Friday night footy to the fore as AFL prepares to launch 2019 fixture
AS it prepares to launch the 2019 fixture, the AFL says it has refocused its energy on reviving Friday nights as the centrepiece of each round next season. Which clubs will be the beneficiaries?
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE AFL has refocused its energy on reviving Friday nights as the centrepiece of each round next season.
With the full 2019 fixture set to be announced tomorrow, Travis Auld — AFL head of clubs and broadcasting — has hinted that the likes of Melbourne and Essendon could be in for more showpiece games next season.
FAST FOOTY: WILL AFLX RETURN IN 2019?
JLT CUP: WHO YOUR CLUB PLAYS IN PRESEASON
The AFL came under fire this year for giving eventual wooden spooners Carlton five Thursday or Friday night games, but Auld said that delivering exciting football in feature timeslots was a key focus of next year’s fixture planning.
“It’s pretty clear what our focuses are for the 2019 fixture. We want to bolster the Friday nights and make sure that Thursday and Friday nights are really strong,” he said.
“Those feature events are there, and we want to reward teams that have been playing really good football.
“Obviously West Coast and Collingwood are the two obvious ones (having reached the Grand Final), but you’ve got the Melbournes and the Essendons that look quite exciting after trade period.
“So we’ll feature them in the right spots as often as we can.”
The league had endeavoured to ensure the best games were in the Friday night slot, Auld said, but blamed other factors for what had eventuated with Friday nights often falling flat.
“For a series of reasons that was difficult,” he said.
“So we’ll refocus on that. If you can wait (until Wednesday), you’ll find out.”
Auld said there would still be some tinkering before tomorrow’s release.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do between now and Wednesday — there’s that last little push to try and get clubs what they would like,” he said.
“We’re almost there.”
The league is hopeful that AFLX will continue in 2019, but there is still work to be done.
“We’re excited by AFLX,” Auld said.
“We had a play around with it last year and we think there’s an opportunity to do that again. We’re just working through where that best sits. Obviously with one less week of the JLT Community Series, that gives us an opportunity in the preseason period to do something.
“How that looks … at the moment, I’m not quite sure. But certainly it’s something we want to continue with.”
Originally published as Friday night footy to the fore as AFL prepares to launch 2019 fixture
‘It’s about us, not me’: Ken hits back after another prelim failure
For the fourth time as Port coach on Friday night, Ken Hinkley fell at the preliminary final hurdle. He acknowledges the facts – but says the path forward isn’t just about him.
Reluctant assistant to master coach: The making of Chris Scott
Chris Scott has come a long way from a reluctant assistant coach to one of footy’s greatest senior coaches. Those closest to the mastermind behind Geelong’s greatest era reveal the moments which shaped him.