Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Kobe Gryant]

As my family is moving to Adelaide in January, this will be the first Gather Round that I'm able to attend. Have been keen to go every year until now. But I seriously believe that would have to be just about the most underwhelming set of fixtures you could have ever cobbled together. Struggling to think how you could have made the entirety of the match-ups less appealing.

#marqueeround
#mediocrefixtures
#yawntacular
#thanksafl

Adelaide vs Collingwood was right there to open the round.

Sure, there might be some moralistic reasons not to capitalise on the theatre of it, but when has the AFL ever cared about that? See Kenny's aeroplanes just this year.

I can only guess that they've avoided marquee matches for fear of giving an advantage to a side with probable double up games, like any combination of Geelong/Hawthorn/Brisbane/Sydney/Pies/Gold Coast...but still.

Looks a real blah round of football in totality.

 

[TomsBulgingDisc]

As my family is moving to Adelaide in January, this will be the first Gather Round that I'm able to attend. Have been keen to go every year until now. But I seriously believe that would have to be just about the most underwhelming set of fixtures you could have ever cobbled together. Struggling to think how you could have made the entirety of the match-ups less appealing.

#marqueeround
#mediocrefixtures
#yawntacular
#thanksafl

It's like they asked chatgpt to draft the most boring round imaginable. Not a single game worth watching.

 

[The_Todd07]

We’re playing Port away on ANZAC Day.

Yesterday I was supposed to be a part of a ceremony at the club commemorating the 13 past players who didn't return from war, as my great grandfather was one of them.
Last week we got word that it wasn't going ahead thanks to some part of it not being ready. The guy organising it was not happy to say the least but said he'd try for ANZAC Day instead.

I looked at the calendar and saw ANZAC Day was a Saturday so thought I might get to be part of a game day ceremony at GMHBA on ANZAC Day itself which would be pretty amazing.

Suppose it's too much to ask the AFL to get both the playing on ANZAC Day and the in Geelong parts right

 

[BotsMaster]

We’re playing Port away on ANZAC Day.

Shame. I thought playing Carlton on ANZAC weekend was going to be a regular fixture.

 

[dudusmaximus]

See Kenny's aeroplanes just this year.

Kenny should be the face of Aeroplane Jelly

 

[cats_09]

 

[goyoucatters]

Adelaide vs Collingwood was right there to open the round.

Sure, there might be some moralistic reasons not to capitalise on the theatre of it, but when has the AFL ever cared about that? See Kenny's aeroplanes just this year.

I can only guess that they've avoided marquee matches for fear of giving an advantage to a side with probable double up games, like any combination of Geelong/Hawthorn/Brisbane/Sydney/Pies/Gold Coast...but still.

Looks a real blah round of football in totality.

Interesting theory. But that would involve the AFL caring in any way at all about fairness in the fixture. So I think we can instinctively reject that idea almost immediately.

For myself, I think they've loaded up on an appalling round of fixtures here precisely because there is no incentive to get any real sizzle happening for this weekend. Gather Round in and of itself has garnered more than enough interest, to the point where it appears people just turn up for the novelty value of it all. So if nobody's really paying any attention to which teams are playing each other and are going to front for the games regardless, I figure the AFL is keeping its powder dry to plant some of its juiciest match-ups on alternative weekends that might otherwise fall flat in terms of fan engagement. Why reward real fans of the game with decent fixtures when they've travelled halfway across the country to be there, when you can offer them some genuine slop instead and save your money-spinning fixtures for just when you need them?

#youknowitmakessense
#alwaysbackthehorsenamedselfinterest
#jacklangwasright

 

[Commando]

Why are they doubling up Friday night games
To give exclusive content to Fox?

I don't know if it's just me but two thirds of the fixture feels exactly the same every year

 

[Whiskers]

Why are they doubling up Friday night games
To give exclusive content to Fox?

I don't know if it's just me but two thirds of the fixture feels exactly the same every year

Yes to give Fox exclusive content is a major factor.
It is almost the same every year because we get locked in games to certain rounds.
Teams get grouped together for double ups based on the ladder and teams are often in the same parts of the ladder.

The TV networks have a big say in what’s a big match and what’s not, therefore fixtures feel similar each year.

 

[Commando]

Yes to give Fox exclusive content is a major factor.
It is almost the same every year because we get locked in games to certain rounds.
Teams get grouped together for double ups based on the ladder and teams are often in the same parts of the ladder.

The TV networks have a big say in what’s a big match and what’s not, therefore fixtures feel similar each year.

So it's not just me then?
I feel there is a basic template and the odd team gets switched here and there

Perhaps I'm getting older but I feel there is a jump the shark moment coming for the AFL it's straying too far from tradition

 

[cats_09]

 

[goyoucatters]

Absolutely appalling (yet not surprising) that the bin fire that is the Blues will again be featured as much as just about any other team in these marquee time slots in 2026. Cue so many more Thursday and Friday nights where the average footy fan will be casting around for something better to do than watch their dross. Thanks for nothing, AFL.

#patheticallypredictable
#greengoblinridesagain

 

[cats_09]

 

[cats_09]

 

[fpm84]

Means we’ll have a bye round 2.

 

[Whiskers]

I think we will play pies round 8 or 9.
For some reason we always play them around that time of the year, pendles equals or breaks games record, big game etc.
Plus we know most of our other games in the 1st 10 weeks.
Makes sense to me.
Won’t be a Friday though.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Round	Opponent	Venue	Date & Time (All Local Times)
Opening Round	Gold Coast Suns	People First Stadium, Gold Coast	Friday March 6, 7.05pm
Round 1	Fremantle	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Saturday March 14, 4.15pm
Round 2	BYE
Round 3	Adelaide	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Thursday March 26, 7.30pm
Round 4	Hawthorn	MCG, Melbourne	Monday April 6, 3.15pm
Round 5	West Coast Eagles	Norwood Oval, Adelaide	Sunday April 12, 12.00pm
Round 6	Western Bulldogs	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Friday April 17, 7.20pm
Round 7	Port Adelaide	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	Saturday April 25, 6.05pm
Round 8	North Melbourne	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Saturday May 2, 4.35pm
Round 9	Collingwood	MCG, Melbourne	Saturday May 9, 7.35pm
Round 10	Brisbane	Gabba, Brisbane	Thursday May 14, 7.30pm
Round 11	Sydney	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Saturday May 23, 4.15pm
Round 12	Carlton	MCG, Melbourne	Friday May 29, 7.40pm
Round 13	Adelaide	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	Thursday June 4, 7.00pm
Round 14	Gold Coast Suns	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong	Friday June 12, 7.40pm
Round 15	Fremantle	Optus Stadium, Perth	Thursday June 18, 6.10pm
Round 16	BYE

Geelong's Fixture - Round 17-24 (Details to be confirmed)​

Round	Opponent	Venue
Round 17	Brisbane	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Round 18	GWS Giants	ENGIE Stadium, Sydney
Round 19	St Kilda	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Round 20	Melbourne	MCG, Melbourne
Round 21	Collingwood	MCG, Melbourne
Round 22	Essendon	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Round 23	North Melbourne	Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Round 24	Richmond	GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Fremantle, Adelaide, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Gold Coast and Brisbane twice.

 

[Scorpio]

No real surprises with the GMHBA matches. All the usual suspects.

 

[cats_09]

In colourful format - first MCG Collingwood match is at home, the second is away

 

[The_Todd07]

I think we will play pies round 8 or 9.
For some reason we always play them around that time of the year, pendles equals or breaks games record, big game etc.
Plus we know most of our other games in the 1st 10 weeks.
Makes sense to me.
Won’t be a Friday though.

DING DING Ding
We have a winner

 

[Schmuck]

Double ups: ladder after h/a

Adelaide 1st
Brisbane 3rd
Pies 4th
Freo 6th
Suns 7th
North shit

Gee that’s a hard fixture.

 

[Scorpio]

Double ups: ladder after h/a

Adelaide 1st
Brisbane 3rd
Pies 4th
Freo 6th
Suns 7th
North shit

Gee that’s a hard fixture.

Would be hilarious if say Adelaide and Collingwood dropped off and the nuffys again start saying that we copped an easy draw

 

[fpm84]

Double ups: ladder after h/a

Adelaide 1st
Brisbane 3rd
Pies 4th
Freo 6th
Suns 7th
North shit

Gee that’s a hard fixture.

eh, would rather have Crows/Freo/Pies twice rather than GWS, Hawks or even Dogs.