In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
Check back throughout the day for updates.
Cats get Friday night prelim, Swans get twilight slot
The AFL has locked in its preliminary final dates, with Geelong to play at the MCG on a Friday night and Sydney to host an SCG game in a Saturday twilight slot.
Geelong will host the winner of the semi-final between Melbourne and Brisbane at the MCG on Friday September 16 from 7.50pm AEST.
And the Swans will play either Collingwood or Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday September 17 from 4.45pm AEST.
The Cats will take the Friday night slot at the MCG.Credit:Getty Images
That time slot will enable the visiting club to fly home on the Saturday night, affording them a seven-day break into the grand final should they beat the Swans.
And the timings of the preliminary finals ensure all four teams have a minimum seven-day break leading into their games, said Travis Auld, the AFL’s executive general manager of clubs, finance and broadcasting.
“We’ve seen amazing contests throughout week one of the finals series and I have no doubt the upcoming semi and preliminary finals will be the same impressive standard of football,” Auld said in a statement on Tuesday,
The grand final will be played at the MCG on Saturday September 24 from 2.30pm AEST.
The premiership decider hasn’t been played at the ’G for the past two seasons because of COVID-19 complications.
Melbourne downed the Western Bulldogs in last year’s grand final in Perth while Richmond triumphed over Geelong in the 2020 finale in Brisbane.
Both games were the first time the respective cities hosted an AFL grand final.
Zurhaar re-signs with North Melbourne
North Melbourne’s Cameron Zurhaar has signed a contract extension with the club, tying him to Arden Street until at least the end of 2024 and ending speculation about his immediate future.
Cam Zurhaar will remain a Roo.Credit:AFL Photos
The Kangaroos had been hopeful of retaining the previously out-of-contract forward, who was weighing up interest from several rival clubs, including Essendon.
The 24-year-old joined North via the 2017 rookie draft, received a Rising Star nomination in 2019 and had a breakout year in 2020, when he was the club’s leading goalkicker.
“We are really pleased to have retained Cam’s services,” North Melbourne list and recruiting manager Brady Rawlings said.
“We know there was significant interest in Cam from opposition clubs, so it’s a great show of confidence in where we are headed as a football club that he has decided to remain with us for at least two more years.
“Cam is a player of high calibre who we see playing a big part in our future, and we look forward to seeing where he can take his football.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
