St Kilda could enter a 2024 AFL finals campaign with fresh legs after receiving six consecutive matches at Marvel Stadium to finish the home-and-away season.
The Saints play eight of their last nine matches at their Docklands home ground but will only set foot on the MCG twice in the fixture for next season released on Thursday.
Ross Lyon’s side has earnt two Thursday night and two Friday night clashes in the first 15 rounds after making the top eight in 2023, but that will be dwarfed by Victorian heavyweights Carlton and Collingwood, who respectively have eight and seven games in the blockbuster slots.
Both the Blues and Magpies will be among the teams to make the least interstate trips with six, along with Essendon, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne (not counting the Kangaroos’ four home games in Hobart).
The Roos will play in two Friday twilight fixtures including the annual Good Friday game but will not otherwise feature on Thursday or Friday night, the same as fellow bottom three sides Hawthorn and West Coast.
A lift in performance from any side could shift them back into the spotlight as early as round 16, with the timeslots for the final nine rounds of the season to be determined during the year.
GWS will make the most interstate trips of any side in 2024 and will again play at the most venues, with the Giants to suit up in 12 different locations after winning at a league record 11 grounds last season.
The Giants’ 12 interstate trips do not include their three ventures to Manuka Oval for home games in Canberra, while Gold Coast (excluding its two Darwin home games), Fremantle, Brisbane, Sydney and West Coast will all head interstate 11 times.
GWS chief executive David Matthews welcomed the draw, praising the new Opening Round concept which will have the Giants hosting the reigning premier Collingwood at Giants Stadium.
“The Opening Round is a brilliant concept, and we congratulate Andrew Dillon and his team in responding to the need to develop big Sydney based events,” Matthews said.
“We will continue to work with the AFL to develop new and additional initiatives to engage and grow our fan base.
“It will be an honour to feature on ANZAC Day in the nation’s capital, one of the biggest days of the football calendar and we hope the fans will flock to Manuka Oval to mark the occasion.”
Geelong will only play one game at Marvel Stadium next season as nine games are pencilled in for GMHBA Stadium with its renovation set to be complete for the 2024 season.
All interstate sides will play on the MCG but none will have more than three matches, with Port Adelaide and Sydney both to play there three times but Gold Coast and West Coast only featuring once.
AFL and Channel 7 strike late deal on timeslots
Friday night AFL games will begin 10 minutes earlier in 2024 after the AFL struck a last-minute deal with broadcaster Channel 7 to adjust two timeslots.
Every match in the blockbuster slot will now begin at 7.40pm AEST after the two parties agreed to a compromise on Thursday afternoon just hours before the release of next year’s fixture.
As part of the exchange, Thursday night games will begin 10 minutes later at a new start time of 7.30pm AEST.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said fans were at the forefront of the decision to adjust the Friday night start time.
“Since its inception over three decades ago, Friday night footy has been the cornerstone of the growth of our national competition,” Dillon said.
“Matches under the Friday night lights have consistently delivered our biggest crowds and our biggest national TV audiences.
“Fans are at the core of our game; the feedback has been strong and clear about starting Friday night matches earlier and I am pleased that in partnership with Channel 7 we have been able to deliver for them.
“Friday night footy is a major national event every week, whether that be in Victoria or interstate, and bringing the start time forward by 10 minutes will only amplify the prominence of the timeslot and footy across the country.”
Seven Network’s head of sport Lewis Martin said the broadcaster “looked forward” to the new arrangement.
“In every discussion and decision together with the AFL, the fans remain at the forefront of everything we do,” Martin said.
“Their passion for the sport, loyalty, and energy makes every bounce, goal and victory resonate through the screen, connecting communities right across the country.”
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