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-

 

[Sentinel]

It evens out though doesn't it. Vic sides get to play more games at neutral venues, but don't get a home ground advantage as much, interstate teams get a bigger home ground advantage, but poorer away ground neutrality.

The point is that it evens out without the Gather Round fixture. With Gather Round, it's lopsided in favour of the SA sides (eg compare the makeup of their games to the WA, NSW and QLD sides). That's neutralised with a 2nd Gather Round and return draw as Teen Wolf states above.

 

[Papa G]

I'm clearly talking about home venue advantage. There is absolutely an advantage to playing at Adelaide Oval for the Adelaide sides, regardless of the crowd split and how much you talk down the dimensions.

Your last line ignores that fact that Vic clubs play more in Vic because they have so many 'neutral' games against opponents who also play out of the venue (like a Showdown in Adelaide). That's not the case for Gather Round where Adelaide sides play against travelling opponents.

It is a neutral game if all supporters have equal access. Potentially a 50/50 Crowd if access to tickets is the issue. Is it a neutral game at the MCG if Collingwood are playing North Melbourne? Collingwood have all the Reserved Seating don't they? Don't Collingwood have 5 times the supporters North do? The MCC Members/Hangers On get access dont they? Ditto the AFL Members. North Melbourne play the MCG once in 2024. Are they familiar with the dimensions? Hardly a "Neutral" Game I wouldn't have thought?

 

[Sentinel]

It is a neutral game if all supporters have equal access. Potentially a 50/50 Crowd if access to tickets is the issue. Is it a neutral game at the MCG if Collingwood are playing North Melbourne? Collingwood have all the Reserved Seating don't they? Don't Collingwood have 5 times the supporters North do? The MCC Members/Hangers On get access dont they? Ditto the AFL Members. North Melbourne play the MCG once in 2024. Are they familiar with the dimensions? Hardly a "Neutral" Game I wouldn't have thought?

Collingwood hosting North at the MCG is not a neutral game. I'm not speaking about games like those.

Collingwood hosting Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond etc is neutral. Like North vs Bulldogs, Saints, Carlton etc at Marvel.

Supporters are a small factor, the venue itself is the biggest factor in what is a home/away/neutral fixture.

 

[ibd77]

With Gather Round, it's lopsided in favour of the SA sides (eg compare the makeup of their games to the WA, NSW and QLD sides).

How? Where is your stats to back up this so called advantage we have?

AO is such a benign playing arena that there are no environmental conditions to take advantage of.

Sure there is wind and rain but that's hardly plays a role. We are not in Brisbane where heat and humidity has an impact. We're not at the SCG where the ground is considerably shorter than standard. We're are not in Geelong where the ground is narrower than standard.

 

[Sentinel]

How? Where is your stats to back up this so called advantage we have?

AO is such a benign playing arena that there are no environmental conditions to take advantage of.

Sure there is wind and rain but that's hardly plays a role. We are not in Brisbane where heat and humidity has an impact. We're not at the SCG where the ground is considerably shorter than standard. We're are not in Geelong where the ground is narrower than standard.

Adelaide sides:

• 11 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent

Perth sides:

• 10 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Melbourne sides (example - Bulldogs)

• 8 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 6 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 8 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Adelaide sides get 11 games at the home venue with the advantage of playing against an away opponent, and 10 with a disadvantage (lopsided). Perth sides get 10 with an advantage and 10 with a disadvantage (not lopsided). The Bulldogs, as an example of a Vic club, get 8 with an advantage and 8 with a disadvantage (not lopsided).

If Adelaide Oval truly has no home venue advantage as you laughably argue, then I'm sure you'll have no issue with playing their home games at any venue across the country.

 

[moond0g]

With talk of Gather Round becoming a permanent fixture in Adelaide, the AFL surely need to look at how they balance out the extra home game Adelaide and Port get above the rest of the comp. No big deal if it's rotated between states but it is if the same clubs get it every single year.

In my opinion both Adelaide and Port should get true home games this round (rather than so called "neutral" when they are anything but), and play a game at a neutral venue some other time in the season against the other's Gather Round opponent - eg a game in Darwin, Alice, wherever. Means every team gets 11 home, 11 away and 1 neutral each season.

(Without wanting to kick off the inveitable grand final debate again which I'm aware is also an advantage to teams based out of the MCG)

The fixture is so unequal anyway what difference does one game make? Victorian and non-Victorian teams have such a different fixture that you can't really compare them as it is IMO. And why would the AFL give up the financial benefits by playing the two SA teams against each other? The whole concept is realistically a financial exercise, so it doesn't make sense to not maximise the financial benefit.

And yes, the the grand final. Victorian clubs may cry about the inequity of playing one extra H&A game interstate, but that doesn't impact the integrity of the game anywhere near as much as an interstate team finishing higher on the ladder and then playing the GF on the oppositions home ground.

 

[Papa G]

Adelaide sides:

• 11 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent

Perth sides:

• 10 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Melbourne sides (example - Bulldogs)

• 8 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 6 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 8 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Adelaide sides get 11 games at the home venue with the advantage of playing against an away opponent, and 10 with a disadvantage (lopsided). Perth sides get 10 with an advantage and 10 with a disadvantage (not lopsided). The Bulldogs, as an example of a Vic club, get 8 with an advantage and 8 with a disadvantage (not lopsided).

If Adelaide Oval truly has no home venue advantage as you laughably argue, then I'm sure you'll have no issue with playing their home games at any venue across the country.

Crows get an advantage at AO, Port don't.

Example
Melbourne Free kicks v Port: 25
1 week later
Melbourbe Free Kicks v Adel: 9

 

[SC_Power]

Adelaide sides:

• 11 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent

Perth sides:

• 10 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 2 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 10 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Melbourne sides (example - Bulldogs)

• 8 games at home venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 6 games at home venue vs neutral opponent
• 8 games at away venue vs non-neutral opponent
• 1 game at away venue vs neutral opponent

Adelaide sides get 11 games at the home venue with the advantage of playing against an away opponent, and 10 with a disadvantage (lopsided). Perth sides get 10 with an advantage and 10 with a disadvantage (not lopsided). The Bulldogs, as an example of a Vic club, get 8 with an advantage and 8 with a disadvantage (not lopsided).

If Adelaide Oval truly has no home venue advantage as you laughably argue, then I'm sure you'll have no issue with playing their home games at any venue across the country.

People here do miss the argument that it's about the quality of teams in each area that the real issues emerge, not individual teams.

The best Victorian team each year, out of 22 games, would be favourite to win 19-20 games each year, made up of all home games, all neutral away games and half their true away games.

It's that team that is favoured by the fixture each year. It changes between Vic teams, but it's there for the best 1-2 of them every year

This just doesn't happen for the non-Vic teams.

Throw in a Melbourne GF and it's an inbuilt bias.

Have a look back at the dominant seasons (and premiership favourites) as the non Vic teams came into the competition, if you want. Write up a list of the 21, 20, 19, 18, 17 win seasons and then I'll sit whilst you argue it's not there, that it's just that the Vic sides are naturally better at football.

But we all know it's just how it is, and won't change. The AFL will follow where the money is. So ultimately a meaningless conversation on fairness.

 

[SC_Power]

The fixture is so unequal anyway what difference does one game make? Victorian and non-Victorian teams have such a different fixture that you can't really compare them as it is IMO. And why would the AFL give up the financial benefits by playing the two SA teams against each other? The whole concept is realistically a financial exercise, so it doesn't make sense to not maximise the financial benefit.

And yes, the the grand final. Victorian clubs may cry about the inequity of playing one extra H&A game interstate, but that doesn't impact the integrity of the game anywhere near as much as an interstate team finishing higher on the ladder and then playing the GF on the oppositions home ground.

Good post, maximising the financial benefit is the key point isn't it? Underwrites every decision, and fair competition be damned.

 

[Sentinel]

The fixture is so unequal anyway what difference does one game make? Victorian and non-Victorian teams have such a different fixture that you can't really compare them as it is IMO. And why would the AFL give up the financial benefits by playing the two SA teams against each other? The whole concept is realistically a financial exercise, so it doesn't make sense to not maximise the financial benefit.

And yes, the the grand final. Victorian clubs may cry about the inequity of playing one extra H&A game interstate, but that doesn't impact the integrity of the game anywhere near as much as an interstate team finishing higher on the ladder and then playing the GF on the oppositions home ground.

I'm not going to argue with you about the grand final, clearly the likes of Collingwood, Hawthorn and Melbourne have a big leg up in that regard.

The fixture does have a lot of quirks but beside the GF it is otherwise not lopsided in favour of one team over another. Financially it is obvious why the AFL want to do it but my argument is solely in favour of the integrity of the competition (again, like the GF there are other situations where that's not always number 1 priority). To pretend there isn't an advantage for SA sides, like some above are doing, is disingenuous.

 

[Sentinel]

People here do miss the argument that it's about the quality of teams in each area that the real issues emerge, not individual teams.

The best Victorian team each year, out of 22 games, would be favourite to win 19-20 games each year, made up of all home games, all neutral away games and half their true away games.

It's that team that is favoured by the fixture each year. It changes between Vic teams, but it's there for the best 1-2 of them every year

This just doesn't happen for the non-Vic teams.

Throw in a Melbourne GF and it's an inbuilt bias.

Have a look back at the dominant seasons (and premiership favourites) as the non Vic teams came into the competition, if you want. Write up a list of the 21, 20, 19, 18, 17 win seasons and then I'll sit whilst you argue it's not there, that it's just that the Vic sides are naturally better at football.

But we all know it's just how it is, and won't change. The AFL will follow where the money is. So ultimately a meaningless conversation on fairness.

That's probably correct - due to playing more 'true' home and away games, non-Vic sides are probably more likely to finish in the middle regions of the ladder whilst Vic sides are more likely to finish at the bookends of it. Thats an unavoidable reality when teams share venues the way they do. It's a separate argument to what Gather Round does, which is make it lopsided.

 

[Steven Gerrard]

Gather Round is now the biggest week in football. Bigger than the shamozzle we saw in the first week (I don't even know what that week is called). Bigger than Preliminary Final Week. Bigger than Grand Final Week.

In GF Week you've got the parade, Brownlow Medal Night, the NM Breakfast and the game itself. The parade is the only event that everyday people can attend. Gather Round was designed with everyday people in mind. It is fantastic and I think it's going to be in Adelaide permanently. How can it not be?

This now makes Adelaide the sporting capital of Australia.

 

[SC_Power]

That's probably correct - due to playing more 'true' home and away games, non-Vic sides are probably more likely to finish in the middle regions of the ladder whilst Vic sides are more likely to finish at the bookends of it. Thats an unavoidable reality when teams share venues the way they do. It's a separate argument to what Gather Round does, which is make it lopsided.

Of course, the reverse rationale applies and the worst Vic clubs cop it at the bottom of the ladder.

The lopsided nature, is essentially just 1 game for 1 team (on a completely fair 23 round fixture, one of the two Adelaide teams would still get a home game, with Gather Round it’s two).

Still less lopsided than the GF, and Adelaide seems to have made the financial case for Gather Round which the AFL love.
If Damian Barratt had his way, we’d hold one of these in Tassie.

 

[SC_Power]

Gather Round is now the biggest week in football. Bigger than the shamozzle we saw in the first week (I don't even know what that week is called). Bigger than Preliminary Final Week. Bigger than Grand Final Week.

In GF Week you've got the parade, Brownlow Medal Night, the NM Breakfast and the game itself. The parade is the only event that everyday people can attend. Gather Round was designed with everyday people in mind. It is fantastic and I think it's going to be in Adelaide permanently. How can it not be?

This now makes Adelaide the sporting capital of Australia.

Every team as well, not just the 2 grand finalists.

The community and tourism engagement across the state with interstate clubs, players and their families, and club fans is something that has made it work far better than I thought it would.

Still prefer a Grand Final week here though.

 

[Recon_29]

Hey all. Got 1 x adult and 1 x concession for lions v norf this arvo. Tickets are free. dm if keen and I'll transfer them. Cheers

 

[Xtreme]

With talk of Gather Round becoming a permanent fixture in Adelaide, the AFL surely need to look at how they balance out the extra home game Adelaide and Port get above the rest of the comp. No big deal if it's rotated between states but it is if the same clubs get it every single year.

Home advantage for both teams doesn't really matter if they both fail to win their respective matches!

 

[10Dulkar]

If you like Indian food you can't go past the Jasmin on Hindmarsh Square.

Just been here for lunch. THANK YOU for the recommendation! It was magnificent. I had the Punjabi lamb tandoori. A beautiful setting and then what do I discover on the way out but a little hallway with an array of signed cricket bats from Aussie and touring teams down the years!
Definitely have to come back with my Indian partner.

 

[Sentinel]

Home advantage for both teams doesn't really matter if they both fail to win their respective matches!

So if the home team doesn't win then then they mustn't have had an advantage? Completely flawed logic.

I mean, you could say that about any game throughout the season.

 

[RonnieRaven]

That's probably correct - due to playing more 'true' home and away games, non-Vic sides are probably more likely to finish in the middle regions of the ladder whilst Vic sides are more likely to finish at the bookends of it. Thats an unavoidable reality when teams share venues the way they do. It's a separate argument to what Gather Round does, which is make it lopsided.

Freo have to suck it up.
with so many inequities this gripe with port and crows getting an extra game at AO doesn’t even register.
I want it to stay in SA.
If the afl is going to take a financial hit and move it around for fairness why don’t they make vic teams that move home games interstate or Ballarat to only play other vic sides to increase their travel so it’s in the same stratosphere as what freo and eagles do.

 

[Underarm]

It is a neutral game if all supporters have equal access. Potentially a 50/50 Crowd if access to tickets is the issue. Is it a neutral game at the MCG if Collingwood are playing North Melbourne? Collingwood have all the Reserved Seating don't they? Don't Collingwood have 5 times the supporters North do? The MCC Members/Hangers On get access dont they? Ditto the AFL Members. North Melbourne play the MCG once in 2024. Are they familiar with the dimensions? Hardly a "Neutral" Game I wouldn't have thought?

The match is still going to be 90% Port Fans. It's still going to be played on the ground Port play 12 other times, compared to their opponents 1.

That is not a neutral game.

 

[RonnieRaven]

The match is still going to be 90% Port Fans. It's still going to be played on the ground Port play 12 other times, compared to their opponents 1.

That is not a neutral game.

I would give up a home game to have the grand final @ Optus every year.
It doesn’t bother a freo fan so very rich that it bothers a tiger fan who won 2 flags playing against teams that had to fly and Hotel it then play infront of a 80k supporting tigers.

 

[Coolangatta]

Would be cool if everyone played each other once + a gather round each in WA, SA, NSW, QLD every year and eventually TAS when they have the new stadium.

The problem is the Devils would only get 5 or 6 home games in Hobart per year instead of 7 but with GR in Tassie every year, they could easily get 4+ games out of Hobart and a few in Launceston, too.

 

[ibd77]

If Adelaide Oval truly has no home venue advantage as you laughably argue, then I'm sure you'll have no issue with playing their home games at any venue across the country.

Since AO, we have an 57% win record away vs our 62% record at home. So that 5% difference is a huge advantage apparently!

Cant be bothered calculating the Crows wining percentage away but it is probably similar.

 

[rapidfire7]

It should be in either Sydney and/or Brisbane in my view. Areas where they need to grow the game. At least they should share it around in a four year cycle between Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. Nothing against Adelaide, but where is the logic in them having it every year to themselves? And before I get attacked, I also think that some regular blockbuster games (which are normally played in Vic) should be played interstate form time to time. Why not Collingwood vs Essendon in Perth one ANZAC day,? You telling me it wouldn't sell out?

 

[Sentinel]

Since AO, we have an 57% win record away vs our 62% record at home. So that 5% difference is a huge advantage apparently!

Cant be bothered calculating the Crows wining percentage away but it is probably similar.

Hahaha are you serious with this?

West Coast have had a home ground advantage in 11 games since the beginning of 2023 but won just 2 of them. It's still a home ground advantage no matter how much you talk it down, its even still an advantage when you lose! A difficult concept for some, it seems.