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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Brisbane will take on North Melbourne on Saturday at Barossa Park, a Barossa Valley region venue that has a capacity of 10,000.<\/p>\n
It comes after the Lions\u2019 previous Gather Round games at Norwood Oval (twice) and Summit Sport and Recreation Park at Mount Barker.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s four-day extravaganza.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been enjoying the last couple years of Gather Round,\u201d Ashcroft said on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed playing at Norwood last year and (will enjoy) the Barossa Valley this year, but it\u2019d be nice if we get a game at Adelaide Oval at some stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows? It\u2019s a great concept, and I\u2019m really enjoying it being in Adelaide.\u201d<\/p>\n
The host state for next year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith those of couple losses, I feel like we learnt plenty.\u201d Ashcroft said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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\u2019s going to be at the coalface, and then support them around the contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was something that we really weren\u2019t doing to the best of our ability \u2013 just trusting each other to get it done and then support around the contest.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lions will on Saturday welcome back co-captain and key defender Harris Andrews, who has missed Brisbane\u2019s past three games through suspension.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my opinion, he (Andrews) is the best back in the comp, so that\u2019ll be definitely a good boost for the team,\u201d Ashcroft said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis leadership as one of the captains is going to be second to none, so we\u2019re really excited to have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ashcroft was also hopeful that another of Brisbane\u2019s co-captains, star midfielder Hugh McCluggage, and defender Noah Answerth would be available to return from respective calf and concussion issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cHughie, he\u2019s another captain, so it would be great for our leadership, and he\u2019s an All-Australian, so it\u2019d be great to have him back in the line-up, and \u2018Noz\u2019 (Answerth) as well \u2013 he\u2019s a star for us,\u201d Ashcroft said.<\/p>\n