Mount Barker mayor David Leach says region still a contender to host future AFL Gather Round matches
The mayor of one of the regions snubbed from South Australia’s Gather Round extravaganza for 2025 says he’s determined to make sure it remains in the minds of AFL bosses.
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Mount Barker mayor David Leach is hopeful his region can again lure Gather Round games after playing host to a pre-season Showdown he described as a resounding success.
The Summit Sport and Recreation Park has hosted three games during the SA footy festival in the past two years, but the AFL has shifted the two regional clashes to the Barossa Valley for 2025.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has pushed for games in the Barossa since the state snared Gather Round, but after Friday night’s match Leach said more footy should be played at Mount Barker.
“Absolutely, I can see a time where we have SANFL matches here,” he said.
“I am not discounting as Gather Round matures here in South Australia a bit like LIV Golf, they are going to shift (locations) and I would be very happy if the Premier and the AFL came knocking on my door and asked if we could do another couple here.
“I’m very happy that my friends in the Barossa are getting Gather Round (games) but this shows that we can do it on our own, we have practically done this single handed.”
Leach said the minimum his region deserved was a pre-season game and believed it would be a contender for future Gather Round games.
“I’ll be making a few phone calls next week. It won’t be a question of requesting, it will be where do I sign,” he said.
“I have had lots of conversations about Gather Round, the Barossa I went out there last week and it is 80 per cent built so I don’t think we will take that off them but what we have done is worked out that with the Barossa if people are keen on going to that within one hour of Adelaide we are here.
“I really hope that in the next year or two we will see a game in the Barossa and a match or two here.”
Originally published as Mount Barker mayor David Leach says region still a contender to host future AFL Gather Round matches
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