Season is over, lets have a guess as to how Round 1 of the season is going to look for next year.
A few notes
- The Season is likely to start on the 21st of March, after starting on the 22nd of March last year.
- Easter is quite late this year, anticipated to be Round 5 of the AFL season, with ANZAC Round likely to be Round 6
Based on that, my predictions
SEASON OPENER
Carlton vs Richmond, Thursday 21st of March, MCG 7:20pm Melb
Nothing special, but nothing from the AFL to suggest they would tinker with the season opener that has been around for the last many years. This assumes that the MCG is available for this week, which I would assume it is (Australia is in India as of late February, Victoria
last home game for Sheffield Shield at the MCG is March 3 vs Tasmania, with their last two rounds away vs NSW and SA).
Collingwood vs West Coast, Friday 22nd of March, MCG 7:50pm Melb
It is Fremantle's turn to start with a home game, which means WCE would be away. Makes perfect sense to have this game on early in a similar ilk to Collingwood hosting Western Bulldogs in 2017 on Friday night. Would naturally lead to a WCE vs Richmond game at Optus Stadium next Thursday night should the WA government be fine with midweek games with the bridge now being ready.
Saturday twilight (two games)
Adelaide vs Carlton at Adelaide Oval
St. Kilda vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium
Two relatively filler games to fill the space and leave the early game free for the AFLW Grand Final to be in a slot to itself.
Saturday night (two games)
Sydney vs GWS at the SCG
Essendon vs Hawthorn at the MCG
Essendon and Hawthorn played one of the games of the season at the back end of the year and have a chance to resume the rivalry early on. GWS vs Sydney could be saved for later in the season, or even put in the earlier slot, but is on here as a reason to start the AFL season with a bang in Sydney to counter the NRL earlier start.
Sunday
Gold Coast vs Port Adelaide at Metricon
Gold Coast were without early season action at home due to the Comm Games last year, so starting at home this year seems logical.
North Melbourne vs Geelong at Marvel
Scott brother vs Scott brother, two teams relatively close on the ladder with the potential to move in either direction depending on what happens in the off season.
Fremantle vs Brisbane in the Sunday Night slot at Optus Stadium
Assuming Neale goes to Brisbane, a revenge game of sorts and an intriguing way to finish the first round of games.
This specific set up would be pretty close to maximising potential attendances while maintaining interstate teams not playing in overlapping timeslots. I think any work around should include West Coast playing in the first two nights to allow for them to host a Thursday night game the following week (assuming the AFL want to run two Thursday games to start the season next year, which I don't doubt they will). The fixture also allows for all the main matchups to be avoided in the lead up to Easter, which I expect to look something like
Round 5
Brisbane vs Collingwood at the Gabba Easter Thursday
North/St.K vs Essendon on Good Friday at Marvel
Richmond vs someone at the MCG on Saturday early
Melbourne vs someone at Marvel Saturday early
Hawthorn vs Geelong on Easter Monday
Round 6
Melbourne vs Richmond at the MCG ANZAC Eve both coming off the same short break Wednesday night
Essendon vs Collingwood on ANZAC Day Thursday
A non MCG game on the Friday night to avoid destroying the surface with 6+ games in the space of 10 days.
Thoughts?
A few notes
- The Season is likely to start on the 21st of March, after starting on the 22nd of March last year.
- Easter is quite late this year, anticipated to be Round 5 of the AFL season, with ANZAC Round likely to be Round 6
Based on that, my predictions
SEASON OPENER
Carlton vs Richmond, Thursday 21st of March, MCG 7:20pm Melb
Nothing special, but nothing from the AFL to suggest they would tinker with the season opener that has been around for the last many years. This assumes that the MCG is available for this week, which I would assume it is (Australia is in India as of late February, Victoria
last home game for Sheffield Shield at the MCG is March 3 vs Tasmania, with their last two rounds away vs NSW and SA).
Collingwood vs West Coast, Friday 22nd of March, MCG 7:50pm Melb
It is Fremantle's turn to start with a home game, which means WCE would be away. Makes perfect sense to have this game on early in a similar ilk to Collingwood hosting Western Bulldogs in 2017 on Friday night. Would naturally lead to a WCE vs Richmond game at Optus Stadium next Thursday night should the WA government be fine with midweek games with the bridge now being ready.
Saturday twilight (two games)
Adelaide vs Carlton at Adelaide Oval
St. Kilda vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium
Two relatively filler games to fill the space and leave the early game free for the AFLW Grand Final to be in a slot to itself.
Saturday night (two games)
Sydney vs GWS at the SCG
Essendon vs Hawthorn at the MCG
Essendon and Hawthorn played one of the games of the season at the back end of the year and have a chance to resume the rivalry early on. GWS vs Sydney could be saved for later in the season, or even put in the earlier slot, but is on here as a reason to start the AFL season with a bang in Sydney to counter the NRL earlier start.
Sunday
Gold Coast vs Port Adelaide at Metricon
Gold Coast were without early season action at home due to the Comm Games last year, so starting at home this year seems logical.
North Melbourne vs Geelong at Marvel
Scott brother vs Scott brother, two teams relatively close on the ladder with the potential to move in either direction depending on what happens in the off season.
Fremantle vs Brisbane in the Sunday Night slot at Optus Stadium
Assuming Neale goes to Brisbane, a revenge game of sorts and an intriguing way to finish the first round of games.
This specific set up would be pretty close to maximising potential attendances while maintaining interstate teams not playing in overlapping timeslots. I think any work around should include West Coast playing in the first two nights to allow for them to host a Thursday night game the following week (assuming the AFL want to run two Thursday games to start the season next year, which I don't doubt they will). The fixture also allows for all the main matchups to be avoided in the lead up to Easter, which I expect to look something like
Round 5
Brisbane vs Collingwood at the Gabba Easter Thursday
North/St.K vs Essendon on Good Friday at Marvel
Richmond vs someone at the MCG on Saturday early
Melbourne vs someone at Marvel Saturday early
Hawthorn vs Geelong on Easter Monday
Round 6
Melbourne vs Richmond at the MCG ANZAC Eve both coming off the same short break Wednesday night
Essendon vs Collingwood on ANZAC Day Thursday
A non MCG game on the Friday night to avoid destroying the surface with 6+ games in the space of 10 days.
Thoughts?
