After four years of off-broadway fixtures, three-time reigning AFL premiers Brisbane have finally been given a primetime slot for next year’s Gather Round.

The Lions will kick off the showpiece round in South Australia against co-hosts Adelaide on Thursday, April 8.

Gather Round for 2027 will then be book-ended by Zak Butters’ grudge match against his old side when the Western Bulldogs clash with Port Adelaide on the Sunday night.

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Brisbane’s promotion to the Thursday night slot comes after past Gather Round clashes at Mount Barker, Norwood Oval (twice) and Barossa Park.

They’ve played North Melbourne three times and the Western Bulldogs once in those matches and won them all by an average of 38.5 points, including two 70-point drubbings of the Roos.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon foreshadowed earlier this year that Brisbane were unlikely to be shunned from the spotlight for a fifth consecutive year.

“The fixture is a complex beast,” Dillon said in April.

“Their record would probably say that, if we’re here this time next year, I think you’d see them on Adelaide Oval.”

Andrew Dillon and Peter Malinauskas at the announcement of the Gather Round fixture for 2027. Credit: Getty

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Superstar midfielder Butters joined the Bulldogs as a free agent this off-season after 156 games over eight seasons at Port, including serving as vice-captain and stand-in captain this year.

Collingwood and Sydney are the main event on Friday night while likely premiership contenders Fremantle and Hawthorn will play at Adelaide Oval on the Saturday night.

Melbourne and Carlton, who faced off in an elimination final this year, have the Saturday afternoon Adelaide Oval slot.

Other grudge matches include Geelong recruit Rowan Marshall getting to face former club St Kilda at Barossa Park on Sunday.

Marshall didn’t attend the Saints’ best and fairest to help force through a trade to the Cats.

Essendon had made a habit of beating Melbourne in recent iterations of Gather Round but next year will instead face North Melbourne at Norwood Oval on Sunday.

GWS face Gold Coast at Barossa Park on Saturday afternoon.

Gather Round will fall in Round 4 of the season, landing in school holidays.

“Gather Round brings all 18 clubs and their fans together in South Australia and this fixture gives supporters nine exciting match-ups to look forward to across four days,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said in a statement.

2027 GATHER ROUND FIXTURE (ALL TIMES AEST)

Thursday, April 8

Adelaide v Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm

Friday, April 9

Collingwood v Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm

Saturday, April 10

Gold Coast v GWS, Barossa Park, 12:35pm

Carlton v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 1:35pm

Richmond v West Coast, Norwood Oval, 4:35pm

Fremantle v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 7:45pm

Sunday, April 11

Essendon v North Melbourne, Norwood Oval, 12:30pm

Geelong v St Kilda, Barossa Park, 3:15pm

Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 7:15pm

With AAP