Fixture 2026 Fixture

[El Zorro]

To be fair, thank christ theyve finally got rid of that garbage season opener. Was ridiculous those teams got that privilege and has been nothing but a shambles.

Yes, thank christ they replaced it with an even more ridiculous opening round...

 

[240volt]

Don’t mind playing the Saints, they’re a team that are on our level last year but we should beat them as we have a good record against them.
The time slot is a real smack in the face for the state and supporters as most people need to be up Monday morning for work.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Crows getting an easy pickings gather round game in 2026. Carlton supporters have probably given up on travelling to gather round given they’ve only ever beaten west coast.

Probably a poor fixture for gather round for SA - Carlton fans probably can’t be ****ed given they’re playing the crows and the 14 saint kilda fans that come over for our game aren’t going to fill the economy up much.

Collingwood v Crows Thursday would have been good - but afl probs a bit worried the crows fans would act like flogs again in prime time. Booooooo!

 

[Coobk001]

Yes, thank christ they replaced it with an even more ridiculous opening round...

I'll take anything over the farce that was Rich v Carlton Rn1 games. So glad that is becoming only a memory.

Apart from the fact all teams dont play, the OR looks much better this year

 

[Anyonebutken]

Don’t mind playing the Saints, they’re a team that are on our level last year but we should beat them as we have a good record against them.
The time slot is a real smack in the face for the state and supporters as most people need to be up Monday morning for work.

School holidays start the Monday after the saints game so thats a positive.

 

[240volt]

School holidays start the Monday after the saints game so thats a positive.

It is for the kids not so for the parents

 

[afl2004]

 

[Portwrld]

View attachment 2475284

Compared to previous Gather Rounds, it feels very lackluster and the fixturing is the worst of the lot, imo. Honestly, Carlton is one of the last teams I would select to kick off Gather Round; I would have thought that the AFL would have gone for Crows vs. Collingwood given the games from the last couple of years and the QF game.

Brisbane not playing at the Adelaide Oval, given they are the defending champs, makes no sense.

Geelong vs. WCE is boring as hell, and it's like the third year in a row that Essendon vs Melbourne gets played at the AO.

 

[bomberclifford]

I hate Gather Round, I just want to watch my team like normal.

I get it’s good for tourism etc. so don’t mind that aspect, but ****s sake. Give me my seat as normal please.

Just don't go.

I see Gather Round as an anomaly so it doesn't require my attendance.
Plenty of other punters ready to take my place.

 

[chiwigi]

Just don't go.

I see Gather Round as an anomaly so it doesn't require my attendance.
Plenty of other punters ready to take my place.

I don’t go, and that’s why it pisses me off.

 

[240volt]

With the state in debt anything that brings in extra revenue is good for the state.
I’m sure the WA government would jump at the opportunity to take it on.
Good old SA people never change, moan when they get something and moan even more when they lose it.

 

[chiwigi]

With the state in debt anything that brings in extra revenue is good for the state.
I’m sure the WA government would jump at the opportunity to take it on.
Good old SA people never change, moan when they get something and moan even more when they lose it.

Shut up you dozy tart.

 

[Willsy10]

I'll take anything over the farce that was Rich v Carlton Rn1 games. So glad that is becoming only a memory.

Apart from the fact all teams dont play, the OR looks much better this year

They still had Richmond v Carlton Thursday night of Round 1 this year.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Extra high profile home game plus gate receipts. Will they care?

Dillon has called the Wildcard round extra Finals. The home team doesn't get gate receipts in Finals, the AFL does.

 

[Festerz]

With the state in debt anything that brings in extra revenue is good for the state.
I’m sure the WA government would jump at the opportunity to take it on.
Good old SA people never change, moan when they get something and moan even more when they lose it.

A minor point - the state debt is debt owned by the state taxpayers via the SA Govt.

Spending millions getting big events like this, LIV Golf and the Supercars brings a big economic return to the state which is good but very little of that goes back to the government so things like Gather Round increases state debt.

Not against taxpayer's money being spent on attracting these things and the Gather Round has been very successful. But I just think that with the State Auditor General saying our state debt levels are starting to raise alarm bells, I think our State Govt needs to be more judicious on what events it supports.

 

[JohnHinckleyJr]

We got the Davoren park time slot vs the Smithfield of the AFL

 

[Duckimus Prime]

The graveyard Gather Round closer slot against a rubbish drawing opponent is a shocker from the AFL, first off the SA clubs shouldn't be anywhere near the Sunday slots & Gather Round fatigue for all fans is well and truly underway by the last game.

It worked with Hawthorn because they've got a pretty reasonable supporter base here in SA, and there was the follow on from the Semi Final.

St Kilda is just a nothing game. Might've actually had something to it, if the AFL Media had supported a NWM going home narrative as much as they support it for players looking to move to Victoria. And he'd actually made the move to Port.

 

[240volt]

We got the Davoren park time slot vs the Smithfield of the AFL

That is dead set funny

 

[240volt]

A minor point - the state debt is debt owned by the state taxpayers via the SA Govt.

Spending millions getting big events like this, LIV Golf and the Supercars brings a big economic return to the state which is good but very little of that goes back to the government so things like Gather Round increases state debt.

Not against taxpayer's money being spent on attracting these things and the Gather Round has been very successful. But I just think that with the State Auditor General saying our state debt levels are starting to raise alarm bells, I think our State Govt needs to be more judicious on what events it supports.

Understand what you’re saying but you could use that case for every state apart from WA.
State governments definitely need to be more careful in how they fund events.

 

[Coobk001]

They still had Richmond v Carlton Thursday night of Round 1 this year.

Yeah but at least it didn't open the season.

Season opener should be a GF rematch or something worthy, not a set in stone couple of vanilla Vic clubs. Imagine having had a yearly Port V North Adelaide SANFL yearly opener back in the day, that's what it feels like. Just rubbish they try and make a tradition out of that. I'm glad it is fading away from being the first game of the year.

 

[240volt]

Shut up you dozy tart.

I’m having a bad hair day thank you.

 

[FishingRick04]

I dont mind it, punishes 7th and 8th and rewards 5th and 6th a bit more, think thats fair.

 

[longdonkey]

Don’t mind playing the Saints, they’re a team that are on our level last year but we should beat them as we have a good record against them.
The time slot is a real smack in the face for the state and supporters as most people need to be up Monday morning for work.

AFL going for the lets hope lightening strikes twice in the same place giving us Stains at home after they beat us here last year.

 

[Portwrld]

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide (Crows home showdown) 1st of May on Friday night.

It won’t be the standalone game on the Friday night.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide (Crows home showdown) 1st of May on Friday night.

It won’t be the standalone game on the Friday night.

Of course - how would anyone be able to watch footy if there isn’t a Victorian team playing.