Fixture 2026 Fixture

[blueiris]

AFL have an agreement with the racing industry not to take the spotlight away from them.
No leaks will come out until after stakes day.

I miss when the fixture came out in October not sure why it takes longer and longer for them to release it

 

[kid_a]

I miss when the fixture came out in October not sure why it takes longer and longer for them to release it

All part of being "agile" and "dynamic"

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I miss when the fixture came out in October not sure why it takes longer and longer for them to release it

Because trade and free agency dominates the media across October, and the AFL is a 51 week media organisation, with Cup week off [resumably at the request of bookie sponsors, more than a sporting one.

 

[JPetro83]

I think the AFL are waiting for the Ashes squad to be released to then drop the fixture or fixture news

 

[JPetro83]

In regards to Gather Rd, I think there's 3 things to take into account.

1) The Vic teams share the load with away games at AO. So I expect Collingwood/St Kilda/North Melbourne/Richmond to share them. With the other 2 playing there next year.

2) Adelaide requests Thursday Night

3) You need to take into account the previous weeks games due to Easter
Brisbane vs Collingwood on Thursday
North Melbourne vs Carlton on Friday
Hawthorn vs Geelong on Monday
With a high likelihood of Fremantle vs someone (Probably Adelaide to even out breaks) Friday Night too

So I'll go with

Thursday - Adelaide vs Collingwood (AO)
Friday - Fremantle vs North Melbourne (NO)
Friday - Carlton vs Brisbane (AO)
Saturday - Essendon vs Western BUlldogs (AO)
Saturday - Richmond vs Greater Western Sydney (Barossa)
Saturday - Hawthorn vs Sydney (AO)
Sunday - West Coast vs Gold Coast (Barossa)
Sunday - Geelong vs Melbourne (NO)
Sunday - Port Adelaide vs St Kilda (AO)

As much as it makes a shit tonne of sense to utilise Collingwood's Gather Rd on Port when they're down, I think we'll see from last year, the AFL won't pass this up for the marketing side of things and give us this blockbuster.

Is it the best Rd? No.
But, I'm trying to put myself in the AFL's shoes based around pre-set matches to try and get it close to the final product.

Another gifted 4 points to Port Adelaide?

 

[JPetro83]

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

Norwood is still better than the soulless GABBA

 

[Senor M]

Get educated champ. general footy knowledge.

This gives off the same vibes as "Alex" the Cooker from TikTok -- "Collaborative Observation" I think his name is that spends his days filming himself walking universities & VicRoads offices claiming that he has the right to film "anywhere his eyes can see", then gets upset when the "feelings police" are called, ranting that everyone needs to "get educated" including the police officers who issue him move on warnings.

Claims to be intending to take everyone to court, but never follows through on it.

Real odd vibes.

 

[blueiris]

Norwood is still better than the soulless GABBA

Ok champ

 

[mikey127]

With ANZAC day being a Saturday be interesting if they move Collingwood v Essendon to the earlier timeslot of 1:20 that most Saturday games are played at or maybe push it back and push the twilight game back

 

[blueiris]

With ANZAC day being a Saturday be interesting if they move Collingwood v Essendon to the earlier timeslot of 1:20 that most Saturday games are played at or maybe push it back and push the twilight game back

A Night Anzac game would be perfect not sure why they've never tried it

 

[Spirit Level]

I'd assume Anzac day will get a 3:20pm slot, Freo will have the Len Hall Anzac game at night

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

A Night Anzac game would be perfect not sure why they've never tried it

It only really works on the Friday and Saturday, and they want to keep the timeslot consistent year to year would be my guess. Daytime may suit the older veterans as well.

 

[jwikked]

A Night Anzac game would be perfect not sure why they've never tried it

Would make it way too hard for some to make a day of it, hopefully they never change it to a night game.

Have a second night game, sure. But the Essendon/Collingwood game needs to stay where it is

 

[blueiris]

It only really works on the Friday and Saturday, and they want to keep the timeslot consistent year to year would be my guess. Daytime may suit the older veterans as well.

You understand that very little of the veterans are left right

 

[Cyclops]

Because trade and free agency dominates the media across October, and the AFL is a 51 week media organisation, with Cup week off [resumably at the request of bookie sponsors, more than a sporting one.

Sad but true, the bookies have their hands on the AFLs throat.

Not going to end well, this AFL gambling addiction.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

You understand that very little of the veterans are left right

Depends which veterans, certainly WWII vets are running thin. Vietnam veterans are still around and not young.

 

[jwikked]

You understand that very little of the veterans are left right

Plenty from Vietnam

 

[Viceregal]

Just using official wars we had troops in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq for more recent veteran types...

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I love reading the stuff South Australians say on bigfooty. They really do believe Adelaide is the centre of the universe.
Probably the funniest was the guy who went berserk when it was suggested there would be Australians who don't know who Jack Oatey is. ( whoever that is )

There's a difference between knowing who he is, and football fans should know the name. And not knowing much about him.

 

[Billy ray]

Hopefully some junior staffer who (like majority of australians couldnt give a shit about horses and gambling) leaks the whole thing today

 

[mikey127]

I'd assume Anzac day will get a 3:20pm slot, Freo will have the Len Hall Anzac game at night

There will prob be 4 games on the Saturday so potentially a Port home game Saturday night as well and maybe a twilight in Canberra

 

[mikey127]

A Night Anzac game would be perfect not sure why they've never tried it

The Storm do it and it works very well

 

[Elixuh]

When is this abomination going to be released?

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

I reckon we will cover more miles than the Leyland Brothers next season.

 

[Viceregal]

I reckon we will cover more miles than the Leyland Brothers next season.

My inner straight man briefly pondered looking up the average mileage of the Leylands and that of Port (mind you in a plane not a land rover) to compare then the rest of me went nah and let it go through to the keeper...