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-

 

[Jeremias]

I wonder if we'll see Carlton v Port on either the Thursday or Friday night.

We have Good Friday v North the following week.

We played Adelaide in the inaugural Friday night game so I assume we won't play them again, and it looks as though the AFL likes the idea of an Adelaide-based side playing a big Victorian club on the Thursday or Friday nights.

 

[dean33]

As much as I agree with your reasoning, still think the AFL will play Richmond at AO given their popularity (favouritism sucks, I know) but also because the Tigers did beat the Crows in SA earlier this year in a close affair and Adelaide will be desperate to smash them for revenge as well as Richmond hasn't played in a Thursday / Friday night match on the Gather Round week since the concept's inception.

One alternative that could be work is Adelaide to play Essendon instead on Thursday night, move Geelong back to Adelaide Oval and let them face off against Brisbane on the Saturday twilight and then give Richmond to face Fremantle over at Norwood Oval.

Only issue with that though is Geelong would have played all 3 Gather Round matches (since its inception in 2023) at AO and that it would be Essendon's 2nd prime-time match in a row on Thursday / Friday against a SA team at AO too.

I doubt the crows will be after revenge against us for 1 home and away loss that didn’t cost them anything. We also played Friday night against the swans in the first gather round. I can’t see us getting a Thursday or Friday night, possibly the early double header game at AO on Saturday against a less popular vic team.

 

[glengowan]

Good they are moving the games to the Barossa. Mt Barker is as regional as Noarlunga or Elizabeth. Plus, the oval at Mt Barker is poorly managed and despite being new and a great surface, it is not used by the local football league or cricket association due to high costs and lack of facilities conducive to making ends meet on a match day. It was one of those things promised to be built with the aim to win the seat during an election and is currently a white elephant. Unlike the oval at the Barossa, which is being built with the intention of it being a home ground for the Barossa Districts Football & Netball Club.

Those who get an opportunity to watch their team play in the Barossa - take another day to explore the area. Tanunda is a lovely town to stay at nearby and if you've got a car and the time when driving back to the city, take the route through Mt Pleasant, Birdwood, Mt Torrens, Woodside and then turn on to Greenhill Rd at Balhannah and follow that to the city, with a quick stop for a schooner at the Uraidla Hotel. You'll get a stunning view of the city of Adelaide.

 

[glengowan]

Adelaide could play anyone on the Thursday night and it would be a sell out.

Brisbane and Collingwood play the Easter Thursday game and North and Carlton the Good Friday game, so I'd fixture as follows:

Thu Night Adelaide Oval - Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions
Fri Twilight Norwood Oval - North Melbourne vs Gold Coast
Fri Night Adelaide Oval - Port vs Collingwood
Sat Day Barossa - West Coast vs Richmond
Sat Evening Double Header Adelaide Oval - Carlton vs Western Bulldogs & Sydney vs Geelong
Sun Day Norwood Oval - GWS Giants vs Melbourne
Sun Day Barossa - Fremantle vs St Kilda
Sun Night Adelaide Oval - Hawthorn vs Essendon

 

[Billy ray]

I just dont want the norwood Friday game as it starts too early

 

[hawkman]

Adelaide could play anyone on the Thursday night and it would be a sell out.

Brisbane and Collingwood play the Easter Thursday game and North and Carlton the Good Friday game, so I'd fixture as follows:

Thu Night Adelaide Oval - Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions
Fri Twilight Norwood Oval - North Melbourne vs Gold Coast
Fri Night Adelaide Oval - Port vs Collingwood
Sat Day Barossa - West Coast vs Richmond
Sat Evening Double Header Adelaide Oval - Carlton vs Western Bulldogs & Sydney vs Geelong
Sun Day Norwood Oval - GWS Giants vs Melbourne
Sun Day Barossa - Fremantle vs St Kilda
Sun Night Adelaide Oval - Hawthorn vs Essendon

Won't be Hawthorn vs Essendon as we are likely playing round 1. Us playing Carlton wouldn't be the worst option

 

[jdeezy]

Adelaide could play anyone on the Thursday night and it would be a sell out.

Brisbane and Collingwood play the Easter Thursday game and North and Carlton the Good Friday game, so I'd fixture as follows:

Thu Night Adelaide Oval - Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions
Fri Twilight Norwood Oval - North Melbourne vs Gold Coast
Fri Night Adelaide Oval - Port vs Collingwood
Sat Day Barossa - West Coast vs Richmond
Sat Evening Double Header Adelaide Oval - Carlton vs Western Bulldogs & Sydney vs Geelong
Sun Day Norwood Oval - GWS Giants vs Melbourne
Sun Day Barossa - Fremantle vs St Kilda
Sun Night Adelaide Oval - Hawthorn vs Essendon

I think this is a pretty well thought out fixture but I suspect they would want something with slightly more draw for that Sunday Barossa game, I don't think there would be a huge travelling supporter base for either of those clubs. Hawks and Essendon probably get Round 1 too. Maybe GWS / Saints at Norwood, Freo / Essendon at Barossa, Hawks / Melbourne at Adelaide Oval? Would that fixture sell out AO?

 

[The Tilt]

I think this is a pretty well thought out fixture but I suspect they would want something with slightly more draw for that Sunday Barossa game, I don't think there would be a huge travelling supporter base for either of those clubs.

The whole point is to schedule lower drawing clubs away from AO, as the smaller venues will sell out anyway.

 

[Libbaaaa]

AFL missing a trick if they don't schedule Port/Hawthorn here.

 

[glengowan]

Won't be Hawthorn vs Essendon as we are likely playing round 1. Us playing Carlton wouldn't be the worst option

If that's the case, maybe the Hawks to Saturday night vs Sydney and switch to Essendon vs Geelong for the Sunday match. Carlton would be a good club to have for Sunday night, but the way Easter falls in 2025, they'll be playing the Good Friday after Gather Round.

 

[hawkman]

AFL missing a trick if they don't schedule Port/Hawthorn here.

Why would you waste that during Gather Round. They can use that as another prime time game

 

[FlowersByIrene]

I wonder if we'll see Carlton v Port on either the Thursday or Friday night.

We have Good Friday v North the following week.

We played Adelaide in the inaugural Friday night game so I assume we won't play them again, and it looks as though the AFL likes the idea of an Adelaide-based side playing a big Victorian club on the Thursday or Friday nights.

I hope not. Sick of getting punished with one of only two real 'away' games in Gather Round.

Let Brisbane or Sydney play Port / Adelaide or throw one of the bigger but out of contention clubs like Richmond / Essendon at the SA teams.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Won't be Hawthorn vs Essendon as we are likely playing round 1. Us playing Carlton wouldn't be the worst option

Hawthorn V Carlton would certainly be a mouth watering blockbuster for Gather Round.

However for it to happen, both these teams would need to play each other twice to ensure one of the games is at the G in front of at least 75K.

This fixture is legit turning into a Collingwood V Carlton type blockbuster of which under no circumstances would they (Pies/Blues) only play once, and at Gather round no less.

 

[jdeezy]

The whole point is to schedule lower drawing clubs away from AO, as the smaller venues will sell out anyway.

With the Barossa game in particularly though there's clearly a tourism drive to it, I would imagine you want something that will bring people across the border. Plus, it would be the Channel 7 broadcast game on your schedule and the SA government would want plenty of eyes on it. I don't think it'll be two minnows

 

[Jeff76]

Please have a Cats game in my little home town Lyndoch Barossa Valley, apparently we have 2 games here.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

With the Barossa game in particularly though there's clearly a tourism drive to it, I would imagine you want something that will bring people across the border. Plus, it would be the Channel 7 broadcast game on your schedule and the SA government would want plenty of eyes on it. I don't think it'll be two minnows

Will it?

The first 8 rounds in the 2025-31 TV deal period, is Fox Footy's Super Saturday scheduling, ie no games anywhere in Oz are shown on 7, only on Fox Footy for a Saturday arvo, twilight and night game. So that is the Saturday game out.

7 will want the middle Sunday game ie the one that finishes about 5.45pm AEST and then 15 minutes of post game stuff and then straight into the news in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. So that also counts the Barossa out as based on last 2 Gather Rounds, they will play the early game on Sunday outside of AO and Norwood.

So unless something is written/ added into the TV deal to compensate Fox Footy for Gather Round then it wont be on 7.

The 2025-31 TV deal was signed and announced on 6th September 2022, and Gather Round became a thing after the 2022 GF, as Malinaskaus spent the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of GF weekend lobbying the AFL, that if they are going to do it in 2023, then SA wants to host it.

 

[Nelso]

Why would you waste that during Gather Round. They can use that as another as another prime time game

I agree.

Both sets of supporters can then boo Hinkley.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

I agree.

Both sets of supporters can boo Hinkley.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Why would you waste that during Gather Round. They can use that as another as another prime time game

Yeah, I'm puzzled by the amount of people wanting this match-up for Gather Round.

It holds a lot of interest as the 'main event' or any other round it takes place in.

If the AFL are smart they'll fixture it on a Thursday night early in the same and rematch on a Friday at the MCG later in the season.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

If the AFL are smart they'll fixture it on a Thursday night early in the same and rematch on a Friday at the MCG later in the season.

If the AFL were smart, they wouldn't be getting Brisbane to play North Melbourne 3 times in a row.

No offence to North Melbourne supporters but I swear AFL if you pull that lever again: