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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMWhateley: It's time to take Gather Round to the next level
Gerard Whateley • April 13th, 2026 1:44 pm
The record crowds here in South Australia for the fourth iteration of this concept tell their own story.
It’s the most reassuring week on the calendar.
Footy fans of all persuasions drawn together purely by the love of the game.
Gather Round only works because people gather.
And it works because they gather from all over. The contingent from Perth was especially strong this year.
I was especially struck by the number of Essendon fans making their way across the bridge on Saturday afternoon while we were doing Crunch Time.
The Bombers faithful hasn’t had much cause for optimism or hope but there they were fronting up … and ended up richly rewarded.
Fans mingle and chat and share their stories and plan their itineraries.
No one it seems does one game. It’s absolutely charming.
Kids are kicking their footies from the hotel corridors to river banks.
And no matter how muddy the Footy Festival got, families kept pouring in.
Mine, like many, had three generations of family moving from game to game.
I stood for a half behind the goals at Norwood yesterday… an experience distinct from any other across the season.
And when Never Tear Us Apart played last night every footy scarf was raised.
Saints fans joined their Port brethren in the ritual.
Even Adelaide scarves were raised.
And if you looked closely you could even see a Melbourne Storm scarf living the words of the song.
And is there a truth… just as interstate wins are cherished by players and teams… the wins are even better for fans when you’re the travelling caravan?
Four years in we have a triumph and a tradition.
It’s worthy of care and refinement… especially given a new contract isn’t signed.
The year wasn’t a great fixture and thus had no signature game.
When you gather this many people you need a centrepiece.
And I reckon the Premier needs to demand that when he signs the next bill of sale.
There are a few appealing suggestions.
The Grand Final rematch in April as the Friday night tradition of Gather Round.
Or follow the NFL lead bringing bitter rivals the Rams and 49ers to Melbourne and have Gather Round stage Carlton v Collingwood.
Something that pops on the page and on the ground.
Stop lazily repeating games year-on-year.
No more accepting the computer recycling Brisbane and North, Melbourne and Essendon, Geelong and West Coast.
And Adelaide as the starting point needs better than Carlton for the moment.
Be imaginative and ambitious.
The round lacked for a grudge match, a main event to anchor the card.
The template was ignored - Port and Hawthorn last year had the town buzzing in anticipation.
Before that it was the first Jack Ginnivan game between Collingwood and Hawthorn.
The fixture deserves more attention.
Beyond the games themselves:
There’s scope for a concert.
A women’s match must be part of the billing.
There could be a medal for the best individual performance of the round – I suspect that was Isaac Heeney.
All 18 teams should have novelty guernseys that are on mass sale – last night’s were perfect with Port and St Kilda.
Club caps badged with the Gather Round logo should be in the merchandise stalls.
Time to take the concept to the next level.
Lock it long term in Adelaide quickly and add to the sense of event that grips the town.
We’re only just scratching the surface.
