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Fixture 2026 Fixture

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Freo will get an AO game this year.

We we're at Barossa last year and West Coast at AO, that will most likely flip this year as has been the trend in the previous three versions of Gather Round.
Yeah I agree on that. I didn’t know which team to swap out though since I know WA fans didn’t like that Fremantle in the first gather round played Gold Coast at Norwood on a Friday afternoon which in turn was a 1pm game on a Friday in WA so I did have the thought of Melbourne vs Fremantle at Norwood but didn’t think that would be done. Possibly the bulldogs get sent out to the Barossa but yeah I have no clue which alternative could work.
 

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Adelaide v Collingwood in Adelaide is a sure fire sell out at any point of the season, so there’s no need to waste it on Gather Round.

Give Collingwood an early season game at the G against Gold Coast and see if we can get the Suns to 60k for the first time.
 
You can guarantee that Thursday night game for Gather Round will be Adelaide v Collingwood
2023 - Carlton and Western Bulldogs
2024 - Melbourne and Essendon
2025 - Geelong and Hawthorn

Yes, you're going with the buildup of Adel vs Coll after the AFL used gather Rd to do that with Port vs Hawthorn. But I also think we'll get Collingwood hosting Adelaide in Rd 2. Give Adelaie a hostile atmosphere after the final in Rankine's return game.

In gather rd though, I actually expect Port Adelaide to host Collingwood.
The AFL is going down the path of hosts vs vic every year. Vics already have a greater advantage than everyone else, so they can share the disadvantage once each every 5 years.

So Richmond, Collingwood, North Melbourne and St Kilda to be the away teams the next 2 gather rds.

I can see us getting Port Adelaide vs Collingwood (Port looking down - Plus, if Collingwood come in numbers, combined with Port looking down, it could add legitimacy to the idea it's neutral as I can see it being 40/60 or 50/50.) Then throw in Adelaide vs Richmond/St Kilda (St Kilda makes sense, but you wouldn't want to leave it for next year and only have Richmon/North left - Could make 2027 a real stinker)
 
Adelaide v Collingwood in Adelaide is a sure fire sell out at any point of the season, so there’s no need to waste it on Gather Round.

Give Collingwood an early season game at the G against Gold Coast and see if we can get the Suns to 60k for the first time.
Agree re in Adelaide.

Collingwood's the third highest drawing team here. I very much doubt they'll waste a gather rd game on Adelaide vs Collingwood. They'll always play at AO to sell it out vs someone else. Or the first time Port looks crap, they'll play that game

Plus, i do honestly feel the AFL will give us Adelaide vs Collingwood twice next year, with the Melbourne game being first as it could feasibly get an extra 20k collingwood fans turning up. May not have that at the end of the year if Adelaide's midfield doesn't progress and goes backwards and it's 8th vs 13th in Rd 20
 
Just made an mockup gather round fixture since I can’t sleep so would love your opinions

Thursday 9th April:
Adelaide vs Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval at 7:10PM:

Friday 10th April:
Melbourne vs North Melbourne at Norwood Oval at 4:10PM:

Port Adelaide vs Carlton at the Adelaide Oval at 7:40PM:

Saturday 11th April:
St Kilda vs Fremantle at Barossa Park at 12:50PM:

Sydney vs Western Bulldogs at the Adelaide Oval at 3:45PM:

Brisbane vs Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval at 7:40PM:

Sunday 12th April:
Gold Coast vs West Coast at Barossa Park at 12:10PM:

GWS vs Richmond at Norwood Oval at 3:15PM:

Geelong vs Essendon at the Adelaide Oval at 7:10PM:

Bringing back the Friday afternoon Norwood game because four games on the Saturday really made no sense and then hopefully if you want to try and attend all the games it’s more possible. You are welcome AFL content creators.

Don’t know how you can be the reigning premiers and not get scheduled to play at the Adelaide Oval during Gather Round but surely after going back to back Brisbane will finally play at the Adelaide Oval instead of gold old Norwood. Surely!?

That last game I got stumped on since knowing the AFL and the South Australia Government they will absolutely try and find a blockbuster to put on that last game timeslot so I thought Geelong vs Essendon could be a good fit since two big fan bases who don’t like each other but I don’t know I have no idea what else they could put there.

I swear if the AFL don’t have Crows vs Pies as the first game after what happened this year with Port vs Hawks I’ll lose it. Rankine will be back and after all the stuff that happened during that late season game this year you would expect the AFL to maximise the money going their way. Yes they played the qualifying final against each other but you absolutely cash in now wouldn’t you!?

Richmond fans I’m sorry I tried finding a way for you to get a game at Adelaide Oval but I couldn’t find a way sorry tigers. At least if this was real you’ll pack out Norwood with yellow and black since I can’t remember seeing any Giants fans.

Good attempt.

From a personal perspective I'd absolutely love you change that Brisbane match-up for us.

We've never won at Gather Round and I haven't seen us win a game live since 2022. I'd certainly like that to change soon haha.
 
Good attempt.

From a personal perspective I'd absolutely love you change that Brisbane match-up for us.

We've never won at Gather Round and I haven't seen us win a game live since 2022. I'd certainly like that to change soon haha.
Haha yeah understandable mate. I actually thought long and hard about the lions vs hawks game. I thought about putting the lions and the dogs against each other again but we don’t want that again do we? Great game last year at gather round but would be nice to see something different. Maybe Hawks vs Dogs at the Adelaide oval could be a option?
 

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Haha yeah understandable mate. I actually thought long and hard about the lions vs hawks game. I thought about putting the lions and the dogs against each other again but we don’t want that again do we? Great game last year at gather round but would be nice to see something different. Maybe Hawks vs Dogs at the Adelaide oval could be a option?

Hawks vs Dogs at AO would be fantastic.

A replay the Lions and Dogs game, but this time at AO would be welcomed as well. We desperately tried to get tickets to this year's game at Norwood, but to no avail.
 
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)
 
Found this on the Eagles' help website. Looks like the fixtures are going to be released shortly. IMG_2448.png
 

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Just made an mockup gather round fixture since I can’t sleep so would love your opinions

Thursday 9th April:
Adelaide vs Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval at 7:10PM:

Friday 10th April:
Melbourne vs North Melbourne at Norwood Oval at 4:10PM:

Port Adelaide vs Carlton at the Adelaide Oval at 7:40PM:

Saturday 11th April:
St Kilda vs Fremantle at Barossa Park at 12:50PM:

Sydney vs Western Bulldogs at the Adelaide Oval at 3:45PM:

Brisbane vs Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval at 7:40PM:

Sunday 12th April:
Gold Coast vs West Coast at Barossa Park at 12:10PM:

GWS vs Richmond at Norwood Oval at 3:15PM:

Geelong vs Essendon at the Adelaide Oval at 7:10PM:

Bringing back the Friday afternoon Norwood game because four games on the Saturday really made no sense and then hopefully if you want to try and attend all the games it’s more possible. You are welcome AFL content creators.

Don’t know how you can be the reigning premiers and not get scheduled to play at the Adelaide Oval during Gather Round but surely after going back to back Brisbane will finally play at the Adelaide Oval instead of gold old Norwood. Surely!?

That last game I got stumped on since knowing the AFL and the South Australia Government they will absolutely try and find a blockbuster to put on that last game timeslot so I thought Geelong vs Essendon could be a good fit since two big fan bases who don’t like each other but I don’t know I have no idea what else they could put there.

I swear if the AFL don’t have Crows vs Pies as the first game after what happened this year with Port vs Hawks I’ll lose it. Rankine will be back and after all the stuff that happened during that late season game this year you would expect the AFL to maximise the money going their way. Yes they played the qualifying final against each other but you absolutely cash in now wouldn’t you!?

Richmond fans I’m sorry I tried finding a way for you to get a game at Adelaide Oval but I couldn’t find a way sorry tigers. At least if this was real you’ll pack out Norwood with yellow and black since I can’t remember seeing any Giants fans.
SO no free to air for the premiers in the first round
 

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Fixture 2026 Fixture

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