Chapter 1: What is the latest news from Port Adelaide?
Tommy Renner, know all about that, being in the parochial town that is Adelaide. He's one of the best newsreaders in the business, and you've got a big story on your hands over there at the moment. Thomas, good morning.
Oh, Gary, Tim, good morning, fellas. Gee, Port Adelaide don't do things by halves in Gather Round. I'll just give you a quick snapshot. 2024, Jeremy Finlayson suspended for homophobic slur. 2025, Willie Rioli, remember he had those controversial comments about Hawthorne, and there was all the blow-up after that. And now 2026, Zach Butters, so... Wow.
Again, we get a third instalment of a gather round fallout from the power.
Righto. Well, you're at the coalface over there. We're here in Melbourne. And I can tell you right now from our Radio Punish view this morning, this is a massive story.
Chapter 2: What controversies surround Zach Butters and the tribunal case?
Or it's got massive interest with our audience. What say you over there? And is there the latest anywhere?
The huge... It's been massive over here, Gary. It's talkback radio. It's front-page news, back-page news. It was leading the TV bulletins last night. It's enormous. I think it's the tribunal case, I reckon, for the year. And, you know, you just don't see this kind of thing that often, Gaz. So, you know, people are outraged. Port Adelaide fans, clearly.
You know, there's a lot of talk about it, you know. And it's funny, isn't it? Someone pointed it out to me this morning...
Chapter 3: How is the Gather Round event evolving for 2024?
Barbara Streisand, now this is a bit obscure, but in 2003, she took the paparazzi to court because she didn't want vision of her home being shown. By doing so, it became more viral than anything she ever did. Now, Nick Foote, by doing this, the umpire, I think everyone now knows inadvertently that he works for Sportsbet and it's brought to light something that he probably didn't want out there.
So, look, it's an amazing turn of events what's happened.
Port Adelaide, are they seething behind the scenes here or are they just believing that they have the evidence? Not only Zach Butters, obviously he'll have his evidence, but also Olly Wines will have his evidence and one would assume that he's going to corroborate whatever it is that Zach Butters has to say.
They're furious, Tim. Yeah, they're not happy. Look, they're backing their man in, as you would expect. He's their acting captain. He's their best player. You know, they've released a statement. They've said they are, and I quote, they've said this, they're unambiguously adamant on what has been said. They'll deny the claim that's been made.
Now, for those wondering what it is, it's, you know, how much are they paying you or words to that effect. That's the allegation from the umpire, Nick Foote. They're saying he absolutely did not say that. Now, I totally understand. As an umpire and... You guys, you know, you're legends of the game.
You played it, but you might have done a bit of amateur umpiring, and a lot of listeners out there would have. I would think the greatest slight on your character is if you are having your integrity brought into question. So I totally get it. The problem is the person needs to have said it. I think, Tim, it boils down to a classic he said, she said situation. And I don't know. I was at the game.
I called it. You boys watched it. You know, called it as well.
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Chapter 4: What challenges does the South Australian government face with the Gather Round contract?
The body language sort of indicated straight away that Zach clearly didn't think he said what the umpire thought he said. I don't know how they come to a conclusion on it, but it's got hairs all over it. It's intriguing.
That's as good a summation as we can have. It's all over. You're right, Tommy. There is no question in my mind that Zach Butter's
is saying what he says happen and i've got no question in my mind that old mate nick foot is saying he's saying what he thinks he heard so how you decide yeah how you work out who's right in all of this i'm not sure where we're going to end up so i think we just i'm not when i say park it it won't be parked because it'll run all day until such time as the tribunal sits down but um
the umpires will staunchly defend their man as Kenny has. I've had a bit to do with Zach now too, and I sort of openly say, yep, he's one of my favourites, but I'm sure there are plenty of people that are back at Nick Foote as well.
And that's it, isn't it? You know, he's an AFL umpire and all of that. And look, you're right, Gary. I mean, I think Butters is probably... One of my favourite players as well. I think we all love him because he's a little bloke. He attacks the game so hard. All of that. But I guess you've got to look at it independently.
But I reckon with this situation, and look, I might be wrong, but I think coming out of it, Butters probably loses no fans. Unfortunately, I don't think Nick Foot gains too many. In fact, I think he probably loses more. But, you know, we'll see how it falls in the next 12 hours.
Hey, Tommy, we were expecting or some people were expecting that there would be an announcement about a new contract for Gather Round after the weekend. There was sort of people thinking maybe it would be Sunday night there'd be an announcement. But I believe there's still a lot of work to be done here.
And one of the things that the South Australian government will be steadfast about will be that there'll be no opening round up there in the northern states, which may dilute the power of Gather Round. Is that your belief as well?
Yeah, absolutely. And just, I think as well, Tim, the big sticking point is how do they make it work with a 19th team?
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Chapter 5: How are logistics affecting the scheduling of AFL games?
So one team would have to sit out, you know, whether or not you have two sides play twice or maybe you have a showdown and then the Crows and Ball play another one. I'm just spitballing here. That's an issue. So just the logistics of working out who's going to sit out. Is it the bottom ranked team from the year before? I'm not sure. And the other thing too is
And probably the main one, Tim, I think, is length of contract. So clearly the SA government wants a long contract because they're saying, well, if we're going to invest $100 million, let's say more, we want to take the game. My understanding is they want to go south. They've been to the Barossa, they've been to the Adelaide Hills, Norwood Oval, you've seen Adelaide Oval, of course.
Now, Tim, when you get over here, I'll take you to a lovely part of SA, the McLaren Vale. That's where they want to have the next games if they get the deal. But to do that, they're going to have to invest significantly. So I think there's that.
They're saying, well, if we're going to do it, we need a commitment from you, AFL, that you want to be here for a long time so we're prepared to then put in the money.
Well, Gary also had Melanuskas reveal the fact that State of Origin is all part of this agreement as well.
Yeah, exactly. And Gary was, I think, bang on with that. And the other thing, too, that he wants, Jim and Gaz, extremely good. The other thing, too, that he wants, fellas, is he wants the 18 teams to be here for like a carnival or an unveiling. So, you know, whether you get them in, you know, through the streets of Adelaide.
Opening ceremony style, Tommy.
Yeah, I know. It's a bit crazy, isn't it? But I think he wants everyone here at the same time, as opposed to what we've got. at the moment where, you know, if a team plays Sunday, they might fly in on the Saturday, you know, which is normal for a week to week. But I think, say, get them there, all there on the Wednesday. It's like a carnival, a footy festival, whatever you want to call it.
And they're all unveiled.
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Chapter 6: What is the significance of the Friday Night Double Header?
Fans can go and, you know, come and see their heroes and their teams.
Beautifully said. Now, Tommy Wren is the voice of South Australian football and reason over there. I'm looking at the ā we've got fixturing on our mind at the moment because of this ridiculous doubleheader. Round eight, the Western Bulldogs play Fremantle, Marvel Stadium, 720. Big game. Big game between two contending clubs. Didn't trust the showdown.
They finally gave the showdown an 8-10 Friday night slot, but it's part of a doubleheader. Is Adelaide up in arms over there? Cornsy, Graham Corn's gone nuts.
Oh, yeah. Oh, Cornsy doesn't like it. And to be honest, I'm with him on this one.
Yeah, we're with you too.
Give it clear air. I don't know. Look, I'm terribly biased, as you know. Yeah. But I... I think it's one of the best rivalries in the AFL. No matter where they are in the ladder. And look, Port aren't great this season. The Crows, I think, will be okay. But they just provide great games and great theatre. I think...
You know, I almost think it's a little bit immature to think Victorian fans wouldn't and the rest of the country wouldn't buy in. I think you guys, the listeners, everyone loves it. So let's give it clear air and, you know, just showcase it. And if people don't watch it or don't turn up or the ratings don't reflect it, then that's it.
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Chapter 7: How do fans feel about the latest AFL scheduling decisions?
See you later. We won't do it again. But I think you'll find. People really embrace it. If you give it that clear air and a game one out.
You could have done a Ramsgate doco in the build-up and just got the real rivalry cranked right up to level 10.
And, Gaz, the other thing we can do, and Tim will be able to help me on this, find me a couple of rock pools to swim out of, and they can be your playoffs and your play-in, Timmy. You find me a couple of swimming pools.
Yeah, still one of the best ā well, I was going to say stand-up, but you weren't standing up. You're actually the best swimming stand-up. Piece of camera ever in the history of television. Now, we were at an establishment over there in Adelaide late last week, and there's a photo up on the wall with all the celebrities that had been there.
They'd signed it, but I kept ā I said to Gary, I'm going to go look and see if there's not a photo up here of Tommy Wren. I couldn't find one there, Tommy. He doesn't do cash recording.
He's impartial. Yeah, thank you, Gaz. But the other problem, I think, that may have been the case, thank you, Gary, for that, is that I think the camera lens, it was a fixed photo, didn't capture me. They had the height restriction, unfortunately.
They went over your head, Tommy.
Yeah, they went over their head.
They shot from the waist up and they missed you out.
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Chapter 8: What are the expectations for future Gather Round events?
Hey, jump on the line every time we ring you, mate, and it's very, very much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Absolute pleasure. Great work, boys. Love talking.
Good on you, mate. Good on you, Tommy. He does love talking. He does. He's a star. And somebody wants to know, did they hear a pipe in the background then, too? Were you smoking on your pipe? No, I wasn't. I wasn't.
Yep.