AFL to explore adding matches
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says he is open to expanding the season to 24 home-and-away matches as the league looks to replicate Opening Round’s success in 2025.
The league’s expansion of its home-and-away season shows no signs of abating despite the AFL adding two extra weeks to the schedule in recent seasons.
Adelaide’s Gather Round came into the competition last year with players and clubs financially rewarded for that extra game of football, while the Opening Round added another week to the fixture but not an extra game.
Ground availability for the MCG and SCG is an issue as venues attempt to schedule massive concerts like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift in February while also replacing turf before round 1.
But one option is for the league to schedule a northernstates Opening Round a week earlier then play a full round across the Labour Day weekend, which falls on March 10 next year.
The league will take until mid-season to review Opening Round but after four sold-out games and huge membership wins for northern-states clubs Dillon is in the mood to explore more changes.
“There is an ability, a potential maybe for another game at some stage but I am really conscious of what we are asking of our players, coaches and footy staff,” Dillon said.
Dillon told SEN the league loved Opening Round after football boss Laura Kane made clear earlier in the week it would happen again next year.
“We were really happy. Four sellout crowds, the No.1 show on free to air TV on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”