2020 Fixture

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West Coast picked Queensland as its base for the AFL season resumption to ensure Victoria's 10 teams weren't handed a serious advantage.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/qld-best-option-for-afl-hub-eagles-coach/e113e816-e604-442d-b3ab-fa6fd0693636


AFL boss Gil McLachlan says MCG not locked in for 2020 Grand Final

Oliver Caffrey
PerthNow
May 16, 2020

The AFL is not ruling out a Marvel Stadium grand final and a decider away from the MCG for the first time in 29 years.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/afl-boss-gil-mclachlan-says-mcg-not-locked-in-for-2020-grand-final-ng-b881549439z


Sounds more like the Eagles fear playing us .

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DOUBLE-HEADER fixtures could be on the cards when the AFL restarts its season in June.

AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said the absence of crowds and limited number of venues could make playing two games at the same ground in one day a viable option.

For example, a venue could host a game early on Saturday afternoon, then another later that night.

Auld said the League's preference was not to use suburban grounds, with the MCG, Marvel Stadium and GMHBA Stadium likely to be the only stadiums used in Victoria from the June 11 restart.

He noted the League still hoped to see games played in Tasmania later this year, though that won't happen in the first block of fixtures.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/434007/double-headers-on-cards-for-afl-restart-says-fixture-boss

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Speaking on SEN, Auld all but confirmed Richmond will take on Collingwood on June 11 in a dream start to the revamped season.

“It feels like it’s building,” he said.

“There’s certainly a level of support for it.

“I do like it, I think it’s a really strong way to start the season so yeah, it might be the public vote that one.”

Also looming large is the prospect of no bye week before the first week of finals, as the league races to get a season away.

“I think so (no byes)... if everything went really smoothly... then you could roll into a standard four-week finals and that’d be quite neat in structure. Whether it plays out that way, we’ll see.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-afl-fixture-2020-afl-season-restart-afl-covid19-afl-coronavirus/news-story/d29c50dffe81be84e8140b85402f17ec

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AFL players will travel interstate on match day this year, in a break from longstanding league rules that may impact away teams negatively.

Foxfooty.com.au has confirmed teams will use chartered flights and leave on the morning of games, in an effort to avoid time in interstate hotel rooms.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-covid19-coronavirus-updates-season-restart-afl-relaunch-june-11-rules-vfl/news-story/02194876d40b746c39355f13725589de

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SEN's guess at round 2:

Thursday June 11

Richmond v Collingwood – MCG – 7:40pm

Footy will finally return in under a month’s time and its widely tipped Richmond will face off against Collingwood in a clash that was originally scheduled to take place in round two back in March. Both the Tigers and Pies are expected to be in premiership contention this year so it’s the perfect fixture to restart the season.

Friday June 12

Carlton v Essendon – MCG – 7:50pm

Saturday June 13

North Melbourne v Melbourne – Marvel Stadium – 1:45pm
Sydney v GWS Giants – SCG – 2:10pm
Brisbane v Gold Coast – Gabba – 4:35pm
Adelaide v Port Adelaide – Metricon Stadium – 7:40pm

Sunday June 14

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs – Marvel Stadium – 1:10pm
Geelong v Hawthorn – GMHBA Stadium – 4:20pm
West Coast v Fremantle – Metricon Stadium - 7:10pm

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/17/what-would-the-ultimate-round-2-fixture-look-like/

[1965]

Do we know who will be broadcasting which match? Ch 7 Foxtel etc.

[WilliamPowell]

Do we know who will be broadcasting which match? Ch 7 Foxtel etc.

Thursday night games are broadcast on both Ch7 and Fox

Fox will broadcast all games as per the contract

Unless There is a change in the contract

Rd 2 games will be:

# Thurs night = Ch7 and Fox
# Friday night = Ch7 and fox
# Saturday night = Ch7 and Fox
# Sunday 4.20pm game = Ch7 and Fox

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Riewoldt, Tigers would be rapt to restart the season against Collingwood

By SEN
18 May 2020

Richmond star Jack Riewoldt is incredibly excited by the prospect of facing Collingwood on June 11th when the footy season resumes.

While it isn’t yet official, it has been suggested that the blockbuster will be used to kick off Round 2.

AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld told SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday that it would be a “really strong way to start the season”.

Riewoldt is happy that they have something set in stone to focus on as players and clubs return to training on Monday.

“They’re obviously a really strong powerhouse side and we like to think that we are too, so it’s exciting that we have a date locked in,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

“Rather than planning for what ifs we’re planning for an actual time to get ready and go.

“I know from our senior coach’s point of view he’s rapt that we’ve got a date and can start to get the troops ready for what’s going to be a fantastic way to restart the season.”

Players will be forced to live under strict conditions during the season in order to keep COVID-19 from entering the league and derailing it once more.

Riewoldt said the AFL’s protocols are strict, but it all comes down to “common sense”.

“I’ve had a brief look over it (the protocols), but I can imagine today it will be spelled out pretty clearly for all the players and what the do’s and don’t’s are,” he said.

“I think it comes down to common sense really. The more times you put yourself in a position to come in contact and catch COVID-19, they’re the situations you’ve gone to be wary of and be smart of.

“It’ll continue to be a fluid situation … you hear one thing and then within two days its sort of taken a shift and gone a completely different way. I think it’ll be pretty fluid and common sense will prevail as well.”

The AFL is expected to release its fixture for the first four to six weeks within the next week.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/18/riewoldt-tigers-would-be-rapt-to-restart-the-season-against-collingwood/

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Caro said Richmond and Collingwood will be on the Thursday night.

The League wants another Victorian game on the Friday night.

West Coast to play Brisbane at Metricon and not the Gabba given it will be an Eagles home game.

Round 2 will be a normal fixture.

16 more rounds, no pre-finals bye and then finals.

Grand Final on October 24.

Hutchy reckons there should be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night games to maximise TV ratings. Even two Friday night games (starting 6pm and 9pm).

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Blockbuster clashes locked in for Round 2: McClure

By SEN
20 May 2020 6:00pm

A mouth-watering fixture is set to kick-start the 2020 AFL season.

According to Sportsday host Sam McClure, Richmond and Collingwood will open Round 2 in a blockbuster Thursday night clash.

McClure also understands a Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide will be scheduled for Round 2 after the two clubs were granted permission to resume contact training in South Australia from May 25.

"You can lock in June 11 being Collingwood taking on Richmond at an empty MCG – that is done," McClure told Sportsday.

"As is the Showdown that will be at some stage in Round 2."

The Power and Crows will remain in South Australia before relocating to player hubs in Queensland prior to June 11.

The AFL will release the first block of fixtures in the coming days.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/20/blockbuster-clashes-locked-in-for-round-2-mcclure/

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AFL COULD ANNOUNCE FIXTURE IN COMING DAYS

According to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, the new fixture could come as early as Friday and could give both South Australian clubs a boost.

“Potentially Friday, at the very least Monday,” he said on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight.

“(They) will give AFL clubs four weeks of the fixture. They will push ahead on it, they need certainty and so you can plan those four weeks.

“Port Adelaide and Adelaide have a real hope they will not need to play in hubs at all.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afls-major-fixture-tweak-revealed-freo-great-outlines-path-ahead-for-hogan/news-story/06f31d561a6bc26c6390e41e774a673a

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Pies, Tigers set to reopen season in blockbuster Thursday clash

Jake Niall, Sam McClure
The Age
21 May 2020

The AFL is preparing for a blockbuster return, with Collingwood and Richmond set to clash in the first game back on June 11.

The Tigers are aware that they will be playing on the Thursday night of round two on June 11 and expect that they will confront Collingwood, the team that beat them in the 2018 preliminary final but failed to make an anticipated grand final clash with the 2019 premiers.

Collingwood have not yet been officially informed that they will meet Richmond on that Thursday night return game – expected to be at the MCG, obviously without a crowd – but the Magpies are preparing on the basis that they will meet the Tigers in that first-back game and football sources have confirmed that this is what the AFL will fixture.

Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar is in doubt for that game, in what is one of few injury queries for either of those clubs, which have been the best performed Victorian clubs over the past two seasons.

The Tigers have a virtually full list to pick from, at this stage, though the clubs do not begin full-contact training and match simulation drills until next week.

The AFL's free-to-air broadcaster, Seven, will be delighted with a Collingwood-Richmond return, which is certain to be a ratings winner, the network having wanted a big bang in the return round.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/pies-tigers-set-to-reopen-season-in-blockbuster-thursday-clash-20200520-p54uxp.html

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Looks like the fixture release will be delayed until next week at least thanks to the SA govt and the lack of AFL umpires in SA.

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South Australia pushed for a Showdown at Adelaide Oval in round two but the AFL has arrived at a hitch in their plans to make it happen.

South Australia is refusing to allow fly in, fly out football, a directive that applies to all.

Teams can’t fly into Adelaide, and neither can umpires, officials or broadcast staff - without serving a 14-day quarantine period.

There are just two qualified umpires already in Adelaide.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/south-australian-ruling-leaves-afl-scrambling-to-resolve-fixture-hold-up-c-1052190

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BREAKING: @AFL & SA Health authorities have reportedly reached a deal to allow a Round 2 Showdown to go ahead. Umpires will fly over early and serve out 2-week quarantine. Broadcast team will drive over and be exempt from quarantine if they agree to limit movements
@abcadelaide — Stacey Lee (@Staceylee_) May 22, 2020

https://twitter.com/Staceylee_/status/1263679588233703425


SEN just said the revised fixture will now be released either Monday or Tuesday.

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AFL fixture reveal expected on Monday — with these key details

May 23, 2020
FOX SPORTS

Round 2 is almost certain to begin with a Richmond vs Collingwood game on the night of Thursday June 11 at the MCG - the same game that was set to begin Round 2 on the original fixture.

It’s possible the Showdown could be played on Friday night, while a Derby between West Coast and Fremantle isn’t on the cards, and is more likely to be held over until it can be played in Perth rather than the southeast Queensland hub.

The two WA sides are therefore likely to face the two Queensland sides, Brisbane and Gold Coast, in Round 2.

Sydney and GWS will either host games together or travel interstate together each weekend - rather than the usual format of one game in NSW per round since the Giants’ entry into the competition.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-major-curveball-revealed-in-afls-round-2-showdown-plan/news-story/b8d14d59bd425ead66825c25c7492472