AFL fixture 2024: Prime time kings emerge as full schedule revealed
The AFL fixture is live and the prime time kings of 2024 have emerged. Which clubs will dominate your Thursday and Friday night screens? See the full schedule here.
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Premiership heavyweights Carlton and Collingwood will be the prime time kings in next year’s AFL fixture with a whopping 15 Thursday and Friday night games between them.
The AFL handed the powerhouse clubs dream draws designed to help generate massive television audiences and packed-out crowds across the first 15 rounds of the 2024 season.
And Western Bulldogs’ under pressure senior coach Luke Beveridge will breathe a sigh of relief with the Dogs slated to play only two finalists – Melbourne and St Kilda – in the first nine rounds next season.
Carlton has been gifted three Thursday night and five Friday games, while Collingwood will cash in with three Thursday night and four Friday night slots in a huge boost to the clubs’ coffers.
And in an added bonus, the Pies and Blues will only have one five-day break each next year, while Collingwood has been slated 14 MCG games and Carlton nine (plus eight at Marvel).
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL 2024 AFL FIXTURE
The two clubs would be thrilled with their 2024 fixtures as Collingwood aim for back-to-back premierships and Carlton look to win its first flag in 28 years.
And the clubs will be in the spotlight from the get-go with each team given three prime night-time slots within their first four games of the season as part of a blockbuster start.
The Blues will also have the chance to make a fast start next year with the club set to confront only one top-eight team – Brisbane Lions – in the first five rounds of next season.
But Richmond has been dudded with its draw that will take the club off Broadway, test the legs in the first two weeks of the season, and see the Tigers travel to GMHBA Stadium to play Geelong in round 12.
READ MORE: ALL THE TALKING POINTS OUT OF THE 2024 FIXTURE.
The Tigers, who have appointed a new coach Adem Yze and lost champions Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt to retirement, will play only two Thursday night games and zero Friday night games in 2024.
Richmond has been assigned seven interstate trips, including two to Perth, were booted off Adelaide Oval for Gather Round, and will play at the Cattery for only the second time in 12 years.
Richmond has won only once at the venue from its last 14 attempts dating back to 1990, when current chief executive Brendon Gale was playing in his first season.
The club’s first five-day break will challenge Yze’s men between the Round Zero clash against Damien Hardwick’s Gold Coast and the round 1 traditional Thursday night battle against Carlton at the MCG.
The AFL backed-in Western Bulldogs and Essendon, who were each given five Thursday-Friday night games, while Geelong, Melbourne and St Kilda were handed four prime time slots each.
Thursday and Friday night games help drive revenue for clubs by attracting big crowds to games and eyeballs and exposure for major sponsors in stand-alone games on television.
St Kilda was shown respect for its rise up the ladder in 2023 and was granted a request to play Collingwood in round 2 on Thursday night as an MCG home game.
But Ross Lyon’s men are scheduled to play two only games at the home of footy in the first 15 rounds next season.
As this masthead revealed this month, Collingwood will unfurl its premiership flag against Sydney Swans and former Magpies Taylor Adams and Brodie Grundy in round 1 on Friday night at the MCG.
Hawthorn did not receive a single Thursday or Friday night game and face a tricky start to the season against Essendon, Melbourne, Geelong (all at the MCG) and Collingwood in the first month.
The AFL’s 2024 fixture included 14 Thursday night games across the first 16 rounds and also reduced the amount of time games will overlap on Sundays.
The new ‘Sunday spread’ will see games kick off at 1pm and 4pm for the bulk of rounds next season, plus a later game from 6.50pm in some cases.
Al times below are AEST.
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