AFL fixture 2024: Andrew Dillon says Crows will be “rewarded” in 2024 fixture

The Crows have pushed the AFL for a better draw in 2024 after the failings in their finals-killing loss to the Swans, and it appears the club are set to receive that and then some.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 19: Matthew Nicks, Senior Coach of the Crows during the 2023 AFL Round 23 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval on August 19, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has confirmed Adelaide will be “rewarded” in the 2024 fixture, as he revealed the league is looking for “two to three” extra Thursday night clashes next year.

The Crows have pushed to be rewarded when it comes to their fixtures to make up for the controversial goal review error against Sydney that killed off Adelaide’s finals hopes in 2023.

This masthead reported last month that the Crows were pushing to avoid regional venues in 2024, and get more marquee match-ups at Adelaide Oval as part of their fixture request.

The Crows already have had one prime-time home clash confirmed for 2024, opening Gather Round on the Thursday night against Melbourne.

Launching the full Gather Round fixture in Adelaide on Sunday, Dillon confirmed that clash wouldn’t be the only juicy one the Crows get next year when the fixtures for 2024 are announced on Thursday.

Matthew Nicks following the controversial loss. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“The fixture will be announced at the back-end of the week and I think you will see the Crows had a great season and have been playing some really good football and that will be rewarded and you will see that in the fixture when it comes out,” he said.

“We had conversations with the Crows around that (the goal line controversy) and the way that John Olsen, Tim Silvers and Matthew Nicks and the club went about that was a real credit to them.

“The fixture that the Crows get will stand on its own, they had a great season and I think they played a really good brand of footy.”

Olsen, the Crows chairman, vowed to pursue the AFL for a better fixturing run in the wake of the controversial way in which Adelaide’s finals chances were ended.

Ben Keays’ shot was wrongly ruled as touching the post in the dying stages of the Swans’ one-point win over the Crows in Round 23 at Adelaide Oval.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says the Crows will be rewarded for the exciting brand of footy they played in 2023. Picture: Matt Loxton

It was controversially not sent to the video review system and Sydney – who eventually made finals at Adelaide’s expense – quickly played on and went down the other end of the ground.

Adelaide had also hoped its high-scoring game style in 2023 – the Crows scored the most points in the home and away season – would result in a significant increase in prime time games after hosting just the one this year.

Dillon also revealed the AFL is looking for around two to three extra Thursday night games in 2024.

“We will announce that on Thursday but we will be looking to increase from the number we had this year, you will probably see around two or three extra ones I think,” he said.

As part of the recently agreed CBA clubs will get more five-day breaks, three per club, to provide greater flexibility in fixturing – which includes the ability to have more Thursday night games.

Originally published as AFL fixture 2024: Andrew Dillon says Crows will be “rewarded” in 2024 fixture