AFLW player Ebony Marinoff has expressed her frustration regarding the exclusion of women’s games from the Gather Round event, describing the situation as “almost ridiculous.” During a discussion on ABC’s Offsiders, Marinoff directed her concerns to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, questioning the rationale behind the decision and highlighting it as a significant missed opportunity to promote the AFLW.
“It’s almost ridiculous that we’re not included; I don’t understand the reasoning,” Marinoff stated. She emphasized the frequent inquiries she receives from industry representatives about when women will play, indicating a strong desire to showcase the talent in the AFLW.
In response, Dillon acknowledged the concern, noting that while the current format of Gather Round runs from Thursday to Sunday, there may be potential to expand the event to include women’s football. “We need to consider how we can feature AFLW during this period while ensuring players are performing at their best since they are currently in their off-season,” Dillon remarked.
Marinoff countered Dillon’s argument by asserting that the top athletes in the women’s league maintain year-round training. “If there were an opportunity, I believe the women’s programs would find a way to make it work,” she insisted.
On the topic of future Gather Rounds, Dillon mentioned that the AFL is actively engaged in discussions with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about the possibility of Adelaide hosting the event in subsequent years. However, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for a decision, stating that this year marks the last guaranteed hosting for South Australia.
Malinauskas expressed his commitment to finalizing a deal with Dillon, aiming for an agreement by mid-year. “We want to ensure we secure the right deal, not just a quick one,” Dillon added, indicating a careful approach to negotiations.
At the recent Food and Wine festival at Norwood Oval, which attracted over 9,000 fans for the Geelong vs. West Coast match, Malinauskas reiterated his determination to extend Gather Round’s presence in South Australia. Fans from West Coast shared their views, with some suggesting that while they appreciate the event in Adelaide, they foresee potential for it to be hosted in Tasmania in the future.
West Coast fans expressed their preference for keeping Gather Round in Adelaide, citing travel distances for fans and the enjoyable atmosphere the event creates. Margaret Savage, a West Coast supporter, remarked that this was her third trip to Adelaide for Gather Round and maintained that it should remain there. Kerilee Brindle, a Dockers fan, acknowledged the merits of hosting the event in Perth eventually but understood the current choice of location.
Over the last three years, the AFL, SANFL, and South Australian government have invested $8 million to enhance local facilities as part of a collaborative funding initiative for Gather Round.
