Barossa Valley Mayor talks push for Gather Round 2025 match

There’s been one glaring omission from next year’s footy festival fixture and one key question to answer before it can join the party.

AFL CEO, Andrew Dillon and South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas outside Prospect Oval, launching the Gather Round fixture, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Picture: Matt Loxton

The Mayor of the Barossa Valley says it is imperative the AFL and State Government decide on an oval for the region to host Gather Round in 2025 as soon as possible.

And he revealed just how close the region came to hosting a game in next year’s edition, after it was overlooked for 2024 with Mount Barker getting two games.

The AFL and State Government revealed the full fixture list for the 2024 Gather Round, with Adelaide Oval to host five matches and Norwood Oval and Mount Barker to host two matches each.

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas has been long pushing for the Barossa Valley to stage a match in Gather Round, with this set to happen in 2025 with considerable infrastructure required to stage a game in the tourist region.

The AFL will once again head to Norwood for Gather Round 2024. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Discussions are continuing over which of the region’s venues will be chosen to host a game and Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said he hoped a decision would be confirmed shortly.

“That’s the discussions we are having with the premier at the moment and we are just waiting on confirmation and as soon as we get that confirmation we can lock it in,” he said.

“I am expecting it to be soon, because some of the things that he has indicated and are planning to do we need to get on with it as soon as we can.”

Tanunda was in the mix to host a match in 2024, but redevelopment on the oval – lengthening and resurfacing it – that is currently occurring led to the AFL passing over the venue.

Mr Lange said it could have been completed in time for 2024, but he understood the AFL’s decision.

“It is important so we have plenty of leadout time, the Tanunda Oval at the moment I understand some of the concerns around the resurfacing that we are undertaking at the moment,” he said.

“It was always a very tight time because putting in a whole new oval surface and who knows with any setbacks with weather and anything else we may not have made it.

“Whilst in the perfect world we probably would have been close to achieving it but with the risk and having to set a schedule I can understand the AFL passing us over this time.”

Barossa Council mayor Michael "Bim" Lange wants the showcase weekend to come to his region in 2025. Picture Mark Brake

This will mean Tanunda is in the box seat to host when Gather Round does make its way to the Barossa, although Nurioopta’s Centennial Park has been viewed by AFL officials.

Mr Lange said even the planned regional facility at Lyndoch could be in the mix.

“That includes new clubrooms, new changerooms, two ovals so we’ve sort of finalising those concept plans with the various stakeholders and if time permits and finances are available we could have Lyndoch up and available,” he said.

“That could be an alternative but that is a little way out because funding has to be sourced, it is just a matter of getting the right facility in the Barossa that the AFL is happy with.

“We will just let the AFL choose which is the venue that can come up to the standard they are looking for.

“Things that need to be considered from my perspective is that we have to ensure we have the right sized oval so there is a consistency with the draw.

“And it really does come down to the clubrooms, Tanunda have just got new clubrooms and new changerooms, at Nuri we have done the same and we have the same plans for Lyndoch in the future.

“And I guess the other thing that is crucial is crowd capacity and that.”

Originally published as Barossa Valley Mayor talks push for Gather Round 2025 match