AFL releases 2020 fixture: See every match, live news updates

The AFL has sent a clear signal that exciting footy will be rewarded, with the highest-scoring clubs handed the best timeslots in next year's fixture. See what your club had to say.

AFL 2020 fixture

The AFL backed in the high-octane playing styles of Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs as it told clubs high-scoring “sexy” footy translated into prime timeslots.

The Tigers have a total of seven Thursday and Friday night games including their annual Anzac Eve clash against Melbourne in Round 6 and a qualifying final rematch against Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 8.  

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL 2020 AFL FIXTURE

The league handed the Dogs five Friday night games and the Lions four Thursday and Friday night games as a direct result of their attractive football in 2019.

Both teams had only one prime time game this year, but fixturing boss Travis Auld is hopeful it is an incentive for teams to score more and move the ball quickly.

He admits there is a risk in handing 16 teams at least one Thursday or Friday night game, with the Suns and Fremantle the only teams to be handed a prime time blackout.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL TODAY'S FIXTURE NEWS AND REACTION

Richmond and Collingwood still lead the charge with eight prime time clashes, but the spread of teams with a Thursday or Friday night clash is the highest since 2011.

"You look at the Bulldogs and Brisbane, they play an exciting style of football and fans like that and you see that through audiences, there is a direct correlation," he said.

"We have been really clear with clubs that you will see a correlation between the way you play and access to those big prime slots and that creates some prioritisation within clubs themselves and it’s exciting to see it play out."

Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

Travis Auld announces the 2020 fixture.

Brisbane led the league in scoring in the home-and-away season, with the Western Bulldogs third behind Geelong.

Essendon received six prime time slots, Geelong plays six Friday night games and the Roos get a Friday night clash too.

In other fixture highlights:

THE league scheduled Friday night games half an hour earlier during the Round 19-21 crossover with the Olympics to minimise the double-up of events.

THE AFL said the Grand Final was currently planned for a traditional afternoon slot but could be changed to a twilight contest by the end of the summer.

A ROUND 22 floating fixture was considered but not brought in to maximise the quality of the games in that round immediately after the Olympics.

THE bye after Round 23 is here to stay as it allows the league to schedule a Thursday night final in week one.

A STAND-ALONE twilight slot has been allocated for the AFLW Grand Final in Round 5 of the men’s competition to allow clean air for the women’s decider.

Auld admits that with such an even competition and the potential for high-profile teams to struggle, there is a risk in playing so many teams across Thursday and Friday slots.

"I think the real challenge with this fixture is that evenness of the competition. It has been much more difficult to select teams to anchor Thursday and Friday around," he said.

"That is a fantastic opportunity for fans and clubs. Who knows how a number of teams will go and so we will sit and watch like everyone else does and make those assessments in hindsight but having to do it now is more challenging than in previous years."

See the full fixture, expert analysis and all today's news updates in the blog below

Originally published as AFL releases 2020 fixture: See every match, live news updates

Updates