Fixture Gather Round - SA announced as host for next 3 years 2024-2026

[Festerz]

16.04.23

GATHER ROUND SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AFL LOCKS IN SA FOR NEXT THREE SEASONS

The AFL in partnership with the SA Government is pleased to announce ‘Gather Round…. A Festival of Footy’ will be hosted in South Australia for the next three seasons.

The inaugural ‘Gather Round’ has been an overwhelming success, with all nine games sold out, more than 220,000 fans attending matches across the Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills and tens of thousands of fans attending the footy festival on the banks of Torrens.

More than 60,000 fans purchased tickets from interstate.

Across 2024, 2025 and 2026, Gather Round …. A festival of footy will be hosted exclusively in South Australia, with Adelaide Oval to be the central venue, with the intent from both the AFL and the SA Government to take regional matches in 2024 to the Barossa / McClaren Vale region.

As part of the three-year term, both the AFL and SA Government have also committed to establishing a community football legacy fund, that will benefit local footy clubs in the state beyond the weekend of matches.

The AFL will lock in the fixture dates of the round in the coming weeks to give fans as much lead time as possible to book travel and accommodation.

Ticketing information will be release later in the year.

“South Australia really turned it on. Gather Round and all the activity across the state, the nine matches, the footy festival and the community football engagement has been some of the best days and events the AFL has ever delivered,” AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said.

“It has been a success because everyone in football got behind the idea, clubs, players, corporate partners and most importantly our fans, to deliver an extraordinary few days,

“While the concept has real momentum, and we plan on taking it to other states around the country, we also feel in order for it to be as successful in the other states we need to continue to build out the concept in South Australia,

“The reality is we only had a few months to pull this together, and we hope by locking it in now we are giving everyone a longer runway to put together a bigger and even better event, and our fans certainty around booking travel and accommodation.

“The match at Mount Barker was a special afternoon on Saturday and an important part of recommitting to South Australia was to establish the community legacy fund, ensuring local footy clubs’ benefit from bringing the Gather Round to town.”

During the round the AFL has facilitated dozens of community club and school visits, held seminars for community club volunteers and delivered more than 10,000 footballs to regional community clubs.

Details on the Community legacy fund will be communicated at a later date.

“On behalf of the AFL I want to thank to Premier Malinauskas and his team in the SA Government who in partnership, delivered an unbelievable few days for footy and the state of South Australia.”

The AFL will also work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players.

“The players have been strong partners in the Gather Round concept and have embraced wholeheartedly the round. We will now work with the AFLPA on the commitments to the players in the coming years.”

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said “The inaugural Gather Round has been a stunning success, in no small part thanks to the willingness of South Australians, and our interstate visitors, to show up.
“We know that this has delivered huge benefits for our state, and that is why I’m so pleased to see it return for the next three years.”

“With more time to plan, we know we can make Gather Round even bigger and better than what it has already become.”

“I want to thank Gillon McLachlan, the AFL, wider footballing community, public servants, councils and others who’ve all worked so hard to deliver such an amazing event in just a few months.”

“But most of all, I want to thank each and every person who showed up.”

“This agreement is because of you.”

-ends-

 

[GroggSquad]

Who asked for this?…

I’ll only support this if it paves the way for AFLX to return and if the city in question is Shanghai.

Of all the things the pandemic took away, I think we miss AFLX and the China games the most.

Boys that enjoy a boys trip?

 

[Billy ray]

whoomp there it is

 

[Chism]

I like the idea and fantastic for fans and we also get more footy with another round added!

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Magic round should first be held in Mebourne next year as a gesture for Victorians who missed out on 1 and a half years of footy due to lockdowns.

Then it rotates to other states from year 2.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Magic round should first be held in Mebourne next year as a gesture for Victorians who missed out on 1 and a half years of footy due to lockdowns.

Then it rotates to other states from year 2.

Yeah, really not enough opportunity to get to the footy in Victoria.

They could call it ‘+3 Round’ instead - the most amazing and exciting round of the year when an additional 3 games for the week are played in Victoria.

 

[deck]

Was Gil sitting there think "what's a ridicules idea I can implement on my way out and not have to worry about the fallout from".

 

[CakeEater]

Sounds like an ok idea. But we all know they will do it in Melbourne to save $$$$ which defeats the purpose.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Surely you need at least two grounds? So it couldn't be in Perth or Adelaide.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Sounds like an ok idea. But we all know they will do it in Melbourne to save $$$$ which defeats the purpose.

As referred to above, it should be in Melbourne the first year as a show of goodwill for Victorians that missed out on so much football in 2020 and most of 2021.

 

[BigVic]

Optus has put its hat in the ring for a Magic Round

 

[parano1a]

People have short memories. We literally did this already in 2020 when every game of a particular round was at Gabba or Carrara (one might have been in Cairns).

 

[Rob]

Totally unnecessary. A lot of clubs can already fill their stadiums, they don't need some gimmick round to do it.
It works in the NRL because their crowds already suck.

 

[Bjo187]

Good idea I like it.

Would bring in a good 30 mill per year for the game when you take into account tv paying about 2 mill per game, a state bidding to host the weekend and ticket sales going to the AFL. It might help to lessen the impact of the massive annual losses of running the AFLW which will be around the 50 mill mark annually.

 

[Altum Volantes]

People have short memories. We literally did this already in 2020 when every game of a particular round was at Gabba or Carrara (one might have been in Cairns).

Exactly….and wasn’t it MAGIC?

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Idea is fine as long as it isn't the same teams losing a home game every year.
Shits me to no end that the storm lose a normal rivalry home game that'd draw 20k in Melbourne

 

[Billy ray]

Idea is fine as long as it isn't the same teams losing a home game every year.
Shits me to no end that the storm lose a normal rivalry home game that'd draw 20k in Melbourne

No one loses a home game

11 home. 11 away. 1 neutral.
If held in perth, freo and west coast would play away at a regional ground like bunbury or busselton.
Ditto for adelaide teams if held in sa and qld teams if held in qld.

Extra footy. Brilliant

 

[AstonSouffle]

Surely it is possible to schedule 11 home games for WA/SA/NSW/QLD clubs and 11+ games in VIC for VIC clubs without adding an extra round?

They should save what you just said for the final round and get rid of the pre-finals bye.

 

[Aussie_boy]

Not sure if I'd prefer stealing ideas from America or from Rugby League...

Over Easter would be kinda cool- 2,3,3,1

 

[speedpeck23]

Love the idea. Obviously take over Sydney/Canberra while the NRL does their Magic Round in Qld. Effectively creates a situation where some Victorian Clubs will play 3 times a year in Sydney..... start selling 3 game memberships in Sydney.....lots of upside. AFL is far too Melbourne centric for it's own good.
An extra round so all clubs still play 11 home 11 away + Carnival Round..

 

[GroggSquad]

Surely you need at least two grounds? So it couldn't be in Perth or Adelaide.

You could do 3 days of triple headers at the one ground.

Either have it over a long weekend or play a few games Friday arvo during work hours test cricket style.

 

[11kgm]

Do it in Tassie between Launceston and Hobart

see if they can pack out the stadiums

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Honestly what is the point? No need for it.

Would support it if all the profits were given to grassroots clubs around Australia from the round but otherwise, completely unnecessary.

 

[La Dispute]

Make it an actual Magic Round and get a game of Quidditch going.

Is anyone beating this line up?

Seeker - Patrick Cripps

9

Patrick Cripps

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

16.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

5.8

5star

CL

7.4

5star

D

21.0

5star

K

10.1

4star

HB

10.9

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

6.3

5star

D

12.6

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

7.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.4

4star

Chaser - Harry McKay

10

Harry Mckay

Age

26

Ht

200cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

2.4

2star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.4

5star

D

6.6

1star

K

4.6

2star

HB

2.0

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

G

1.4

5star

D

8.8

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.0

2star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

2.0

5star

Chaser - Charlie Curnow

30

Charlie Curnow

Age

27

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

Chaser - Sam Walsh

18

Sam Walsh

Age

23

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.1

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

3.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

26.2

5star

K

15.4

5star

HB

10.8

5star

M

6.0

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

4.8

5star

Beater - Matt Kennedy
Beater - Adam Saad

42

Adam Saad

Age

29

Ht

178cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

7.5

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

MG

349.1

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

12.0

5star

HB

8.7

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.4

3star

MG

388.3

5star

D

17.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.2

3star

Keeper - Jacob Weitering

23

Jacob Weitering

Age

26

Ht

195cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

189.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

0.8

3star

MG

263.4

4star

Cripps is the former AFL-X Coleman medalist (Carlton technically have 3) so we know his capabilities at code hopping.

 

[speedpeck23]

Honestly what is the point? No need for it.

Would support it if all the profits were given to grassroots clubs around Australia from the round but otherwise, completely unnecessary.

Expansion... NSW

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Make it an actual Magic Round and get a game of Quidditch going.

Is anyone beating this line up?

Seeker - Patrick Cripps
Chaser - Harry McKay
Chaser - Charlie Curnow
Chaser - Sam Walsh
Beater - Matt Kennedy
Beater - Adam Saad
Keeper - Jacob Weitering

Cripps is the former AFL-X Coleman medalist (Carlton technically have 3) so we know his capabilities at code hopping.

Think you need a faster seeker.

Saad was my first thought before seeing him as a beater.

Not even the chosen one could outrun (fly) him.