Melbourne’s clash against Fremantle in Round 1 won’t move from the MCG

Essendon wants to move its Round 1 game from Marvel to the MCG despite Melbourne being fixtured to play Fremantle. Now the AFL has weighed in.

The Demons will be back playing on the MCG in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

Melbourne has been reassured by the AFL that its first-round clash against Fremantle at the MCG won’t be moved.

Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert said talks with league officials on Tuesday morning confirmed the league had no plans to reschedule its opening game of the season from the MCG to Marvel Stadium.

The prospect of a late switch was raised when Essendon on Monday said it wanted to have its Round 1 clash against Hawthorn moved from Marvel Stadium to the MCG to draw a bigger crowd.

It would mean the Dees would either have to play at Marvel Stadium or be part of an MCG double-header on Saturday, March 20.

Pert said the club had received an influx of calls from members asking whether the club would be kicked off the MCG for the opening game of the season.

But Pert said the AFL had told him they would not be booted off the MCG.

“All of our supporters and members and sponsors are very excited to get back to the MCG,” Pert told the Herald Sun.

“It has been a year since we have played there so what they do not want to hear is that our game might be moved.

“This is important to them and to us and we are expecting a big crowd and they will be Melbourne people.

“So it is a bit silly that I’m spending a lot of time today having to reassure people just because a couple of other clubs have thrown stuff out into the media.

“I was talking to the AFL about something else and they said by the way this stuff in the media about the fixture, don’t even worry about it.”

The Demons will be back playing on the MCG in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Tuesday afternoon neither game would be rescheduled.

McLachlan said the league had not received anything official from the Bombers regarding a request to change venues.

“No I don’t think we’ve had anything official,” McLachlan said.

“I read it in the paper this morning.

“There’s huge knock on consequences moving games each week.

“We’re pleased to be able to have fifty per cent of the crowd back at games in Melbourne.

“It’s a long year.

“Melbourne are playing on the same day and we have to respect the Melbourne membership that they want to play their fixture at the MCG.

“There’s knock-on’s everywhere. It’s not a simple exercise.

“I understand that it’s been raised.

“We’re just waiting to get a great round of football away and get going on the men’s season.”