Gather Round

AFL Gather Round was back, even bigger and better in 2024, and SANFL was proud to again work in collaboration with the AFL and State Government to ensure this major event for SA was packed with excitement and opportunities for our entire footy community.

Grassroots community football is the heartbeat of our great national game and Gather Round provides SANFL with an extraordinary opportunity to achieve our vision to make footy the game loved by all South Australians.

In addition to the nine games of AFL football played in SA during Gather Round, SANFL, with the support of the AFL, delivered the following opportunities for our footy community:

• The Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow which has travelled to more than 30 regional towns across 21 days, covering more than 4,000km. Two thousand footballs have been donated to regional clubs along the journey.
• 19 free clinics, targeting over 3,000 junior participants delivered at schools and SANFL Clubs.
• Creating half-time Auskick experiences for 800 boys and girls across AFL matches.
• Inaugural SA Teachers Summit, providing professional development for 50-plus educators, building their capacity to deliver Health and Physical Education lessons and understand how to embed Australian football across the curriculum.
• A Gather Round Footy Forum training and education event, featuring a suite of industry leaders presenting on relevant topics for community football volunteers and coaches.
• All 12,500 registered participants invited to attend the National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors season launch at the Elder Park live site on Sunday.
• Coach development workshops connecting State League and Community coaches with AFL senior and assistant coaches.
• Umpire connect events featuring a wide range of presenters including high profile AFL and AFLW umpires, AFL umpire coaches, SANFL Umpiring Coaches and Staff.
• A return of SANFL versus VFL state footy at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium on Saturday, with a SANFL Under 16s Showcase Match as a curtain raiser
• A female footy showcase at Prospect Oval on Sunday, featuring the first SANFLW All Stars Match and the championship-opening U16 Girls AFL National Championships match between SA and Victoria Metro.
• A showcase of SA’s elite under-age male talent with Round 3 of the SANFL U18s, as AFL Club recruiters’ attention hones in on Adelaide.
• Talking Turf event focussed on best practice turf management planning and maintenance, targeting turf professionals and local governments, presented in partnership by Adelaide Oval’s world-class turf curator Damian Hough.
• Volunteer reward and recognition initiatives including free passes to AFL Gather Round matches for local clubs and volunteers.
• Gather Round ‘Money Can’t Buy’ prizes awarded to 36 registered adult and junior player, umpire and coach participants.

In addition to the nine games of football played in SA during Gather Round 2023, two of which were played at Norwood Football Club, SANFL with the support of the AFL, also delivered:

• 16 free clinics with AFL and SANFL players reaching over 3000 kids
• Gather Round Giveaway competition with 6000 entries from registered football participants in the to win over 20 ‘money can’t buy’ match day experiences and prizes
• 16 AFL Captain’s Runs and player appearances
• The Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow – 21 days, 2,500km, 52 schools, 12 regional clubs, five community venues, 1600 footballs donated to clubs and 5000 fans reached right across the State.
• National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors season launch, attracting more than 2000 juniors/kids to the Festival of Footy live site in Elder Park with
• Eight Torrens University SANFL U16s and U18s matches played in front of national recruiters, showcasing SA elite boys’ talent
• Coach development workshops at SANFL venues connecting 400 community coaches with AFL head coaches.
• 50 Local Governments hosted at the inaugural Festival of Facilities forum and tour of The Summit, Mt Barker
• Community Club Development Day attended by almost 200 club and league volunteers, as well as live streamed across the nation
• Half-time Auskick experiences for approximately 800 boys and girls
• Umpire workshops and match day experiences connecting 500 community and junior umpires with elite AFL umpires
• 500 AFL Gather Round branded kits to schools in metropolitan Adelaide
• Creation of a new Ultimate Football Membership space at the David Hookes Bar in the Western Stand of Adelaide Oval for local and interstate attendees to enjoy.