AFL 2023: All the latest news heading into the new season

Footy fans were allocated extra tickets for Gather Round — but they were all snapped up fast.

Mount Barker Mayor David Leach at Mount Barker oval which is going to host an AFL game during Gather Round in South Australia. Picture: Nathan Baldwin,

The extra tickets for the Gather Round match that will take place in Mount Barker have sold out in hours.

The Summit Sport and Recreation Park, which was home to grazing sheep and cattle a little more than three years ago, will host Brisbane and North Melbourne as part of the inaugural footy extravaganza where all 18 clubs will descend on South Australia for Round 5.

When the AFL first released tickets for the game, with a capacity of 5000, in December they sold out in 40 minutes.

A reconfiguration of the precinct allowed the AFL to fit an extra 2500 fans in for the match.

The additional tickets went on sale on Wednesday and sold out in three hours.

Three of the nine matches in SA for that round are now at capacity.

Mount Barker Oval will host Brisbane and North Melbourne during Gather Round. Picture: Nathan Baldwin

Earlier: More Gather Round tickets put on sale

An extra 2500 tickets have been made available for the Gather Round game that will take place in Mount Barker.

The Summit Sport and Recreation Park, which was home to grazing sheep and cattle a little more than three years ago, will host Brisbane and North Melbourne as part of the inaugural footy extravaganza where all 18 clubs will descend on South Australia for Round 5.

When the AFL first released tickets for the game, with a capacity of 5000, in December they sold out in 40 minutes.

But after work between the AFL, the SA Government and the Mount Barker District Council the ground was reconfigured and it will have a capacity of 7500 for the clash.

AFL EGM customer and commercial Kylie Rogers said the additional 2500 tickets would go on sale from 11am ACDT on Wednesday.

“Moving a whole round for Premiership points to one state is a major logistical operation, one that can’t be delivered without collaboration across many organisations,” she said.

“Increasing capacity is a great issue to navigate through and the willingness of all involved, especially the Mount Barker District Council and SA government has allowed us to turn this around so quickly and efficiently.

“The Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Hills is sure to be a special event, and now an extra 2500 fans can share in the experience.”

News Corp revealed last month that there was a hope that the capacity for the game could be increased through a reconfiguration of the precinct.

The ground has never hosted a crowd in excess of 1000.

Mount Barker Council’s responsibilities include installing a new boundary fence, site gate and scoreboard, and upgrading the goalposts to AFL standard. The AFL will provide temporary grandstands, food and beverage areas, and broadcasting arrangements.

Umpire change rooms and a warm-up space for players are also needed.

Mount Barker mayor David Leach at the oval, which only three years ago was home to grazing sheep and cattle.

Mount Barker is the fastest-growing region in SA and one of the quickest nationally.

Premier Peter Malinauskas wanted the Barossa Valley to stage the regional match but it didn’t have a suitable venue.

Mount Barker’s surface quality, size and space ensured it was chosen when the AFL locked in venues for the first ever Gather Round.

Norwood Oval is also being used for games in addition to Adelaide Oval as the centrepiece of the weekend with six matches being held at the iconic venue.

Tickets for the Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday double header at Adelaide Oval and Norwood Oval are still available for club and AFL members and the general public through Ticketek.

The Saturday double header at Adelaide Oval has sold out.

Originally published as AFL 2023: All the latest news heading into the new season