AFL fixture news: More blockbuster Saturday twilight matches in Melbourne to come

Following the bumper crowds in Carlton’s run of 4.35pm Saturday matches, the AFL will attempt to give Melburnians more of the same in the next batch of fixtures. Details here.

The crowd stands in silence for the Anzac ceremony. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL will attempt to slot blockbuster games into the increasingly popular Saturday twilight spot in Melbourne as it prepares to release its full fixture after round nine.

A third straight Saturday afternoon featuring Carlton in that 4.35pm slot drew excellent ratings and outstanding crowds as 87,775 fans packed out the MCG.

The league has ruled out any more Thursday night games in that round 16-23 fixture given it is harder to maximise attendances at a mid-week game across winter.

But the league was encouraged by the turnout on Saturday and believes the 4.35pm slot is becoming increasingly popular with football fans.

Fans packed the MCG for the Blues clash with the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

Kids can still play winter sport on Saturday morning and families can attend early-afternoon local sport before getting to the MCG and then getting home for a late dinner.

Essendon hosts GWS in the 4.35pm slot on Saturday next weekend and will hope to draw a strong crowd against the premiership favourites.

The league will release the rest of the fixture on the Tuesday or Wednesday after round 9 to ensure fans have enough time to book flights or lock in trips from round 16 onwards.

This masthead reported last week Essendon and Carlton could receive favourable fixtures in the back-end of the year given their early successes and potential blockbuster games.

Essendon has a trio of MCG clashes against Geelong, Collingwood and Melbourne from rounds 16-18.

Some of those games will be Friday night prime time games but with no Thursday clashes the league can more easily prioritise the Saturday twilight clash.

The 4.35pm timeslot is a popular one for Melburnians. Picture: Getty Images

Hawthorn drew 43,960 fans to the MCG against Melbourne in an early-season Saturday twilight clash before the Blues drew 46,283 against Adelaide at Marvel (round 5) and 40,474 against GWS at Marvel (round 6).

From next year on under a new broadcast agreement there will be 15 Thursday night games to start the season.

But the league is keen to balance attendances with the excellent ratings for Thursday night football so has declined to schedule games in that slot from round 14 onwards.

Originally published as AFL fixture news: More blockbuster Saturday twilight matches in Melbourne to come