Paul Starick: The Royal Show is fabulous ... but the inaugural AFL Gather Round has seized its crown
Gather Round is the biggest event to hit Adelaide in years – even better than the Royal Show. Now the AFL must keep it here for the long term, writes Paul Starick.
Opinion
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The Royal Adelaide Show is a fantastic annual event that brings South Australians together – from across the entire city and country areas of the state.
Wandering around the Adelaide Showground, there’s an all-pervading air of excitement and joy – all the fun of the fair.
I should know – I went to every day of last year’s Show. Some would say I’m a Show tragic.
But my newsroom colleagues were stunned this morning to hear me declare that the AFL Gather Round was “better than the Show”.
This was more than just the euphoric morning-after glow from the Adelaide Crows’ magnificent 56-point win over second-on-the-ladder Carlton on Thursday night.
The opening Gather Round game showcased everything that makes Aussie rules our cherished and celebrated national game.
Carlton fans flocked in droves, initially brimming with enthusiasm, helping fuel an Adelaide Oval crowd atmosphere unlike anything this extremely regular footy and cricket attendee has seen.
From my family’s seats in the terraces, we noticed fans of Sydney, Geelong, Essendon, Richmond and even Port Adelaide (the latter doubtless barracking for Carlton).
This added up to a convivial atmosphere – a footy community united by the privilege of attending the opening round of a unique event.
This shared, communal spirit was even better than the elation of watching Mitchell Johnson destroy the Poms in the upgraded Oval’s opening Ashes Test of 2013, when he took 7-40. And, dare I say it, it was more rewarding than watching the Crows’ 2017 preliminary final victory over Geelong.
Why? The answer is Gather Round has already delivered on its core promise. This is gathering together the footy community in one city, for one round, for all nine matches.
Crucially, this has involved AFL clubs reconnecting with grassroots and the Indigenous game’s proud history.
Carlton and Collingwood, two powerhouse Melbourne clubs, have scheduled training sessions at Unley Oval – home of Sturt Football Club. Sturt’s legendary coach, Jack Oatey, has a stand named in his honour at Adelaide Oval – he took the Double Blues to seven premierships.
Two games are being played at Norwood Oval, home of the reigning SANFL premiers. (Oatey played in three Norwood premierships). The Parade is being closed off on Friday afternoon for a street party.
On Saturday, Mount Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park will stage the clash between Brisbane and North Melbourne, showcasing the extraordinary splendour of the Adelaide Hills.
Other regions and suburbs have not been forgotten. The AFL and SANFL Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow, a 24-day event visiting places across the state, has included donating 20 new footballs to every regional junior club in SA.
Back in Adelaide, the CBD is abuzz. Walking down Rundle Mall on Thursday, I watched fans donning several club colours pose for pictures in front of a giant inflatable Sherrin taking pride of place at the Gawler Place intersection.
As Premier Peter Malinauskas has been keen to highlight, pubs, hotels and restaurants that were hammered at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been packed with Gather Round patrons and visitors.
There would be few South Australians who would not know at least one person who’s travelled here for Gather Round. For example, my cousin’s family is visiting from Sydney and my uncle and aunty from Wollongong.
All nine Gather Round matches have sold out, as of Friday morning. This is both an example of the inaugural event’s success and another reason why Adelaide should become the home of Gather Round.
As AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday, Gather Round is “already better” than the National Rugby League’s Magic Round, from which the concept was borrowed. On Friday, he said the concept needed to be bedded down in one location.
Clearly, that’s Adelaide – the home of Gather Round.
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