South Australia is well-placed to retain hosting rights for the Gather Round festival as the AFL reconsiders plans to move the event around the country.
All nine games have sold out for the inaugural edition of the feature round, which kicked off with a bang on Thursday night and has drawn more than 60,000 interstate visitors to SA.
"If I'm direct, we anticipated moving it next year if it worked ... but Adelaide just feels the right spot," McLachlan told 3AW on Friday.
"We knew about the city and Adelaide Oval and the accessibility, but the fact it's in the middle of Australia ... that's an asset as well.
"I think there's a pretty strong case that probably it's got its roots down here and needs to be here for a while."
Perth and Sydney both present as possible host city candidates for Gather Round if it is moved in future seasons, with enough venues available to host nine matches in one week.
But McLachlan said the "charm and intimacy" of Adelaide Oval made it an attractive centrepiece for the football festival.
Matches are also being played at inner-suburban Norwood Oval and Mount Barker - in the Adelaide Hills - this week.
"There's just a lot of football people in this town, all 18 teams, and Adelaide has got that scale where people can get around, you wander around," McLachlan said.
"That's why I think it's a great location for this concept.
"There are tens of thousands of people here wandering around, having a great time, enjoying their connection with the footy and the holidays and with their family and their mates.
"It's got a great feel."
McLachlan admitted the strength of the public response to the Gather Round concept had caught him by surprise.
"We couldn't have asked for any more. I'm not sure we anticipated this," McLachlan said.
"Every game's sold out. You've got over 60,000 people have come from outside South Australia.
"People are happy and having a nice time and enjoying the concept."
