Sydney chief executive Tom Harley has applauded the AFL after the Swans emerged as big winners from sweeping change to the structure of the league’s opening round.
But the footy world is divided on the plan which means ‘Round 1’ will include the ‘traditional season opener’ of Richmond and Carlton, even though Richmond and Carlton will have already played a game.
The SCG will host the true AFL season opener when Sydney plays Melbourne on a Thursday night, the first of four games to all be played in NSW and Queensland in a weekend separated from the full “round 1” involving all 18 clubs.
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Harley said playing the opening games in the northern states, which will lead to all eight participating sides having a bye sometime between rounds 2 and 6, was a “smart market decision” by the AFL.
He said the Swans happily coexisted with the NRL but were keen to cash in on extra eyeballs presented by the league shifting its season kick-off to Las Vegas.
His comments came despite the AFL only fixturing the four games on the weekend after the Vegas clashes, meaning some NRL teams will still be playing in NSW and Queensland during the opening round.
“I think it’s a privilege to play the first game of the year, and I’d love to think this is something we could look at beyond 2024 as well,” Harley said.
“It’s not until you live in the Sydney market that you fully appreciate and understand how competitive the sports landscape is here.
“The reality is the other codes get a bit of a headstart on us, but one of the other codes obviously taking their season overseas, so we’ve slotted quite nicely into that weekend.”
AAP journalist Oliver Caffrey tweeted: “The “clean air” for AFL’s Opening Round is a myth.
“There’s literally NRL games in NSW on the same day as the Swans-Dees game, then GWS-Magpies. The Gold Coast Titans are also playing at home hours after the Suns-Tigers match.”
Collingwood premiership player Mason Cox’s main concern was missing out on a trip to Vegas, where he is currently with Kayo Sports ahead of the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix.
“Round 1. @NRL goes to Las Vegas. AFL premiers go to…. A showground for livestock…” he tweeted.
“For reference I would love to eventually see a game in the US like the NRL. There are now proper cricket stadiums located in the country that can host them and I don’t think many teams would be opposed to a US trip.”
AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko believes the plan has merit, but not for the supporters themselves.
“I understand what the AFL is trying to do, they are trying to take advantage of the NRL not being here for that round, and go into NSW and Queensland and put on a showcase, and help spread the AFL in NSW and Queensland,” he said.
“I get that from a strategic point of view. But I am here to represent the fans. And what the fans are saying is: ‘We don’t like it’.
“One of the things I said to the AFL in our meetings was ‘could we be a part of the consultation process when you make change’. We don’t want to tell you, we just want to give you what fans are feeling and what fans think.”
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Fox Footy and SEN host Gerard Whateley said on his radio show: “I mostly love this idea. Four hand-picked marquee match-ups, loaded with storylines, staged in the expansion markets that are too often treated with benign neglect.
“It’ll be a TV extravaganza and it comes with the bonus chance to travel given the long weekend for Melburnians. There’s a little bit of twisted logic, Opening Round is then followed by Round 1, but we’ll be fine with that.”
His SEN colleague Sam Edmund added: “I like Opening Round as a concept. It might not be a popular view.
“The byes will be made up between Rounds 2 and 6 for the eight teams that play in it, so by the beginning of Round 7, all teams will have played the same number of games.”
But veteran 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell complained the fixture decision went against the sport’s Victorian base.
“I don’t get it,” Mitchell said on 3AW Mornings.
“This is silly, Victoria is a heartland. I’ve never liked the over-emphasis of the national competition but I accept it’s grown into that. This is forgetting your heartland, surely.”
His colleague Shane McInnes added: “Remember where your base is and opening round is such a significant moment in the season where people have waited five months (for the games).”
Harley said new Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy taking on the Demons after the drama of his one-year stint at Melbourne would add some “spice” to the Thursday night clash.
“There will clearly be some interest around that, Brodie will have to answer that question over the summer, but that adds another bit of spice to it,” he said.
“Looking at the other three games over the opening round, there’s a narrative weaved through all of them, and I just think it’s a smart market decision from the code to launch the season north of the Murray.
“I think it’s fantastic to have the first game of the season here in Sydney to start our 150th year with a bang, ironically against the Demons, who was our first opponent back in 1982 when we moved here.
“It’s an opportunity, it’s not going to be the only thing, it’s not going to be a silver bullet … but we’ll certainly take the opportunity from a club’s point of view to bask in that spotlight and make sure we put on a good show.”
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