Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Gavin Excell]

Surely they aren't going to persist with the God awful Round zero

 

[kirky]

Surely they aren't going to persist with the God awful Round zero

You do understand we are talking about the AFL - they will double down on it.

 

[blueiris]

Surely they aren't going to persist with the God awful Round zero

How else are they going to grow the game in the north

 

[GC2015]

I reckon we get the Dees on the Gold Coast in Round 1. Petracca v his old side at his new home stadium. Let's go!

 

[Run n Spread]

Won't be till later.
Got to find out start time.
There is an NFL game at the MCG on probably
Friday 4th September (clashes with 1st week of finals = in which case season start gets delayed a week or they do away with open round and create an extra bye for everyone)
Or
Friday 11th September (clashes with semis. In which case leave season as is and make a semi Sunday if there are 2 MCG finals or delay by 2 weeks.)
Given the hype amoung US sports especially with the young generation and the $$$ the AFL will fit with the NFL not other way round.

 

[Oscarman]

How else are they going to grow the game in the north

Last two flags not enough?

 

[blueiris]

Last two flags not enough?

You’d hope I mean 75k members but the AFL have really nothing to do with it I’d love a Geelong type fixture next season

 

[Gavin Excell]

How else are they going to grow the game in the north

By playing games in Qld
Round Zero is an absolute dog
It screws the fixture throughout the year go f all return

 

[JackFlash]

suggestion how the AFL grow in the game in Queensland and NSW

The can play games in both states in an opening round that showcases all teams playing over 4 days. I just think the round zero idea is crazy!

 

[jwikked]

How else are they going to grow the game in the north

Growing the game is severely overrated.

 

[Viceregal]

Won't be till later.
Got to find out start time.
There is an NFL game at the MCG on probably
Friday 4th September (clashes with 1st week of finals = in which case season start gets delayed a week or they do away with open round and create an extra bye for everyone)
Or
Friday 11th September (clashes with semis. In which case leave season as is and make a semi Sunday if there are 2 MCG finals or delay by 2 weeks.)
Given the hype amoung US sports especially with the young generation and the $$$ the AFL will fit with the NFL not other way round.

If there is a final involving one MCG tenant they can play at the opposition home ground (like happens in reverse on GF day) ... if two MCG tenants play the game at Marvel.

 

[beside the seaside]

Surely they aren't going to persist with the God awful Round zero

Not even a cyclone could get rid of it. Be ironic if there's another one.

 

[JPetro83]

My highly likely incorrect guess at gather round apart from the first Adelaide game.

THU
Night: Adelaide vs Hawthorn (AO) = Pretty confident this is the matchup.

FRI
Night: Essendon vs Sydney (AO)

SAT
Early: Gold Coast vs GWS Giants
Mid: West Coast vs Geelong (AO)
Late: Brisbane vs Fremantle
Night: Carlton vs Western Bulldogs (AO)


SUN
Early: Melbourne vs St Kilda (AO)
Late: North Melbourne vs Richmond
Night: Port Adelaide vs Collingwood (AO)

Hawthorn played SA oppo this year though. if its not Adel v Pies it might actually be Adel v Ess on the thurs night? or maybe the Saints

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Cant remember where but someone suggested the Dogs were playing away in opening round this year.

Wouldn't be surprised given the Dogs will be good next year.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

I reckon we get the Dees on the Gold Coast in Round 1. Petracca v his old side at his new home stadium. Let's go!

I think so too.
Either round 0 or round 1 - GC V Dees.
You blokes will flog us.

 

[timokane]

Which venue is number 1.
I still think its the MCG still holds the mantle of number 1 venue in Australia.
Optus is a close second like to see a renaming of the venue to Perth stadium myself.
But i have MCG as 1.

 

[POSA98]

Going on the trend from previous Gather Rounds, the SA based clubs have played against Victorian teams. There has also been no Victorian club play twice against the SA clubs. This would leave Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and St Kilda as potential opponents

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Going on the trend from previous Gather Rounds, the SA based clubs have played against Victorian teams. There has also been no Victorian club play twice against the SA clubs. This would leave Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and St Kilda as potential opponents

Yes that’s correct, but can you really see Adelaide opening Gather Round against Richmond or North next year?

It’s probably time for an Adelaide V Collingwood Gather Rd game on the Thursday. Collingwood will probably be a bit miffed that they have to play a SA team in Gather Round, but other VIC clubs have too as well.

I’d have Port V St Kilda on Saturday night and a belter of a Sunday night game - say Brisbane V Geelong?

 

[wannabewinner]

HS says a possibility of Collingwood v st Kilda for Rd 0. Not locked in.

 

[Saints4ever]

I absolutely hate and loathe opening round.

I could get behind the saints vs the pies on the Sunday night though.

Would easily get 80k and gets a smaller club involved in marquee matches.

 

[POSA98]

Yes that’s correct, but can you really see Adelaide opening Gather Round against Richmond or North next year?

It’s probably time for an Adelaide V Collingwood Gather Rd game on the Thursday. Collingwood will probably be a bit miffed that they have to play a SA team in Gather Round, but other VIC clubs have too as well.

I’d have Port V St Kilda on Saturday night and a belter of a Sunday night game - say Brisbane V Geelong?

I’d say do an Adelaide vs Richmond / St Kilda and Port Adelaide vs Collingwood / North Melbourne

 

[POSA98]

HS says a possibility of Collingwood v st Kilda for Rd 0. Not locked in.

yeah heard this mentioned much earlier in the year but since then no further talk about it

 

[jwikked]

I absolutely hate and loathe opening round.

I could get behind the saints vs the pies on the Sunday night though.

Would easily get 80k and gets a smaller club involved in marquee matches.

The only way opening round becomes palatable to me, is if every team is involved.

Stops messing up the ladder until round 7, or this year, after the season. Gets rid of the extra bye teams that participate get.

It’s not needed in its current form.

 

[Dirty Bird]

I will only accept opening rd if the other games are for the greater good

This requires a few things
1) The byes are to break up fixture congestion (ie. Rich/Melb/Coll/Ess)
2) Teams dont get an advantage over another (those that play OR play each other again in Rd 1.)
3) Byes together - teams playing each other get the bye into the game together.

I can see flaws in the regular fixture. And you can manipulate the fixture to lessen the blow. But they dont.
Opening Rd as it is now is a cluster f*** and am embarrassment to the league. However, it has potential to be a net positive.

 

[L_W_P]

You do understand we are talking about the AFL - they will double down on it.

Round Zero
Brisbane v Geelong
GC v Essendon
Sydney v Collingwood
GWS v St Kilda

Round Double Zero
Brisbane v Hawthorn
GC v Richmond
Sydney v Carlton
GWS v Bulldogs

Then we get into Round 1.