Swans chairman Andrew Pridham hails Opening Round a success, open to Victorian game

Opening Round has been all about promoting the AFL in the northern states. But one of the leading voices on NSW football says he’s open to a Victorian blockbuster being included.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Jake Lloyd of the Swans celebrates with Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham after winning the AFL First Qualifying Final match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on September 07, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham has launched an impassioned defence of opening round while conceding it might be enhanced by a Melbourne blockbuster to finish the weekend.

The league has backed opening round given strong membership growth and sold-out crowds for last year’s event even though the 2025 version has been curtailed to two Sydney games.

Some fan surveys in Melbourne had more than 90 per cent of respondents calling on the AFL to scrap opening round.

But Pridham told News Corp the numbers and impact in Sydney stood for themselves, even if the league could consider a blockbuster finish to next year’s version.

“It has been a huge success. This year is seriously compromised with what is in Queensland but in terms of what it’s done for the Swans, we will have record membership,” he said.

“We will get to 80,000. It has a huge impact on media and awareness that the AFL season has started. The NRL always starts earlier than the AFL. The proof is in the pudding because it not only boosts membership, but we had record game attendance last year and we will beat that this year.

“The game is a sellout. We will have more sellouts at the SCG than we have ever had. We have sold out of every bit of corporate hospitality for the first time in my 20-plus years here.

“Can it be tweaked over time? I absolutely think it can and would support it if the opening round included a big game at the MCG on the Sunday, It’s a public holiday on Monday (Labour Day) so you could have a Sunday or Monday game at the G. I don’t think it would detract from opening round in the north.

“Victoria is very important to the game but if you take a broader view you can’t just be constantly Victoria-centric.”

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham says he’s open to Opening Round including a game in Melbourne.

As the Swans embark upon their first season under new coach Dean Cox, Pridham said the club’s succession plan had gone seamlessly even if the timeline had been surprising.

He said none of the hierarchy had any role in pushing long-time premiership coach Longmire to consider hanging over the job to Cox a year earlier than planned.

“I would categorically say in no way was John nudged, coerced or anything,” he said.

“It was his decision and (CEO) Tom Harley and I were both very surprised that he retired this year. I thought he would do it at the end of this season, not the beginning

“He has obviously thought a lot about it. It was absolutely strategically planned Dean would take over and we all knew that. Anyone who wants to speculate can do it, but it’s not right.”

Originally published as Swans chairman Andrew Pridham hails Opening Round a success, open to Victorian game