A highly-anticipated grudge match between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn will bookend 2025 Gather Round with Adelaide opening the fixture against Geelong.
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The AFL’s Gather Round fixture was confirmed on Monday morning, featuring many more exciting matchups in South Australia’s festival of footy.
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It’s headlined by the Crows hosting the Cats at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, while the Port and Hawks close out the round in a Sunday night semi-final rematch that ended with Power coach Ken Hinkley $20,000 poorer.
Port Adelaide’s September victory over Hawthorn ended in tense scenes after Hinkley taunted Jack Ginnivan, who’d sledged the Power during the week with a “see you in 14 days” comment to Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy.
After his team’s win, Hinkley allegedly yelled “you aren’t flying anywhere, Jack” to Ginnivan, sparking a verbal exchange with Hawthorn captain James Sicily and condemnation for the Port coach who later apologised.
In another key prime time slot for Gather Round, Collingwood and Sydney face off on the Friday night from Adelaide Oval, while Carlton and West Coast (Saturday afternoon) and Melbourne and Essendon (Saturday night) also meet at the venue.
The Barossa Valley host two games for the first time for premiership points — North Melbourne and Gold Coast on Saturday followed by Richmond and Fremantle on Sunday.
Norwood Oval retains two matches — Western Bulldogs and Brisbane on Saturday afternoon and St Kilda and GWS Giants on Sunday.
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“Gather Round is the best of our game, a celebration of footy like no other,” AFL boss Andrew Dillon said.
“South Australia really turns it on, and we are excited to bring fans a bigger and better experience in 2025 with some great match-ups and a new venue at Barossa Park.
“The Barossa celebrates some of the best of South Australia and we are excited about all the opportunities that will be on offer for our fans to take in while visiting the region, outside of the two incredible games that will be played at the new Barossa Park in Lyndoch.
“On behalf of the AFL I want to thank the SA government, led by Premier Malinauskas, who has been committed wholeheartedly to the success of the concept since 2023.
“Gather Round has a unique feel of a grand final week, from the footy festival and the zip line over the Torrens River to the community engagement activities and all the open training sessions the clubs hold around the town … it has been just an incredibly fun atmosphere which we are looking to top next season.”
Gather Round will run from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13.
2025 GATHER ROUND FIXTURE (all times AEST)
Thursday, April 10
Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm
Friday, April 11
Collingwood v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm
Saturday, April 12
North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Barossa Park, 12.05pm
Carlton v West Coast, Adelaide Oval, 12.50pm
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Norwood Oval, 3.45pm
Melbourne v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 7.05pm
Sunday, April 13
Richmond v Fremantle, Barossa Park, 12.05pm
St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney Giants, Norwood Oval, 2.50pm
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 6.50pm
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