Talking Footy

Fred wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:54 pm

Good crowd at the swans game tonight.

Beaussie wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 11:47 pm

Fred wrote: Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:54 pm

Good crowd at the swans game tonight.

Shame about the on field result. Getting drenched in pissing rain was so much fun too.

Beaussie wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 3:46 am

According to the AFL, Opening Round is set to stay after record tv audiences again in 2025. The northern clubs and fans will be happy.



The Herald Sun also reports increased membership numbers (as at Friday 8/3) for Sydney, Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney. Gold Coast reported to have membership revenue growth figure (+11%) and corporate hospitality (+16%).

Sydney 62,450 (2025 OR), 2024 OR (50,662), 2023 same time as OR (42,939)
GWS ~ 32,000 (2025 OR), 2023 OR (30,000), 2023 same time as OR (25,000)
Brisbane ~55,000 (2025 OR), 2024 OR (47,000), 2023 same time as OR (39,000)

Brisbane have also fully sold out their membership reserved seating allocation at the Gabba. Bring on their new Victoria Park Olympic Stadium.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/ ... nt-2-SCORE

Beaussie wrote: Wed Apr 16, 2025 8:14 am

Considering Collingwood and Carlton have made it very clear they don’t want to be part of Opening Round going forward, I don’t see why they should be considered for a blockbuster at the MCG.

Why not just have every club play in NSW and QLD? A Northern Round to further promote the AFL in the northern states.


AFL eyes new blockbuster fixture that could help solve Opening Round’s major flaw
Fox Footy from Fox Sports
April 16th, 2025 6:14 am
https://www.foxsports.com.au/AFL/AFL-20 ... 872144eaca


The AFL is eyeing a revamped version of Opening Round including a new blockbuster pre-holiday fixture, according to reports.

For two years the league has attempted to spotlight the northern states by having Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Sydney host big Victorian clubs before the actual Round 1, to mixed reviews broadly but plaudits from the NSW and Queensland clubs.

Fans of other sides have complained about not getting to watch their team while concerns have also been raised about the fairness of the Opening Round participants getting an additional bye week; Brisbane and Sydney played in Opening Round last year and made the Grand Final.

But now the AFL has spoken to the MCG about its ability to host a game on Labour Day eve, the weekend of March 8 and 9, which would fall at the end of Opening Round and give Victorian fans at least one game to attend.

That long weekend also features Melbourne’s Moomba festival.

The AFL doesn’t typically have access to the MCG until mid-March, around the 14th or 15th.

THEORETICAL OPENING ROUND 2026 FIXTURE

Thursday March 5, 7:30pm: Brisbane vs Hawthorn, Gabba

Friday March 6, 7:40pm: Sydney vs Geelong, SCG

Saturday March 7, 4pm: Gold Coast vs Essendon, People First Stadium

Saturday March 7, 7:30pm: GWS vs Western Bulldogs, ENGIE Stadium

Sunday March 8, 7:30pm: Collingwood vs Carlton, MCG

While this idea would not fix the bye week concerns, it would help launch the season at the home of footy without taking away from the northern focus of the round.

“I can tell you tonight that the AFL is weighing up a Labour Day eve blockbuster next year at the MCG,” Tom Morris said on Nine News.

“A revamped Opening Round is under consideration with the MCG having confirmed to the league that the ground is available for footy on the weekend of March (7 and 8).

“Now, this would bring football to Melbourne on the Moomba weekend and the idea is it wouldn’t detract from games in the northern states earlier in the round.”

It’s unclear which teams would be involved in the match given the big Victorian clubs are typically used as part of Opening Round to draw bigger crowds.

Carlton asked not to be part of Opening Round in 2025, and Collingwood has asked not to be part of it in 2026, but giving bigger clubs like the Blues and Magpies another blockbuster fixture - when they already monopolise them - would be controversial in clubland.

Fred wrote: Wed Apr 16, 2025 12:12 pm

Or a gather round in Brisbane alternating with Sydney for round one.