SA's Barossa Valley to host Gather Round game as AFL’s Andrew Dillon discusses move to wine country

South Australia’s famed wine region, the Barossa Valley, will host at least one game during next year’s AFL Gather Round.

The Barossa could host two games in a decision set to squeeze Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills off the Gather Round roster.

The AFL on Tuesday said Gather Round - where all nine games of a round are played in Adelaide and surrounds - will be held on April 10-13 next year.

Mt Barker has hosted fixtures in the opening two editions of Gather Round but appears set to lose matches to Lyndoch in Barossa Valley, about 70km north of Adelaide.

AFL chief Andrew Dillon was reluctant to detail the planned venues when he announced next year’s dates.

“I am not ruling anything in or out,” Dillon told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.

“There will be five or six games at Adelaide Oval like we’ve had previously, games in a metro venue.

“So if we went to two games in the Barossa it would be unlikely to be Mt Barker.”

Norwood Oval in Adelaide’s inner east is set to again host games, despite interest from other SANFL grounds, including Glenelg Oval, to host an AFL match during the round.

This year’s Gather Round games were attended by 265,011 spectators, with 33 per cent coming from outside of South Australia.

The net economic benefit to the state was $91.6 million, compared with $83.5 million for last year’s inaugural Gather Round.

“A $91.6 million economic contribution is a significant return, as are the almost 200,000 visitor nights,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said.

“That represents tens of thousands of interstate visitors filling our hotels and spending money in our cafes and bars.

“We look forward to making the 2025 event bigger and better again.”