AFL 2024: Swans boss Tom Harley lauds polarising Opening Round

Sydney has emerged as the big winner from the AFL’s surprise decision to shift its opening games to the northern states.

Sydney will host Melbourne at the SCG on a Thursday night in a new-look AFL season opener in 2024. Picture: Jason McCawley / Getty Images

Sydney chief executive Tom Harley has applauded the AFL after the Swans emerged as big winners from sweeping change to the structure of the league’s opening round.

The SCG will host the AFL season opener when Sydney plays Melbourne on a Thursday night, the first of four games to all be played in NSW and Queensland in a weekend separated from the full “round 1” involving all 18 clubs.

Harley said playing the opening games in the northern states, which will lead to all eight participating sides having a bye sometime between rounds 2 and 6, was a “smart market decision” by the AFL.

He said the Swans happily coexisted with the NRL but were keen to cash in on extra eyeballs presented by the league shifting its season kick-off to Las Vegas.

Sydney chief executive Tom Harley says the season opener against Melbourne will be a fitting way to celebrate the start of the Swans’ 150th year. Picture: Michael Klein

His comments came despite the AFL only fixturing the four games on the weekend after the Vegas clashes, meaning some NRL teams will still be playing in NSW and Queensland during the opening round.

“I think it’s a privilege to play the first game of the year, and I’d love to think this is something we could look at beyond 2024 as well,” Harley said.

“It’s not until you live in the Sydney market that you fully appreciate and understand how competitive the sports landscape is here.

“The reality is the other codes get a bit of a headstart on us, but one of the other codes obviously taking their season overseas, so we’ve slotted quite nicely into that weekend.”

Harley said new Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy taking on the Demons after the drama of his one-year stint at Melbourne would add some “spice” to the Thursday night clash.

Lance Franklin was farewelled in front of a huge SCG crowd of 41,753 during Sydney’s round 24 loss to Melbourne, with Swans boss Tom Harley hoping similar numbers turn out for the 2024 season opener between the two sides. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“There will clearly be some interest around that, Brodie will have to answer that question over the summer, but that adds another bit of spice to it,” he said.

“Looking at the other three games over the opening round, there’s a narrative weaved through all of them, and I just think it’s a smart market decision from the code to launch the season north of the Murray.

“I think it’s fantastic to have the first game of the season here in Sydney to start our 150th year with a bang, ironically against the Demons, who was our first opponent back in 1982 when we moved here.

“It’s an opportunity, it’s not going to be the only thing, it’s not going to be a silver bullet … but we’ll certainly take the opportunity from a club’s point of view to bask in that spotlight and make sure we put on a good show.”