The AFL fixture is tipped to be released on Thursday November 16 as the league makes final tweaks to its plans for an even-longer 2024 season.
The Herald Sun reports a four-game opening weekend is expected to be held across New South Wales and Queensland, giving the sides involved a second bye week at some point across the season.
It’s unclear whether this would make Round 1 a split round, or see the other 10 clubs begin their seasons the next weekend along with the first eight, in what would become Round 2.
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The opening weekend would include preliminary final rematches of GWS vs Collingwood and Brisbane vs Collingwood, plus the ‘Brodie Grundy Cup’ of Sydney vs Melbourne and the ‘Damien Hardwick Cup’ of Gold Coast vs Richmond.
Carlton and Richmond could then be the first game played in Victoria for the season to launch Round 2.
Other major requests from clubs include another Essendon vs Carlton clash on King’s Birthday Eve, the Blues facing North Melbourne again on Good Friday – with the Western Bulldogs asking for another marquee game to make up for missing the charity clash – and more MCG home games for St Kilda.
Adelaide is expected to get a blockbuster fixture as the AFL world anticipates a continued rise for 2023’s highest-scoring side.
More primetime games, and avoiding so many trips to smaller venues – after playing in Launceston, Ballarat and Darwin last season – are also expected to be part of the league’s make-good for the goal umpiring blunder which cost the Crows a finals berth.
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Port Adelaide has asked for a home game in Anzac Round and a primetime Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash.
It’s unclear how many Thursday night home-and-away games will be played in 2024, but even more could be on the cards.
There were 11 plus a Thursday night final played in 2023, and from 2025 when the new TV deal kicks in, at least the first 15 rounds will feature a Thursday night game.
The AFL is predicted to lock in the first 15 or so rounds to give fans some fixture certainty before scheduling the ensuing games based on the quality of teams across the first few months, rather than being locked into poor primetime match-ups.
Gather Round will return from Thursday April 4 to Sunday April 7 in South Australia.
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