The ongoing fuel shortage could see footy fans choose not to attend the AFL\u2019s Gather Round next weekend as the price of petrol continues to remain high. <\/p>\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a four-phase plan on Monday to tackle the crisis, including halving the fuel excise \u2013 which will reduce the cost by 26.3 cents per litre, meaning a $16 reduction when filling up a 60-litre tank.<\/p>\n
Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n The three editions of Gather Round have been a huge success with fans flocking from Victoria and around the country to watch all 18 teams play in Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Norwood and the Barossa Valley. <\/p>\n Last year\u2019s total attendance across the weekend was more than 269,000, but there are fears that figure could take a tip this year as the price of fuel hits fans in the hip pocket. <\/p>\n Tens of thousands of supporters make the drive from Melbourne and Victoria to Adelaide for Gather Round, but there are fears many may choose not to make the trip this year due to the cost of travel.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to be dramatic about it but I\u2019m not going to be surprised if there\u2019s less people in Adelaide in this particular year,\u201d footy journalist Damian Barrett said on the Sounding Board podcast. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s going to be a problem because it\u2019s been a beautiful experience being part of Adelaide for Gather Round for the three years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll still be a fantastic experience and I hope everyone can still accommodate their own ways to get there.\u00a0But people are talking about the decision they may need to make in a couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Co-host Craig Hutchison agreed: \u201cWhen you overlay the cost of living, cost of goods, cost of fuel, interest rates that are going to increase \u2014 you\u2019ve got a bit of a perfect little mini storm. <\/p>\n \u201cThe thing that worries me the most is the gap between the haves and have-nots widens.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Hutchison added: \u201cThe AFL has done a really good job at managing ticket prices and managing\u00a0that cost space.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGather Round, hopefully we get a real following and crowd and it\u2019s a real celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou can understand with 30 per cent of people driving, that it gets a little bit more challenging\u00a0for families.\u201d<\/p>\n In previous years, accommodation booked out in Adelaide months before Gather Round, but this year there are still several options on Airbnb available for the weekend, with a number of properties slashing prices.<\/p>\n Last week it emerged club CEOs had discussed whether the fuel shortage would have an impact on the season<\/a> if air travel is restricted. <\/p>\n But AFL CEO Andrew Dillon remains confident Gather Round would be well attended despite the price of travel and cost of living.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are doing it tough but what we have seen is great ticket sales for Gather Round,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also have a ticket return mechanism which we haven\u2019t really seen enacted yet so, a great announcement by the PM today and I think that cutting of the excise is a welcome relief for all motorists.\u201d<\/p>\n