Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has been advocating for the AFL Gather Round success to be spread around, spruiking locations in her electorate to the South Australian Premier.

The Independent MP has written to Premier Peter Malinauskas to make the case for several Adelaide Hills and south coast-based community sports grounds.

The success of the inaugural Gather Round in April saw the Premier secure it for the state through to 2026.

Ms Sharkie believes that in addition to Mount Barker being considered for more fixtures, there is an opportunity for other community sports grounds throughout Mayo to be considered for future matches.

They include Johnston Memorial Park, Mount Lofty Oval, Strathalbyn Oval and Summit Sports Park, Willunga Recreation Park, Goolwa Oval and Encounter Bay Oval.

Responding to her letter, Premier Malinauskas said that final decisions on which sports grounds will host Gather Round fixtures will be made by the AFL. 

He offered to flag the mentioned sports grounds with the AFL and hopes it will strongly consider a return fixture to the Adelaide Hills and other regions within Mayo.

Ms Sharkie also spoke about the Gather Round during her constituency statement in the Federal Parliament earlier this month.

“My electorate of Mayo was fortunate enough to host a game at the new Summit Sports Recreation Park in Mount Barker. 

“The game between North Melbourne and Brisbane attracted a crowd of over 7,300 people and while many spectators were local, I had the pleasure of sitting next to two ladies from Queensland.” Ms Sharkie said.

“We’re fortunate to hold many loved and well-kept sporting facilities across Mayo and I sincerely hope that my community’s passionate response to the success of the Gather Round facilitates strong consideration for future matches. 

“We need to ensure that this event is experienced across South Australia’s regions rather than just metropolitan South Australia. We’d love to welcome more visitors into Mayo!”