‘Not the best’: AFL’s surprise move raises eyebrows in new fixture release

The AFL has announced a big change to its fixture for the end of the season, with a new schedule raising eyebrows around the league.

Carlton and Western Bulldogs are the biggest beneficiaries of the AFL’s new-look fixture release, winning the race for the most prime-time slots.

The Blues will play four Thursday nights and one Friday between rounds 16 and 23, while the Bulldogs play two Thursday and three Friday night matches.

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It’s a great reward for Luke Beveridge’s side that overcame a slate of injuries earlier in the season.

Included in the Doggies’ five prime-time clashes is North Melbourne’s centenary match in round 17.

Gold Coast will host its first Friday night fixture when it welcomes Collingwood in round 18.

There will be Friday-night double headers in rounds 17, 20 and 23 as the AFL manages viewership and the mandatory shortened breaks.

Round 20 will be a highlight of the season, as the Bulldogs kick off the round with Essendon ahead of the Battle of the Bridge on Friday night at Engie Stadium.

Western Bulldogs are the biggest winner of the AFL’s fixture release. Picture: Michael Klein

The following day will revisit the competition’s old Rivalry Round with the Q-Clash, Western Derby and Showdown all succeeding each other on the Saturday.

Port Adelaide and Adelaide lobbied for a stand-alone Showdown but will parallel with North Melbourne and Geelong at Marvel Stadium.

The rescheduled match between the Suns and Bombers in round 24 will be included in the final round’s release later this year.

AFL head of strategy and scheduling Josh Bowler said the finalised fixture “is aimed at maximising momentum into finals”.

“The first nine rounds of the Toyota AFL Premiership season have delivered some of the most exciting football we have seen with close margins, high scoring, record attendances and strong ratings across the board., Bowler said.

“This season has delivered more Thursday nights than ever before with this key timeslot featuring in all AFL rounds except round 23 when we will see the exciting inaugural AFLW rematch between Carlton and Collingwood kick off the 10th NAB AFLW season.

“This back end of the season fixture is aimed at maximising momentum into the finals which is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in recent history.

“We are excited to schedule a number of Friday night double-headers aimed at maximising prime-time audience whilst also managing team travel and breaks between games.”

Friday night double headers, overlapping games

There are three Friday night double headers in Rounds 17, 20, 23 — a move that will raise eyebrows given Friday nights have long been a timeslot reserved for standalone games.

In Round 20, Essendon play the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium at 7.20pm before GWS take on the Sydney Swans in a rivalry game starting half an hour later at 7.50pm.

The Showdown between Port Adelaide and Adelaide in Round 20 clashes with North Melbourne vs Geelong on the Saturday night.

Numerous Friday night overlaps followed by the only two Sunday games clashing.

First ever Friday Sydney derby stuck alongside Ess/WB and Showdown Saturday night competes with NM/Geel.

Not the best fixturing... @abcsporthttps://t.co/OfigDbD5IL

— Aaron Bryans (@AaronBryans) May 15, 2025

What’s the logic there Ralphy?

— Moreira’s Magic (@MoreirasMagic) May 15, 2025

Friday double headers are commonplace in the NRL, but they are traditionally spaced out with the games kicking off at around 6pm and 8pm.

Dogs on the move

The Western Bulldogs are adamant they remain committed to Ballarat despite moving a round 18 fixture to Marvel Stadium in the wake of criticism about playing at a “construction site” that earnt a sledge form former player Bailey Smith.

Less than 5000 people were able to attend the round 8 thrashing of Port Adelaide at Mars Stadium, which is being redeveloped and didn’t go unnoticed by Smith.

After playing a leading role in Geelong’s thrilling MCG win over Collingwood, in front of more than 80,000, Smith told Fox Footy that “you don’t get that at Ballarat”, a comment that earnt a day-after retort from his former Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli.

But with the round 18 clash against fellow finals aspirants Adelaide set to draw a bumper crowd, the Bulldogs asked for the game to the moved to Marvel Stadium

“While it has been a difficult decision to shift venues for our round 18 clash against the Adelaide Crows in Ballarat, all parties including the AFL, state government and club partners (Visit Victoria, City of Ballarat, Mars Wrigley and Marvel Stadium) have worked collaboratively to arrive at this outcome,” Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains said.

“Importantly, the club remains extremely excited and committed to the current redevelopment of Mars Stadium, with AFL and AFLW games at Mars Stadium remaining a crucial part of the club’s all-year round presence and involvement in the Ballarat region.

“The club’s regular day-to-day support of the Ballarat region has become a vital cornerstone in all we do, and we look forward to our AFLW home game later this year and future AFL games at Mars Stadium for years to come.

The AFL fixture for the backend of the 2025 season has been released.

“The club is incredibly appreciative of the understanding from all members and fans and looks forward to welcoming the red, white and blue army to another game at Marvel Stadium later this year.”

The Adelaide match will take place on Saturday, July 12, with the first bounce at 1.20pm, with Marvel Stadium to host three games across the round.

2025 AFL FIXTURE — ROUND 16 to ROUND 24

All times AEST

ROUND 16

Thursday June 26

Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)

Friday June 27

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG (7.40pm)

Saturday June 28

Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium (4.15pm)

Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday June 29

Richmond v Adelaide Crows, MCG (3.20pm)

Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)

Bye: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Geelong Cats, GWS Giants

ROUND 17

Thursday July 3

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday July 4

Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7.10pm)

West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium (8.20pm)

Saturday July 5

Essendon v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (12.35pm)

Geelong Cats v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium (4.15pm)

Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, The Gabba (7.35pm)

St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)

Sunday July 6

Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG (1.10pm)

Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

ROUND 18

Thursday July 10

Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday July 11

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, People First Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday July 12

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

GWS Giants v Geelong Cats, ENGIE Stadium (4.15pm)

Richmond v Essendon, MCG (7.35pm)

Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday July 13

Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG (1.10pm)

St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 19

Thursday July 17

Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday July 18

Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, The Gabba (7.40pm)

Saturday July 19

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, UTAS Stadium (1.20pm)

Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG (4.15pm)

Carlton v Melbourne, MCG (7.35pm)

West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday July 20

Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium (1.10pm)

Collingwood v Fremantle, MCG (3.20pm)

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 20

Thursday July 24

Hawthorn v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday July 25

Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.10pm)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, ENGIE Stadium (7.50pm)

Saturday July 26

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)

Sunday July 27

Richmond v Collingwood, MCG (2.10pm)

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

ROUND 21

Thursday July 31

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday August 1

Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Saturday August 2

Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, People First Stadium (4.10pm)

Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG (4.15pm)

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG (7.35pm)

Sunday August 3

St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (1.40pm)

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)

ROUND 22

Thursday August 7

Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday August 8

Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday August 9

Richmond v St Kilda, MCG (1.20pm)

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba (4.15pm)

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)

Sunday August 10

GWS Giants v North Melbourne, ENGIE Stadium (1.40pm)

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)

ROUND 23

Friday August 15

Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.10pm)

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium (8.20pm)

Saturday August 16

Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, People First Stadium (12.35pm)

Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (4.15pm)

Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval (7.35pm)

Sunday August 17

North Melbourne v Richmond, Ninja Stadium (1.10pm)

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, SCG (3.20pm)

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 24 (days and times TBC)

Friday August 22 – Sunday August 24

Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, The Gabba

Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG

Essendon v Carlton, MCG

GWS Giants v St Kilda, ENGIE Stadium

North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Geelong Cats, MCG

West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium

Originally published as ‘Not the best’: AFL’s surprise move raises eyebrows in new fixture release