AFL eyeing Labour Day opening Round in Victoria

[BigVic]

AFL targeting new public holiday for MCG fixture

'I for one would be all for this proposal'

www.nine.com.au

 

[pazza]

The day is also a Public Holiday in Adelaide (Adelaide Cup), Canberra (Canberra Day) and Tasmania (Eight Hours Day) so it could work.

 

[nickrebellious]

We're gonna end up with every team playing in round 0

 

[Tarkyn_24]

We're gonna end up with every team playing in round 0

I look forward to playing in round -1

 

[BigVic]

Too early to start footy in the first week of March

 

[Clark G]

Would this mean no mid October finish? Sounds too early to start if the season finish is to be later than usual.

 

[BigVic]

Too early to start. You have the NFL in Melbourne potentially falling in week 1 of the 2026-27 season on the 2nd week of September next year

 

[Bald]

This might be a bit of a tangent (and certainly a bit of a melt), and maybe it deserves its own thread — but there’s a real issue with equalisation in the AFL, and marquee games are a big part of it. I genuinely don’t know how to fix it. Sure, this could sound like sour grapes, but I’m trying to come at it with as little bias as possible.

From a commercial perspective, it makes total sense to schedule the big clubs in the marquee slots. I’m not arguing with that at all. But when those same big clubs are constantly handed the prime-time spotlight, it only deepens the imbalance — especially around player movement — in a competition that already favours them.

Take Tom De Koning

12

Tom De Koning

Age

26

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

2star

HO

1.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.0

4star

CL

0.5

3star

HO

1.5

5star

as an example. St Kilda is throwing a huge offer at him because that’s basically all they can offer: money. If he were already at St Kilda and looking to move to a big Victorian club, they could easily offer $400k less a year — and still be an appealing option because of the crowds, exposure, and regular marquee games.

Just last month, James Hird questioned why Brayden Maynard

4

Brayden Maynard

Age

29

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.6

5star

MG

327.8

4star

D

20.7

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.0

4star

MG

417.4

5star

D

13.8

4star

K

8.6

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.6

5star

MG

205.8

4star

would ever leave Collingwood for North, saying any money he might make at North would be offset by future commercial deals if he stayed at the Pies. And he’s probably right.

My club? We’ve never landed a star recruit through trade or free agency without some sort of asterisk. Our biggest signings? Tom Boyd — huge talent, but signed purely on potential. Barry Hall and Jason Akermanis — both outcasts at their previous clubs. And Adam Treloar

1

Adam Treloar

Age

32

Ht

185cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

28.2

5star

K

12.9

5star

HB

15.3

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

30.3

5star

K

16.3

5star

HB

14.0

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.3

4star

CL

5.8

5star

D

18.0

5star

K

11.2

4star

HB

6.8

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

1.6

4star

? We only got him because Collingwood needed a fire sale.

Again, I don’t have a solution. But when the only thing smaller clubs can realistically offer is cash — and they can’t compete on marquee slots or post-career commercial appeal — at what point do we acknowledge that a flat salary cap just doesn’t create a level playing field?

 

[catters05]

Too early to start footy in the first week of March

Needs to be only night games only.

 

[Mat Mann]

This might be a bit of a tangent (and certainly a bit of a melt), and maybe it deserves its own thread — but there’s a real issue with equalisation in the AFL, and marquee games are a big part of it. I genuinely don’t know how to fix it. Sure, this could sound like sour grapes, but I’m trying to come at it with as little bias as possible.

From a commercial perspective, it makes total sense to schedule the big clubs in the marquee slots. I’m not arguing with that at all. But when those same big clubs are constantly handed the prime-time spotlight, it only deepens the imbalance — especially around player movement — in a competition that already favours them.

Take Tom De Koning as an example. St Kilda is throwing a huge offer at him because that’s basically all they can offer: money. If he were already at St Kilda and looking to move to a big Victorian club, they could easily offer $400k less a year — and still be an appealing option because of the crowds, exposure, and regular marquee games.

Just last month, James Hird questioned why Brayden Maynard would ever leave Collingwood for North, saying any money he might make at North would be offset by future commercial deals if he stayed at the Pies. And he’s probably right.

My club? We’ve never landed a star recruit through trade or free agency without some sort of asterisk. Our biggest signings? Tom Boyd — huge talent, but signed purely on potential. Barry Hall and Jason Akermanis — both outcasts at their previous clubs. And Adam Treloar? We only got him because Collingwood needed a fire sale.

Again, I don’t have a solution. But when the only thing smaller clubs can realistically offer is cash — and they can’t compete on marquee slots or post-career commercial appeal — at what point do we acknowledge that a flat salary cap just doesn’t create a level playing field?

It is a huge issue, but self-interest will rule as you will see in further comments no doubt.

The cynic in me will see Pies playing in that slot instead of being sent north. Both your club and mine will be the only teams without any sort of marquee game.

 

[jdeezy]

This might be a bit of a tangent (and certainly a bit of a melt), and maybe it deserves its own thread — but there’s a real issue with equalisation in the AFL, and marquee games are a big part of it. I genuinely don’t know how to fix it. Sure, this could sound like sour grapes, but I’m trying to come at it with as little bias as possible.

From a commercial perspective, it makes total sense to schedule the big clubs in the marquee slots. I’m not arguing with that at all. But when those same big clubs are constantly handed the prime-time spotlight, it only deepens the imbalance — especially around player movement — in a competition that already favours them.

Take Tom De Koning as an example. St Kilda is throwing a huge offer at him because that’s basically all they can offer: money. If he were already at St Kilda and looking to move to a big Victorian club, they could easily offer $400k less a year — and still be an appealing option because of the crowds, exposure, and regular marquee games.

Just last month, James Hird questioned why Brayden Maynard would ever leave Collingwood for North, saying any money he might make at North would be offset by future commercial deals if he stayed at the Pies. And he’s probably right.

My club? We’ve never landed a star recruit through trade or free agency without some sort of asterisk. Our biggest signings? Tom Boyd — huge talent, but signed purely on potential. Barry Hall and Jason Akermanis — both outcasts at their previous clubs. And Adam Treloar? We only got him because Collingwood needed a fire sale.

Again, I don’t have a solution. But when the only thing smaller clubs can realistically offer is cash — and they can’t compete on marquee slots or post-career commercial appeal — at what point do we acknowledge that a flat salary cap just doesn’t create a level playing field?

It's been an issue for a long time but it will never be addressed - Kangaroos finally got a hold of one of these spots and the Bulldogs came with them, and then they're pushed aside for another opportunity to watch Carlton. Whenever the AFL thinks it's creating something new you can be sure Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond, Essendon, Hawthorn get first dibs. If they think Victorian fans are desperate for footy this round, then surely you could very well run Bulldogs v Saints here and get a crowd.

I know it's not your issue but the lack of nationally broadcast marquee matches impacts the non Vic clubs too. For example, KFC sponsor Port, Hawks and Collingwood. If they decide to drop that amount and go for 1 or 2 teams, which of those is going to have the most national primetime exposure to show off their brand? You've got Collingwood with at least 2 nationally broadcast, heavily promoted "marquee" games there, plus all the Thursday and Friday night games they get every year. What can Port offer to counter that?

Unfortunately it's not an issue that'll ever be addressed. The rich get richer and all that.

 

[Cyclops]

Insane suggestion. The boys club will run this sport into the ground.

 

[CarterS]

Sunday night games before public holidays are a great idea. We already have a Q Clash on the Sunday night before QLD Labour Day. This year's one is looking like one of the games of the year so far.

Fox Sports have the theoretical fixture as Carlon vs Collingwood, I'd like to see other teams in there.

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Or you could just listen to 95% of fans and maybe can OR? But that would be to simple.

 

[Billy ray]

So scrap OR by stealth is their plan. Fair enough.
Back to round 1. Split round over 2 weekends.
First weekend has two games nsw and qld plus sunday night in Melbourne so 5 all up.

Second weekend has 4 games. Thursday, fri nights and sat day and sat night. Thursday night will be rich v carlton. Other 3 games will be in Perth and adelaide. One of the 4 sa/wa teams will play away

 

[Hawkk]

Sunday night games before public holidays are a great idea. We already have a Q Clash on the Sunday night before QLD Labour Day. This year's one is looking like one of the games of the year so far.

Fox Sports have the theoretical fixture as Carlon vs Collingwood, I'd like to see other teams in there.

That would completely gut the Richmond v Carlton game - which is one of the fixtures great success stories. Surely neither of those teams should be involved (unless it’s actually the Tigers v Blues game that gets moved - which just takes a high drawing Thursday Night game away)

 

[kreglze]

If you are just going to dilute the benefits of opening round to the clubs that don't get as much of the media focus, you may as well just scrap it, was a nice try but in the end the league will always revert back to its Victoria focus.

 

[tombomb]

Top 4 vic teams go North. Next 4 vic teams go to SA/WA. Last 2 vic teams play at Marvel.

Call it round 1.

 

[Billy ray]

Vale Opening Round
2024-2025

Lest we forget

 

[Barrybran]

This might be a bit of a tangent (and certainly a bit of a melt), and maybe it deserves its own thread — but there’s a real issue with equalisation in the AFL, and marquee games are a big part of it. I genuinely don’t know how to fix it. Sure, this could sound like sour grapes, but I’m trying to come at it with as little bias as possible.

From a commercial perspective, it makes total sense to schedule the big clubs in the marquee slots. I’m not arguing with that at all. But when those same big clubs are constantly handed the prime-time spotlight, it only deepens the imbalance — especially around player movement — in a competition that already favours them.

Take Tom De Koning as an example. St Kilda is throwing a huge offer at him because that’s basically all they can offer: money. If he were already at St Kilda and looking to move to a big Victorian club, they could easily offer $400k less a year — and still be an appealing option because of the crowds, exposure, and regular marquee games.

Just last month, James Hird questioned why Brayden Maynard would ever leave Collingwood for North, saying any money he might make at North would be offset by future commercial deals if he stayed at the Pies. And he’s probably right.

My club? We’ve never landed a star recruit through trade or free agency without some sort of asterisk. Our biggest signings? Tom Boyd — huge talent, but signed purely on potential. Barry Hall and Jason Akermanis — both outcasts at their previous clubs. And Adam Treloar? We only got him because Collingwood needed a fire sale.

Again, I don’t have a solution. But when the only thing smaller clubs can realistically offer is cash — and they can’t compete on marquee slots or post-career commercial appeal — at what point do we acknowledge that a flat salary cap just doesn’t create a level playing field?

The AFL is a business. It is driven by money. The playing field will never be equal.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

It seems odd to want to start it next year, knowing the following year cricket needs to retain the MCG to prepare for the 150th Anniversary Test match. Docklands is available, but its hardly the "event" they seem to want. Easier just to play a full normal round to open the season and not get all the fixturing issues.

if that becomes part of "opening round", it certainly kills off any thought of pre-season (mens) SoO.

 

[The Feeder Club]

That would completely gut the Richmond v Carlton game - which is one of the fixtures great success stories.

Wot?

 

[Cam Payne]

As long as it reduces collingwoods travel burden we should all support it.

 

[pazza]

When Tasmania joins, they could be a perfect fit.

Imagine this - on Eight Hours Day - Tasmania hosting an Opening Round match in Hobart, against Hawthorn!

 

[Bald]

The AFL is a business. It is driven by money. The playing field will never be equal.

Yeah I get the commercial nature of it all, but I just don’t really buy this as the main reason — especially when it feels like they’re actually leaving money on the table.

Take the Queen’s Birthday clash as an example. It’s one of the few marquee fixtures that regularly pits a smaller club against a big one. Melbourne have averaged crowds of 75,000 the last four times they’ve hosted it (excluding the SCG game in 2021).

Marquee games clearly draw big crowds, but the major clubs don’t need them to pull numbers. Look at ANZAC Day 2024 — it drew 10,000 more than the regular-season Collingwood vs Essendon match, but both still had attendances over 80,000.

To me it's clear that the AFL are short-changing themselves by not even considering more small v big marquee matchups. Games between big clubs will bring in huge crowds no matter what — so why not maximise the return? It then gives the smaller clubs the ability to go to free agents and show them the marquee slots they have. It's clearly not the same because big clubs will have the majority fan support of course, but it bridges the equalisation gaps a bit I would have thought.