High-profile Geelong recruit Bailey Smith will face his former club for the first time in a mid-season Thursday night blockbuster at GMHBA Stadium as the timeslot dominates a season for the first time.
The match against the Western Bulldogs will be played under lights in either round 11 or 12. It will be one of 23 Thursday night matches as the popular timeslot becomes a regular fixture for the first time under the new broadcast deal.
Bailey Smith got his wish with a move to Geelong.
The AFL played 14 Thursday night matches in 2024 but did not schedule any games in that timeslot after round 13. The league decided to hold back on the timeslot until the new deal kicked in, with Channel Seven to have exclusive broadcast rights for the night in the first 15 rounds.
The primetime slots are in huge demand as the AFL prepares to release the 2025 fixture. The Hawks will play the first two Friday nights of the season against Sydney at the SCG and Essendon at the MCG in round one. The Western Bulldogs have managed to lock in a 100th anniversary celebration match against Collingwood.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne will earn a whopping $2.5 million in 2025 under a deal in which they will play two home games in Western Australia in the next three seasons.
North Melbourne will play West Coast in Bunbury in round 13 on Sunday, June 8 and Fremantle at Optus Stadium in round 14 on Saturday, June 14.
In 2025, the club will play seven home games in Melbourne, two in Tasmania and two in Western Australia.
However, in 2026 they will exit Tasmania with nine home games in Melbourne and two home games in Western Australia.
North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said the deal would give the Kangaroos a better financial return.
“The club began planning for our post-Tasmania future once Tasmania was granted an AFL licence. Having explored a number of options, this three-year agreement stood alone in delivering multiple benefits to the club, our members and supporters,” Watt said.
“North Melbourne will always be our forever home, and enhancing our facilities and expanding our footprint within the Arden precinct will always be at the heart of our long-term strategy.
“From a financial perspective, this opportunity in Western Australia will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to do that alongside fully funded football departments.”
More to come.
