2021 Fixture

[Axe Man]

Western Bulldogs-North Melbourne is 4.40 Sunday.

This is the one time I am happy with a 4:40pm game as it gives me a chance to make it to Marvel after I play footy.

[Axe Man]

AFL fixture news: Latest updates on how Round 17 fixture will look

Essendon appears set to secure a lucrative home Friday night clash against Adelaide after the player union rejected a deal that would have handed the Western Bulldogs a prime-time clash in Round 17.

News Corp can reveal the league is certain to schedule the blockbuster Port Adelaide-Melbourne clash next Thursday in a game that will be held at Adelaide Oval.

As the league assesses Covid cases across Australia, the Lions are likely to play Adelaide on Saturday then return to Melbourne for the short-term future.

After more cases in Queensland overnight, the league would make a decision early next week on whether they hosted their Round 17 Gabba contest against St Kilda or relocated it to Melbourne.

The Power is expected to fly home on Sunday from this weekend’s Hawthorn clash in Melbourne then with low Covid numbers host the Demons on Thursday in front of a crowd at Adelaide Oval.

Both teams will be playing off an equal-five day break, with the collective bargaining agreement only allowing the league to hand teams one five-day break per season.

The league hoped to bend those rules with the blessing of the Bulldogs hierarchy and players to allow the Dogs to host Sydney at Marvel Stadium.

The player union, which had warned the league against going back to 20-minute quarters and reducing interchange over summer, held firm on the CBA regulation given concerns over an already-high injury toll and player fatigue.

It means Essendon is best placed to swoop in to host a Marvel Stadium clash against Adelaide next Friday night, with those prime time games valuable given bumper ratings and sponsorship exposure.

Essendon would be playing off a seven-day break and Adelaide six days.

While Adelaide is not yet a finals contender, the league would hope they could perform similar feats as Gold Coast against Richmond on Thursday by stepping up to provide a tight contest.

Scheduling Thursday and Friday night contests next week between teams from Melbourne and Adelaide also gives more certainty the game will not be moved given the regular exemptions between the SA and Victorian governments.

It can be revealed the AFL is set to explore the idea of multiple five-day breaks per side next year to pave the way for an expanded Thursday night schedule.

It would require an alteration to the current CBA but the league could ask for one five-day break per team each side of the mid-season bye.

The player union denied the Dogs in part because Luke Beveridge’s players had already done a full week in WA hotel quarantine and had not been handed their mandatory four-day bye given scheduling issues.

Currently the league often schedules teams coming off mid-season byes to slot in Thursday night football but cannot schedule more than 10-12 quality Thursday night games.

A team that plays Friday night football can play the following round on a Thursday night but finding an appropriate rival good enough for prime time football who has not already had a five-day break is often challenging.

The ratings bonanza has proved football’s most popular timeslot.

Dogs coach Luke Beveridge accepted the player union’s ruling but said he was bemused the players wouldn’t want to grow the TV pie, which in turn would grow their revenue pool.

The league’s TV rights deal has been extended through to the end of 2024, but in the future the AFL could even package up Thursday night football for sale to help maximise its broadcast rights.

[bulldogtragic]

I’d prefer the rest over the exposure.

[Axe Man]

I’d prefer the rest over the exposure.

Strangely it seems Bevo wouldn't.

[bulldogtragic]

Strangely it seems Bevo wouldn't.

Yep. Or he hates anything good happening to Essendon. I understand that.

[Pickenitup]

I really hope they can give us the Saturday night slot, and in a few weeks the Game against Bombers can be the Friday night game .

[Axe Man]

Round 17 fixture
Thursday, July 8
Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST, Seven

Friday, July 9
Essendon v Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST, Seven

Saturday, July 10
Hawthorn v Fremantle at University of Tasmania Stadium, 1.45pm AEST, Fox
Carlton v Geelong at the MCG, 4.35pm AEST, Fox
Brisbane v St Kilda TBC, 7.25pm AEST, Seven

Sunday, July 11
Greater Western Sydney v Gold Coast at TBC, 12.40pm AEST, Fox
Western Bulldogs v Sydney at Marvel Stadium, 3.20pm AEST, Seven
Richmond v Collingwood at the MCG, 4.10pm AEST, Fox

Monday, July 12
West Coast v North Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 5.40pm AWST, Fox

[Sedat]

Is there anything worse than that sinking feeling knowing you've copped the Ch 7 Sunday 3.20pm timeslot, and are stuck with cretins like BT making the coverage unbearable?

[Axe Man]

Round 18

Thursday, July 15
Fremantle v Geelong at Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST, Seven

Friday, July 16
Richmond v Brisbane at MCG, 7.50pm AEST, Seven

Saturday, July 17
GWS Giants v Sydney Swans at TBC, 1.45pm AEST, Fox
Melbourne v Hawthorn MCG, 4.35pm AEST, Fox
Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm AEST, Fox
St Kilda v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm AEST, Seven

Sunday, July 18
North Melbourne v Essendon at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEST, Fox
Collingwood v Carlton at MCG, 3.20pm AEST, Seven
Adelaide v West Coast at Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST, Fox

[Bulldog4life]

Round 18

Thursday, July 15
Fremantle v Geelong at Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST, Seven

Friday, July 16
Richmond v Brisbane at MCG, 7.50pm AEST, Seven

Saturday, July 17
GWS Giants v Sydney Swans at TBC, 1.45pm AEST, Fox
Melbourne v Hawthorn MCG, 4.35pm AEST, Fox
Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm AEST, Fox
St Kilda v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm AEST, Seven

Sunday, July 18
North Melbourne v Essendon at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEST, Fox
Collingwood v Carlton at MCG, 3.20pm AEST, Seven
Adelaide v West Coast at Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST, Fox

Happy with this. Naughty makes it in by one day so a big plus.

[Axe Man]

Happy with this. Naughty makes it in by one day so a big plus.

Will you make it to the game B4L?

[Bulldog4life]

Will you make it to the game B4L?

I hope to Axe Man. Depends a lot on 'She who must be obeyed'. I've brought the topic up already. A few hurdles to overcome.

[azabob]

I hope to Axe Man. Depends a lot on 'She who must be obeyed'. I've brought the topic up already. A few hurdles to overcome.

Plenty of time to jump over said hurdles!!

[Axe Man]

[Bulldog4life]

John Ralph on twitter

I understand the AFL is looking at whether they need to spin the magnets & change up some Round 19 matchups for the first time this year to get all 9 games away with some closed borders. Had hoped not to be forced to do it but all options being considered for Round 19
@FOXFOOTY