The AFL has announced a 'footy festival' will take place in South Australia in 2023, with the league introducing a 24th round for the upcoming season.
The 'magic round' will be played in Round 5, between Thursday April 13 and Sunday April 16, with Adelaide Oval set to feature prominently.
All 18 teams will descend on South Australia for the event, to be held during school holidays nationally.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said it was a "great thrill" to announce the extra round in his home state, in what he called a "league first"/
"All nine AFL matches and all 18 AFL clubs will play in South Australia," he said on Friday.
McLachlan said access to matches would be free for all club members, and that most but not all matches will be scheduled at Adelaide Oval, with regional and suburban venues on the table for up to three matches.
"We are looking forward to not only bringing nine great matches for Premiership points to South Australia, but also a party-like atmosphere, filled with fan activations, family-friendly events, music, entertainment, community engagement, all designed to bring the city to life over the four days," McLachlan said in an earlier statement.
"Over the pandemic-challenged years, South Australia played an important role in the survival of our game, and we are so pleased to be able to bring this major football event into the state.
"School holidays are a great opportunity for families, and we will work with the SA Government to ensure we will have free experiences and activations at matches and around the city for all footy fans to come together.
"Our clubs, our players and coaches are excited to come together, put on a great show and engage with the local community and grassroots footy, all while showcasing the great state of South Australia.
"On behalf of the AFL, I would like to thank Premier Malinauskas, who has really taken the lead on this project, along with everyone at the South Australian Government and all footy fans across the state - your passion for this project has been infectious and we look forward to putting on a great show for you all come April."
...more to come.