South Australia is shaping as a likely host for the AFL's inaugural Magic Round, which would see all 18 teams play their fixtures in the same state across the one round.
NSW was expected to hold the event in a play to 'grow the game', but the lure of big crowds and projected success in SA has AFL bosses assessing their options.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has been bullish about his state's capability of hosting an event of this size, sledging NSW while speaking on 5AA.
"I've been pretty blunt about this with Gil and others," the SA Premier began.
"'If you guys host this in New South Wales, these guys can't get half a stadium full for a run-of-the-mill NRL match, let alone an AFL match.
"If this goes to Sydney, people are going to turn on their television sets and they're going to see 600 people at the western Sydney ground watching Freo versus Brisbane.
"Whereas here in Adelaide, we'll put on one hell of a show and we know people will show up to watch.
"We think South Australia presents the opportunity to de-risk a new method of delivering the game to make sure it's a great success."
If the Magic Round lands in SA, Adelaide Oval will host the blockbuster games. Suburban ovals in Glenelg, Norwood, Elizabeth, and Barossa are being considered as possible venues.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan shared his interest in the footy carnival fixture in September, targeting April 2023 as his preferred timeslot.
Since McLachlan's announcement, NSW was seen as the frontrunner, with the AFL still keen on growing the game in the eastern state.
However, 9News reports that the AFL commission met on Tuesday to discuss a five-year plan, emphasising the need for the first Magic Round to be a 'spectacle'.
While accepting hosting the carnival in NSW is a 'worthwhile exercise', Malinauskas is working to ensure that his state remains in the AFL's Magic Round plans.
"We're in with a shot," Malinauskas told 9News.
"A lot of hard work has been done, and I suspect a fair bit more needs to be done."
Local leagues have committed to a bye round should the Magic Round come to the SA, with the state all in on their bid to draw huge footy crowds.
