All 18 clubs are set to feature in a revamped Opening Round in 2027, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has hinted.
Doing the rounds ahead of Sunday’s Gather Round fixtures, Dillon confirmed there would be significant changes to the start of next season with the league looking at the next evolution of their curtain-raising fixtures.
This year’s Opening Round featured 10 clubs with two games in Sydney, two games in Queensland and one at the MCG.
However, it left the fans of the eight clubs left out feeling cold and early-season byes left a few of the first six weeks of the season feeling slightly empty.
Change is on the way, though, Dillon confirming it was likely every club would be involved as the competition navigated the MCG hosting the day-night Centenary Test match between Australia and England from March 11.
“At the moment, what we do know is it will look different,” Dillon told ABC’s Offsiders.
“We’ve got the centenary Test, which will be at the MCG right in the centre of March, which would normally be when we’re having our round one.
“So, we’ll have to start the season looking differently next year. Whether that’s bringing it forward and playing some games outside of Victoria to start, or all the games outside, or having the season start a week later.
“I think as we start the season, we’ll have all the teams playing, it might be over two weekends, but it’ll get everyone there all around Australia.”
Dillon was quick to highlight that the current version of Opening Round was the reason everyone wanted to be involved.
“It’s all about getting a good start to the season and the reason why opening round in its current iteration came is because we got access to the SCG and the Gabba earlier than we ordinarily would have when we can’t get access to Adelaide Oval, we can’t get access to Optus Stadium and even the MCG is sometimes challenged,” he said.
“What it has done, we’ve had double-digit increases in membership for the northern clubs, we’ve had record viewership and record attendance. So, it’s ticked that box, but we also know, as we see with Gather Round, everyone likes being involved, so I think we can get a mix that works better.”
He also revealed a deal to lock away the home of Gather Round is still being worked on, but that South Australia are “putting their best foot forward”.
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