South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas opposes expansion of AFL opening round into Gather Round replica
South Australia will block a push for a full round of matches in Queensland and New South Wales to open the AFL season as part of a long-term extension of the Gather Round in Adelaide.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the proposal to expand the inaugural round into the northern states posed a material risk to his state’s investment in the Gather Round and that he would insist on the exclusivity of the concept in negotiations with the AFL.
Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham has suggested including all clubs in the opening round in the future, turning it into a semi-version of the Gather Round with matches to be played in NSW and Queensland earlier in the season.
While Pridham argued that this would be an obvious step for the league, Malinauskas rejected the idea.
“So how many people will come to the Greater Western Sydney stadium? [if] Is Freo playing Saint Kilda? “There will be 12 people in the crowd,” he said.
“Gather Round has a secret sauce because it’s unique and different. If you try to replicate it in a half-pregnant way, you’re going to start to diminish the real thing that has the magic in it. And I think the AFL needs to think about that very carefully.”
“I have accepted and supported the opening round as a concept because of the strategic value it represents, but to do it in a sort of Round-Up Round manner, I think denying that to happen in our ongoing contract negotiations would represent a material risk that we would be very aware of.”
Malinauskas and the AFL had hoped a new contract to continue the Roundup would be finalized this weekend and announced on Sunday night.
“If something happens in the next 36 hours where there are a few concessions or something like that, then sure, maybe we’ll have a big announcement on Sunday night. But I wouldn’t do anything to inflate expectations on that. There’s a lot to work out. I’d rather get it right than rush it.”
“Everyone will be very happy, but we won’t do it unless it’s right.”
Malinauskas will also try to include hosting a State of Origin game next year in AFL negotiations.
“I said that to Andrew (Dillon), so I don’t mind saying it here, that I think we have more bargaining power and more clout at the table now from the state government’s perspective than we did when we negotiated the extension four years ago or three years ago.
“It would be crazy if I didn’t try to change this to our advantage and see if there was an opportunity around the State of Origin.
“Next year is the 150th anniversary of the SANFL. I think this is the best time if we can pull it off.”
The AFL is considering possibilities for future pickup rounds if Tasmania enters the competition as the 19th team in 2028 and establishes at least one bye per week in the fixture. One option would be to play two games in five days, allowing Adelaide or Port Adelaide to be the Gather Round bookends.
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Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specializing in AFL and athletics.Connect with: X or email.
