2026 fixture wishlist/discussion

[Perrip]

Fixture will release next week according to the Herald Sun today

 

[davemc_lions]

not sure we get a double up against the Pies.
AFL will be giving them the best run for finals

I say we get Cats, Suns, Dogs, Sydney and Saints

 

[MSB ROYS]

Not Lions but Collingwood versus Geelong at Kardinia Park. The melts would be epic about lack of tickets, Geelong losing would be good, Collingwood losing also good. Pendlebury final playing in Geelong after 400 games LOL.

 

[010203]

my prediction.

double ups: gc, geelong, collingwood, sydney, adelaide, melbourne
thursday night games: 4
friday night games: 2
(note above are considering the last 1/3~ of the year will be floating and unassigned dates when fixture releases)
(still less prime time than carlton or essendon will get)
opening round against geelong.

Minimal prime time footy for Essendon but Carlton will get prime time matches because they're still a big rating club.

 

[010203]

not sure we get a double up against the Pies.
AFL will be giving them the best run for finals

I say we get Cats, Suns, Dogs, Sydney and Saints

I think a double up against Collingwood is nailed on. Fox had great ratings for the regular season game at the MCG at the start of August to go with a crowd of 80K. Washy against little Nicky is something the AFL can promote the shit out of too.

 

[davemc_lions]

I think a double up against Collingwood is nailed on. Fox had great ratings for the regular season game at the MCG at the start of August to go with a crowd of 80K. Washy against little Nicky is something the AFL can promote the shit out of too.

I agree great match up
Although was only 3 Vic sides in top 8 last year.
The A--VFL have to fix that they need the Pies top 4 and their aging list be close to bust this year.
Wait for the Blues and Bombers to get great draws and VFL house fingers crossed they do well

it not called a fixture for nothing

 

[Viceregal]

it not called a fixture for nothing

Are there any professional competitions in the world where they literally draw the fixture eg first lotto ball that comes out is Calrton then they load a ball for each other team plus the double ups and they are randomly spat out ... second team ball is Bulldogs so they load in all the other teams once except Carlton plus the double ups and so on.

Once done you have the matches for each round which you then schedule.

 

[dlanod]

Are there any professional competitions in the world where they literally draw the fixture eg first lotto ball that comes out is Calrton then they load a ball for each other team plus the double ups and they are randomly spat out ... second team ball is Bulldogs so they load in all the other teams once except Carlton plus the double ups and so on.

Once done you have the matches for each round which you then schedule.

Most leagues know they'll play everyone once or twice or a predetermined set via another means.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Bulldogs in opening round

 

[Nathan Barley]

What a rort for st kilda

Not great getting a club with an extra month off

 

[Big Sauce 21]

If that order is correct, I'd say Sat night will be the timelslot ?

 

[Section 5]

Bulldogs in opening round

It looks like they have dumped the Northern States opening the season thank heavens.
Happy to play the Dogs anywhere bar Ballarat.

 

[mighty_lions]

It looks like they have dumped the Northern States opening the season thank heavens.
Happy to play the Dogs anywhere bar Ballarat.

No thats still happening just with 1 game in melbourne

 

[010203]

If that order is correct, I'd say Sat night will be the timelslot ?

Might be Sunday afternoon, with the Saints playing Collingwood in the evening.

 

[McLuggages]

Don't really like it. Just feels a bit irrelevant. Reckon they could've picked 5-10 other teams that'd be a bit more exciting.

How cool would a lions vs suns start be? Or cats, swans, pies, hawks or even crows?

Yeah yeah, I get it - maximize the commercial opportunity over the season.

I'm well past losing sleep over the AFL though.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Might be Sunday afternoon, with the Saints playing Collingwood in the evening.

F1 in Melbourne on ? Don't think there will be a Sunday arvo

 

[rye]

Don't really like it. Just feels a bit irrelevant. Reckon they could've picked 5-10 other teams that'd be a bit more exciting.

How cool would a lions vs suns start be? Or cats, swans, pies, hawks or even crows?

Yeah yeah, I get it - maximize the commercial opportunity over the season.

I'm well past losing sleep over the AFL though.

doggies are fun to watch if nothing else.

 

[Section 5]

No thats still happening just with 1 game in melbourne

So, the confusion of Cleary saying "2026 Opening Round Fixtures" continues

 

[mighty_lions]

So, the confusion of Cleary saying "2026 Opening Round Fixtures" continues

its same as last year except for a Sunday evening game in melbourne after the f1

 

[Perrip]

doggies are fun to watch if nothing else.

Yeah, we're a great match up for them. Our last several games against them have been terrific games of footy.

 

[Squizz89]

 

[Big Sauce 21]

8v9 would have been enough

 

[ZoBlitz]

Ugh.

 

[Perrip]

If your team is in Wildcard Round, you're not winning the flag lol.

 

[MSB ROYS]

AFL desperate to increase Essendon's chance of winning a final.