AFL fixture for season restart features Sunday night matches
The AFL has announced the next four weeks of its shortened 2020 fixture, with a Sunday night match each weekend from round two to five.
Rounds two to five, which will involve 36 games, will all feature matches on Sunday that will begin at 6.05pm AEST.
AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld has announced a new Sunday night timeslot.Credit:Chris Hopkins
The rounds will also be made up of a Thursday night game, one Friday night game, two matches on Saturday afternoons, a Saturday twilight fixture, two games on Saturday night and two on Sunday afternoon.
And the AFL has left the door open for a potential return of crowds in some capacity – if it's allowed by the health authorities.
"Any opportunity to have fans attend games … we'll certainly embrace," league fixture boss Travis Auld told reporters on Monday.
Hawthorn will travel down to Geelong to play at GMHBA Stadium for the first time in nearly 15 years in round two, while Adelaide and Port Adelaide will face off in a round two Showdown in South Australia before relocating to the Gold Coast.
West Coast, Fremantle and the two South Australian clubs will all have to play one home game at Metricon Stadium, with reigning premiers Richmond travelling north to face the Eagles in round five.
That will be followed by another fierce rivalry, with last year's grand finalists Greater Western Sydney travelling to Melbourne to take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
"To re-launch the season we have focused on scheduling blockbuster match-ups across these four weeks, particularly in the Thursday and Friday night primetime slots," Auld said.
"As we navigate through the remaining 108 games plus finals, we will continue to be adaptable with our scheduling, ensuring our fixtures align with the relevant state government restrictions in place at the time."
Marvel Stadium roof to remain closed
Auld also said he was confident the government would allow Marvel Stadium to be an indoor venue for the forseeable future.
The AFL has sought special permission from health authorities to allow Marvel Stadium's roof to remain closed when the season resumes.
The roof had to remain open for round one, to help the AFL constitute the stadium as an outdoor venue.
The stadium's infamous roof had remained closed on a permanent basis prior to round one, after complaints from fans, players and broadcasters that leaving the roof open made for poor conditions because of the glare of the sun.
"That is a big win if that becomes the case, certainly throughout this winter period that we're looking at," Auld said of being allowed to keep the roof of the stadium shut.
"It would provide better conditions for our players. My understanding is that we've had really positive discussions about it, I don't know if it's actually been finalised yet but my view is it's certainly looking very likely."