Search begins for Australia’s Fastest Community Footballer

March 27, 2025

AFL Gather Round in the Barossa will offer more than footy festivities and world-class wineries – with community football players from across the country invited to compete in the first Gather Round Sprint.

Hosted at the newly redeveloped Barossa Park Live Site at Lyndoch, adjacent to the main oval, the Gather Round Sprint will see registered footballers, sprint in a 70 metre dash for prize money and glory.

A total prize pool of over $30,000 will be shared by both players and footy clubs. The Fastest Male and Female Open winners will receive $5,000 each and an additional $5,000 for their registered footy club, while all underage categories will take home $1,000 each and an additional $1,000 for their club.

”This is an exciting opportunity for male and female community footballers to join in the carnival atmosphere at the new Barossa Park during Gather Round,” SANFL Executive General Manager Football Matt Duldig said.

”We look forward to cheering on some of SA’s fastest footballers, from under-14s to seniors, as they go head-to-head with runners from across the country – and with generous prizemoney on offer, not only for themselves, but for their club.”

Registrations are free and open now until 5pm Monday, April 7, with limited spots available. A maximum of two representatives from each community football club per category can compete and all entrants must have been registered to an affiliated community football club, including SANFL and SANFLW players, in the 2024 season to qualify (excludes AFL and AFLW listed players). Terms & Conditions of entry apply.

Featuring live commentary by Stawell Gift commentator Ollie Wurm and facilitated by the South Australian Athletic League (SAAL) who deliver South Australia’s most prestigious foot race, The Bay Sheffield, the official Gather Round Sprint is an exciting addition to the 2025 AFL Gather Round calendar.

”The South Australian Athletic League is thrilled to be back in the Barossa Valley working with the State Government, AFL and SANFL to bring the excitement of sprinting to Gather Round,” South Australian Athletic League President Kym Steer said.

”We can’t wait to see the footballers in action, and we will be offering all winning footballers, free entry into this year’s Bay Sheffield in their category to see how they match up against the nation’s best pro runners in December.”

The Sprint is part of the Barossa Park Live Site, which offers live DJ, food vendors, AFL Play interactive footy zone and watch the Barossa AFL Gather Round match in-play on the adjacent ground, live on the big screen. Families can enjoy the interactive zone, featuring AFL Play activities and kid-friendly entertainment.

”The Gather Round Sprint is another exciting addition to the packed footy festival line up in the Barossa, which will draw community footy players from across the country to the famous region,” SA Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said.

”The Barossa Park Live Site is a wonderful way families and footy fans who missed out on match tickets can still be part of the action, enjoying the wine region’s world-renowned food and beverage, live entertainment, and of course, the match on the big screen while hearing the roar of the crowds next door.

”This is another way we are ensuring visitors can easily immerse themselves in the Barossa throughout Gather Round, adding to the Bounce Around the Barossa shuttle services, match shuttles from the city, and free public transport for ticket holders.”

Free to enter, the live site will be open from 10am-4pm on 12-13 April and will be easily accessible by utilising match shuttles from the city, Gawler Train Station or utilise the Park n Rides across the Barossa region.

To find out more about the Barossa Park Live Site visit https://southaustralia.com/whats-on/afl-gather-round

10am-12pm, Saturday 12 April
• Heats for the Under 14, Under 16 & Under 18 Male and Female Sprints
• Finals run at half-time of North Melbourne v Gold Coast

10am-12pm, Sunday 13 April
• Heats for the Open Male and Open Female Sprints & Exhibition races from SAAL Pro Runners
• Finals run at half-time of Richmond v Fremantle