indeed be a waste.

Adelaide and Port get a slightly unfair advantage with an extra home game.
Carlton and Doggies get screwed a bit with an extra away game.

You could try doing other things with the fixture to remedy this. But I think the best thing, if Gather Round happens every year, is to rotate these two 'away' games between the Victorian clubs year on year.

Perspective:

• Carlton and Bulldogs are being asked to play a nominally NEUTRAL game at an AWAY venue for premiership points.
• In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; Sydney, West Coast, Sydney, Adelaide and West Coast were respectively asked to play a nominally HOME game at an AWAY venue for THE PREMIERSHIP.

Time for the Vics to HTFU.

How does that work out (I genuinely don't know)?

 

[Sentinel]

Having a Showdown this week would indeed be a waste.

Adelaide and Port get a slightly unfair advantage with an extra home game.
Carlton and Doggies get screwed a bit with an extra away game.

You could try doing other things with the fixture to remedy this. But I think the best thing, if Gather Round happens every year, is to rotate these two 'away' games between the Victorian clubs year on year.

Perspective:

• Carlton and Bulldogs are being asked to play a nominally NEUTRAL game at an AWAY venue for premiership points.
• In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; Sydney, West Coast, Sydney, Adelaide and West Coast were respectively asked to play a nominally HOME game at an AWAY venue for THE PREMIERSHIP.

Time for the Vics to HTFU.

I really don't think the advantage of the Gather Round fixture is signficant for Port or Adelaide, given the numerous other quirks in the AFL fixture across a season mainly including the sharing of home grounds in Victoria there's always going to be perceived inequalities and this is on the lighter side.

I would however say in response to your last line that, unlike the other years you mention, the 2016 Grand Final was played at a NEUTRAL venue.

 

[Sentinel]

How does that work out (I genuinely don't know)?

Instead of a 'neutral' game (two sides playing each other away from home, a la the covid years) like 14 other teams, in this round Carlton and the Bulldogs play the two Adelaide sides at their home venue. It's not a big deal in a 23 round season.

 

[Elixuh]

I really don't think the advantage of the Gather Round fixture is signficant for Port or Adelaide, given the numerous other quirks in the AFL fixture across a season mainly including the sharing of home grounds in Victoria there's always going to be perceived inequalities and this is on the lighter side.

I would however say in response to your last line that, unlike the other years you mention, the 2016 Grand Final was played at a NEUTRAL venue.

If the Lions got a 12th game at the Gabba in a season (ie if Gather Round is ever played in Qld) I would consider that a significant advantage.

 

[kickazz]

How does that work out (I genuinely don't know)?

So the 22 game fixture is done with everyone getting 11 home and 11 away. Yes for Vic teams the idea of home and away is a little nebulous but that's a shitfight for another thread.

Gather Round gives every team an extra game*. In most cases, you play an opponent on neutral territory. Both have to travel, neither get a home crowd to help, neither have an away crowd to contend with.

For the aforementioned two teams, they basically get another away game - with the away crowd to deal with, etc. When the fixture for Gather Round comes out each year, you probably don't want to be one of those two teams.




(*This idea that it is extra is kind of bogus though as it would imply that every game is a repeat fixture but they are not. And that matters because if it was a genuine 'extra' round then the conversation gets more complex as you'd still probably rather play one of the host sides than say a raging premiership favourite.)

 

[Elixuh]

So the 22 game fixture is done with everyone getting 11 home and 11 away. Yes for Vic teams the idea of home and away is a little nebulous but that's a shitfight for another thread.

Gather Round gives every team an extra game*. In most cases, you play an opponent on neutral territory. Both have to travel, neither get a home crowd to help, neither have an away crowd to contend with.

For the aforementioned two teams, they basically get another away game - with the away crowd to deal with, etc. When the fixture for Gather Round comes out each year, you probably don't want to be one of those two teams.




(*This idea that it is extra is kind of bogus though as it would imply that every game is a repeat fixture but they are not. And that matters because if it was a genuine 'extra' round then the conversation gets more complex as you'd still probably rather play one of the host sides than say a raging premiership favourite.)

As you said, easily resolved by changing the Vic teams who get the matchups each year.

 

[Sentinel]

If the Lions got a 12th game at the Gabba in a season (ie if Gather Round is ever played in Qld) I would consider that a significant advantage.

It probably is more of an advantage for Brisbane given they already get 11 true home games (Adelaide and Port get 10 plus 2 neutral games, given they share the venue, like Freo and West Coast).

 

[kickazz]

I would however say in response to your last line that, unlike the other years you mention, the 2016 Grand Final was played at a NEUTRAL venue.

That's a fair call , understand where you are coming from. But if Docklands was 100% your home ground and SCG 0% then I'd put MCG at around 70 -75%.
The bigger issue there is when you earn a home final against Tigers Hawks or Pies. Just another one of the quirks of the system.


But I digress.

 

[Jakksynn]

People far too concerned about who gets advantaged or disadvantaged. This round is about coming together and celebrating our ****ing great game as one big community. Stop your whinging for 5 minutes and pray the weather gods are kind to us and we get to see some bloody good footy.

 

[Lets Roar like '44]

People far too concerned about who gets advantaged or disadvantaged. This round is about coming together and celebrating our ******* great game as one big community. Stop your whinging for 5 minutes and pray the weather gods are kind to us and we get to see some bloody good footy.

Who on earth is coming together for this ridiculous round? No one. Who’s going to every game “coming together” with all supporters from all over Australia? Literally no one. Not one person gives a rats about this silly concept. Oh, and good luck with your coming together at Mt Barker, don’t be late.

 

[kickazz]

Who on earth is coming together for this ridiculous round? No one. Who’s going to every game “coming together” with all supporters from all over Australia? Literally no one. Not one person gives a rats about this silly concept. Oh, and good luck with your coming together at Mt Barker, don’t be late.

I'm not going this year but I think it would make a good boys weekend. You could have a few mates that all barrack for different teams and go to all of the games together, get pissed at GWS vs North @ **** knows where and sample the region's wares in between.

 

[Gough]

I'm not going this year but I think it would make a good boys weekend. You could have a few mates that all barrack for different teams and go to all of the games together, get pissed at GWS vs North @ * knows where and sample the region's wares in between.

It's a niche event that suits SA to a tee. The big global events pass us by because of our size but we put on smaller events like this, the TDU, various festivals and even the bloody supercars really well.

 

[Jakksynn]

Who on earth is coming together for this ridiculous round? No one. Who’s going to every game “coming together” with all supporters from all over Australia? Literally no one. Not one person gives a rats about this silly concept. Oh, and good luck with your coming together at Mt Barker, don’t be late.

If ticket sales are anything to go by, it seems there’s quite a few people making the trip over. You seem a little agitated mate, have a lie down.

 

[offtherails9]

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.

I'm not sensitive about it at all, I just find the commentary around it amusing. I wasn't referring to just you, I was referring to posters on this forum, social media, radio etc.

The oval will be fine unless it absolutely shits down with rain

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The only people loving this more than the SA government are Melbourne pub owners.

 

[Bjo187]

Imagine being a Victorian and complaining about the equality of the fixture

I know these posters aren't representative of the vast majority of Victorians, they must make the other Vics cringe.

Just on ticketing, they never should have made the AFC and Power games free for members. Shoukd have just made them cheap. How many members redeemed their free ticket in Dec and now won't go?

Will be surprised to see anything over 45k on Thurs, likely 40ish. Could be wrong!

I dunno why they allow people to pre book seats anyway. It should just all be sold as general admin category 1, 2 and 3. Then people find their seats on the day. It also means you could actually over sell categories, allowing for no shows, so you ensure full sections.

The other error is making tickets free, it creates an environment where people don't value their seat, so won't show up if there's bad weather or they can't be bothered, because it hasn't cost them anything.

So yeah I'd sell all seats as general admin:

Category A: level 2, $30
Category B: level 1, $20
Category C: level 3, $10
Entry to precinct, no game ticket: $5

So if I were going, I'd buy category A for the Essendon game, then category C for the port game. $40 for a whole day at the footy, prime seats to my own team and seeing an additional game for $10. It also means I'd actually show up to game 2, because I paid $10 to do so.

 

[El Doederino]

The only people loving this more than the SA government are Melbourne pub owners.

and broadcasters

 

[footyfan1978]

It's an advantage for sure, but

There is no but about. Gather round is not meant to have any advantage to any team. It is poor they did not live up to what they said this round would be for.

 

[kickazz]

The other error is making tickets free, it creates an environment where people don't value their seat, so won't show up if there's bad weather or they can't be bothered, because it hasn't cost them anything.

That is a mistake. Even make them 5 bucks or something.

 

[Underarm]

There is no but about. Gather round is not meant to have any advantage to any team. It is poor they did not live up to what they said this round would be for.

Gather round never promised such a thing. Its about selling tickets and selling tourism to SA. Thats it.

 

[footyfan1978]

Gather round never promised such a thing. Its about selling tickets and selling tourism to SA. Thats it.

It was certainly presented as an extra round where no teams were advantaged. That has not been held up.
The rest of it has been. Hopefully the tourism does go gang busters.