Southern FL, River Murray FL, Yorke Peninsula FL to clash with AFL Gather Round in season 2023

Three local footy leagues have confirmed they will clash with the AFL’s SA-based Gather Round this coming season, with one competition chief criticising the AFL’s lack of planning.

Three of South Australia’s major local footy competitions will see their fixtures clash with the AFL’s ‘Gather Round’ this coming season.

The Southern Football League, River Murray Football League and Yorke Peninsula Football League have all confirmed games will be played on Saturday, April 15 – the middle of the AFL’s SA-based ‘festival of footy’.

Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in Mt Barker at 12.30pm on the 15th, while Essendon will clash with Melbourne at 3.40pm at the Adelaide Oval followed by Port Adelaide against Western Bulldogs at 7.20pm, meaning players of the three local competitions will be unable to attend the first two clashes.

SFL chief Craig Warman said his competition, which finishes the week before the AFL grand final, already had its fixture plan set in stone by the time the AFL confirmed dates for Gather Round in November.

“We already had a program set, we have a nine-team competition and have already got extra byes for our Association weekend and for the SA Country Championships, so to add another bye was just not going to be possible – we’d end up clashing with AFL grand final weekend,” Warman said.

Reynella and Morphett Vale clash in the 2022 SFL grand final. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“The disappointing thing was that there was no consultation with grassroots footy by the AFL to determine when the best time for an SA-based round would be.

“There will be other opportunities on the Thursday, Friday and Sunday for players, volunteers and officials to attend the AFL games so we didn’t feel an overwhelming need to shift our fixture.”

While the River Murray Football League and Yorke Peninsula Football League will also be in action, the SFL’s clubs are all in closer proximity to Adelaide, meaning players and staff would be more liable to attend AFL games.

Warman said because of this the SFL consulted with clubs and the SANFL to ensure all parties were satisfied with the season fixture.

SFL chief Craig Warman (right) said it would have been too difficult for the competition to change its 2023 fixture for AFL Gather Round. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We communicated with all of the clubs and the SANFL too and the consensus was that the bye was not mandatory and that we had enough breaks already,” he said.

“All our players are contracted, but if they do want to attend AFL games on the Saturday that will be for their clubs to work through and decide.

“We don’t believe we’re losing too much with the Crows playing on the Thursday and Port Adelaide on Saturday night.”

The SANFL had previously confirmed it would fixture bye weekends for its competition and for the Adelaide Footy League to accommodate Gather Round and “would encourage and work with all affiliated leagues across the state to consider doing the same.”

Whether more local SA leagues will host games for premiership points during the AFL’s Gather Round remains to be seen, with a number of competitions yet to announce 2023 fixtures.