AFL locks in dates for 2024 edition of Gather Round in South Australia

Footy is headed for the regions for Gather Round 2024 with three SA venues in the running. See the leading candidates to host AFL action.

Adelaide fans celebrate a goal during the AFL Gather Round match between the Adelaide Crows and Carlton Blues at the Adelaide Oval.

Three grounds – two in the Barossa Valley and one in the Adelaide Hills – are being considered to stage regional games in Gather Round next year.

Tanunda and Nuriootpa were understood to be in the frame, along with Mount Barker, which hosted the sole match outside of the metropolitan area at the inaugural event two months ago.

The round’s second instalment will be held in South Australia from Thursday, April 4 to Sunday, April 7 next year during the Victorian school holidays.

Adelaide Oval hosted six games in the first Gather Round, while Norwood staged two and Mount Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park had the other.

The Barossa was overlooked this year because grounds were not ready.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas hoped games would be played at two regional venues, including the Barossa, but said the locations were ultimately an AFL decision.

“We think it (the Barossa Valley) is very much a showcase for the state more broadly, and believe with a bit of time and effort there’s the possibility of getting a ground up to scratch,” Malinauskas said.

“I’ve advocated for this before, I’ll advocate for this again, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.”

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Tanunda, which has produced Port Adelaide great Justin Westhoff, looms as the likeliest Barossa option.

Its ground is being redeveloped with new changerooms and clubrooms, as well as work on the oval’s surface, all expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Ruled out for this year’s event because it was deemed too small, Nuriootpa is considered only an outside chance of hosting in 2024.

Acting AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said playing matches at two regional SA grounds would be amazing, but spectator amenity and meeting league standards were paramount.

“If we can share it around great, but we also know from this year that we’ve got a great oval here (Adelaide Oval), Norwood did the job and Mount Barker was awesome as well, so I think we’re in a really good position,” Dillon said.

Carlton and Adelaide kicked of Gather Round in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association president Mick Brien told this masthead the region was keen to host a Gather Round match.

“It’ll be great for the area and we think the Valley’s got a lot more to offer,” Brien said.

Mount Barker sold out its Saturday afternoon game between Brisbane and North Melbourne, attended by 7329 people.

Mayor David Leach said Mount Barker was a safe pair of hands, having staged the region’s biggest ever event without a hitch.

“Mount Barker District Council took it as a great privilege to host the Gather Round this year and we’ve demonstrated we can do it well,” Leach said.

Tanunda Oval is in the running for an AFL game in Gather Round.

South Australia will also host the event in 2025 and 2026.

The AFL is also looking at the ticketing of Gather Round double-headers to maximise crowds after small attendances in both of the first of the back-to-back games at Adelaide Oval.

Details on every Gather Round game will likely be announced between the end of the men’s season and the release of the full fixture in late November or early December.

Figures released on Monday by IER showed this year’s event contributed $83.5 million to South Australia’s economy and generated more than 151,000 visitor nights.

Originally published as AFL locks in dates for 2024 edition of Gather Round in South Australia