The AFL will try something different to start the season in 2024 with the traditional Round 1 format significantly altered.
The home-and-away campaign will begin with matches exclusively in NSW and Queensland, before the usual opener between Richmond and Carlton is a week later.
This will mean a significant alteration to how byes work in the competition this season.
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AFL Opening Round 2024
| Date/Time (AEDT) | Fixture | Venue |
|
Thu Mar 7 7:20pm |
Sydney vs. Melbourne | SCG |
|
Fri Mar 8 7:50pm |
Brisbane vs. Carlton | Gabba |
|
Sat Mar 9 4.20pm |
Gold Coast vs. Richmond | Heritage Bank Stadium |
|
Sat Mar 9 7:30pm |
GWS vs. Collingwood | Giants Stadium |
Round 1
| Date/Time (AEDT) | Fixture | Venue |
|
Thu Mar 14 7:20pm |
Carlton vs. Richmond | MCG |
|
Fri Mar 15 7:50pm |
Collingwood vs. Sydney | MCG |
|
Sat Mar 16 1:45pm |
Essendon vs. Hawthorn | MCG |
|
Sat Mar 16 4:35pm |
GWS vs. North Melbourne | Giants Stadium |
|
Sat Mar 16 7:30pm |
Geelong vs. St Kilda | GMHBA Stadium |
|
Sat Mar 16 8:10pm |
Gold Coast vs. Adelaide | Heritage Bank Stadium |
|
Sun Mar 16 1pm |
Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs | MCG |
|
Sun Mar 16 4pm |
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast | Adelaide Oval |
|
Sun Mar 16 6:50pm |
Fremantle vs. Brisbane | Optus Stadium |
Why is the AFL is playing its 'Opening Round' in NSW and Queensland?
Aiming to grow the game in New South Wales and Queensland, the AFL has decided to start the 2024 season solely in those states.
With the NRL expanding its reach to Las Vegas the weekend before with two matches in the famous U.S city, the AFL is attempting to fire a shot in the war for attention in two of its developing regions.
On Thursday night, Brodie Grundy and James Jordon will face their former clubs as Sydney and Melbourne open the season.
There will be preliminary final rematches on Friday and Saturday night, with Brisbane hosting Carlton and GWS welcoming Collingwood.
The Saturday twilight fixture will see Damien Hardwick's return to coaching for Gold Coast against his former club Richmond.
With only these eight clubs in action, they will have a bye through rounds two-to-six to ensure the competition is even on games played by round seven.
The following weekend after 'Opening Round' will be a traditional round one fixture seeing Richmond and Carlton renew hostilities on Thursday night at the MCG.
How will the AFL byes work in 2024?
Eight teams will play in AFL's 'Opening Round', which is prior to Round 1, across NSW and Queensland - including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Carlton, Gold Coast, Richmond, GWS and Collingwood.
These teams will have a bye between Rounds 2 and 6, meaning by the end of Round 6, every AFL side will have played the same amount of games.
The mid-season byes will continue as usual, spaced across Rounds 12 and 15 - with every club having one week off during this period.
AFL Byes 2023
Round 2
- Brisbane
- Carlton
Round 3
- Gold Coast
- GWS
Round 5
- Collingwood
- Sydney
Round 6
- Richmond
- Melbourne
Round 12
- Brisbane
- North Melbourne
- Sydney
- GWS
Round 13
- Port Adelaide
- Fremantle
Round 14
- Gold Coast
- Carlton
- Geelong
- Essendon
- Melbourne
- West Coast
Round 15
- Adelaide
- Collingwood
- Western Bulldogs
- Hawthorn
- St Kilda
- Richmond
