AFL season to come alive with blockbuster and high-stakes matches to kick-off season restart

The AFL has released a made for TV fixture for the season restart including a new timeslot as Sunday night football returns. The league admits it is an experiment. Will fans warm to the idea?

The Bulldogs need to win in Round 2. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL says it is open-minded about expanding its Sunday night football trial after introducing a new 6.05pm slot designed purely for TV ratings.

The league has created a Super Sunday of football featuring nearly eight hours of consecutive football in 1.5pm, 3.35pm and 6.05pm timeslots.

AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld admitted the slot would not work for every market when crowds returned as the league attempts to maximise attendances.

But the AFL has committed to that fixture at least until crowds return, starting with a clash between winless teams St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on June 14.

Fremantle and Port Adelaide play in that timeslot in Round 3, followed by Hawthorn and North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium, Round 5) and then GWS v Hawthorn (Giants Stadium, Round 6).

As revealed by the Herald Sun on Friday, the slot will allow the league to run three games that do not overlap on Sundays in a new triple-header format.

“It works. We have had one example in Round 1. This is really an opportunity to trial some things,” Auld said.

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There were a lot of empty seats when Collingwood played Carlton on a Sunday night in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch

Just over 40,000 fans attended. Picture: Michael Klein

“It has worked in Round 1 without crowds. The question is if we do have a crowd coming back this year or next year does it still work in every market? I am not sure.

“I can see us having more Thursday nights this year, so we will take advantage of those opportunities. That will need to be reassessed going forward as the fans have the opportunity to attend games.”

All games in the Sunday timeslot so far are fixtured to allow Seven’s 3.35pm free-to-air game to flow perfectly into its 6pm news.

Broadcast bosses have long complained overlapping games only reduce ratings, with only the Saturday night timeslot featuring games opposed to each other in this fixture.

The league believes it has secured permission from the state government to close the roof at Marvel Stadium during winter despite it then becoming an indoor venue.

The Bulldogs need to win in Round 2. Picture: Michael Klein

“My understanding is the Victorian government is prepared to look at us closing the roof at Marvel. It’s a big win if it becomes the case,” Auld said.

“Throughout the winter it just provides us with better conditions for our players. I am not sure if it is finalised but my understanding is it is looking very likely.”

The league would be hopeful closing the roof does not change the amount of people allowed at a mass gathering as restrictions ease despite outdoor events being less likely to spread coronavirus.

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Originally published as AFL season to come alive with blockbuster and high-stakes matches to kick-off season restart