Gather Round 2.0: Sydney chief’s pitch to improve Opening Round

Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has an idea to improve Opening Round.

The AFL’s season launch concept has already frustrated clubs, coaches, players, media and fans alike, ridiculed for causing a stop-start beginning.

Given the primary idea is to grow the game in Queensland and New South Sales by featuring Sydney, GWS, Brisbane and Gold Coast, the Swans chief has no intentions of seeing it scrapped.

Pridham has come up with a new structure that could potentially see Opening Round flourish in 2026 and beyond while easing the disjointed nature of the flawed construct.

He says just make it Gather Round 2.0, but a hybrid version in Sydney and Queensland.

“I’ve been listening to a lot of commentary, particularly coming out of the Melbourne media and some of the Melbourne clubs about Opening Round and their dissatisfaction with the bye structure and missing out early,” Pridham said on SEN Breakfast.

“Obviously next year you’re going to have complications with the MCG availability (due to the 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England).

“One thing I really think is worth exploring - and I’ve actually discussed it with Andrew Dillon and Craig Drummond in the past - would be for Opening Round to become a second Gather Round.

“It could be a launch round for example, it could be played in New South Wales and Queensland, all clubs could be involved. The primary objective of Opening Round is to launch football in New South Wales and Queensland where not only do 52 per cent of the population lives, but it’s also where the media is based in a corporate sense.

“It’s very important in Sydney that the market knows the season has started. The NRL starts well before us, they’re a formidable competitor.

“I think having a Gather Round where we could play at Allianz, for example we could have Collingwood play Essendon there in a huge game in front of 80,000. We would also play at the SCG, ENGIE Stadium and likewise at the Gabba and on the Gold Coast.”

Is this a concept that Pridham plans to push hard with the AFL’s power brokers?

He is adamant that the concept would work perfectly, specifically in New South Wales, saying it has plenty of benefits.

“I think there’s a huge amount of merit in it,” he added. “We’ve seen the power and financial benefits of having Gather Round in South Australia and the impacts on the economy.

“I can’t speak for the Queensland Government, but with the New South Wales Government we’ve had discussions with the Premier (Chris Minns) about the concept of a Gather Round in New South Wales.

“I think they’re in a position where they would be willing to help. One of the big issues we have in New South Wales and Queensland in growing the game is facilities. The ability to get more investment in facilities as part of the whole investment in an Opening Round where everyone is there.

“The Governments can clearly see the economic benefits that comes from things such as Gather Round and Moto GPs and Grands Prix to invest in the AFL in New South Wales and Queensland.

“It would drive a lot of tourism, there’s a lot of benefits to do it. Having all clubs playing in Opening Round, it really launches the game in a market where we really need to grow.

“It’s where the population is. We have to do more.

“Everyone is worried about byes, and I can see their point of view, so just launch it in Sydney.”

Pridham joined Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in Adelaide to touch on a number of other footy topics, including Tasmania, Gather Round in Sydney, Chad Warner and more: