Follow the latest news on the AFL’s upcoming fixture announcement for Round 16

The last time Essendon played at this venue, Paul Salmon was kicking goals and Dustin Fletcher was just 18 years of age.

Dustin Martin of the Tigers runs with the ball during the Round 2 AFL Match between the Collingwood Magpies and Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Thursday, June 11, 2020. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Geelong is set to win a sixth stand-alone prime time fixture in eight games with the AFL expected to lock next week’s clash against Essendon in for Friday night at GMHBA Stadium.

The AFL will unveil the Round 16 fixture later this week, but the annual ‘Country Game’ is in pole position for the marquee timeslot in what will be the Bombers’ first trip down the highway since 1993.

The prime-time pussy Cats have been the clear winner from the league’s new rolling fixture, which will see them shine almost exclusively under the bright TV lights for more than two months as the competition’s form team.

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Cats players mob Gary Rohan after he kicked a goal after the siren to seal the game on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Gary Rohan’s clutch goal after the siren last Friday night extended Geelong’s winning streak to six matches. The next best active winning streak is just two — held by Collingwood and West Coast.

Cats chief executive Brian Cook said it was “fulfilling” to have millions of eyeballs across the country fixed in Geelong for such an extended run.

Geelong would love the Victorian government to approve a crowd of 75 per cent capacity (27,000) against the Bombers, which would see them come close to breaking even.

However a capacity of 50 per cent at GMHBA Stadium is the early frontrunner for the regional venue. Last week’s game against the Dogs was restricted to just 20 per cent (7000 fans).

“(Prime time exposure) meets and exceeds the expectations of your sponsors and corporate partners, who rely on TV ratings as much as they do attendances at games,” Cook said on Monday night.

“From a commercial point of view the television ratings are really saving us. We lost about $500,000 at the game on Friday night, so even though it was televised we still lost half a million because the game revenues were reduced dramatically.

“If it wasn’t for good ratings we might be in a few more problems. It’s (prime time) a win with your corporate partners, there’s no doubt about that.”

The Cats have about 400,000 supporters across the country who have been able to routinely tune in on a Thursday or Friday night in the winter months.

Dyson Heppell leads the Bombers off after beating Hawthorn in Launceston.

The Bombers have fast become one of the most watchable teams this season and they are set to be rewarded with their first Friday night game since round 10 last season.

Seven of their 13 matches have been decided by 16 points or less, which has included nailbiting losses of one, two and three points against Hawthorn, Greater Western Sydney and Sydney respectively.

New coach Ben Rutten’s team is ranked No. 2 in the AFL for total points, trailing only the ballistic Western Bulldogs.

The Bombers are also ranked No. 3 for scores per inside 50m, No. 5 for points from turnovers and No. 4 for points from stoppages as Rutten’s system becomes second nature in the second season he has taught it.

There is the potential for the AFL to also stage a Thursday night game next week.

However the Round 16 fixture does not present a buffet of games which command stand-alone status.

Games between Sydney-West Coast (SCG) and Melbourne-Giants (MCG) are the only others that are set to be played by teams currently in the top half of the ladder.

Originally published as Follow the latest news on the AFL’s upcoming fixture announcement for Round 16