By Peter Ryan and Jon Pierik
High-profile Geelong recruit Bailey Smith will face his former club in a mid-season Thursday night blockbuster at GMHBA Stadium, as the timeslot dominates a season for the first time.
The blue-chip clash against the Western Bulldogs will be held under lights in round 11. It will be one of 23 Thursday night matches as the popular timeslot becomes a regular fixture for the first time under the new $4.5 billion broadcast deal.
Bailey Smith got his wish with a move to Geelong.
The AFL played 14 Thursday night matches in 2024 but did not schedule any games in that timeslot after round 13.
However, the league revealed on Wednesday that there will be 23 Thursday night games next season. The fixture for the first 16 weeks of Thursday games has been released, including opening round, while a further seven rounds will also have Thursday games as part of the floating fixture to be determined midway through the season.
Fifteen clubs will appear at least once in a Thursday night fixture in the first 16 weeks, beginning with the Brisbane Lions and Geelong in opening round, before the traditional clash between Carlton and Richmond at the MCG in round one. Round two will involve Carlton and Hawthorn at the MCG, with Essendon and Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium a week later.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league was delighted to increase the Thursday night slate.
“There has been a strong desire from fans and our broadcast partners for more Thursday night football, and we are excited to be able to deliver in spades next season,” Dillon said.
Through the opening 16 weeks, Essendon will play in four Thursday night games, while Carlton, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Geelong, the Lions and the Bulldogs will play in three.
Marvel Stadium and the MCG will host four matches, Brisbane’s Gabba three, Perth’s Optus Stadium two and the Adelaide Oval one.
The league decided to hold back on the timeslot until the new deal kicked in, with free-to-air broadcaster Seven to have exclusive broadcast rights for the night in the first 16 rounds.
Smith crossed to Geelong in the trade period after 103 matches with the Bulldogs. He missed last season after requiring a knee reconstruction in the pre-season.
The commercially crucial primetime slots are in huge demand as the AFL prepares to release the 2025 fixture on Thursday. The Hawks will play the first two Friday nights of the season against Sydney at the SCG and Essendon at the MCG in round one. The Bulldogs have managed to lock in a 100th anniversary celebration match against Collingwood.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne will earn a whopping $2.5 million in 2025 under a deal in which they will play two home games in Western Australia in the next three seasons.
The Kangaroos will play West Coast in Bunbury in round 13 on Saturday, June 8, and Fremantle at Optus Stadium in round 14 on Saturday, June 14. In 2025, the club will play seven home games in Melbourne, two in Tasmania and two in Western Australia.
However, in 2026 they will exit Tasmania with nine home games in Melbourne and two home games in Western Australia.
North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said the deal would give the Kangaroos a better financial return.
“The club began planning for our post-Tasmania future once Tasmania was granted an AFL licence. Having explored a number of options, this three-year agreement stood alone in delivering multiple benefits to the club, our members and supporters,” Watt said.
“North Melbourne will always be our forever home, and enhancing our facilities and expanding our footprint within the Arden precinct will always be at the heart of our long-term strategy.
“From a financial perspective, this opportunity in Western Australia will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to do that alongside fully funded football departments.”
North Melbourne have played home games in Hobart since 2012, when they began playing two games per season at Bellerive Oval.
The new deal is also expected to benefit the Dockers and West Coast, who will have the capacity to sell advertising and ground assets at the venue as well as playing an extra match in their home state during the next three seasons.
Hawthorn remain locked into playing in Launceston, with the number of games they play in Tasmania to be gradually reduced when the Tasmania Devils enter the competition. The Hawks hope to maintain a presence in Tasmania after the Devils enter the competition, but it remains unclear how that might work.
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