AFL Gather Round: SA premier reinforces Barossa Valley wish, fixture reveal
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas is focused on this year’s Gather Round – but does the state have a longer-term agreement? Here’s the latest, plus the full fixture and ticket details.
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Hosting an AFL game in the Barossa Valley looms as a non-negotiable for South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas if the football festival returns to the state.
But Malinauskas would not be drawn on whether “Gather Round” could come back as soon as 2024, amid reports that SA had first option to host the second edition if the event continued.
While the league plans to take the footy showcase to other states and Malinauskas is focused on making the inaugural one in April a success, he is hopeful another opportunity is around the corner.
Asked if SA had an agreement that it could stage the round again in 2024 if it wanted, the Premier said “let’s just focus on this year first and I’m feeling good about that already”.
“I’m keen to see this event in South Australia as often as possible and should the Gather Round continue into the future, that we will have this in South Australia at least one extra time in the next few years,” Malinauskas said at the football festival’s fixture reveal on Friday.
“Our chance as South Australians is to genuinely come together across the state and put on something truly magnificent for our national game.
“If we do that and do that well, then we’ll be putting our best foot forward to ensure that the Gather Round is in South Australia as often as it should be.”
The AFL awarded SA the hosting rights to its nine-game, one-state showcase ahead of New South Wales after a strong push from Malinauskas.
Malinaukas also fought to have a match in the Barossa Valley, but none of the 16 grounds the AFL inspected in the tourist area met its criteria.
The league announced on Friday that Hills town Mount Barker would stage the round’s regional game instead.
Malinauskas said the state government put a lot of pressure on the AFL to consider all options in the Barossa, but the national league could not make it work by April.
“We understand that and turn our minds to putting on a great show in the Adelaide Hills, which is going to be just as strategically important for the state,” he said.
“Should there be future rounds like this in the fixture, then naturally I’ll be pressing hard to make sure they’re at the place they should be.”
Malinauskas again would not reveal exactly how much of the state’s major events fund was being spent on Gather Round.
He also did not put a figure on what attendances he expected.
“This isn’t just about the footy, it’s a whole different experience,” he said.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said the league had work to do to get Mount Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park up to AFL standard in four months but its surface, size and surrounding space were pretty good.
Premiership contender Brisbane will take on North Melbourne at the ground on Saturday, April 15.
“We think it will be wonderful, it’s a great facility,” Auld said.
“If we get back here again then I think the Barossa is a non-negotiable for the Premier.”
Auld said fans sent so many name ideas for the round, it jammed the league’s emails.
“The event makes the name, the name doesn’t make the event,” he said.
“I guarantee you Sunday the 16th of April next year, people will be raving about the Gather Round.”
Auld said the league felt it was a waste to have such an iconic game as the Showdown during that weekend.
Gather Round tickets go on sale via Ticketek on Monday.
GATHER ROUND REVEALED: FULL FIXTURE, DETAILS LOCKED IN
The AFL has locked in the fixture for its inaugural “Gather Round … a festival of footy”, kicking it off with a crunch clash between Adelaide and Carlton.
News Corp can reveal the Crows and Blues will play at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, powerhouse Richmond will take on last season’s runner-up Sydney there 24 hours later, then the venue will stage two weekend double-headers.
The city ground will be the centrepiece for the new event, which will feature all 18 clubs playing in South Australia across four days from April 13-16.
Norwood Oval will hold two matches, while Hills town Mount Barker will have one.
Saturday’s double-header at Adelaide Oval is among the round’s highlights.
Traditional Victorian clubs Essendon and Melbourne battle during the afternoon, before Port Adelaide faces 2021 preliminary final nemesis the Western Bulldogs that night.
Club members will get free entry to their team’s games during the round, while general public tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for concession (15 to 18-year-olds) and free for children under 15.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld described the football festival as an unbelievable opportunity for the competition.
“Our clubs, our players and coaches are excited to come together and put on a great show,” Auld said.
“South Australians love their footy, and with no SANFL or metropolitan community matches that weekend, we are hoping they also come and experience what will be a great four days of celebration, fun and a true festival of footy,
“By pricing it affordably it hopefully helps entice fans from all over the country to make a trip of it and visit the state and enjoy all the activities in and around the state.”
The league awarded SA the hosting rights for its extra round last month after a strong push from Premier Peter Malinauskas helped it stave off New South Wales.
Malinauskas had hoped the regional game would be in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide, to showcase the state, but AFL officials could not find a suitable venue there.
On track to become SA’s second-largest city, Mount Barker is located on the doorstep of the Hills wine region and is about a 30-minute drive from the CBD.
The area’s main oval, Summit Sport and Recreation Park, will host a game between premiership contender Brisbane and North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday’s double-header at Adelaide Oval will feature Geelong-West Coast then Collingwood versus St Kilda to close the round.
Malinauskas said excitement was already building in SA for “the biggest round of footy in our state’s history”.
“With the release of the fixture, fans can start booking their tickets, visitors can begin booking their accommodation and planning their trip to South Australia,” Malinauskas said.
“The economic benefit to our tourism and hospitality sectors is going to be exceptional.”
The AFL’s airline partner, Virgin Australia, has added an extra 13,000 seats specifically for the round, set to go on sale on Friday, December 9.
Tickets for the double-headers will be $30 total for both games.
Prices are capped for all matches in any seat at all three grounds, allowing fans to sit anywhere at each.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday via Ticketek.
The fixture for the first 15 rounds, as well as match-ups and venues for the remaining home-and-away games, will be released later this week.
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