Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Spirit Level]

****ing Friday ****ing night can get ****ed. afl gifting the pies a win.

How so?

 

[Demon13304]

The key is to give Blues and Bombers prime time in the first month or two while fans still carry false hope.

Then move them to graveyard slots in the second half of the season when reality arrives.

I mean they got a lot of primetime slots in the second half of the year as well

 

[fl4gd0n5]

Why was it decided Hawthorn/Essendon is a round 1 staple?

This is just what happens when big clubs want to do something together. How could the greedy AFL say no?

They had 68k in R1 2023 (after both teams finished bottom six in 2022), 73k in R1 2024, and 80k in R1 2025 (Hawthorn's third biggest home crowd ever). Weather permitting, 2026 will be even bigger because of the Merrett stuff. I can understand why they're keen to do it in 2026 but I wouldn't mind if they went away from it after that, I think in 2027 Easter weekend may be R1 because of the 150 years test match, so they won't be able to play each other.

It does mean though that Essendon has set games against all of their biggest rivals. Carlton on King's birthday eve, Collingwood on ANZAC day, Richmond for Dreamtime, and Hawthorn in round 1. I'd confidently say that is the Easter Sunday night game draws a good crowd (45k+), and the game is relatively close, they'll make that a thing as well. It's nice that my club plays in big games like this, but I'd also like it if there was a bit of unknown going into the fixture lol.

 

[LB#16]

Essendon are getting shunted from prime time I thought I heard.

Friday night round one and Easter Sunday evening are what exactly?

 

[blueiris]

I’m done with the ****s at head office 5 years not one game at Adelaide Oval in gather round so much for being the Premiers it’s like we’re being punished for beating AFL pets in Grand Finals we get treated like a second class citizen

 

[Grasshopper17]

Also known as the "how can we nobble Brisbane this time" rule

Full fixture Thursday according to that article, so surely a couple of tasters over the next 24 hours

I love how even non-Brisbane fans have realised this. Also known as the "oh sh!t that's right, Gold Coast were top 6 this year " clause.

Will be fascinating to see how many teams actually get assigned 4 double-up opponents from their own grouping of 6. "1" would be the early favourite I'd have thought.

At least the AFL are being obvious and transparent about it now I guess

 

[CarterS]

Also known as the "how can we nobble Brisbane this time" rule

Full fixture Thursday according to that article, so surely a couple of tasters over the next 24 hours

Can gaurantee that Brisbane will have 4 double ups from the top 6 including GC.

 

[rohan171]

How hard is it to shuffle some games around for gather round, two fixtures that have been repeated three out of four years is honestly such a poor effort. How hard is it to shuffle things around a bit a create some excitement for the round

 

[Grasshopper17]

With two new finals time to rename the qualifying finals as preliminary finals.and vice versa.
And these two new finals need a name which isnt wildcard 1&2 nor elimination 1&2

Preliminary Elimination Finals

 

[rohan171]

Can gaurantee that Brisbane will have 4 double ups from the top 6 including GC.

Four double ups from the top six is actually a joke. I love how they’ve changed the fixture rules just for you guys

 

[Elroo]

North vs. Lions on a country ground again in GR. Lol.

Yep, something like 4 out of the last 5 years.

 

[blueiris]

Yep, something like 4 out of the last 5 years.

We’re clearly the afterthought of the fixture

 

[Grasshopper17]

Yep, something like 4 out of the last 5 years.

A far cry from the days when North v Brisbane was a marquee matchup. Particularly in Melbourne. Two Preliminary Finals in quick succession (the 2nd of which was far better than the final margin suggests) and several ripping home and away matches from 1996 to 2001.

 

[Atomboy]

Carlton on the Thursday night while the Lions play North - at this point they aren’t even trying

 

[Boyohboywowwee]

Match of the round at Norwood

 

[JPetro83]

Can we PLEASE have Round 1 now???????

 

[JPetro83]

Are the AFL purposely sabotaging Gather Round? The interest from the public will diminish year by year if it's the same old matchups. Seems like they're preparing it for failure so they can relocate it to Queensland.

They are ruining it cos they dont want to take blockbusters away from the MCG. They wont put Essendon v Carlton at the Adelaide oval when they can get 30K more at the MCG. Essendon V Melb is asnoozefest!

 

[CarterS]

Very low effort Gather Round fixture.

 

[Billy ray]

they arent even trying now

 

[hawks25]

Some big leaks

Round 6
Syd v GWS
SCG - Friday 7.50

Melb v GWS
MCG - round 12

GWS v Syd
Round 20

Carl v Syd
In Melbourne somewhere

Please just release the whole thing AFL!

 

[theprospector]

Some big leaks

Round 6
Syd v GWS
SCG - Friday 7.50

Melb v GWS
MCG - round 12

GWS v Syd
Round 20

Carl v Syd
In Melbourne somewhere

Please just release the whole thing AFL!

And let me guess, that Round 6 Friday night game will also have a Victorian game at the same time

 

[Blackhawk42]

Very low effort Gather Round fixture.

This years was poor.

The new one is lazy, but at least my own side is in a marquee match-up, and as a neutral I have some interest in Coll/Freo and Port/St.Kilda

 

[JPetro83]

And let me guess, that Round 6 Friday night game will also have a Victorian game at the same time

100%!

 

[JPetro83]

Some big leaks

Round 6
Syd v GWS
SCG - Friday 7.50

Melb v GWS
MCG - round 12

GWS v Syd
Round 20

Carl v Syd
In Melbourne somewhere

Please just release the whole thing AFL!

Im surprised Round 1 hasnt been leaked

 

[JPetro83]

Preliminary Elimination Finals

Week 1 (Wildcard Round)
Qualifying Final 1
Qualifying Final 2

Week 2
Quarter Final 1 (Previously Qual Finals)
Quarter Final 2
Elimination Final 1
Elimination Final 2

Week 3
Semi Final 1
Semi Final 2

Week 4
Preliminary Final 1
Preliminary Final 2

Week 5
Grand Final