Former Collingwood premiership player Jack Ginnivan will take on his old club in Hawthorn colours for the first time as part of the league’s Gather Round weekend in 2024, once again to be held in South Australia.
The 20-year old was sensationally traded to the Hawks just days after being part of the Pies’ 2023 grand final win over Brisbane.
The reigning premiers’ clash with the Hawks will finish off the marquee weekend, with games once again divided between Adelaide Oval (five matches), Norwood Oval (two) and Mount Barker (two).
The round begins with hosts Adelaide and Port Adelaide in Thursday and Friday night prime time slots, with the Crows to take on Melbourne and potentially face former teammate Shane McAdam, while the Power will do battle with Essendon for the first time since exchanging Xavier Duursma and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in a last-minute AFL Trade Period deal.
The round will held from April 4-7, corresponding with Round 4 of the AFL fixture, which is set to be released in full in coming days.
The inaugural Gather Round weekend in 2023 was a raging success, with the league signing a deal with the South Australian government to keep it in the state until at least 2026.
“South Australia really turned it on, and we are excited to bring fans a bigger and better experience in 2024,” new league CEO Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
“Last year’s Gather Round had the wonderful feel of a Grand Final week, from the footy festival and the zip line over the Torrens River, to the community engagement activities and all the open training sessions the clubs held around the town, it was just an incredibly fun atmosphere which we are looking to top next season.”
After hosting just one game last season, Mount Barker’s Adelaide Hills stadium will play host to two in 2024, with Sydney to play West Coast on Saturday afternoon and Gold Coast facing GWS on Sunday.
Unlike last season, there will be just one double-header fixture at the Adelaide Oval, with Carlton playing Fremantle on Saturday afternoon leading into Geelong’s clash with the Western Bulldogs that evening.
FULL GATHER ROUND FIXTURE (all times AEST)
Thursday, April 4
Adelaide vs Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
Friday, April 5
Brisbane vs North Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 5:10pm
Port Adelaide vs Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 8:10pm
Saturday, April 6
Sydney vs West Coast, Mount Barker, 1:30pm
Carlton vs Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 4:20pm
Geelong vs Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 8:10pm
Sunday, April 7
Gold Coast vs GWS, Mount Barker, 12:30pm
Richmond vs St Kilda, Norwood Oval, 3:20pm
Collingwood vs Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 5:10pm
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
And get the wine train going again :-)
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Yes, I had Tanunda in mind. I understand the oval is being developed as a regional footy centre & would be perfect. The whole idea is to get visitors to stay in the area for the weekend. That’s why SA government wanted gather Round, of course.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You grew up with Brock, Moffat, Johnson, Grice, etc in Bathurst? How did that happen? ------ Tailem Rallycross was just a local hokey event but it was great. You could get stoned in the car park, walk amongst the cars in the pit and talk to the drivers. And you got to watch olde school 4 cylinder cars beat 6 & V8s which appealed to my underdog status
mrl
Roar Rookie
Been in SA for 25 years...not familiar with those guys. Sure it was awesome. I actually grew up in Bathurst, It was always Brock v Moffat when I was a kid.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I had my response got to "Arbeit Macht Frei", Sub-Section Spandau, Cerebral Rectifications Pogroms, Nichterschwitz
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Are you old enough to remember the Rallycross at Tailem? I think its a big motor sport turnout now. But bitd there was this crazy comp you could run a car on a small dirt track, limestone ofc, with a short bitumen straight. Nothing could beat the VW of Keith Poole. Other good performers were the Renault 750s, Gordinis, German Ford Escorts. Holdens and Falcons were useless. One guy even had a 302 in a coke-bottle Cortina; all show n no go
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ah, the scene of some of my greatest crimes. The first one was being conceived, in the first place, the second was the audacity of being born. They offered me 6 months probation, I took it, but l broke it at 4 months. Someone said, "Smile, look up, things could be worse" and they got worse.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ah, you make a little joke. :laughing: :laughing:
mrl
Roar Rookie
My mate does the Hillclimb in his Celica turbo...it is a great day out!!
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Princess Park!!!!
Mr Murray
Roar Rookie
Tanunda is the best from a security pov, and the entire council lives there so itd likely be there. Ango is probably the most picturesque and Nuri would have the best facilities
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well I'm biased to the Hills because l lived there and the Bridge cos l was born there. Tanunda would be the best in the Valley tho with all that quiffing the wine bizo. I actually lived at Littletampon for about 7 years. My favourite thing in the Barissa was the Hillclimb
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Mount Barker is obviously closer to the city,think about 40ks,Barossa about 80ks so distance might be part of the reason but people could do the winery tours while up there,head up on game day watch the footy stay in the valley overnight and do the winery thing on the way back to the city the next day ,good day out
mrl
Roar Rookie
Nah. My Nephew is a GWS member and I will make the trek for him. Have a mate at Murray Bridge I can stay with!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Do you live out that way?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Tanunda from memory was the best.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
There should've been a game at Murray Bridge. They'd have half the Mallee there. (The SA Mallee)
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You’re playing at the home ground of one of the most successful clubs in all of Senior Australian sport.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
As a North supporter, on the bright side the game has been moved into town and on a Friday evening.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
What ground ya think Gyfox,I played in the Barossa league Tanunda was a great oval and had a great atmosphere about it both playing and spectating,probably Nuriootpa and Angaston the other likely grounds,Barossa Districts home ground was good to out williamstown way