The AFL matches you can’t miss in 2020 after release of fixture
Rematches, grudge matches and an outlandish prediction for Eddie Betts’ return to Adelaide Oval. We take a look at the match-ups fans won’t want to miss in 2020.
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The release of the AFL fixture for 2020 has plenty of highlights, but what games might offer the most for viewers?
Diehards will be glued to their TVs for each of their own clubs’ matches, but if you love your footy there’s a heap to get excited about next season.
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We’ve compiled a list of some of the most tantalising fixtures in 2020 – and they’re not all marquee blockbusters.
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RICHMOND v CARLTON
Round 1, Thursday March 19, 7.25pm (MCG)
Can the Blues’ break their 10-match losing streak in season openers? There’s always huge expectation around the first game of the year, but in 2020 Carlton will enter in arguably its best position for years. The only problem is the Blues are running into a team that won the Grand Final by 89 points – and will likely get stronger with the return of Alex Rance. In Round 1 this year the Tigers led 5.4 to 0.1 at quarter-time, the Blues will want a brighter start next time.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Patrick Cripps v Dusty, Charlie Curnow v Alex Rance ... and the Blues put up a massive fight.
SYDNEY v ESSENDON
Round 2, Friday March 27 (SCG)
The first instalment of the Joe Daniher Cup. OK, he’s not in red and white yet, but there’ll be plenty of eyeballs on the Bombers star if he can return to the paddock after two injury-plagued seasons. Daniher hasn’t faced Sydney since his club’s 65-point loss in the 2017 elimination final, and Essendon hasn’t won at the SCG since 2009.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Big Joe back and firing. Then, with the Bombers trailing by under a kick late in the final term, Daniher marks and has a shot after the siren to win it. It’s going, it’s going, Dane Rampe eyes the nearest goal post and …
WEST COAST v GEELONG
Round 3, Saturday April 4 (Optus Stadium)
OK, there’s not a lot of bad blood between the Cats and Tim Kelly but just how effective will new Eagle Kelly be against his old mob? The Cats generally don’t like to tag so it might be the likes of Kelly, Shuey, Yeo and Gaff going head-to-head with Dangerfield, Selwood, Duncan and Ablett.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: In a moment of flashback confusion, Kelly bursts clear from the centre and hits Tom Hawkins lace-out before a big facepalm. D’oh!
GWS GIANTS v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Round 3, Friday April 3, 7.50pm (Canberra)
Ooooh, this one could get spicy! In Round 22 this year the Dogs went to Sydney and gave GWS a touch-up. Giants defender Nick Haynes also copped a fractured larynx after a run-in with Marcus Bontempelli, for which the Dogs star faced no MRP action. A few weeks later it was GWS, led by chief antagoniser Toby Greene, who were right up in the Dogs’ faces as the home side outmuscled Bevo’s boys in an elimination final.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Toby Greene getting into, well, everything.
NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Round 4, Friday April 10 (Marvel Stadium)
The Bulldogs return to Good Friday three years after playing in the inaugural marquee fixture. North will again host the match, but Essendon has been booted in favour of the Dogs, who were one of the form teams of the competition before being bounced from the finals by GWS. The Bombers trounced the Roos by 58 points on Good Friday 2019 in front of 48,278 fans.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: A packed house. It’s been a popular fixture since the concept was introduced and there’s plenty of goodwill given some of the proceeds go to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
GEELONG v ST KILDA
Round 5, Sunday April 19 (GMHBA Stadium)
The Sunday twilight fixture might look a yawn to some, but it look a little deeper and it could be great viewing. Jack Steven might come face-to-face with his former club after it gave him its blessing in returning closer to home. And two of the game’s greats might both celebrate huge milestones. Cats pair Gary Ablett (345 games) and captain Joel Selwood (295) will notch key numbers if they play every game earlier in the year. Prepare for a big old Cats love-in.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Joel Selwood win a contentious free kick for too high in the opening seconds. Steven runs around the back for a running receive, he drives it long to full forward and ... “Yaaaabbbllleeeeeeettt!”.
RICHMOND v MELBOURNE
Round 6, Friday April 24 (MCG)
This fixture has rapidly grown wings, with more than 70,000 attending in each of the past three years. With the game scheduled for a Friday night in 2020, there’s no reason we won’t get more than that. The Tigers lead 3-2 on Anzac Eve. How relevant will the Dees be next year?
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: After last year’s bump heard around the world, it’s payback time as Jack Viney sits Sydney Stack on his behind, then flexes and stands over the young Tiger.
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ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD
Round 6, Saturday April 25, (MCG)
The annual blockbuster is entering its 25th year, and in 2020 we’ll have 4.20pm start – just to further enhance an already magic atmosphere. There will be lots of spice after this year’s clash ended in umpiring controversy and Nathan Buckley defending skipper Scott Pendlebury after he was booed while receiving the Anzac Day Medal.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Scott Pendlebury win the Anzac Medal again – and this time Essendon fans cheer.
RICHMOND v GWS GIANTS
Round 7, Saturday May 2, 1.45pm (MCG)
Nothing GWS can do about their Grand Final debacle now. But getting one back over their September torturer might help some of that pain as they return to the scene of the crime. The Tigers will have Rance, who didn’t play on Grand Final day, but the Giants will regain Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio plus have a fit Lachie Whitfield and Phil Davis.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: The Giants scrape home and celebrate accordingly, only for Dusty to casually point to his premiership tattoo as he walks from the hallowed turf.
ADELAIDE v CARLTON
Round 10, Saturday May 23, 4.35pm (Adelaide Oval)
A bit of history between these two now. Eddie Betts, Bryce Gibbs and Mitch McGovern have all changed colours, but there’s one man everyone will want to see at the twilight fixture. We’re not sure if the Eddie Betts pocket will be renamed after the mercurial forward’s departure, but surely he can slot another goal-of-the-year contender from his favourite blades of grass.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: OK, so he’s done the snap, the soccer, the left-foot banana ... let’s ramp up the degree of difficulty for Eddie and see him kick an inverse barrel from the boundary with Rory Laird, Brodie Smith and Daniel Talia all hanging off him.
ESSENDON v HAWTHORN
Round 16, Thursday July 2, 7.20pm (Marvel Stadium)
Forget the line-in-the-sand game. Last year we got pinch-gate, with Orazio Fantasia ending up bruised and battered after Hawks skipper Ben Stratton was caught nipping at the Essendon forward. Stratton was sent straight to the tribunal and received two weeks.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE: Stratton try it again. Then for John Worsfold to march to the Hawks’ quarter-time huddle, unearth his inner Sheeds and let rip at the Hawks skipper.
Originally published as The AFL matches you can’t miss in 2020 after release of fixture