Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Seattle Mariners]

People are a bit obsessed with a grand final rematch to open the season, despite it not really being a great option.

Because the opening fixture got cancelled this year, there might be an appetite from the AFL to have another crack at it.

I think it would be a great way to kick off the season - Brisbane V Geelong.

My Opening Round:

Brisbane V Geelong - Thu (n) Gabba
Sydney V Bulldogs - Fri (n) SCG
Gold Coast V Melbourne - Sat, Peoples First Choice Stadium
GWS V Hawthorn - Sat (n) Engie Stadium
St Kilda V Collingwood - Sun (n) MCG

If people are genuinely offended and upset by a Brisbane V Geelong opening, then why not have Bris V Hawks and GWS V Geelong opening round.

 

[dogga004]

Because the opening fixture got cancelled this year, there might be an appetite from the AFL to have another crack at it.

I could also see it being Hawthorn on the Thursday night because the Essendon v Hawthorn game in R1 will probably be Friday night (not that I necessarily think it should be). They need one of the vic clubs with a bigger following for the GWS game, Sydney can draw crowds so I’d give them Adelaide or a smaller vic club like the Bulldogs (St Kilda want Sunday night).

My opening round would be:
Brisbane v Hawthorn - Thursday
Sydney v Adelaide/Bulldogs - Friday
Gold Coast v Essendon - Saturday
GWS Giants v Geelong - Sunday 3:15
St Kilda v Collingwood - Sunday 7:20

I’d aim to have the grand final rematch a few weeks later, maybe Geelong play away in round 1 too then play a Friday game in r2 v Brisbane at GMHBA to unveil the flag.

 

[blueiris]

I could also see it being Hawthorn on the Thursday night because the Essendon v Hawthorn game in R1 will probably be Friday night (not that I necessarily think it should be). They need one of the vic clubs with a bigger following for the GWS game, Sydney can draw crowds so I’d give them Adelaide or a smaller vic club like the Bulldogs (St Kilda want Sunday night).

My opening round would be:
Brisbane v Hawthorn - Thursday
Sydney v Adelaide/Bulldogs - Friday
Gold Coast v Essendon - Saturday
GWS Giants v Geelong - Sunday 3:15
St Kilda v Collingwood - Sunday 7:20

I’d aim to have the grand final rematch a few weeks later, maybe Geelong play away in round 1 too then play a Friday game in r2 v Brisbane at GMHBA to unveil the flag.

Brisbane unveil the flag at GMHBA lol definitely a typo

 

[dogga004]

Brisbane unveil the flag at GMHBA lol definitely a typo

?? It doesn't say Brisbane unveil the flag just that they'd unveil it in the rematch.

maybe Geelong play away in round 1 too then play a Friday game in r2 v Brisbane at GMHBA to unveil the flag.

 

[The Feeder Club]

?? It doesn't say Brisbane unveil the flag just that they'd unveil it in the rematch.

Am I missing something? This doesn't make any sense. You only get to unveil (or more accurately unfurl) a flag once, so you sure as hell don't do it at your opponent's home ground

 

[blueiris]

?? It doesn't say Brisbane unveil the flag just that they'd unveil it in the rematch.

The rematch in Geelong

 

[Mentallo]

I wouldn't be surprised if in Opening round we have Swans v Blues at the SCG on the Fri night to try cash in on the Curnow trade etc etc.

 

[Dirty Bird]

How many primetime games did Carlton and Essendon get again?

My point exactly - Don't double down on medicore teams.

 

[Ross]

People are a bit obsessed with a grand final rematch to open the season, despite it not really being a great option.

With how often it gets proposed you'd think it was something that happens frequently but it's not. I went as far back as 1970 and it's happened 10 times in over 55 seasons. Six of those were from the 1976 GF through to the 1989 GF, then it didn't happen again until somebody seemingly got keen on the idea in the late 2000s and they did opening round rematches of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 GFs. The only opening round GF rematch since 2009 was Melbourne vs Bulldogs a few years ago.

 

[pjcrows]

Gather Round Adelaide v Brisbane, Port v St Kilda, Collingwood v Fremantle, Hawks v Dogs.

 

[Saints4ever]

Gather Round Adelaide v Brisbane, Port v St Kilda, Collingwood v Fremantle, Hawks v Dogs.

Guessing or inside word?

 

[Southern Sun]

Gather Round Adelaide v Brisbane, Port v St Kilda, Collingwood v Fremantle, Hawks v Dogs.

This sounds like the possible Adelaide oval line-up with Geelong v ? filling the other spot.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

I wouldn't be surprised if in Opening round we have Swans v Blues at the SCG on the Fri night to try cash in on the Curnow trade etc etc.

Good idea but it appears Sydney v Carlton is a fixed event during Sir Douglas Nicholls round at the SCG.

That may change next year.

 

[kirky]

I'd love this thread to change course from the showdown discussion.

Last year Gather Round was released on 11 Nov and opening round on 12 Nov.

Expect next week to get a couple of leaks.

The she'll all fire up from the week starting 10 Nov.

Don’t they sort of wait till Spring Racing is over then start the leaks?

 

[Bulldog Brent]

Don’t they sort of wait till Spring Racing is over then start the leaks?

Used to announce late October. Definitely been pushed out.

 

[kirky]

People are a bit obsessed with a grand final rematch to open the season, despite it not really being a great option.

Couple of reasons not to do it:

• Generally the first round/game gets heaps of hype anyway (almost any fixture will work so why waste a premium one)
• GF teams tend to start slow so it wont be the best game either
• You can save the game for a few weeks in once the teams have got going and you can build up to the rematch

Which is why we have been getting Richmond vs Carlton R1 since 2007. A tradition that has been going for a whole 18 years.

Mind you the last few have been close.

 

[kirky]

Used to announce late October. Definitely been pushed out.

That was prior to Covid and AFLW (which was originally before the mens season) tho..

 

[L_W_P]

I'd love this thread to change course from the showdown discussion.

Last year Gather Round was released on 11 Nov and opening round on 12 Nov.

Expect next week to get a couple of leaks.

The she'll all fire up from the week starting 10 Nov.

I still wonder if the AFL aren't waiting to see what the NRL are doing with their first week.

If the whole comp moves overseas for a week or two then we probably see the Lions, Suns, Swans & Giants all start the year with back to back home games.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Gather Round Adelaide v Brisbane, Port v St Kilda, Collingwood v Fremantle, Hawks v Dogs.

Pretty decent fixtures for Gather Round.
Especially like the Hawks V Dogs game.

Do Collingwood have an agreement with the AFL that they are exempt from playing an SA team in Gather Rd?

 

[manicmagpie]

Pretty decent fixtures for Gather Round.
Especially like the Hawks V Dogs game.

Do Collingwood have an agreement with the AFL that they are exempt from playing an SA team in Gather Rd?

The logical answer is that the AFL knows that Collingwood will be able to fill AO without an SA team to help them.

Also, given that the SA teams don’t get the gate proceeds in Gather Round, they would both prefer to host Collingwood when it’s actually a home game for them.

 

[blueiris]

Expect the AFL to have the Lions at that 3rd grade stadium in Norwood again likely against Saints in gather round

 

[Viceregal]

Expect the AFL to have the Lions at that 3rd grade stadium in Norwood again likely against Saints in gather round

Last year folks were going yay re Norwood and suggesting it was better not to play at AO...

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Expect the AFL to have the Lions at that 3rd grade stadium in Norwood again likely against Saints in gather round

Surely not.
Brisbane have never played at AO while Melbourne and Essendon have always played at AO for Gather Rd.
Expect some changes this year as the AFL look to reward high achievers (well in theory in anyway)

 

[Viceregal]

Expect some changes this year as the AFL look to reward high achievers

I was hoping you could elaborate on your use of the acronym A F L ... I know one use of it but as far as I am aware that particular organisation honours commitments to elements such as the rewarding of high achievers much more in the breech than the observance as shown most especially on how the various southern team's schedule of FTA games are concerned.

Keenly interested in the alternate rendering...

 

[blueiris]

Surely not.
Brisbane have never played at AO while Melbourne and Essendon have always played at AO for Gather Rd.
Expect some changes this year as the AFL look to reward high achievers (well in theory in anyway)

You can only hope so our record at AO isn't that bad either