AFL Gather Round
AFL Gather Round 2025 kicks off again, celebrating all things Footy in South Australia over one action-packed weekend—18 teams, 9 games, and one massive Festival of Footy. For the first time, AFL Gather Round will venture to the Barossa.
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.
What's happening over Gather Round in 2025 (April 10 -13)
The famous rivalry between South Australia and Victoria is set to strengthen with best of the SANFL and SANFLW set to clash with the Big V in a State football showcase during this year’s AFL Gather Round…A Festival of Footy.
The SANFL men’s West End State team will host its arch-rival in the second year of the AAMI State Game, this time at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12 at 2:45pm.
The AAMI State Game – to be broadcast live on 7mate – will follow the North Melbourne v Gold Coast AFL match at nearby Barossa Park at Lyndoch, providing a footy feast for the Barossa region.
In an historic first, the SANFLW State team – fresh off its inaugural victory against the WAFLW last year – will host the VFLW team under lights at Alberton Oval on Friday April 11 from 6:30pm. This is a free event.
The Women’s AAMI State Game, to be live streamed on SANFL Now, will be the first time the two Women’s State Leagues have met since their 2017 establishment, ensuring state pride will be on the line for the inaugural contest.
Gather Round in the Barossa is bringing more than just the footy festivities and delectable wineries – we are on the hunt to find the fastest community footballer. With over $30k in total prize pool to be shared by both players and footy clubs, it’s time to pull on the boots, don the guernsey and test it against the best.
Fastest Male and Female Open winners each take home $5K PLUS an additional $5K for their registered footy club with all underage categories each taking home $1K PLUS an additional $1K for their club.
Do you have what it takes?
Visit https://southaustralia.com/products/barossa/event/gather-round-sprint to learn more and register!
Mark your calendars for the 2025 SANFL Gather Round Footy Forum on Saturday, April 12, at the Adelaide Convention Centre!
This ultimate event is tailored for footy volunteers, club officials, and coaches.
Join us for a day packed with inspiration and insights from the best in the game.
Keynote speakers include Geelong Premiership Coach Chris Scott and Adelaide Legend Rory Sloane. Plus, stay tuned for announcements of many more exciting speakers.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of footy at the 2025 SANFL Gather Round Footy Forum—where passion meets expertise.
Primary school footy players from across the State will have the opportunity of a lifetime over AFL Gather Round as part of the SANFL’s first Gather Round Schools Competition.
More than 50 schools will take part in the new four-week competition, kicking off on March 17, with around 300 lucky boys and girls to take centre stage on the turf of either Adelaide Oval or Norwood Oval as curtain raisers to the AFL games over Gather Round on April 12 and 13.
SANFL in partnership with Parks & Leisure Australia and The Barossa Council present the Gather Round Behind the Scenes | SANFL Facilities Forum on Thursday 10 April 2025 in the Barossa.
Join us to celebrate the 2024 winner of SA Football Facility of the Year – Tanunda Recreation Park, find out more about The Barossa Council’s “Big Project”, hear from SANFL about Facilities & Funding opportunities, and get an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Barossa Park – Lyndoch during Gather Round!
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the 2025 SANFL Gather Round!
Fans and participants will have the incredible opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite AFL players.
Join us for clinics and Captain’s Runs, where you can have a kick and share the field with the stars of the game. This is your chance to create lasting memories and connect with the legends you admire.
Visit https://www.afl.com.au/gather-round/event-day-guide to see what’s on when!
2025 Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow Schedule
Wednesday March 12
Swan Reach Area School
Blanchetown Primary School
Thursday March 13
Renmark Primary School
Renmark High School
Berri Primary School
Community Event: Loxton Football Club, 4pm – 8pm (NAB AFL Auskick; Umpiring Clinic & Education; Kick n Catch; inflatable skills activities; giveaways; Premiership Cups)
Friday March 14
Aldgate Primary School
Mt Barker Waldorf School
Community Event: The Summit Sport & Recreation Park at Mt Barker, 4pm – 7:30pm (Junior Clinic; Foundation Umpiring Course; Premiership Cups)
Saturday March 15
Community Event: Paracombe Oval (Houghton FC), 10:30am – 12pm (Kick n Catch and Auskick Clinic, Premiership Cups)
Community Event: Keith Stephenson Park, Mt Barker, 4;15pm – 6:15pm
Sunday March 16
Cornerstone College, Mt Barker: 8am – 1pm (HFL Season Launch; Umpire Education)
Monday March 17
Kadina Memorial School
Central Yorke School
Yorketown Area School
Tuesday March 18
Nicolson Primary School
Samaritan College Primary Campus 1
Community Event: Weeroona Bay FC 5pm-6:30pm (Kick n Catch; Inflatable footy skills; giveaways and competitions; Premiership Cups)
Wednesday March 19
Samaritan College Primary Campus 2
Wednesday March 19
Tumby Bay Area School
Thursday March 20
Lincoln Gardens Primary School
Port Lincoln Special School
Navigator College
Kirton Point Primary School
Poonindie Primary School
Friday March 21
Port Lincoln High School
Port Lincoln Primary School
Port Lincoln Junior Primary School
St Joseph’s School
Community Event: Poole Oval, 4:30pm-5:30pm (PLFL All Girls Superkick clinic; Premiership Cups)
Monday March 24
Snowtown Primary School
Brinkworth Primary School
Koolunga Primary School
Blyth Primary School
SANFL Iftar Dinner (Adelaide Oval)
Tuesday March 25
Hostplus SANFL Season Launch (Adelaide Oval)
Clare High School
Horizon Christian School
Community Event: Riverton Oval, from 4:15pm (Junior Clinic; Tackle Your Feelings coaching mental health awareness; Umpire Education; Premiership Cups)
Locations TBC
Friday March 28
Pukatja (Trial game – Wintjalangu v Pukatja and junior clinic)
Saturday March 29
Pukatja (Trial Game – Yulara Flies v Mutitjula Cats)
Monday March 31
Myponga Primary School
Rapid Bay Primary School
Yankalilla Primary School
Victor Harbor Primary School
Tuesday April 1
Port Elliot Primary School
Goolwa Primary School
Mt Compass Area School
Willunga Primary School
Wednesday April 2
Locations TBC
Thursday April 3
Community Event: Frew Park, Mt Gambier (Junior clinic; Umpiring Come and Try; Premiership Cups) details TBC
Friday April 4
Community Event: Bordertown (Junior Clinic) details TBC
Gather Round in 2024
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.
Gather Round in 2023
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.