Cats back in prime time
THE AFL has backed Geelong to rebound from its modest start to the season by handing the Cats a prime-time slot in the latest fixture release.
Geelong will meet St Kilda in a Friday night blockbuster to kickstart Round 9, followed by a traditional Saturday afternoon clash with Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium in Round 10.
The AFL laid bare the gap between the AFL’s power clubs and on-field strugglers with
Richmond handed its fifth marquee clash in 10 rounds.
A trio of clashes at Marvel Stadium in Round 9 meant the league had to push one of those games to Friday night, so the Port Adelaide-Western Bulldogs game at Adelaide Oval is a Saturday night clash.
Port Adelaide would have had to play off a five-day break in a Friday night fixture, so the league will be desperate for St Kilda to bounce back quickly and repay the league’s faith after an insipid loss to Richmond.
In Round 10, Brisbane will host the Tigers on Friday night in a marquee clash that will go some way to recouping lost funds after the Lions had to sacrifice a huge gate on Easter Thursday against Collingwood.
The game was swapped to Marvel Stadium after a Brisbane COVID lockdown and the Lions missed $500,000 in profit for that clash, which will now be played in Round 22.
The AFL’s rolling fixture has this year allowed it to reward teams in hot form and effectively push those rebuilding to the background.
The Tigers will play five of their first 10 games on Thursday or Friday nights in addition to the blockbuster Melbourne-Richmond clash on Anzac Day eve this Saturday.
In contrast, likely wooden spooner North Melbourne’s single free-to-air game in that period was the Good Friday clash.
Free-to-air games, particularly those on Thursday and Friday nights, allow clubs to maximise exposure for the sponsors that shore up their balance sheets. North Melbourne hopes to be rewarded with better fixtures when it rises up the ladder.
But it underlines how important it is for clubs such as North Melbourne to retain the marquee fixtures like Good Friday that allow them to hand sponsors critical exposure.
AFL broadcast and scheduling boss Marcus King said the league anticipated a strong and competitive schedule in Rounds 9-10, which he predicted would be “a potential nightmare for tipsters”.
“Looking ahead, we plan on releasing Rounds 11 and 12 next week, followed by, subject to any COVID setbacks, a minimum four-week block to provide further certainty for clubs and fans,” King said.
More certainty will allow fans from interstate clubs to book ahead to attend games.
Richmond fans have exactly four weeks to book tickets for the Lions clash on Friday, March 21 now that it has been secured as a Friday fixture.