Mount Gambier played a central role in the inaugural festival of footy which got under way in South Australia ahead of the AFL Gather Round being brought to the state in 2023.
South Australia will host all nine AFL matches from April 13-16 as part of the gather round.
To celebrate the event, the AFL – in conjunction with the SANFL – launched the first Gather Round Community Football Roadshow which toured the Limestone Coast last week.
The roadshow will travel to more than 20 regional towns over 24 days in an attempt to connect with locals and create excitement around the upcoming festival of football.
It visited several local schools last week, kicking off with Kingston Community School and Robe Primary, before heading to Mount Gambier and stopping off at Mount Gambier High School, Melaleuca Primary School, Tenison Woods College and St Martins Lutheran College.
As part of the visit the roadshow supported a new statewide initiative with 20 new footballs donated to local clubs.
Footy fans at the schools were given the opportunity to get up close and personal with the AFL premiership cup, AFLW premiership cup, as well as the perpetual SANFL Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy and SANFLW premiership cup.
Students at Melaleuca Primary School enjoyed their opportunity to see the prized silverware.
AFL Executive General Manager Game Development Rob Auld said the Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow was a great initiative for fans to engage with the game.
“The AFL is delighted to work with the SANFL to launch the first Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow that will bring some footy fever to all corners of the state,” he said.
“Community football clubs are the heartbeat of our great game, so we’re thrilled to connect with local communities and provide fans with an opportunity to get up close and personal with this year’s AFL and AFLW premiership cups.
“The Gather Round Community Footy Roadshow is just one way we’re looking to engage with community football clubs as part of our Gather Round celebrations as we gear up for what is sure to be one of the most exciting weekends in football.”
