AFL announce 2020 season fixture: Major changes to AFL draw

The AFL has revealed a major overhaul of the 2020 season fixture — but league commentators have blown up over details that slipped between cracks.

The AFL has confirmed a series of major changes to its 2020 season fixture.

The league revealed the full season schedule in an announcement on Thursday morning.

Anzac Day will undergo a major overhaul, with the traditional Essendon-Collingwood blockbuster to be pushed back to a twilight game in order to make room for another three games on the same day.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to the 2020 draw is the outcry that has surrounded the Brisbane Lions’ fixture — despite the club earning a huge prime time promotion with two Thursday night and two Friday night games.

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High profile Lions fans were blowing up after the draw’s release on Thursday because of the fixture’s failure to deliver on the team’s historic ties to Fitzroy and Melbourne.

The merged Brisbane-Fitzroy club will play just four games in Melbourne next year — coming off the club’s fairytale climb up the ladder in 2019.

Commentators labelled the Lions’ absence from Melbourne “an absolute disgrace”.

I am in Canberra now and very excited they are coming here. But the @afl is taking the piss with Fitzroy supporters. 4 games in Melbourne. 4! You could scarcely schedule fewer if you tried. GWS have 7. Going to be hard to hang on to old royboys if that keeps up. @ollycaffrey

— Tom Connell (@tomwconnell) October 31, 2019

An absolute disgrace. Coming off our best season in 10 years, a golden opportunity to get old roys back, and there are 4 games in Melbourne. Shithouse.

— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) October 31, 2019

The Lions, however, welcomed their season schedule in a statement from CEO Greg Swann.

“We’re delighted to have some marquee Thursday and Friday night games at The Gabba,” he said.

“The last time we hosted a Friday night regular season game was 2013 against Collingwood. Our Captain Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester are the only two remaining players from that game.

“We’re also really pleased with the 10 free-to-air games on Channel 7 we’ve been given as well as the eleven games with our long term partner, Fox.”

The Western Bulldogs had already confirmed the club’s return to marquee Good Friday football as one of several big-game blockbusters reported in the days leading up to Thursday’s official fixture reveal, including

— Richmond and Collingwood will be the prime time kings in 2020 with the Tigers playing in two Thursday night and six Friday night games. Collingwood will play three Thursday night games and five Friday night games.

— Four matches will be played on Anzac Day, which falls on a Saturday this year

— The Western Bulldogs have arguably the friendliest draw — playing just one fellow top eight team (GWS) twice in 2020

— The grand final re-match between GWS and Richmond will be played in round seven at the MCG on Saturday, May 2

— The Adelaide Showdown between the Power and Crows will be held on a stand-alone Sunday fixture in round thirteen

— Tim Kelly will play former club Geelong in Perth in round three at Optus Stadium on a Saturday

— Channel 7 had reportedly leaned on the AFL to deliver a blockbuster match-up for its Friday night fixture, following the Olympics. Seven will reportedly dump the AFL to digital channel 7mate while the Games are held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9 next year and the network wanted the league to deliver a boom fixture for when the AFL returns to its main channel the following weekend. The Herald Sun reports Seven was “desperate to avoid” the same “ratings disaster” it suffered in round 22 last year when the Swans played Melbourne on Friday night in a game where both sides were already doomed to finishing near the bottom of the ladder. The AFL came through for the broadcaster by scheduling a Collingwood-West Coast blockbuster in Perth on Friday, August 14.

— The GWS Giants will become the first club to stage an AFL/AFLW double header where both its teams will be playing for premiership points in the Giants’ round one AFL premiership match against the Cats

The Brisbane Lions haven’t pleased everyone.

— St Kilda and Port Adelaide will be heading to China to play in the annual clash at Jiangwan Stadium in round eleven on Sunday, May 31

— The Brisbane Lions will play in four prime time slots in 2020, including home games at the Gabba against Richmond and Collingwood. The Lions will play two Thursday night games and Two Friday night games

— Carlton will play two home Thursday night games in the first three rounds — against Richmond in the season opener and then against Essendon in round three

— The Joe Daniher Cup between Essendon and Sydney will take place at the SCG in round two in a blockbuster Friday night fixture on March 27; and

— Hawthorn will also host West Coast in Tasmania on Anzac Day in an early afternoon fixture. Brisbane will also play Sydney at the Gabba and Port Adelaide will play the Western Bulldogs at the Adelaide Oval on the same day.

It will only be awkward if Joe Daniher makes it awkward.

The Dogs announced on Wednesday the club will play North Melbourne in the round four Easter fixture, which will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy at 4.20pm on Friday, April 10 at Marvel Stadium.

The two sides played in the inaugural Good Friday game in 2017, when nearly 43,000 fans watched the Dogs secure a narrow three-point victory.

In the two years since, the AFL has rotated opponents against North Melbourne for the game, scheduling them against St Kilda in 2018, and Essendon last season.

Melbourne’s high-stakes 2020 AFL season will begin with an imposing trip to Perth to face a West Coast side bolstered by the acquisition of Tim Kelly. The AFL has confirmed the round-one fixture for next season, with the Eagles and Demons set to cap off the weekend in a Sunday twilight clash at Optus Stadium.

A lot of eyes will be on Tim Kelly and the Eagles’ engine room this season.

No team will be under greater scrutiny than the Dees after they went from being preliminary-finalists in 2018 to finishing 17th on the ladder this year. The Eagles loom as a major threat next season with Kelly bolstering an already potent midfield led by Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff and Nic Naitanui. Premiers Richmond will again launch the season against Carlton in a Thursday night clash likely to attract more than 90,000 fans to the MCG. Expectations are high for the Blues after they showed strong improvement in the second half of last season under David Teague.

Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs will face off on the Friday night at Marvel Stadium.

Essendon host Fremantle at the same venue on Saturday afternoon, Adelaide host Sydney and Gold Coast take on Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium. It was confirmed earlier in the week that GWS will host a Saturday night double- header against Geelong in both AFL and AFLW at Giants Stadium. North Melbourne and St Kilda open proceedings on Sunday before Hawthorn host Brisbane in one of just two MCG games for the opening round.

AFL 2020 FIXTURE (all times AEDT)

ROUND 1

Thursday, March 19

Richmond v Carlton at MCG, 7.25pm

Friday, March 20

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm

Saturday, March 21

Essendon v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm

Adelaide v Sydney at Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm

GWS v Geelong at Giants Stadium, 7.25pm

Gold Coast v Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium, 7.25pm

Sunday, March 22

North Melbourne v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm

Hawthorn v Brisbane at MCG, 3.20pm

West Coast v Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 6.20pm

ROUND 2

Thursday March 26

Collingwood v Richmond, MCG (7.20pm)

Friday March 27

Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG (7.50pm)

Saturday March 28

Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG (1.45pm)

Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)

Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne, The Gabba (7.25pm)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Sunday March 29

Geelong v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium (1.10pm)

St Kilda v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (6.20pm)

ROUND 3

Thursday April 2

Carlton v Essendon, MCG (7.20pm)

Friday April 3

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, UNSW Canberra Oval (7.50pm)

Saturday April 4

Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG (1.45pm)

Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)

North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

West Coast Eagles v Geelong, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday April 5

Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (1.10pm)

St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans, Metricon Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 4

Thursday April 9

Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7.35pm)

Friday April 10

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (4.20pm)

Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)

Saturday April 11

Richmond v Adelaide, MCG (1.45pm)

Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (4.35pm)

Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday April 12

Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (1.10pm)

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

Monday April 13

Geelong v Hawthorn, MCG (3.20pm)

ROUND 5

Thursday April 16

Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Friday April 17

West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Saturday April 18

Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (1.10pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium (1.10pm)

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (7.25pm)

Sunday April 19

North Melbourne v Fremantle, Blundstone Arena (1.10pm)

Hawthorn v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Geelong v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 6

Friday April 24

Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday April 25

Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles, UTAS Stadium (1.10pm)

Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (4.20pm)

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba (7.25pm)

Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)

Sunday April 26

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, UNSW Canberra Oval (1.10pm)

Carlton v North Melbourne, MCG (3.20pm)

St Kilda v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

Fremantle v Geelong, Optus Stadium (7.50pm)

ROUND 7

Friday May 1

Collingwood v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.50pm)

Saturday May 2

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide, Metricon Stadium (1.45pm)

Richmond v GWS Giants, MCG (1.45pm)

Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)

Geelong v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (7.25pm)

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday May 3

Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG (1.10pm)

Essendon v Melbourne, MCG (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 8

Friday May 8

Brisbane Lions v Richmond, The Gabba (7.50pm)

Saturday May 9

Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (1.45pm)

Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns, Mars Stadium (1.45pm)

Geelong v Essendon, MCG (4.35pm)

West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (4.35pm)

GWS Giants v Collingwood, Giants Stadium (7.25pm)

St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday May 10

Melbourne v Port Adelaide, MCG (3.20pm)

North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 9

Friday May 15

Richmond v Geelong, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday May 16

North Melbourne v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)

Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium (2.10pm)

GWS Giants v St Kilda, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)

Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, MCG (7.25pm)

Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Sunday May 17

Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (1.10pm)

Melbourne v Adelaide, TIO Traeger Park – Alice Springs (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 10

Friday May 22

Sydney Swans v Geelong, SCG (7.50pm)

Saturday May 23

St Kilda v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, UTAS Stadium (1.45pm)

Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)

Essendon v Richmond, MCG (7.25pm)

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba (7.25pm)

Sunday May 24

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (1.10pm)

Collingwood v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 11

Friday May 29

Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday May 30

Geelong v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (1.45pm)

Richmond v Sydney Swans, MCG (1.45pm)

GWS Giants v Adelaide, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)

Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday May 31

Essendon v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (1.10pm)

Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, MCG (3.20pm)

St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium (4.20pm)

ROUND 12

Friday June 5

Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)

Saturday June 6

Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG (1.45pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, Metricon Stadium (4.35pm)

Carlton v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday June 7

Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG (2.10pm)

Monday June 8

Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)

Byes: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 13

Thursday June 11

West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Friday June 12

Hawthorn v Geelong, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday June 13

North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Blundstone Arena (1.45pm)

Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda, TIO Stadium – Darwin (4.35pm)

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday June 14

Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (3.50pm)

Byes: Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney Swans

ROUND 14

Thursday June 18

Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG (7.20pm)

Friday June 19

Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, The Gabba (7.50pm)

Saturday June 20

Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)

Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium (4.35pm)

Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Sunday June 21

Richmond v West Coast Eagles, MCG (2.10pm)

Byes: Adelaide, Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 15

Thursday June 25

Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, The Gabba (7.20pm)

Friday June 26

Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (7.50pm)

Saturday June 27

Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (1.45pm)

Carlton v Geelong, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)

GWS Giants v Richmond, Giants Stadium (7.25pm)

West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday June 28

Collingwood v Adelaide, MCG (1.10pm)

St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 16

Thursday July 2

Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.20pm)

Friday July 3

Geelong v West Coast Eagles, GMHBA Stadium (7.50pm)

Saturday July 4

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG (1.45pm)

Richmond v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG (7.25pm)

Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Sunday July 5

Gold Coast Suns v Carlton, Metricon Stadium (1.10pm)

North Melbourne v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 17

Friday July 10

Richmond v Collingwood, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday July 11

Melbourne v St Kilda, MCG (1.45pm)

Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium (2.10pm)

GWS Giants v Essendon, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Brisbane Lions v Geelong, The Gabba (7.25pm)

Sunday July 12

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval (1.10pm)

Carlton v Sydney SwansMarvel Stadium, (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 18

Friday July 17

Collingwood v Geelong, MCG (7.50pm)

Saturday July 18

Hawthorn v GWS Giants, MCG (1.45pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, Metricon Stadium (2.10pm)

Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, SCG (4.35pm)

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday July 19

Essendon v North Melbourne, MCG (1.10pm)

Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 19

Friday July 24

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (7.20pm)

Saturday July 25

Carlton v West Coast Eagles, MCG (1.45pm)

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Blundstone Arena (2.10pm)

Geelong v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (4.35pm)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, Giants Stadium (5.10pm)

Essendon v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday July 26

Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG (1.10pm)

Brisbane Lions v St Kilda, The Gabba (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (5.20pm)

ROUND 20

Friday July 31

Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7.20pm)

Saturday August 1

Essendon v Collingwood, MCG (1.45pm)

GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions, UNSW Canberra Oval (2.10pm)

Geelong v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium (4.35pm)

St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday August 2

North Melbourne v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (1.10pm)

Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG (3.20pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle, Metricon Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 21

Friday August 7

Geelong v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium (7.20pm)

Saturday August 8

Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG (1.45pm)

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles, The Gabba (2.10pm)

Hawthorn v Adelaide, UTAS Stadium (4.35pm)

Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns, SCG (7.25pm)

Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday August 9

Carlton v Richmond, MCG (1.10pm)

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 22

Friday August 14

West Coast Eagles v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Saturday August 15

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Mars Stadium (1.45pm)

Melbourne v Carlton, MCG (1.45pm)

GWS Giants v Fremantle, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)

Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7.25pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium (7.25pm)

Sunday August 16

St Kilda v Geelong, Marvel Stadium (1.10pm)

Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG (3.20pm)

Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)

ROUND 23 (Dates and times TBC)

Friday August 21 – Sunday August 23

Port Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval

North Melbourne v Melbourne, Blundstone Arena

Geelong v Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

Carlton v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium

Collingwood v Gold Coast Suns, MCG

Fremantle v Richmond, Optus Stadium

Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, SCG

Brisbane Lions v Essendon, The Gabba