2026 Proposed Fixture Changes

[George CantStandYa]

Eddie releasing on Footy Classified leaked the following some talked about changes for 2026

State of origin carnival March
Women’s match v Irish
Season starts later
Season ends later with prelim and GF in October, GF coincides with daylight savings, later GF start time
No rd zero, rd 1 all Vic teams play each other, all other states have their showdowns, derby’s.
Northern states have their special round in the middle of the year with better weather
Locks in gather round
Allows for the NFL game at the G
Later starts allows players to come back January and not have stop start over Xmas

Sounds like some very good ideas

 

[StonesThrow]

I particularly like the idea about organising a game of a different sport

 

[spenze]

I really couldn't care about SOO these days, it's time passed after we joined the comp. I think people romance the idea now but it lost its aura.

 

[spenze]

If the season starts later we could win the shield at AO

 

[adelaidecrows]

Eddie releasing on Footy Classified leaked the following some talked about changes for 2026

State of origin carnival March
Season starts later
Season ends later with prelim and GF in October, GF coincides with daylight savings, later GF start time
No rd zero, rd 1 all Vic teams play each other, all other states have their showdowns, derby’s.
Northern states have their special round in the middle of the year with better weather
Locks in gather round
Allows for the NFL game at the G
Later starts allows players to come back January and not have stop start over Xmas

Sounds like some very good ideas

State of origin carnival is a must. Im not sure a carnival in march is a good idea though. start the season beginning of March, play a SOO league using bye weekends for a round of SOO.

Round 0 was a stupid idea. Not sure there is any benefit to the round 1 idea of internal state fixtures but it really doesnt matter either way,

Im not an NFL fan. should the AFL really be looking to cater for the NFL compromising our season to do it. Whats the long term gain. The Season starts basically the 2nd weekend of September which based on the NFL previous games means its likely to be a game in August or very early September to allow the teams to get back to the states for the next round of their season. It really should just fit in with the schedule, if no team plays at the MCG on one weekend it shouldnt matter.

Well teams have 2 months off by AFLPA rules. So to come back after Christmas would mean an end of October finish. There is no chance teams finishing out of the finals at the beginning of October will rest their players for 3 months.

 

[FR0GGY]

So SA is would lose Rankine JHF and Nasiah? Yeah no thanks.
Also everyone plays at home except for 1 SA and WA team in the first round?

 

[cmndstab]

If they do move to a later start, it will be interesting to see what they do with AFLW. It already feels like it gets crammed in at the end of the year, overlapping with the AFL men's finals that sucks all the oxygen out of the AFLW season.

 

[TryAnHit]

So SA is would lose Rankine JHF and Nasiah? Yeah no thanks.
Also everyone plays at home except for 1 SA and WA team in the first round?

Port v Crows....

 

[FR0GGY]

Port v Crows....

I thought he said a wa team would play an SA team in each state, leaving the showdowns for later in the season?

 

[adelaidecrows]

If they do move to a later start, it will be interesting to see what they do with AFLW. It already feels like it gets crammed in at the end of the year, overlapping with the AFL men's finals that sucks all the oxygen out of the AFLW season.

They have to operate on their own two feet. IMO they should just run the season during the standard footy season. Some grounds only play one AFL game a week and others only once a fortnight. Plenty of ground space available. I know they want tv coverage which is the issue. But the crossover exists anyway for a portion of the season. May as well go the whole hog.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I thought he said a wa team would play an SA team in each state, leaving the showdowns for later in the season?

I dont know the exact quote. But it doesnt matter really. A games a game. Just get into it.

 

[GreyCrow]

Allows for the NFL game at the G

Not sure this needs a later start - the NFL season is usually 1st or 2nd week in September ie 2024 start was Sep 6

Play the game on Sunday 5th September 2026 - with a bye for finals teams

Then play sep 12,19, 26 and GF October 3

You dont need a prelim in October as well

 

[George CantStandYa]

I thought he said a wa team would play an SA team in each state, leaving the showdowns for later in the season?

Nah, showdowns

 

[Peter Doherty]

 

[crows dude]

I thought he said a wa team would play an SA team in each state, leaving the showdowns for later in the season?

Showdowns and Derbys in ROund one

 

[Southerntakeover]

Week one showdown is awful imo

 

[FR0GGY]

Showdowns and Derbys in ROund one

Yeah no thanks

 

[spenze]

State of origin carnival is a must.

State of Origin games in the last 20 years have been little more than circle work

 

[rocket18]

Surprise more haven't seen what this is all about -just another Victorian Wankfest.

It's all geared about benefitting Victorians, Eddie had his Victorian tourism ministers hat on - he just wants more Melbourne based 'events/festivals' off the back of a supposedly national sporting competition.

• Playing a NFL game at the MCG - what is the benefit to AFL fans out of Victoria?
• Playing the centenary Ashes cricket game at the MCG - what is the benefit to AFL fans out of Victoria?
• Having the VRC open their spring racing carnival the day after the GF - what is the benefit to AFL fans out of Victoria?

Good points:
Getting rid of Round Zero - only the AFL can come up with such a nonsensical idea.

Bad points:
State of Origin = apart from the media has any one else been calling for this? Players vote with their feet, given half a chance they don't want to participate.


Get rid of Round Zero, no state of origin, play the NFL in the bye week before the finals start- problem solved.

 

[Scorpus]

State of Origin before the season will be treated like a low effort, low intensity pre-season match. Pointless

 

[ams4crows]

I really couldn't care about SOO these days, it's time passed after we joined the comp. I think people romance the idea now but it lost its aura.

We say this, and while I'll agree it'll only take an underdog SA beating Victoria to get everyone back on board again.

Just look at the state cricket, no one has given a single **** the last 5 years as we've been terrible finally we're good and win the shield and you have people storming the field and everyone saying domestic cricket is alive and pumping.

 

[jenny61_99]

Eddie releasing on Footy Classified leaked the following some talked about changes for 2026

State of origin carnival March
Women’s match v Irish
Season starts later
Season ends later with prelim and GF in October, GF coincides with daylight savings, later GF start time
No rd zero, rd 1 all Vic teams play each other, all other states have their showdowns, derby’s.
Northern states have their special round in the middle of the year with better weather
Locks in gather round
Allows for the NFL game at the G
Later starts allows players to come back January and not have stop start over Xmas

Sounds like some very good ideas

And... what the **** happens to AFLW? Geez they shit me.

 

[Cromulant]

State of Origin before the season will be treated like a low effort, low intensity pre-season match. Pointless

And if they hold it during the season, clubs will make up injuries so their players cant play in it.

Its a dead concept.

 

[jenny61_99]

I thought he said a wa team would play an SA team in each state, leaving the showdowns for later in the season?

He did.

 

[Straight Outta Crompton]

I want the return of SoO simply to regain the ability to buy state guernseys again, after ~30 years. Insanity that you can't get them for love nor money - on par with the SACA having minimum merch options available on the back of a record setting year. Some organisations just don't know how to be successful