Carlton’s return to finals in 2023 has been rewarded with a swathe of prime time matches in 2024, as the AFL reveals its fixture for the first 15 rounds of the season.
The Blues have been pencilled in for eight games on Thursday or Friday night to begin the season, more than any other team, including reigning premiers Collingwood – and have once again been chosen to take on North Melbourne in the league’s annual Good Friday match.
Fellow preliminary finalists Melbourne have also received four Thursday night matches in the first 15 rounds, including the season opener against Sydney at the SCG – but aren’t scheduled to play on Friday night at all.
Canberra will see an Anzac Day clash for the first time, with GWS to host Brisbane at Manuka Oval immediately after the annual Magpies-Essendon blockbuster at the MCG.
Fremantle and West Coast have got off lightly when it comes to opponents, with neither slated to play any of last season’s top four in 2024 – the only two teams with this distinction.
As part of the AFL’s new ‘Opening Round’, the eight teams involved in the four games to begin the season will each have an extra bye in the first month of the season, with two in each of Round 2, 3, 5 and 6.
The league has announced Friday night matches will start at 7:40pm in 2024, as opposed to the usual 7:50pm, while Thursday night fixtures also have a new first bounce time of 7:30pm, 10 minutes later than previously.
Thursday nights will feature across the first 14 weekends of the season – Opening Round through to Round 13 – but it isn’t expected they will return for the second half of the year when the floating fixtures are locked in mid-season.
RT
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RT
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I'm not.
PeteB
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Don’t get your hopes up. It will only lead to disappointment for you :stoked:
Brett risle
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The AFL doesn’t realise that the NRL are in Las Vegas the week before
RT
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I remember what happened last time Carlton had a lot of Friday night games. Let's hope it happens again. :stoked:
PeteB
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The AFL aren’t interested in fairness. It’s all about what generates the most $$
PeteB
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Just make sure to get your grand final tickets Macca :stoked:
Birdman
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Hawks finish 16th but cop the 5th hardest fixture - City Hall not even pretending to hide its bias.... :angry: Also as a Tassie member, (respectfully) the 4 opponents heading down in 2024 are a dogsh#t return for the millions the govt invests although it's nothing new.
ScottyJ
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Double ups v Dees Port Swans Tiges Dogs and WC... I like it. I like it a lot!!!!
mrl
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So many blockbusters featuring genuine superstars and legend heroes.
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
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After 25+ years the AFL had finally given the showdown a standalone slot so that the rest of the country can enjoy the best rivalry in the game. Hopefully it stays that way going forward
John J
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A more fairer way to do the "double ups" would be to spread the groups of 6 based on previous year's ladder position as follows 1 4 7 10 13 16 2 5 8 11 14 17 3 6 9 12 15 18 It's always going to be compromised but I think it would be less than the current method of 1-6 7-12 13-18
mrl
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Why are they still using AFLW images?
Macca
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Unless there is some error in the AFL site, from what I can see the Blues; 1) play at about 4.30 5 times in 15 rounds. 2) go to Adelaide twice, Sydney once, and Brisbane once 3) Play on a Sunday night once, a Thursday night 3 times and a Friday night 5 times. Seems as though it might be great for watching the BLues on TV but terrible for trying to get to a game from the country.