Premier Peter Malinauskas reveals SA’s bid to host an entire AFL round’s nine matches

The Premier has revealed plans for a festival of footy, centred on Adelaide Oval, hosting all nine matches of an entire AFL round.

A festival of footy centred on Adelaide Oval would showcase all nine AFL matches in a single round next year, under South Australia’s bid for a proposed one-state carnival.

Revealing the state’s pitch for the April school holiday event, Premier Peter Malinauskas said it would incorporate grassroots footy at every level and, potentially, AFL games at suburban ovals.

Mr Malinauskas also revealed he had lobbied the AFL for a return of State of Origin football, declaring this would be “a huge success”, though it did not form part of SA’s single-state round bid.

The AFL is working to add an extra round to the home-and-away season next year, it was revealed on Tuesday, modelled on the NRL’s “magic round” in which all games are played in the one state.

Three states, including SA, have expressed interest in the nine-game carnival, for which the AFL has floated the prospect of double-headers and even triple-headers.

Premier Peter Malinauskas watching footy at Adelaide Oval. Picture: supplied.

In an exclusive interview with The Advertiser, Mr Malinauskas argued SA could “put on a pretty amazing experience” by showcasing the upgraded Adelaide Oval and pointed out the state punched above its weight for crowd numbers.

“South Australia’s a footy state and we believe that by hosting the event outside of Victoria, and here in Adelaide, we can draw on crowds from both the west and the east coast,” he said.

“We can extend it to more than just a festival of AFL footy but incorporate grassroots footy at every level.

“Without going too much into our bid that we’re making to the AFL, we want this to be a comprehensive celebration of footy.

“I’m not going to foreshadow publicly the different components of our bid so that our opponents, or our competitors, can match it – but needless to say, this is an event that everyone could embrace.”

It is understood a $40m major events fund created in the June 2 state budget would be tapped into for the bid.

This would include assessing the economic benefit to the state before determining a financial offer to the AFL for hosting rights.

Now-retired West Coast Eagle Josh Kennedy kicks during a match between Adelaide and the Eagles at Adelaide Oval in June. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty

Adelaide Oval would be the festival of footy’s linchpin but Mr Malinauskas said other grounds could potentially be involved, opening the prospect of AFL games at suburban or regional ovals.

“There’s a lot of water to go under this bridge yet, and I understand the field is competitive, but we are having a red-hot go,” he said.

Asked whether the “festival of footy” would include a State of Origin game revival, Mr Malinauskas said he did not believe this was “on the cards for the AFL”.

“Personally, I think the time for State of Origin’s return has well and truly arrived. That’s my personal view, which I’ve made known to the AFL,” he said.

“It would be embraced. It is a shame that it was lost. But I think the (23-year) period between has ensured that if it ever returned, it would be more than just nostalgia, it would be a huge success.”

Tony Modra (left) and Stephen Silvagni wrestle for position during a 1997 State of Origin match at Football Park, Adelaide.

The SA/Victoria rivalry was considered the fiercest in State of Origin, drawing 91,960 to the MCG for a match in 1989 after SA had beaten the Big V for three successive years.

The final State of Origin match between Victoria and SA was played on May 29, 1999, at the MCG, where 26,000 fans saw SA lose by 54 points.

The AFL has been contacted for comment.