AFL 2017 fixture features eight games in new marquee Thursday night timeslot, up from five in 2016

MELBOURNE’S traditional heavyweight clubs have lost their grip on footy’s prime time TV slots with the AFL set to shine next year’s spotlight on the strongest on-field performers.

West Coast as agreed to a five-day break leading into a Thursday night game in 2017. Picture: Sarah Reed

MELBOURNE’S traditional heavyweight clubs have lost their grip on footy’s prime time TV slots with the AFL set to shine next year’s spotlight on the strongest on-field performers.

Grand finalists Western Bulldogs and Sydney were unveiled as footy’s new prime time kings in a 2017 fixture that prioritised ladder position over membership size.

As forecast in the Herald Sun on Thursday, the AFL moved to maximise the success of its Thursday night matches with eight of them in next year’s fixture, three more than last year.

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The Dogs will take centre stage seven times on Friday night and once on Thursday night, while the Swans received a league-high 10 games in the two marquee timeslots.

But the recognition came at a cost for traditional big-drawing clubs such as Collingwood and Richmond who were demoted to make-up a larger slice of the day games next season.

In all, the Tigers and Magpies will feature in only two Friday night games next year, with St Kilda (four) and Greater Western Sydney (three) given more prime time love in their place.

Clubs rely on prime-time night games to draw bumper television audiences and help provide golden airtime for big-paying sponsors.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said clubs at the top of the ladder deserve increased night game exposure.

St Kilda will play four night games next year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He said late-season matches between Adelaide and West Coast and the Bulldogs’ pulsating preliminary final win over the Giants drew massive television audiences and showed that the traditional “Big 4” Melbourne clubs did not have a monopoly on the marquee spots.

“People want to see a contest,” McLachlan said.

“I think bigger clubs or the biggest-supported Melbourne clubs don’t necessarily command the premium they did for those slots.

“I think people want to bank on known form and teams that are going to turn and up and provide a contest and provide hopefully a close game.”

After a disastrous 2016 season that saw the Tigers slid to 13th position, Damien Hardwick’s men do not play in a single Friday night game next year.

The Tigers had six Friday night games in 2016 but failed to live up to expectations, much like Carlton under Mick Malthouse in the final year of his turbulent reign at Carlton in 2015.

Richmond has two Thursday night games but no Friday night matches next year after six in 2016. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Richmond will play two Thursday night games next season — in Rounds 1 and 2 — but are then sent off Broadway.

Similarly, former TV darlings Collingwood will be part of the main act only twice on Friday night and once on Thursday night, all within the first three rounds of next season.

Fixture guru Travis Auld yesterday said the Demons, Giants and Saints were clearly on an upward curve, although Melbourne was slated only one Friday night game.

“There’s no surprise that you see a bit more of Melbourne, a bit more of St Kilda and GWS in the fixture,” Auld said.

“Those guys are playing a good brand of footy and there is some expectation there that they will continue to improve, so you try and find them some more slots like that.”

Originally published as AFL 2017 fixture features eight games in new marquee Thursday night timeslot, up from five in 2016