Hawthorn’s much-anticipated clash against Port Adelaide is expected to provide a huge climax to next year’s Gather Round.
Their tight semi-final this year, won by Port Adelaide, ended in controversial circumstances when Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley taunted Jack Ginnivan after the game over a message the Hawks forward had posted on social media in the lead-up.
The clash between Ken Hinkley and Jack Ginnivan during last year’s finals will provide the perfect platform to build up the two clubs’ Gather Round clash. Credit: Getty Images
Port Adelaide were fined $20,000 for conduct unbecoming after Hinkley made fun of Ginnivan, who had posted the message “see u in 14 days” on Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy’s Instagram post before the Hawks had played Port Adelaide in the semi-final.
As the teams lined up to honour Hawks star Luke Breust for his 200th game, Hinkley allegedly yelled “you aren’t flying anywhere, Jack”, which prompted Hawks skipper James Sicily to engage in a verbal exchange with the opposition coach.
Despite the club’s penalty, there was never any doubt the AFL would strive to maximise the controversy in the 2025 schedule, with the final match of Gather Round considered the perfect platform to build up the rivalry.
Gather Round will be held in South Australia from April 10-13.
Two competition sources with knowledge of the likely schedule for the round, who wanted to remain anonymous until it was officially announced on Monday, confirmed the AFL had picked that timeslot for the match.
The Hawks played in the same timeslot in 2024 when they finished Gather Round with a match against Collingwood. They lost twice to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval by less than goal in 2024.
Clubs expect Geelong to open Gather Round against the other hometown team, Adelaide, on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.
In the first two seasons of Gather Round, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Essendon have played the home teams.
Geelong are likely to open Gather Round against the Crows.Credit: Getty Images
Essendon met Melbourne in the first doubleheader in the 2023 Gather Round and the two clubs could meet again at Adelaide Oval while the Brisbane Lions and the Western Bulldogs are expected to play at Norwood Oval according to two competition sources.
Gold Coast are likely to head to the Barossa Valley to play the Kangaroos, who are awaiting finalisation of their two home games in Perth during 2025.
The season is also expected to kick off with defending premiers the Brisbane Lions to play Geelong at the Gabba on Thursday night while Essendon or Hawthorn may replace Richmond and Carlton as the two Victorian teams playing in the opening round. Melbourne are still a chance to play in round zero having kicked off last season against Sydney at the SCG.
Collingwood remain a chance to be involved for a second consecutive year as they have been more open to once again being involved in the concept in 2025 after their season finished early when they missed finals.
It remains unclear which opponent Collingwood will have during Gather Round, but the Magpies will not play in the final timeslot as they did in the first two iterations of the concept.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
