The AFL has today revealed the 2019 fixture, with Melbourne and Essendon rewarded for their encouraging offseasons in the form of plenty of primetime matches.
The Bombers are set to feature in the marquee timeslot at least five times in 2019, while the Demons will play three Friday night clashes and five Saturday night games.
But it’s Collingwood who’ll rule the prime time roost in 2019, with the reigning runners-up set to feature in 11 matches of that variety next season.
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Of controversy, however, will be the presence of nine Thursday night clashes – including one to begin the first five rounds of the season. Thursday night fixtures have traditionally provided strong TV ratings, but have proved unpopular with fans wishing to physically attend matches.
Fans will be treated to a grand final rematch in Round 3, when Collingwood hosts West Coast on a Saturday night, with the second fixture taking place in Perth on the Friday night of Ronud 17.
The Eagles travel to Brisbane to play their first match as reigning premiers, but will get to raise the flag a week later against the Giants.
After the fixture release was delayed by one day after clubs were reportedly unhappy with a number of elements, it appears many got their wishes with today’s release.
The Lions will find themselves on national television at least four times in 2019, with most of those matches at home, whereas Carlton will still feature in at least seven free-to-air matches in what’s sure to raise contention.
Geelong fans will be happy they’ve been granted nine home games at GMHBA Stadium again, with MCG ‘home’ games against Essendon and Hawthorn the only aberrations.
Sydney, however, have had their request for more day home games largely rejected, with the Swans pencilled in for only two afternoon matches and one twilight game at the SCG.
It will be more night games for Lance Franklin and the Swans this year. (AAP Image/David Moir)
The Western Bulldogs will take two games to Ballarat this season, facing off against the Lions in Round 8 and the Crows in Round 23, while St Kilda’s one-game move to Shanghai has been locked in for Round 11.
There’ll be plenty of football in Tasmania this season too, with the good news being no team will play two away matches in the island state. North Melbourne will host the Swans, Giants, Saints and Demons at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena, while the Hawks will play the Blues, Power, Dockers and Lions in their Launceston matches.
Adelaide, who were hoping they wouldn’t be punished too heavily for a poor 2018, will still feature heavily in primetime, playing ten matches across Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights – although a Friday night Southern Showdown won’t be happening.
Their crosstown rivals, Port Adelaide, will be looking forward to Round 10, where they’ll get to meet-up with ex-superstar Chad Wingard in Launceston. Wingard, however, won’t have to deal with a return trip to the Adelaide Oval this year.
Other intriguing reunions include Dayne Beams’ return to The Gabba on Thursday night in Round 5, Lachie Neale returning to Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Round 10 and Dan Hannebery finally venturing back to the SCG in Round 23.
Crows fans will have to wait until Round 19 to have a crack at Mitch McGovern, however, and they’ll have to do so at Marvel Stadium, with the Blues only playing the Power in South Australia next year.
The Suns will meet up with both of their ex-captains at home this year, with Steven May’s Demons venturing up to Metricon in Round 8, and Tom Lynch bringing the Tigers to town in Round 16. Over at Spotless, the reunion tour kicks off in Round 1 when Dylan Shiel comes back with the Bombers, and they’ll see Rory Lobb in purple for the first time in Round 5.
AFL Round One fixture 2019
All times AEDT
Thursday, March 21
Carlton vs Richmond; 7:20pm, MCG
Friday, March 22
Collingwood vs Geelong Cats; 7:50pm, MCG
Saturday, March 23
Melbourne vs Port Adelaide; 1:45pm, MCG
Adelaide Crows vs Hawthorn; 4:35pm, Adelaide Oval
Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans; 7:25pm, Marvel Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles; 8:20pm, The Gabba
Sunday, March 24
St Kilda vs Gold Coast Suns; 1:10pm, Marvel Stadium
GWS Giants vs Essendon; 3:20pm, Spotless Stadium
Fremantle vs North Melbourne; 6:20pm, Optus Stadium
Paul D
Roar Guru
Cyril will go play for the Eagles next season, not us
Paul D
Roar Guru
We haven't played finals in 10 years, I'd happily take an elim final berth on a strength of a win over Sunnybank retirement village FC Quality of opposition beaten is a luxury we can't afford
User
Roar Rookie
Don't curse them Rick, your bold Fremantle as finalists calls aswell as the great prediction that pies would beat wce in a final at the mcg oof you put Mozza on teams man, I'm always right you know it cheers for the mantle, my Ali like moves trump your Sonny Liston for I am the greatest!
anon
Roar Pro
I see. Collingwood having an average age 6 months older than Fremantle was the key to them missing a premiership by a kick.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Perhaps WC can now be used as a term for getting sensitive. You've gotten a tad overresponsive to the idea that teams who have played deep into finals are a little less conditioned and perhaps less hungry if they've taken the whole thing out. Of course if you're premiers, defying gravity is something you'll need to do. I may have to double check what you say as you seem to have overlooked LeCras. But everyone will be looking to up the standard and playing an older squad may mean that that gravity is a little harder to defy from year to year.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
What you've stumbled upon there in your own shallow an inadvertent way anon, is a good point in that best 22 ages are often quite different from what's on the list and there can be lots of variety in this depending on the teams stage and process. In contrast to the list above here's the actual average of the teams who ran out each week across the season in order of youngest to oldest, interesting that the youngest 6 are the bottom 6 on the ladder: Western Bulldogs..............22.97 Gold Coast........................23.41 Brisbane.............................23.81 Fremantle..........................23.94 St Kilda..............................23.95 Carlton...............................24.11 Collingwood......................24.41 Melbourne.........................24.42 Greater Western Sydney....24.76 Sydney................................24.92 Richmond...........................24.92 Geelong..............................24.97 Essendon............................25.00 North Melbourne................25.21 West Coast.........................25.23 Port Adelaide......................25.36 Adelaide..............................25.45 Hawthorn............................25.66
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Gravity? Phhthh! The Eagles have ten regular players with 150 to 200 games,not including Naitanui and only two over 200. Only Jetta ,Masten, Hurn, Schofield and Kennedy are 29+. Excepting Kennedy, the others have replacements already waiting. In reply to Confused,I looked at the 23 Eagles' players with the most games for 2018 and included Hickey for Lycett. The average age of those 23 is 25 years and 12 days.Do the exercise for the other teams if you want
anon
Roar Pro
Wow the last three premiers have younger lists than Fremantle.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You're using the total lists there yes? I was talking about the team running out on the park. The majority of players on lists never make it to being a team regular, let alone stepping up the sort of status that keeps a team in the stratosphere of contention.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think Queenslanders are more indifferent to sporting results than anyone else in the country. Even when the maroons lose Origin people just shift their attention to alternative goings-on and pretend it didn't happen
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I don't dispute that Paul but Travis Auld stated they were rewarded on their encouraging trade season?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Eagles along with the Hawks are the most consistent side in the AFL era. Their average ladder postion since 1990 (start of the AFL) is 6.4. They have missed finals 7 times in those 29 seasons and won 1 wooden spoon bouncing back to 4th the year after. With 4 AFL era flags they trail only the Hawks who have 5 and should they go back to back will stand alone with the Hawks as the best sides of the AFL era.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Anyone with Tesltra needs to get the AFL live app. I know its limited to devices with screen size but worked brilliantly for me past two years. Get every game live, replays when you want it....its awesome and free with your Telstra bundle.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Hawks are your bunnies now Paul and that's even before Cyril walks in with Hodgey in pre-season.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
JamesH, they will probably be unbeaten at GMBHAGMABMBA Stadium so I see them beating Melbourne, Eagles and Giants at their stadium. One more win I would expect would be Hawks but they have even money chance against Pies and even Crows away.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Still don't get the worth of naming it Marvel in a marketing sense. Name it Avenger Stadium if you want the marketing hit. Sell the sizzle not the sausage.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Everyone wants Cyril. I think the Pies could slip him into a forward pocket.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Fremantle should well start 3-0 AD. A great platform for a finals run in 2019.
Confused
Guest
Clubs ranked from oldest average age to youngest RANKING CLUB AVERAGE AGE (YEARS, DAYS) 1. ADEL Adelaide 24 192 2. HAW Hawthorn 24 179 3. COLL Collingwood 24 98 4. GEEL Geelong 24 95 5. PORT Port Adelaide 24 50 6. GWS Greater Western Sydney 24 16 7. ESS Essendon 23 355 8. SYD Sydney 23 343 9. MELB Melbourne 23 335 10. FRE Fremantle 23 292 11. WCE West Coast 23 282 12. WB Western Bulldogs 23 259 13. RICH Richmond 23 255 14. CARL Carlton 23 244 15. STK St Kilda 23 201 16. BL Brisbane Lions 23 128 17. NMFC North Melbourne 23 117 18. GCFC Gold Coast 23 22
JamesH
Roar Guru
Essendon's results in Thursday/Friday night matches in 2018: d. Adelaide (12 pts) d. WC (28 pts) d. Syd (43 pts) d. StK (43 pts) db. Rich (8 pts) d. PA (22pts) I'd say they justified their prime time slots.