TROY BELL MP
Member for Mount Gambier
Your Independent voice
in State Parliament
Match grab
Friday December 09, 2022Published by: The Border Watch
By: Aidan Curtis
A PUSH to bring one of the AFL Magic Round matches to Mount Gambier is making headway, but there are still "a lot of hurdles" to get over first.
The State Government confirmed in November that South Australia would host all 18 AFL clubs for a weekend of football in April next year. Thought most of the games have been booked at Adelaide Oval, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell has teamed up with City of Mount Gambier in a push to bring one match to the Limestone Coast.
Mr Bell spoke about the idea of hosting one game in Mount Gambier in Parliament on Wednesday, November 30, and told The Border Watch he received a largely positive response.
A PUSH to bring one of the AFL Magic Round matches to Mount Gambier is making headway, but there are still "a lot of hurdles" to get over first.
The State Government confirmed in November that South Australia would host all 18 AFL clubs for a weekend of football in April next year.
Thought most of the games have been booked at Adelaide Oval, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell has teamed up with City of Mount Gambier in a push to bring one match to the Limestone Coast.
Mr Bell spoke about the idea of hosting one game in Mount Gambier in Parliament on Wednesday, November 30, and told The Border Watch he received a largely positive response.
He said there was some support from a State Government point of view, but most of the challenges came from an AFL standpoint, including the suitability of grounds and facilities.
"One that I want to progress is the number of people that we could attract to one of our grounds," he said.
"In discussions with the Mayor of Mount Gambier, Lynette Martin, we were talking about the grandstand at the Adelaide 500 being utilised early next year when the Magic Round is down.
"We had a look at the facilities while we were in Adelaide on Friday [December 2] and it's something that we could progress if we get a green light from the AFL going forward." Mr Bell said no matter what criteria needed to be met, he and Council would be fighting to meet it, but he is "not unrealistic".
"We may not secure a game for the AFL Magic Round that's coming up, but what we're really doing is positioning ourselves for any future opportunities of South Australia hosting the AFL Magic Round," he said.
"I don't want [the AFL] to just think of Adelaide - all of South Australia should benefit from this opportunity." Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said Council will look to advocate for the proposal to bring a game here with links to its strategic intentions around CBD activation.
"Located within our CBD and connecting to our main street through curated gardens, Vansittart Park is ideal for us to showcase Australian Rules in a regional setting," she said.
"As a community, we know how to throw a great party, and we'd like nothing more than to feature our regional produce and local performance with a sport-loving crowd.
"Conservative analysis of such an event highlights a direct impact of $ 1.5 million into the local economy." Ms Martin said she thinks it would be prudent to have two Victorian teams come down due to Mount Gambier's proximity to the border, but she also had an ulterior motive.
"There is a large support base for Victorian teams in Mount Gambier, and as a passionate Carlton fan I would love to see the Blues playing in our city," she said.
Mr Bell ran with a similar line of thought, naming Geelong as the team he wants to see play here.
"We have two - I'll call them locals - in Brad Close and Jeremy Cameron, even though Jeremy is from Dartmoor," he said.
"It's very much like Russell Crowe is from New Zealand, but Australians claim all success.
"I think geographically, as well as the local connection, Geelong would be a good start." Magic Round is slated to take place from Thursday, April 13 to Sunday, April 16.