Should Gather Round remain in South Australia beyond this year, Brisbane midfielder Levi Ashcroft hopes the Lions are given the chance to play at Adelaide Oval.
Despite the Lions having played in the past three AFL grand finals and won back-to-back premierships, they have again this year been shunted to a smaller Gather Round venue.
Brisbane will take on North Melbourne on Saturday at Barossa Park, a Barossa Valley region venue that has a capacity of 10,000.
It comes after the Lions’ previous Gather Round games at Norwood Oval (twice) and Summit Sport and Recreation Park at Mount Barker.
While the Lions are unbeaten in their three Gather Round games at smaller venues, they would appreciate an opportunity to feature in an Adelaide Oval contest during the AFL’s four-day extravaganza.
“I’ve been enjoying the last couple years of Gather Round,” Ashcroft said on Tuesday.
“I enjoyed playing at Norwood last year and (will enjoy) the Barossa Valley this year, but it’d be nice if we get a game at Adelaide Oval at some stage.
“Who knows? It’s a great concept, and I’m really enjoying it being in Adelaide.”
The host state for next year’s Gather Round is yet to be confirmed, although negotiations between the AFL and the South Australian government are continuing ahead of a likely new contract being signed for the event to remain in the Festival State.
The Lions are not only chasing a fourth successive Gather Round win this weekend but also a third straight victory since late last month after starting their latest premiership defence with back-to-back defeats.
“With those of couple losses, I feel like we learnt plenty.” Ashcroft said.
“We could have played more as a team. There were a couple people flying at the ball, and two people trying to get the ground ball in the contest … stuff like that, that we can trust the person that’s going to be at the coalface, and then support them around the contest.
“That was something that we really weren’t doing to the best of our ability – just trusting each other to get it done and then support around the contest.”
The Lions will on Saturday welcome back co-captain and key defender Harris Andrews, who has missed Brisbane’s past three games through suspension.
“In my opinion, he (Andrews) is the best back in the comp, so that’ll be definitely a good boost for the team,” Ashcroft said.
“His leadership as one of the captains is going to be second to none, so we’re really excited to have him back.”
Ashcroft was also hopeful that another of Brisbane’s co-captains, star midfielder Hugh McCluggage, and defender Noah Answerth would be available to return from respective calf and concussion issues.
“Hughie, he’s another captain, so it would be great for our leadership, and he’s an All-Australian, so it’d be great to have him back in the line-up, and ‘Noz’ (Answerth) as well – he’s a star for us,” Ashcroft said.
