Two of this year’s biggest improvers have been rewarded, with Carlton and Adelaide to feature heavily in primetime slots across the first half of the 2024 AFL season.
The AFL on Thursday released a 24-round fixture for next year, with full details for the first 15 rounds — plus Opening Round — confirmed.
Of the first 15 rounds, Carlton will feature in either a Thursday or Friday night timeslot eight times.
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The Blues were one of the biggest success stories of the 2023 season, stunning the competition with a late-season surge and making a preliminary final for the first time since 2000.
Subsequently, Carlton across the first 15 rounds will feature in three Thursday night games, as well as five Friday night matches. We’ve included the Good Friday clash against North Melbourne — one of the highest rating games on the AFL calendar — in that tally.
“We are so fortunate as a club to have a massive supporter base that shows up in real force, no matter the day or time: that is a competitive advantage that our entire club will make a focus of in 2024,” Blues chief executive Brian Cook said.
“Our Thursday or Friday night games in Victoria last season averaged crowds of over 65,000, which is just enormous. That figure, coupled with the huge television audience we have been able to attract in those timeslots, gives this football club a level of exposure that is a real point of difference, which we have embraced.
“To also currently have three of our seven home games on a Saturday afternoon gives our members some variety. Our game-day experience is something that became so profoundly unique in the second half of 2023, we want to take that to a whole new level next year – we want our members and supporters to be right there with us as we launch into 2024.”
Recent Grand Finalists Collingwood and Brisbane have seven primetime slots across the first 15 rounds, with the Pies featuring on a Friday night four times plus Anzac Day against Essendon.
But the Crows loom as big winners, even though Matthew Nicks’ side didn’t make the finals last season.
The Crows have been scheduled to play three Thursday night and three Friday night games, including a Good Friday night meeting with Fremantle and a home stand-alone Showdown against arch-rivals Port Adelaide. They’ll also host Geelong, Melbourne, Essendon and Richmond in primetime slots.
Reports emerged last month that the Crows were set to receive a more favourable fixture after playing at 10 different venues in 2023. There was also speculation Adelaide might be looked after by the AFL following the controversial finish to the Crows-Swans match that saw a late Ben Keays shot at goal incorrectly given a behind before the Swans held on for a thrilling win.
Gather round releases 2024 fixtures | 02:37
Elsewhere, Melbourne has been given a competition-high four Thursday night matches — but no Friday night games — while Essendon has been scheduled to play on Friday four times — but no zero times on a Thursday.
All but two clubs have been given a primetime game across the first 15 rounds, with Hawthorn (16th in 2023) and West Coast (18th) overlooked. The Giants and Suns were both given one each.
CONFIRMED THURSDAY APPEARANCES
4 – Melbourne
3 – Carlton, Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Crows
2 – Sydney Swans, Richmond, St Kilda, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide
1 – GWS Giants, Gold Coast Suns, Geelong Cats
0 – Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, West Coast Eagles
CONFIRMED FRIDAY APPEARANCES
5 – Carlton, Collingwood
4 – Essendon, Brisbane Lions
3 – Adelaide Crows, Geelong Cats, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Sydney Swans, Fremantle
2 – St Kilda, North Melbourne
0 – Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond, West Coast Eagles
POTENTIAL MARQUEE MATCHES, ROUNDS 16-24
Round 16
Richmond v Carlton, MCG
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, The Gabba
Round 17
Collingwood v Essendon, MCG
Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows, The Gabba
Round 18
Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Marvel Stadium
Adelaide Crows v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval
Round 19
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba
Essendon v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium
Round 20
Collingwood v Richmond, MCG
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG
Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium
Round 21
Collingwood v Carlton, MCG
Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows, GMHBA Stadium
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Round 22
Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval
Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG
Round 23
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG
Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval
Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium
Round 24
Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG
Carlton v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
