Media response - Gather Round

Published on 11 June 2026

Enquiry – The Advertiser

I was hoping to get a response from the mayor/council about the Gather Round extension announce today and the news that it looks like McLaren Vale won't be getting a game in the foreseeable future.

From the Premier's presser today it sounds like another regional game in MV was not part of the extension - what does the mayor think of that news? What is the response to that?

Is there any indication that perhaps going forward there might be another push for a McLaren Vale match?

Do you still have hope that Gather Round will come down south? And what would it mean for the region?

Response

Comments attributed to Mayor Moira Were

While the premier said there’s no stipulation in the contract for a game in the McLaren Vale region, he did say they’re keeping their options open when it comes to introducing new venues, so the door is ajar for us to host in future.

He also said they’ll be stringent in their requirements about alternative venues and how they can project the state to the rest of the country. What better advertising for SA than to host a game in the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast – the only place in Australia where stunning coastline meets an internationally recognised wine region within 40 minutes of a capital city?

We’ll continue discussing plans with the state government and advocating for a Gather Round presence that attracts people to our region, whether that’s trainings, events, other activations or games in future.

Bringing Gather Round to the south would be a big win for SA. Onkaparinga is home to 10 per cent of South Australia’s people, many of them footy mad. Games here would deliver benefits for tourism and our local economy, and broadcast our iconic places to a national audience.

We also have a strong footy pedigree, and hosting a Gather Round game here would inspire young local players and draw new players to the game.

The City of Onkaparinga is home to more than 5,000 players and, South Adelaide aside, it’s also home to the 1886-established Southern Football League (SFL), with 10 SFL-affiliated clubs – several that are more than 100 years old – and other clubs that compete in separate SANFL-affiliated leagues.

The region has produced football stars such as Port Adelaide guns, Jason Horne-Francis and Indy Tahau; exciting young Adelaide Crow, Sid Draper; and Brisbane Lions and Collingwood hero, Craig McRae. We’re also home to the multi-premiership-winning South Adelaide Football Club women’s team.

ENDS