AFL locks in new fixture dates for postponed Opening Round matches

Gold Coast and Essendon will play twice in one round after the AFL confirmed where the postponed fixtures from Opening Round will be played.

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The AFL is likely to gamble on Essendon and Gold Coast challenging for a finals berth this year after scheduling the clubs’ cyclone replacement match in the pre-finals bye slot.

The league on Thursday moved the Suns-Bombers Opening round clash into the round 24 fixture, a period in which they’ll have to play two games across the one round to finish their season.

The Bombers and Suns could play a stand-alone match likely on a Thursday or Friday night - either August 28 or 29 - in a move that could keep the whole competition waiting for several days after round 24 for the final make-up of the top-eight

It would be a bold move from the AFL as it could provide either a thrilling climax to the end of the home and away season and a ratings bonanza or a complete fizzer if both clubs are out of the finals mix.

The league has held out the option though of playing that clash as the first of two contests in round 24.

Essendon also takes on Carlton and the Suns are pitted against Port Adelaide so one of those two games could be the final game of the home and away season.

But that outcome could potentially disadvantage the Blues or the Power, denying them a maximum break into the first week of the finals.

Concussion would be a major worry for both clubs who play the last game of the season as the 12-day concussion protocols could wipe a player out for the first final.

It means the last Round 24 game may have to be played on a Wednesday night, theoretically allowing any concussed player to return on the Sunday in the first week of finals.

Players who clear the protocols can play on the 12th day.

If the last game of round 24 is played on Thursday or Friday night, any concussed player would not be able to play across the weekend of the first finals.

Essendon has not won a final in two decades, while Gold Coast has never finished inside the eight in its 14 seasons.

As expected, Brisbane will host Geelong in round 3 in a 7.35pm (AEDT) slot on Saturday, March 29 as a replacement for its postponed season-opener.

The AFL schedule was finalised with a view to minimise the impacts on all clubs after considering possible midseason bye switches which would have compressed schedules for Essendon and Gold Coast and potentially other clubs.

Neither Essendon or Gold Coast wanted to jam the replacement game in as part of playing three games in 10-12 days midseason.

The league was determined to schedule the replacement game on a Thursday or Friday night to ensure if either of the clubs was to play finals it would have a full eight or nine-day break leading into their contest.

The call was made at AFL headquarters on Thursday as Brisbane players will safeguard their homes and bunker down unaware of when they might train next ahead of round 1 as Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast.

It comes with the Suns estimating 8-10 of their own players would not have made the trip south had the AFL flipped their People First Stadium game against Essendon to Victoria.

Brisbane players trained on Wednesday morning and had Thursday off given the club was supposed to take on Geelong in the season opener tonight.

The club will monitor any potential damage from Cyclone Alfred but ideally would try to get the players together as early as Sunday weather-permitting.

The Lions take on Sydney at the SCG next Saturday but clear priority right now is for players and their families to remain safe ahead of Cyclone Alfred potentially hitting land late on Thursday night or Friday morning.

 

Lions star Lachie Neale told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 this week he would not have played had the AFL rescheduled the game to Melbourne.

Gold Coast had a significant number of players who would have had to make a tough call on whether to leave given they have families and live close to the beach.

Three players from the Dolphins side in the NRL have decided to stay home after their clash this weekend was moved to Paramatta.

Five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, prop Mark Nicholls and 18th man Kenny Bromwich have all decided to stay home.

Originally published as AFL locks in new fixture dates for postponed Opening Round matches