AFL fixture: Blockbusters feature as updated 2020 draw unveiled

The AFL has announced a series of heavyweight fixtures as it aims to restart the 2020 season with a bang next month.

Richmond and Collingwood will relaunch the AFL season. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL has announced a series of heavyweight Thursday and Friday night fixtures as it aims to restart the 2020 season with a bang next month.

Victorian heavyweights Richmond and Collingwood will kick-off the stalled season on June 11 and will each play three times in featured timeslots over the opening four weeks of the restart.

The first week of the rebooted campaign will include Geelong hosting bitter rivals Hawthorn under lights on Friday and a Showdown in Adelaide on Saturday evening.

Queensland hub-bound West Coast and Fremantle will take on Gold Coast and Brisbane respectively, while round-one losers Carlton and Melbourne lock horns. Sunday will feature the GWS-North Melbourne, Sydney-Essendon and St Kilda- Western Bulldogs meetings.

AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld on Monday released a schedule for rounds two to five.

“To relaunch the season we have focused on scheduling blockbuster match-ups across these four weeks, particularly in the Thursday and Friday night prime time slots,” Auld said.

“As we navigate through the remaining 108 games plus finals, we will continue to be adaptable with our scheduling, ensuring our fixtures align with the relevant state government restrictions in place at the time.”

Trent Cotchin of the Tigers looks upfield during a training session at Punt Road. Picture: AAP

Auld unveiled a new Sunday evening timeslot that will likely remain in play all season as the AFL prioritises television broadcasts and viewership, after taking a huge financial hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

There will be more Thursday night matches in the foreseeable future, with the league not having to factor in whether fans can attend mid-week fixtures. Auld was hopeful government restrictions would be eased to allow crowds to return later in the season, with reports claiming crowds could gradually be ramped up towards the October 24 grand final.

The league has yet to settle on a preferred time for the grand final, amid raging debate in football circles over shifting it to be played under lights. Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium will host double-headers in rounds three and four, and each of the four teams temporarily based in the Queensland hub will host one ‘home’ game there.

West Coast will host Richmond on the Gold Coast on Thursday night in round five. As it stands, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will relocate after their Showdown in round two, unless South Australia’s quarantine protocols are updated in the meantime.

Auld hopes the Eagles, Fremantle, the Crow and Port will be able to return to their regular home bases after the first block of matches.

“Ideally we get through this four-week block and things progress, and we have the ability at some point for these clubs to go back and play games out of their home states,” he said.

“It’s just unknown.

“My sense is over the 16 weeks that teams – not just those four teams but other teams – are going to have to make sacrifices and everyone’s committed to that.” The next block of fixtures will be released after round three has been played, with clubs requesting at least two weeks’ notice in the schedule to prepare for their future opponents.

AFL FIXTURE ROUNDS 2-5

ROUND 2

Thursday June 11

Collingwood vs Richmond, MCG, 7:40pm

Friday June 12

Geelong Cats vs Hawthorn, GMHBA, 7:50pm

Saturday June 13

Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle, Gabba, 1:45pm

Carlton vs Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm

Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm

Sunday June 14

GWS Giants vs North Melbourne, Giants Stadium, 1:05pm

Sydney Swans vs Essendon, SCG, 3:35pm

St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm

ROUND 3

Thursday June 18

Richmond vs Hawthorn, MCG, 7:40pm

Friday June 19

Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium, 7:50pm

Saturday June 20

North Melbourne vs Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium, 1:45pm

Collingwood vs St Kilda, MCG, 4:35pm

Geelong Cats vs Carlton, GMHBA, 7:40pm

Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles, Gabba, 7:40pm

Sunday June 21

Gold Coast Suns vs Adelaide Crows, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm

Essendon vs Melbourne, MCG, 3:35pm

Fremantle vs Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 6:05pm

ROUND 4

Thursday June 25

Sydney Swans vs Western Bulldogs, SCG, 7:40pm

Friday June 26

GWS Giants vs Collingwood, Giants Stadium, 7:50pm

Saturday June 27

Port Adelaide vs West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 1:45pm

St Kilda vs Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm

Essendon vs Carlton, MCG, 7:40pm

Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm

Sunday June 28

Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows, Gabba, 1:05pm

Melbourne vs Geelong Cats, MCG, 3:35pm

Hawthorn vs North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm

ROUND 5

Thursday July 2

West Coast Eagles vs Richmond, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm

Friday July 3

Collingwood vs Essendon, MCG, 7:50pm

Saturday July 4

Carlton vs St Kilda, MCG, 1:45pm

Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA, 4:35pm

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7:40pm

Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide, Gabba, 7:40pm

Sunday July 5

Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm

Sydney Swans vs Melbourne, SCG, 3:35pm

GWS Giants vs Hawthorn, Giants Stadium, 6:05pm

AAP