Butters reunion, grudge matches headline Gather Round
Anna Harrington |
Superstar Western Bulldogs recruit Zak Butters’ Adelaide Oval reunion with former club Port Adelaide will headline next year’s Gather Round.
The AFL confirmed the fixture for the nine matches to be held in South Australia across four days from Thursday 8 April to Sunday 11 April.
The Power and Bulldogs will close the round with a Sunday night prime time clash, when all eyes will be on Butters.
The dynamic, hard-nosed midfielder joined the Bulldogs as a free agent this year after 156 games over eight seasons at Port, including serving as vice-captain and stand-in captain this year.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the Butters reunion was “certainly part of the thinking” around scheduling, along with having Port face a big Victorian team in the closing game.
“There was a number of factors that were in it. But yeah, Zak changing in the off-season was certainly part of it,” he said.
“And I’m sure that the Port Adelaide fans will remember what he did and what he’s done for Port Adelaide, but I’m sure he’ll get a welcome of sorts.”
Asked whether he was encouraging Power fans to get into Butters, Dillon said: “No, absolutely not.
“I think they should acknowledge a champion player and … we celebrate our champions here.
“But I know that it’ll be a really good game.”
Adelaide and reigning premiers Brisbane will open the round at Adelaide Oval on the Thursday night.
The Lions had long craved the Adelaide Oval stage after being sent out to Barossa Park in recent seasons.
Collingwood and Sydney are the main event there on Friday night while likely premiership contenders Fremantle and Hawthorn will play at Adelaide Oval on the Saturday night.
Melbourne and Carlton, who faced off in an elimination final this year, have the Saturday afternoon Adelaide Oval slot.
Other grudge matches include Geelong recruit Rowan Marshall getting to face former club St Kilda at Barossa Park on Sunday.
Marshall didn’t attend the Saints’ best and fairest to help force through a trade to the Cats.
Essendon had made a habit of beating Melbourne in recent iterations of Gather Round but next year will instead face North Melbourne at Norwood Oval on Sunday.
GWS face Gold Coast at Barossa Park on Saturday afternoon.
Gather Round will fall in round four of the season, landing in school holidays.
2027 GATHER ROUND FIXTURE (ALL TIMES AEST)
* Thursday 8 April
Adelaide v Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
* Friday 9 April
Collingwood v Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
* Saturday 10 April
Gold Coast v GWS, Barossa Park, 12:35pm
Carlton v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 1:35pm
Richmond v West Coast, Norwood Oval, 4:35pm
Fremantle v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 7:45pm
* Sunday 11 April
Essendon v North Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 12:30pm
Geelong v St Kilda, Barossa Park, 3:15pm
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 7:15pm
AAP