Blues-Tigers opener in doubt as Etihad locked inBy Paul Daffey
afl.com.au
Fri 15 Jun, 2012ETIHAD Stadium will host the 2013 season opener with or without Richmond and Carlton, the AFL has confirmed.
The Blues and Tigers had hoped to continue their agreement to play the first match of the season at the MCG.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the League would not force the two clubs to transfer their game to Etihad Stadium.
"Make no mistake, we're going to play the opening game of the season at Etihad Stadium," Demetriou said.
"If Richmond and Carlton are adamant that they'd rather wait and play at the MCG, we'd respect that."
The announcement follows a dispute with Cricket Victoria, triggered when the AFL flagged its intention to bring forward the start of the season to the second-last weekend in March.
Cricket Victoria has a contract with the Melbourne Cricket Club which states that the MCG must be available to host the Sheffield Shield on the second-last weekend in March.
Cricket Victoria has been unwilling to break that contract despite the AFL's entreaties.
By starting the AFL season a week earlier, the league can schedule 22 games and two byes for each club, supporting a move by players to include two byes in the 2013 fixture.
Demetriou said the season would consist of 18 rounds of nine games and six rounds of six games.
The announcement is likely to start a rush by Victorian clubs to host the first game of the season.
"I think it's important to start the season with three big games in Melbourne — and that's what we expect to do," Demetriou said.
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