Improved Weather Conditions Expected for AFL Gather Round Matches
The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that wet weather conditions are expected to improve as the AFL Gather Round matches progress over the weekend. This comes as the premier continues to work on securing the event’s future in South Australia.
The opening match of the round, between the Adelaide Crows and Carlton, was played under wet conditions at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. More cold and windy weather is predicted for the weekend. However, senior forecaster Urshla Connor from the Bureau of Meteorology told 891 ABC Adelaide that any showers in Adelaide on Friday would be light. There is also a slight chance of a light shower during the match in the Barossa on Saturday afternoon.
Ms. Connor explained that the frequency of showers would decrease as the weekend progresses. “If you do see a shower, only expecting sort of maybe a millimetre or so out of each shower today,” she said.
Some flights into Adelaide Airport were delayed or cancelled on Thursday due to the weather. Additionally, one Qantas flight from Melbourne was cancelled on Friday morning.
Fans Travel Despite Fuel Woes
All nine round five matches of the AFL are being held in Adelaide and the Barossa Valley as part of the Gather Round. The Shea family, who travelled from Victoria to watch North Melbourne, were at training at Barossa Park in Lyndoch ahead of the match on Saturday. They stayed in Robe, in the state’s south-east on their way.
John Shea mentioned that high petrol prices made the trip more expensive, but he found it worth the cost. “Definitely, it’s been great,” he said.
The Kangaroos will face the Brisbane Lions at Barossa Park on Saturday, followed by the GWS Giants against Richmond on Sunday.
Aaliyah Kuhn, who lives in the Barossa and is a Lions fan, described the event as “crazy” but “pretty cool.” She added, “It’s good seeing all the small businesses get a chance and everything.”
Brian Lynn from Majella Wines in the Coonawarra region expressed surprise at the boost in visitation since the Easter long weekend. “Our takings at cellar door are a little better than I thought,” Mr. Lynn said. “We had quite a good Easter given fuel prices and availability and stuff like that. We were quite happy … this week has been good.”
Ongoing AFL Negotiations
Meanwhile, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas revealed that negotiations with the AFL regarding the future of the Gather Round in the state are not going “perfectly.” The event has been held in Adelaide and surrounding regions for the past three years, but the deal expires this year.
The chair of the Sydney Swans suggested on Friday that a second Gather Round should be held in Sydney and Queensland next year. Mr. Malinauskas confirmed that discussions are ongoing.
“I think both Andrew Dillon and I are on the same page in that we would rather get this right rather than rush it, and there’s just a few points of difference we want to nut out,” he said. “We might get it done over the next few days, but something tells me it might take a little bit longer than that.”
Economic Boost for the Barossa Region
The Barossa has hosted Gather Round games in the region for the past two years. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange stated that the two matches would bring an “enormous economic boost” to the area. He said he was waiting with “bated breath” to see how negotiations between the AFL and the premier turned out.
“We look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship many years into the future,” Mr. Lange said.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke highlighted the economic impact of the event, noting that it injected $5 million into the Barossa economy last year. “Please come out, enjoy the Barossa,” she said during a rain-hit press conference. “Whether it’s raining or whether the sun is shining, it really is a beautiful place to be able to enjoy the best food in South Australia — the wines, the eateries, the restaurants, just good people.”
