SA government pitches to retain the AFL’s Gather Round
Premier Peter Malinauskas says he wants to extend the state’s contract with the AFL to retain Gather Round beyond 2026.
South Australia’s government is lobbying to retain the AFL’s Gather Round beyond next year when the current deal expires.
Premier Peter Malinauskas wants to hold off other states keen to pinch to the round when all 18 clubs play in the one state.
“We would love to be able to extend Gather Round, no doubt about it,” Malinauskas, flanked by AFL chief Andrew Dillon, said on Tuesday.
“But I’m very clear minded about the fact that we can’t just expect Gather Round to come our way each and every year.
“There’s competition in the market for it – that’s understandable given its success.
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“So we have to earn the right. We don’t want to take it for granted.”
The next edition of Gather Round from April 10 will feature games at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and, for the first time, at Lyndoch in the Barossa.
“We have demonstrated to the AFL that we’re serious about it,” Malinauskas said.
“What we have built in less than 12 months at Lyndoch is very much a demonstration of that.
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“Gather Round, it isn’t just what it delivers economically for the state during the course of the weekend.
“It isn’t just increasing the state’s profile, but also the capacity to deliver for grassroots footy.”
The two games in the Barossa are sell-outs and the AFL will on Wednesday release limited tickets, in the hundreds, to matches at Adelaide Oval and Norwood Oval.
SA’s deal with the AFL to host Gather Round expires at the end of next year and Dillon expected negotiations with the premier for an extension to soon heighten.
“The fact that from the Premier down, the way South Australians have embraced it – it was a novel concept for AFL, at least when we bought it in, I think that’s helped,” Dillon said.
“The fact that our Victorian fans have embraced it and come across the border, that helps.
“But ultimately the success of anything in the AFL is down to the fans and when the fans buy into it, that’s what makes it the success.
“There’s great buy-in from the South Australian government but also our corporate partners who are all investing.”
