Source : ABC NEWS
The Bureau of Meteorology says wet weather conditions will improve for AFL Gather Round matches as the weekend progresses, as the premier shares his ongoing bid to keep the event in South Australia.
The opening match of the round between the Adelaide Crows and Carlton was played in wet weather at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night and more cold and windy weather is forecast for the weekend.
However, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Urshla Connor told 891 ABC Adelaide any showers in Adelaide on Friday would be light and there was a slight chance of a light shower during the match in the Barossa on Saturday afternoon.
“They’ll become less frequent as we move into tomorrow and over the weekend and, look, if you do see a shower, only expecting sort of maybe a millimetre of so out of each shower today,”
Ms Connor said.
Adelaide Crows fans Justin (left) and Arlo Richardson on their way into Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Some flights into Adelaide Airport were delayed or cancelled on Thursday because of the weather, while one Qantas flight from Melbourne was cancelled on Friday morning.
Fans comes despite fuel woes
All of the AFL’s nine round five matches are being played in Adelaide and the Barossa Valley as part of the Gather Round.
The Shea family has travelled from Victoria to see North Melbourne, and were at training at Barossa Park in Lyndoch ahead of the match on Saturday.
They stayed in Robe, in the state’s south-east on the way.
North Melbourne Kangaroos fans Patrick, Michael, Ben and John Shea at Barossa Park to watch their team train. (ABC News: Sophie Holder)
John Shea said the high petrol prices made the trip more expensive, but it was worth the cost.
“Definitely, it’s been great,” he said.
The Kangaroos take on the Brisbane Lions at Barossa Park on Saturday, followed by the GWS Giants against Richmond on Sunday.
Aaliyah Kuhn lives in the Barossa and is a Lions fan.
She said it was “crazy” but “pretty cool” to see so many AFL supporters in the area for the event.
“It’s good seeing all the small businesses get a chance and everything,”
she said.
Brisbane Lions fans Aaliyah Kuhn, Dani Pagacha, Mica Marrone and Kaiden Wanganeen (front) at Barossa Park. (ABC News: Sophie Holder)
Brian Lynn from Majella Wines in the South East’s Coonawarra region said he had been expecting a downturn in sales due to fuel prices, but instead had seen a boost in visitation since Easter long weekend.
“Our takings at cellar door are a little better than I thought,” Mr Lynn said.
“We had quite a good Easter given fuel prices and availability and stuff like that.
“We were quite happy … this week has been good.”
AFL negotiations continue
Meanwhile, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said negotiations with the AFL on whether Gather Round would remain in the state were not going “perfectly”.
The event has been held in Adelaide and surrounding regions for the past three years, but the deal expires this year.
The chair of the Sydney Swans said on Friday that a second Gather Round should be held in Sydney and Queensland next year.
Craig and Jodie Boulton travelled from Western Australia for the Gather Round. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Mr Malinauskas told ABC News Breakfast discussions were ongoing.
“I think both Andrew Dillon and I are on the same page in that we would rather get this right rather than rush it, and there’s just a few points of difference we want to nut out,” he said.
“We might get it done over the next few days, but something tells me it might take a little bit longer than that.”
Wine region says ‘enormous’ boost to local economy
The Barossa has held Gather Round games in the region for the past two years, with Barossa Mayor Bim Lange saying the two matches would bring an “enormous economic boost” to the region.
He said he was waiting with “bated breath” to see how negotiations between the AFL and the premier turned out.
“We look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship many years into the future,” Mr Lange said.
Collingwood plays Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Friday night. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said the Gather Round injected $5 million into the Barossa economy last year.
“Please come out, enjoy the Barossa,” she said during a rain-hit press conference.
“Whether it’s raining or whether the sun is shining, it really is a beautiful place to be able to enjoy the best food in South Australia — the wines, the eateries, the restaurants, just good people.“
