AFL confirms dates and times for Round 23 matches
PORT Adelaide’s home clash against Essendon in Round 23 will kick off the final round of the home-and-away season after the AFL confirmed the dates and times for its floating Round 23 fixture. SEE WHEN YOUR CLUB IS PLAYING
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PORT Adelaide’s home clash against Essendon will kick off the final round of the home-and-away season after the AFL on Monday confirmed the dates and times for its floating Round 23 fixture.
Five of the nine games had already been ruled out of the Friday night slot because one team plays five days before, on the Sunday of Round 22.
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Geelong’s clash against Gold Coast held few appeals for broadcasters, while playing Sydney v Hawthorn would hand the Swans their ninth six-day break for the year.
That blockbuster clash, which could determine whether each team plays finals, has been booked for the Saturday night slot at 7.25pm.
The final nine matches could all either decide where teams finish within the top eight or decide whether a club plays finals or not.
Essendon likely needs to win three of its last four games to play finals given 10 victories so far and a modest percentage of 102.8.
Geelong, who will host Gold Coast in the first game on Saturday, currently sits in eighth spot on percentage behind Hawthorn.
Collingwood will travel to Perth for the Saturday twilight fixture against Fremantle where a top-four spot could be on the line.
Then all eyes will be on Melbourne v GWS at the MCG on Sunday at 3.20pm.
The Giants currently sit in fifth position on the ladder, two points ahead of the Demons courtesy of their draw with the Saints earlier this season.
If both clubs continue their recent winning form, a top-four spot for both teams could be on the line.
St Kilda v North Melbourne will be the final game of the home and away fixture, to get underway at 4.40pm at Etihad Stadium.
Last year’s home-and-away season came down to the final moments.
Why have a floating fixture in Round 23 when there is a bye between the last round and the first week of finals?
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) July 30, 2018
West Coast eventually won by a big enough margin — 29 points — to knock Melbourne out of finals calculations by 0.5 of a percentage point.
The league has again fixtured a post-Round 23 bye, which means if North Melbourne makes the final it will still have a lengthy break for its first match in September.
Last year the league played the first qualifying final between Adelaide and GWS as a Thursday night game before a Friday night final then two Saturday finals in the first weekend.
THE ROUND 23 FIXTURE
Friday August 24
Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm
Saturday August 25
Geelong v Gold Coast, GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm
Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG, 2.10pm
Fremantle v Collingwood, Perth Stadium, 2.35pm
Sydney v Hawthorn, SCG, 7.25pm
Carlton v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Sunday August 26
Brisbane v West Coast, Gabba, 1.10pm
Melbourne v GWS, MCG, 3.20pm
St Kilda v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm
*All times are local
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