By Peter Ryan
Hawthorn’s much-anticipated clash against Port Adelaide will provide a huge climax to next year’s Gather Round.
Their tight semi-final this year, won by Port Adelaide, ended in controversial circumstances when Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley taunted Jack Ginnivan after the game over a message the Hawks forward had posted on social media in the lead-up.
The clash between Ken Hinkley and Jack Ginnivan during last year’s finals will provide the perfect platform to build up the two clubs’ Gather Round clash. Credit: Getty Images
Port Adelaide were fined $20,000 for conduct unbecoming after Hinkley made fun of Ginnivan, who had posted the message “see u in 14 days” on Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy’s Instagram post before the Hawks had played Port Adelaide in the semi-final.
As the teams lined up to honour Hawks star Luke Breust for his 200th game, Hinkley allegedly yelled “you aren’t flying anywhere, Jack”, which prompted Hawks skipper James Sicily to engage in a verbal exchange with the opposition coach.
Despite the club’s penalty, there was never any doubt the AFL would strive to maximise the controversy in the 2025 schedule, with the final match of Gather Round considered the perfect platform to build up the rivalry.
Gather Round will be held in South Australia from April 10-13.
The AFL confirmed on Monday it had picked that timeslot for the match.
The Hawks played in the same timeslot in 2024 when they finished Gather Round with a match against Collingwood. They lost twice to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval by less than goal in 2024.
Geelong will open Gather Round against the other hometown team, Adelaide, on the Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.
In the first two seasons of Gather Round, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Essendon have played the home teams.
Geelong are likely to open Gather Round against the Crows.Credit: Getty Images
The coveted Friday-night timeslot will feature a match at the Adelaide Oval between competition heavyweights Collingwood and Sydney.
The following day’s first match will be in the Barossa Valley between Gold Coast and the Kangaroos – who are awaiting finalisation of their two home games in Perth during 2025 – while Norwood Oval will host the clash between the Western Bulldogs and reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions.
There will also be a double-header at the Adelaide Oval on the Saturday, with Carlton taking on West Coast , followed by a match between Essendon and Melbourne, reprising their appearance in the first doubleheader of Gather Round 2023.
The other matches slated for Sunday, April 13, are Richmond versus Fremantle at Barossa Park, St Kilda up against GWS at Norwood Oval.
The season is expected to kick off with the Lions playing Geelong at the Gabba on Thursday night while Essendon and Hawthorn may replace Richmond and Carlton as the two Victorian teams playing in the opening round. Melbourne are still a chance to play in round zero, as they did last season against Sydney at the SCG.
Despite some early reluctance, Collingwood remain a chance to be involved in Opening Round again; an opportunity they have been more open to accepting since they missed the 2024 finals.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.