The South East region has the opportunity to host the annual South Australian Country Football Championships in 2024 and 2025.
Despite the SE being a powerhouse zone with multiple championship wins as recently as 2022 at faraway Whyalla, the yearly event has never been staged further south than Murray Bridge since it began almost 30 years ago.
The SANFL, football’s governing body, is inviting councils, leagues, clubs and organisations from across South Australia to submit a tender to secure the hosting rights for those two years.
According to the SANFL, the championships attract 300 male and female footballers from the six competing zones and generate up to $1.5m in economic activity.
There are set criteria which will eliminate the smaller towns as the championships require two ovals which can be no more than 10 minutes apart.
There are also exacting standards relating to the oval dimensions, changerooms, goal posts and the absence of a concrete cricket wicket.
The successful tenderer must provide for such social occasions as an opening dinner and player welfare sessions.
The Barossa Council was the successful bidder for the 2023 SA Country Football Championships in July.
At the time of the announcement, Barossa Mayor Bim Lange welcomed the championships saying events like these reconfirmed the Barossa Valley as a premier sports tourism events destination.
“We’re excited to be partnering with the SANFL to deliver the 2023 event and will be working collaboratively to identify potential event locations, taking advantage of the significant investment we have made in local facilities and venues as part of The Big Project,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity to capitalise on the tourism benefits of events, and we look forward to delivering a carnival of the highest calibre.
“I expect the 2023 event will attract an influx of players, spectators and visitors, creating great spin-offs for local businesses and service providers.”
There have been varying amounts of elite level football staged in the SE over the past 30 years or so.
The Western Border Football League has hosted numerous AFL preseason training camps and games.
The Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League has hosted the Adelaide Crows in a trial at Penola’s McCorquindale Park as well as staged a SANFL match for premiership points at Bordertown.
The Mid South East Football League has been starved of such action with the last elite level match being a Port Adelaide/Glenelg trial at Robe 34 years ago.
Mount Gambier did bid to host an AFL game next month as part of the Gather Round but the authorities opted to stage the allocated “country” game to near-city Mount Barker.
Tenders for the SA Country Football Championships close at the SANFL headquarters in Adelaide on April 21.
