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The AFL has confirmed the fixture for 2023’s inaugural ‘Gather Round’, which features all games played in South Australia for the first time.
Round 5 of next season has been designated for the event, which copies the successful NRL ‘Magic Round’ concept that sees all games played in Queensland. It will begin with Adelaide hosting Carlton on Thursday night.
With the Adelaide Oval the only current AFL venue in South Australia, two double-headers have been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday – in the first, Essendon will face Melbourne on Saturday afternoon leading into Port Adelaide hosting the Western Bulldogs that evening, while Geelong play West Coast on Sunday afternoon before Collingwood battle St Kilda in the final match of the round.
In order to accommodate nine games, three have been scheduled for suburban grounds; Fremantle face Gold Coast on Friday in a rare weekday twilight game at Norwood Oval, where GWS and Hawthorn will also play on Sunday afternoon.
Mount Barker’s Summit Sports and Recreation Park, nearly 40 kilometres south-east of the Adelaide CBD, will play host to Brisbane and North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. The venue has seating for only 270 spectators but a surrounding grass hill lifts its expected capacity to roughly 5000.
Adelaide Oval. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
In a statement, AFL head of broadcast and fixturing Travis Auld described ‘Gather Round’ as a chance for South Australians to show their passion for the game.
“South Australians love their footy, and with no SANFL or metropolitan community matches that weekend, we are hoping they also come and experience what will be a great four days of celebration, fun and a true festival of footy,” Auld said.
Crows captain Rory Sloane also urged the state to ‘put on a show’ and for people to attend as many matches as they can, while also visiting the regions outside the city proper.
“I love this place, I love this city, and what South Australia has to offer. I hope everyone coming over has a chance to see how beautiful this state is,” he said.
“I think that will be the best thing about it – for Adelaide to put itself on show because it has a lot to offer.
“Not just with sport … I hope people get out in the city and the surrounding areas like the Barossa, the Hills, the Fleurieu Peninsula. Just spend a bit of time and explore South Australia because it is a beautiful state.”
FULL ‘GATHER ROUND’ FIXTURE (all times AEST)
Thursday, April 13
Adelaide vs Carlton, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
Friday, April 14
Fremantle vs Gold Coast Suns, Norwood Oval, 5:10pm
Richmond vs Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval, 8:10pm
Saturday, April 15
Brisbane Lions vs North Melbourne, Summit Sports and Recreation Park, 1:10pm
Essendon vs Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 4:10pm
Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 7:50pm
Sunday, April 16
Geelong vs West Coast, Adelaide Oval, 1:10pm
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn, Norwood Oval, 3:20pm
Collingwood vs St Kilda, Adelaide Oval, 4:50pm
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