AFL fixture: Rounds 19 and 20 venues revealed

Collingwood beat Richmond on the field and now it’s had another win over the Tigers, the AFL locking in its round 19 and 20 fixture with a prime-time reshuffle.

The out-of-form Tigers have been shunted off the Friday night timeslot. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Collingwood will profit from Richmond’s unexpected demise next week when the Magpies’ 14-week exile from prime time football ends with a Friday night showdown against Port Adelaide.

News Corp revealed on Tuesday the AFL was set to shun the round 19 Richmond-Geelong grand final rematch from the blockbuster timeslot and also put an end to Thursday night football for 2021.

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On Tuesday night, the AFL released the fixture for rounds 19-20, with both Tigers games handed exclusively to Fox Footy instead of Channel 7 and Thursday nights falling from the schedule.

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The out-of-form Tigers have been shunted off the Friday night timeslot. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Cats will now host the Tigers at 1.45pm on Sunday, July 25 at the MCG despite that match long-appearing destined to be played under the bright Friday night lights.

The opening bounce of the Magpies-Power clash has been brought forward 35 minutes, to 7.15pm, because of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, while all Sunday games in rounds 19-20 will be exclusive on Fox due to Seven’s Olympics coverage.

The AFL was low on options for next Friday night, but it has backed in the Magpies under caretaker coach Robert Harvey to deliver a spectacle worthy of the timeslot.

The Pies will play off a five-day break, with the AFL allowed to schedule each club one five-day break for the season.

In round 20 the finals-shaping clash between Essendon and Sydney at Marvel Stadium was chosen to launch the weekend.

The Bombers and Swans are both in red-hot form and playing slick brands of football which command the Friday night stage.

Jordan De Goey and the Pies are back in prime time. Picture: Getty Images

Their past four games have been decided by a combined 24 points while Buddy Franklin has booted more goals against Essendon (73) than any other club.

The round 20 top-of-the-table clash between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, which could decide the minor premiership, will be staged at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Dogs have never finished a season on top of the ladder since they entered the competition in 1925.

The Demons haven’t qualified in first place since 1964, which was also the last year they won the premiership and, curiously, the last time Tokyo hosted the Olympics.

Sydney’s crunch match against Fremantle next week has been locked in at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, but the league has not yet assigned a venue for Greater Western Sydney’s home match against the Power in round 20.

Originally published as AFL fixture: Rounds 19 and 20 venues revealed