Gather Round Feedback

[Pres]

I went two years ago and enjoyed it.

As several have said the price of accommodation is what makes it unrealistic for most. Sure you can stay miles out in less desirable areas like Noarlunga or similar and train it in. But it sort of defeats the purpose when the atmosphere is at its best in the CBD or Norwood (which the AFL media elites staying on North Terrace are happy to tell you about).

As an NM supporter I would now rather go to WA for a week for our two games there.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Terrible weather, terrible games, but the novelty of watching SANFL esque games wore off last year. Just get rid of it.

 

[Nelso]

I can't stress this enough.

Gather Round will be always be in the middle week of the Victorian School Holidays unless it clashes with Easter.

It is one of the requirements that the SA Government has mandated to the AFL.

So there is nothing stopping you from booking accommodation for next year now (providing Gather Round will be here which is pretty much a formality).

 

[LordLucifer]

Gather Round just adds more inequities to the unfair fixture the AFL love to serve up.

If you want to have Gather Round, then do it is in the pre-season period as a lightning premiership and inbclude the AFLW teams as well.

Otherwise, it's a blight on the annual fixture regardless of how much the TV personalites want to parrot the AFL mantra and talk it up.

 

[Cromulent]

As a local/someone who has family to stay with nearby I absolutely love how much everyone gets around it although I can see how frustrating accommodation and travel prices would be.

The worst part is the meh fixture, especially the repeated matchups.

I think the best part is the stuff going on outside of the footy- the tennis stadium next door was set up for live watch parties and concerts, the footy festival in elder park is great for families, the bars and clubs are packed and everyone is generally having a great time. I haven't been to Norwood for a GR game but the set up on the Parade looks awesome too.

If it was held it Sydney it would be cool to have 4x marquee games at SCG, 3x games at Engie and 2 games at Henson Park but the problem is SCG isn't as close to the CBD so vibe wouldn't be the same, Sydney Olympic park has nothing going on and Henson Park isn't on a main street like Norwood oval to have a street party. Not as familiar with Brisbane but I assume similar issues along with less overall aussie rules support it would feel way less alive.

 

[Romeoh1]

Have been twice and absolutely loved it. So much happening. A lot of fun. Adelaide is brilliant at hosting such things. A pleasant and walkable city. We stayed one year in north Adelaide and one year in the Barossa- both worked perfectly for our needs. I’d leave it in S.A.

 

[Dirty Bird]

I don't like it for many reasons.

One being that it's hard for many regular/average football supporters to be a part of due to the exorbitant hotel and flight costs, etc. Quite scandalous how much they put up the prices really.

I see the whole thing as a bit of an unnecessary junket (which no one asked for), and which is only going to become more and more for the upper class over time.

Tourism SA squeeze every drop they possibly can out of this to promote their state in general, when I am of the strong belief that the round should be primarily about promoting/celebrating the game of Australian Rules Football!
Not constantly telling us about all the wonderful wineries, beaches & hidden delights of SA, etc.

I have many other issues with it too, but if we must have a Gather Round. I believe the northern states is where it should be held. That's where the game needs some very serious promotion.

Mate - It's easy to figure out.
I have zero intel from league/hotel/state sources, and will tell you right now in 2027 it'll be 15-18 Apr.
You can book 4 nights 5 star for $1,600 ($400pn) right now, and flights in 1-3 weeks for $400 return.
Then once demand skyrockets beyond supply, the costs will jump.

But if you just use what's inside your skull, you can book now and do it cheap.

 

[Nelso]

Mate - It's easy to figure out.
I have zero intel from league/hotel/state sources, and will tell you right now in 2027 it'll be 15-18 Apr.
You can book 4 nights 5 star for $1,600 ($400pn) right now, and flights in 1-3 weeks for $400 return.
Then once demand skyrockets beyond supply, the costs will jump.

But if you just use what's inside your skull, you can book now and do it cheap.

It won't be that date.

Kids in Victoria go back to school on the 12th of April.

It will be the weekend before 3rd-4th of April.

As I posted earlier it is part of the terms and conditions that it is held during the middle weekend of the Victorian school holidays unless it clashes with the Easter weekend.

 

[Dirty Bird]

It won't be that date.

Kids in Victoria go back to school on the 12th of April.

It will be the weekend before 3rd-4th of April.

As I posted earlier it is part of the terms and conditions that it is held during the middle weekend of the Victorian school holidays unless it clashes with the Easter weekend.

What the hell, that's not what google told me

Google said their holidays are 6th-24th

Now that I look somewhere else (Screw AI)

NSW - 10APR-26APR
VIC - 26MAR-11APR
QLD - 26MAR-11APR
WA - 10APR-26APR
SA - 10APR-26APR

I would actually go APR 8-11 looking at that.
Lets see whether you're right or I'm right.

 

[Millsie69]

I also went to GWS vs Richmond.

The vibe inside Ministry of Beer pre-game was incredible. Supporters in all combinations of colours buying tasting paddles, supporting a small local business. Plus a musician playing footy friendly songs inside (Holy Grail etc).

We went a little too hard on the Imperial stouts and hazy IPA's, but it made the subsequent walk up the road to the ground and game itself far more enjoyable.

Amazing, country footy vibe. Loved every second of it.

We would have been there at the same time mate

 

[Millsie69]

https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria

Middle of VIC school holidays would have 2027 Gather Round landing from the 1st to 4th of April.

Which is the weekend after Easter.

 

[Skull Face]

Needs to be put in the bin alongside Round 0, didn't watch a single game all weekend

 

[offtherails9]

The Premier of SA is happy to mock the suggestion of Sydney hosting gather round with his 'crowd of 15' comment, but doesn't realise the irony of this when there are four of the nine games in Adelaide held at 10k capacity grounds designed to stave off very bad looking crowds at Adelaide Oval.

Shit call. If Norwood or the Barossa could've fit another 5 or 10k in there they both would still sell out. Hottest ticket in town.

 

[Cmarsh]

Shit call. If Norwood or the Barossa could've fit another 5 or 10k in there they both would still sell out. Hottest ticket in town.

The Richmond vs GWS game at Barossa last weekend was not full.

 

[offtherails9]

The Richmond vs GWS game at Barossa last weekend was not full.

Was sold out and very difficult to get a ticket. Quick Google says that both games in Barossa were actually over capacity lol.

 

[Cmarsh]

Was sold out and very difficult to get a ticket. Quick Google says that both games in Barossa were actually over capacity lol.

The arbitury AFL standard "sold out " but there were clearly alot of spare seats there.

 

[ibd77]

The arbitury AFL standard "sold out " but there were clearly alot of spare seats there.

That can be false indicator as there was a lot of standing room spaces and a lot of footy fan do prefer to stand than sit at the footy.

Just like at the AO Hill. Usually jam packed but the stands are half empty.