There are calls for Strathalbyn and Murray Bridge to be considered for future Gather Rounds, following a successful AFL match in Mount Barker.
Local Liberal Member Adrian Pederick has written to Premier Peter Malinauksas and AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan to ask them to consider the two towns as venues for South Australia’s Gather Round series over the next three years.
“Both locations are convenient as they are only an hour’s drive from the city. They are also close to some of the state’s most iconic tourist attractions such as the Monarto Safari Park, The Bend Motorsport Park and the Langhorne Creek Wine region,” Mr Pederick said.
In 2018 a trial match between the Adelaide Crows and Fremantle was held at the Strathalbyn Oval as part of the JLT Community pre-season competition and it attracted a crowd of more that 6,000 keen spectators.
He has acknowledged that there will need to be a lot of work and collaboration to bring these venues to AFL standard but that it would be worth it.
“Strathalbyn is proof that fans will travel to the regions to support their teams and I really hope the Government and the AFL can see the value in holding another game there or in Murray Bridge,” Mr Pederick said.
Premier Malinauskas and the AFL are in communication on next year’s Gather Round, with “at least one” of the nine matches in the week to be played outside of Adelaide.
