Reigning premiers Richmond have been rewarded for their dominant 2019 season, with the AFL handing the Tigers a league-leading six Friday night clashes – as well as two Thursday nighters – in 2020.
The reveal of next year’s draw also sees minor premiers Geelong feature on Friday night six times, while fellow losing preliminary finalists Collingwood and, surprisingly, the Western Bulldogs get five matches in the same timeslot.
Carlton, on the other hand, have been booted off Fridays altogether, receiving just two Thursday night matches as their primetime allotment for next season. Melbourne (three) and Sydney (two) have had their primetime allocations slashed following disappointing 2019 campaigns.
VIEW THE FULL 2020 AFL FIXTURE HERE
Runners-up, Greater Western Sydney, will only get two primetime games – both on the Friday – while Brisbane’s stunning rise last season sees them get two games each on Thursday and Friday.
Fremantle and Gold Coast are the only two clubs who won’t feature at all on Thursday or Friday nights next year.
As far as regional games go, North Queensland has surprisingly been left off the fixture altogether. Townsville’s Riverway Stadium and Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium have both held several matches over the last few seasons, but won’t in 2020.
Hawthorn and North Melbourne will, as usual, take four home games each to Tasmania, the Giants will play three games in Canberra and the Bulldogs will go to Ballarat twice. Melbourne will play just one home game in the Northern Territory – in Alice Springs – with Gold Coast taking over their Darwin game. St Kilda ‘hosting’ Port Adelaide in Shanghai is the only other game to be played in 2020 at an irregular venue.
There will also be plenty of early reunions, with up to five players set to face off against their old clubs inside the first three weeks of the season. Grant Birchall will face the Hawks for the first time as a Lion in Round 1, in what will be Brisbane’s first clash against Hawthorn at the MCG since 2012.
Round 2 sees Adam Tomlinson welcome his old side to the MCG as a member of the Demons, while Joe Daniher will get a taste of the SCG that Friday night following his failed attempt to move to Sydney.
Round 3 will see Tim Kelly play the Cats for the first time – in the comforts of his new home ground – while Ed Langdon and Dan Butler will do battle with Fremantle and Richmond as a Demon and Saint, respectively.
The rumours of a twilight Anzac Day clash have been confirmed, with Collingwood and Essendon set to clash at the latest time yet for the fixture of 4:20pm. With Anzac Day falling on a Saturday, four games will take place – allowing the twilight fixture to be played on its lonesome and late enough in the day for people to attend other ceremonies.
The bye rounds will prove controversial once again, with the AFL electing to play Thursday night matches in two of them, meaning six matches are spread across four days. The Sunday matches in both of those weeks are set to be blockbusters, with Adelaide taking on Port Adelaide in a Round 13 showdown and Richmond tackling West Coast at the MCG in Round 14. Unfortunately, neither match will be on free-to-air TV.
sven
Roar Rookie
agreed dukey. the tiges do have a pretty "gifted" team at the moment
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Well it would be unlikely to be anything but all home games if wce got to play seven straight at Optus but I guess for argument sake I should of said 6 home and one away derby, is that better?
RT
Roar Rookie
"If we got seven straight home games leading into finals..." is what you said.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
I did say seven games on their home ground but cheers for attributing someone else's statement to me. You never had to explain something I actually understand rich I do get the difference between home games and games played on the home ground as away games, but keep wheeling out that dude cause the way you use semantics to justify is cute.
RT
Roar Rookie
It is a shame you are not willing to learn. You are still claiming (November 9th 2019 @ 9:13pm) Richmond had 7 home games in a row this year, which is not the case. Surely I have explained that enough times to you already.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Repetition is how you have to teach those willing to learn, both of those are wrong and I've covered Geelong getting gmhba games in a row previously aswell as multiple discussions with Carlton people on here on what I think of their draws over the years but atm I'm talking about Richmond so there's no need to include anything else.
RT
Roar Rookie
For someone who doesn't moan, you sure are repetitive. Why haven't you pointed out the inquitites of Carlton not travelling for the last 7 weeks in 2020 or Geelong for the last 6 weeks?
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Nah cause I don't moan Ritchie rich I just point out bad inequities in what supposedly professional sports, forget it was Richmond for a moment and use that logical side of the brain not the areas connected to non critical emotional thinking.
RT
Roar Rookie
You'd be moaning about the 7 away games in a row earlier in the season.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
If we got seven straight home games leading into finals there wouldn't be moaning as we have intelligence enough to realise what sort of advantage that is to our deep finals chances, it's only those of subpar intelligence that can't see it anyone else would be ecstatic.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
So as you're out of your depth you try the old insult rib tickler hey tops, your parents didn't do a good job teaching you it must be said, swings and roundabouts no need to talk about your type of tinder mate.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Hardly. It would mean you probably would have played 5-7 straight away games...and as i hope you'd know, that a plane trip each time. Non Vic clubs deserve their exclusive home ground adv due to their exclusive away disadvantage. Again you play 7 straight at home... then chances are your on a plane 7 straight games also, imagine the moaning from Perth on that?
Kane
Roar Rookie
Haha funny bud, as you seem to be the one who cant accept the AFLs fixture, 20+ year old grounds policy, and all its anomalies. What part of swings and roundabouts don't you get? But for what's its worth, keep up the entertaining giggle, its at least better than what's on tv.
Dukey
Roar Rookie
O.K then, how about we go with "Gifted"
Dukey
Roar Rookie
Could you imagine the commotion from Vic supporters if WC got 7 straight at Optus before finals? There would be rioting in the streets.
Michael44
Guest
Um,yeah Ritchie. I probably should move on after the amount of words I've input. I just hadn't seen the point of it up until now as I just didn't make many comments. :)
Michael44
Guest
6 * 6 - "I never said Richmond didn’t deserve the premiership" I'll accept that. Thank you 6 * 6.
RT
Roar Rookie
I'll give the 10 years. Rudd would claim the 60 though.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Do you disagree or are you just being contrary and nitpicking.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
10 years of hardship will hurt 2 generations.