AFL TV shows recap: Oscar Allen’s meeting, pre-finals bye and what you missed on Tuesday night
One former club skipper called for Oscar Allen to hand over the captaincy reigns, while Ross Lyon said he’d be disappointed if one of his stars didn’t meet with a rival club. Plus, Eddie McGuire talks grand final changes.
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The AFL is considering switching its biggest event – the grand final – to the middle of October next year and in 2027, according to former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire.
McGuire unveiled the proposal on Footy Classified on Tuesday night, but also spoke to this masthead, saying he believed this plan was likely to be a part of a fixturing reshuffle at AFL HQ.
He said the league was investigating ways to overhaul its fixture model from next year, which could see a later start to the 2026 season, with a two-week pre-season state of origin series involving the traditional and developing states, a round 1 start where every Victorian team would play each other, mini Gather Rounds throughout the season, and more clean air to footy’s biggest two weekends – the preliminary final and grand final weekends.
Exclusive: Eddie McGuire with all the details on the AFL considering bringing back State of Origin football next year, and moving the Grand Final to mid-October, in a major fixture revamp. #9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now ðŸ–¥ï¸ pic.twitter.com/pjkZbot7Iq
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 1, 2025
A slightly later start in March would also avert a date clash with the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, as well as a 2027 scheduling clash when Australia takes on England in the 150th Ashes anniversary test, which will be played at the MCG from March 11 to 15, 2027.
He said it could also mean the AFL could capitalise on the first regular-season NFL match on Australian soil which could be played during the AFL’s bye week.
“This (proposal) is being discussed at the highest echelons of the AFL, and that is to move the grand final in 2026 and 2027 into the second week of October, ” McGuire said.
“The start of the season would start with a state of origin football (series), possibly across two weekends.
“The NFL game for points at the MCG would fit into the bye weekend before the finals.”
He said the switch to an October grand final – there have already been 28 VFL-AFL grand finals played in that month – was a no-brainer and would provide the AFL with a better season structure.
McGuire said the MCG had already given its approval to any possible timetable changes, while he stressed the State Government would also be happy with any moves.
The AFL has consistently resisted the temptation to stage a night grand final – the only two have been during the Covid years in Brisbane and Perth – but McGuire said a push into daylight savings in October could change all that.
“It would be the first weekend of daylight savings and sunset would be at 7.32pm, so a night grand final could come into play,” said McGuire, who is a strong advocate of a night grand final.
“This might give them the opportunity to experiment with a night grand final.”
A women’s international rules clash with Ireland could also form a part of the proposal, while the State of Origin series could see all the states and territories as well as an Indigenous All-Stars team competing.
Experts split on Allen’s meeting with Hawks
The West Coast captain was a popular name across the different shows after meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, with AFL 360’s Garry Lyon criticising Allen.
“Captaincy is different,” he said on Tuesday night. “You’re elected as a captain, straight away that puts you in a different category.
“I can’t have the elected leader of the football club... be meeting with an opposition coach.
“I would look at Oscar Allen differently today than I did yesterday... It wouldn’t totally surprise me if he stood down as captain.”
Gerard Whateley agreed with Lyon to an extent, saying it could be an “ugly divorce” for the Eagles and their captain – but West Coast is disrespecting Allen by offering a lowball contract extension.
“Where is the long-term deal at the dollars. Who else are you paying? Treat him with a level of dignity and respect that marries up with him being the leader,” he said.
“They should put the proper offer that Oscar Allen is worthy of as the captain, or this is going to be an ugly divorce over four months.”
Luke Hodge said on the Agenda Setters that Sam Mitchell was the ideal person for Hawthorn to convince targets to jump ship.
“He doesn’t care if he’s ruthless,” he said.
“If I was going to sell the football club to any player out there, I’d be grabbing Sam.
“I’d be sending the coach because he’s the most knowledgeable person out there.”
Free for coffee Nasiah? Do it, says Lyon
Ross Lyon has teased Port Adelaide officials on The Agenda Setters, saying he would “be disappointed” if the club doesn’t try to meet with Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
It’s a fair change of tune since he took swipes at Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell for meeting with his former player Josh Battle during the 2024 campaign.
“It wouldn’t surprise me this week... we’re in Adelaide for week,” he said.
“Will Port Adelaide roll up? I’d be disappointed if they didn’t.”
Lyon also said he “probably should’ve” met with Finn Callaghan after he rebuffed St Kilda’s offer and re-signed with GWS Giants, saying “we probably didn’t offer him enough” after his dominant start to the season.
St Kilda will spend the next two weeks in Adelaide, facing Port Adelaide in round 4 and the Giants in round 5 for Gather Round.
Lyon says he expects young gun Mattaes Phillipou follow in Mitch Owens’ footsteps and recommit to the club in the coming weeks.
Scrap the pre-finals bye? Let’s talk about it
Sydney is set to push for change surrounding the pre-finals bye, with Tom Harley to pitch to the AFL during Gather Round.
Caroline Wilson on The Agenda Setters reported the Swans CEO wants the bye moved to before the grand final, rather than after the final game of the home-and-away season.
Sydney went into the 2024 grand final having played twice in a five-week period, with 35 days between their final game of the season (August 24) and the grand final (September 28)
In the past nine seasons the pre-finals bye has been in operation, and twice in that time the premiership was won by a team outside of the top four.
Before that? It never happened.
The two teams to win grand finals from outside the top four have been the Western Bulldogs in 2016 and Brisbane in 2024.
The vanquished? Sydney, both times.
No wonder Harley is pushing hard for change.
Six years, six million?
Dale Thomas broke down the million-dollar offer he seriously considered from the Giants.
The small forward, who was coming off a Collingwood premiership in 2010 and a losing grand final in 2011, was offered a six-year, six-million dollar contract,
Thomas said on The Agenda Setters he was told he would be the captain of the expansion club in western Sydney if he accepted the offer.
He said he “thought about it”, with the captaincy role and the money an enticing offer.
Thomas ultimately declined, playing another two seasons for the Magpies before moving to arch rival Carlton where he played another 101 games.
Does he regret the decision?
“You can’t pay your bills with good faith.”
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Originally published as AFL TV shows recap: Oscar Allen’s meeting, pre-finals bye and what you missed on Tuesday night
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