AFL fixture 2024: Collingwood delays plans to sell game to Gold Coast, Suns eye more prime time fixtures
Collingwood has delayed any plans to sell a game to the Gold Coast, while the Suns are hoping to become the AFL’s prime time darlings. JON RALPH has the latest fixture whispers.
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Collingwood has parked its plans to play a home game on the Gold Coast for next year as the Suns put up their hand to be a recipient of the expanded suite of Thursday night games.
The Pies had investigated the feasibility of moving a Marvel Stadium home clash to the Gold Coast next year in a move that would give them two weeks in the state in midwinter.
Collingwood would have hosted a Victorian club and also played an away contest against the Gold Coast in that time up north.
But the price of compensating the AFL for moving a game from Marvel Stadium would have been steep as rival clubs including Carlton and Essendon also seek to play extra games at the MCG.
The Pies are now open to being part of the Opening Round fixture which will continue next year in a largely unchanged format after at one stage suggesting it would be overly taxing on their early-season fixture.
Gold Coast has asked for four more big-drawing games against quality opponents in the school holidays period to maximise their fixture, which also includes two games in Darwin.
The Suns were able to sell out games against Brisbane, Essendon, Richmond and Collingwood last year.
NICK DAICOS, STOP IT 🤯#AFLSunsPiespic.twitter.com/kfM7Goztvx
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2024
Broadcasters are yet to be informed about an expanded Thursday night schedule but the league is expected to increase this year’s total of 14 home-and-away games.
Under the new broadcast rights deal the league must schedule at least the first 15 weeks with Thursday contests but the huge popularity of the slot means there could be another half-dozen games past round 15.
The Suns believe they are well suited to a handful of Thursday night games given their up-tempo style.
The league is still keen to schedule only marquee contests in Friday night football but if the league fixtures 20 or more Thursday contests it will open up the prime time slot to more clubs.
The AFL is open to clubs selling games interstate, with Fremantle and West Coast putting submissions to the AFL Commission on Brownlow Medal day about superior fixtures.
The WA-based clubs are hopeful the AFL will mandate Victorian clubs handing over a home game every second or third season in Perth to even up the travel load.
It would mean the WA-based teams would receive an extra game at Perth Stadium each year.
But the league is yet to rule on whether it approves the proposal, knocks it back or might postpone discussion until when Tasmania enters the competition in 2028.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said recently he understood the added travel burden for WA-based teams and was open to not scheduling them in Tasmania given the long flights and listening to their concerns over travel.
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