A Tasmanian Hall of Fame football player doesn’t believe his home state should host the AFL Gather Round

A Tassie footy legend doesn’t think Tasmania should host the AFL’s Gather Round, despite the Devils being in hot pursuit of super-popular event. Here’s what he said.

Matthew Richardson says Gather Round has found a home in SA. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Photos.

Tasmania’s bid to poach the Gather Round from Adelaide in 2028 has been opposed by one of Tasmanian football’s favourite sons.

Richmond’s 282-game 800-goal forward Matthew Richardson, who long championed the push for his home state to get an AFL licence, says Gather Round has found its home in South Australia and that’s where it should stay.

Gather Round will be held in SA this weekend, with the state is gearing up to host about 46,000 interstate footy fans for an estimated 200,000 visitors nights and an economic boost of up to $100m.

Richo says the South Australians have made it their own and deserve to be its perennial hosts.

“It has been here for two years now, this is the third year, I think it should stay here forever,” Richardson said on Channel 7.

It comes as chairman of the Tasmania Football Club Grant O’Brien, who is also chair of Tourism Tasmania, revealed on Monday the state’s desire to host the Gather Round.

The event has been a roaring success in SA and O’Brien believes it could be just as popular in his home state in the same year the Tasmania Devils make their AFL debut.

“It would be the perfect welcome party for a new team entering the competition,” he said.

“I really do think it is something that should be shared.”

Fremantle and Carlton during Gather Round last year. Pic: Michael Klein

South Australia has secured the Gather Round for 2026 and 2027.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said recently his government was working on an extension.

“There’s competition in the market for it — that’s understandable given its success — so we have to earn the right, we don’t want to take it for granted,” he said.

“Gather Round isn’t just what it delivers economically for the state during the course of the weekend, it isn’t just increasing the state’s profile, but also the capacity to deliver for grassroots footy.”

AFL boss Andrew Dillon might he hard to sway on the Tasmanian bid.

“The fact that from the premier down, the way South Australians have embraced it -- it was a novel concept for AFL, at least when we bought it in _ I think that’s helped,” Dillon said.

“The fact that our Victorian fans have embraced it and come across the border, that helps.

“But ultimately the success of anything in the AFL is down to the fans and when the fans buy into it, that’s what makes it the success.”

Originally published as A Tasmanian Hall of Fame football player doesn’t believe his home state should host the AFL Gather Round