The Gold Coast SUNS will take on Fremantle in the first AFL fixture for Premiership points at Norwood Oval in the inaugural Gather Round.
The AFL has today confirmed the Round 5 matches with all nine games to be played in South Australia – the first time an entire round has been played in a single state – coinciding with the school holidays.
The SUNS will clash with the Dockers on Friday, April 14, first bounce 4.40pm ACST for the second match of the weekend-long festivities in South Australia.
Entry for the fixture will be FREE for all SUNS match access members. Members will receive communications on how they can redeem tickets, with the member window open on Monday, December 12 from 11:30am-3:30pm AEST.
Adelaide Oval will host six matches – Thursday night, Friday night, a Saturday double header and a Sunday double header, while Norwood Oval will host two matches – Friday twilight and Sunday afternoon and Adelaide Hills (Summit Sports and Recreation Park, Mount Barker) will host a Saturday afternoon match.
Tickets will be on sale to the general public from 4:30pm on Monday, with SUNS match access members also having the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to additional matches during the general public sale.
AFL EGM Clubs, Broadcast and Fixturing Travis Auld said the Round Five fixture is the perfect mix for what should be a huge festival of footy in South Australia.
“Gather Round and the festival of footy in South Australia is an unbelievable opportunity for our competition and our clubs, our players and coaches are excited to come together and put on a great show for everyone,” Mr Auld said.
“South Australians love their footy, and with no SANFL or metropolitan community matches that weekend, we are hoping they also come and experience what will be a great four days of celebration, fun and a true festival of footy.
“From a fixturing point of view adding an extra round adds a layer of complexity to the clubs’ matchups across the season and taking into consideration the days break from the week before and subsequent days break for Round 6, however we think we have the right mix with big games everywhere you look.
“The broadcasting of nine matches across three venues – including regional ones – featuring double headers in one city is something that has never been done before and we have worked closely with our broadcast partners to build a schedule that can not only work for crowds, but also viewers at home who can’t travel to South Australia.”
“We have been really conscious to ensure the matches are not only accessible, but most importantly affordable for fans. It’s an extra round, so a bonus match for members to be able to watch their team, and by pricing it affordably it hopefully helps entice fans from all over the country to make a trip of it and visit the state and enjoy all the activities in and around the state.”
Non-competing members and general public tickets are capped at a single price of $30 for adults, $20 concession (15-18 years old) and kids (under 15) are FREE at all matches.
The Gather Round is the latest SUNS fixture for 2023 to be confirmed with an opening round clash against 2022 Grand Finalists Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium and back-to-back Blockbusters against Western Bulldogs and Adelaide in Darwin already locked in.
Round 5
Gold Coast SUNS v Fremantle
Friday April 14, 4:40pm local
Norwood Oval
