South Australia is closing in on a return to State of Origin after securing the AFL’s Gather Round for another three years. Following weeks of negotiations, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed on Thursday that one of the premier events of the AFL season would remain in the state until 2029.
While the announcement did not include details on State of Origin, South Australia is keen to be involved after the success of this year’s Western Australia versus Victoria revival match in Perth. An announcement on that front is expected soon.
Gather Round Extends Stay in Adelaide
Next year’s Gather Round, which has been held in early April since its inception in 2023, will feature a player parade in the Adelaide CBD for the first time. “We’ve built something really special that continues to grow, year on and year on and year on,” Dillon said during the announcement at Adelaide Oval. “We’re really excited to build on this magnificent event we’ve built with the SA government. It’s everything that Adelaide and SA brings, that’s made it the perfect home for Gather Round. It was a bit of a no-brainer to extend it for the three years that we’ve done.”
Future Challenges and Growth
The main threat to South Australia continuing to host Gather Round beyond 2029 is the entry of the Tasmania Devils into the AFL from 2028. This year’s Gather Round attracted more than 270,000 fans and, unlike the unsuccessful Opening Round experiment, has become a staple of the AFL season.
Apart from Adelaide Oval, the round also features two games at suburban Norwood Oval and two matches at a regional venue. The Barossa Valley has hosted games over the last two years, and there is a push for the McLaren Vale region to become the next venue outside Adelaide. However, dates and grounds for next year have yet to be confirmed.
