Footy feast for West Australian fans in round seven
The AFL has released its round seven fixture, with Geelong and Collingwood set for a historic Friday night match in Perth.
With a Sunday night derby between West Coast and Fremantle at the same venue bookending the round, fans' attention will centre on Perth in three weeks' time.
Up to 90,000 fans are tipped to attend footy in Western Australia that round.
The AFL stressed that teams are subject to protocols developed in conjunction with the West Australian government.
A grand final rematch between Richmond and GWS will take place at the MCG on Sunday, July 19, with the western derby to start at 6.35pm eastern time the same day.
The AFL, which released the round six fixture on Wednesday night, is expected soon to confirm the Cats and Pies will head to WA to stay there for 21 days.
The Cats will play the Pies in round seven in Perth.Credit:Getty Images
The Cats will be the home team in the round seven clash, meaning that though the Magpies have been forced to play three games "on the road" in Perth, they will not have to face the Cats at GMHBA Stadium.
Club sources suggest the AFL will send two more teams from Victoria or NSW to Perth before the Magpies and Cats have left. The two new teams would play one another on the last weekend that Collingwood and Geelong play there against WA teams. This would mean Fremantle and West Coast avoid a bye, which would have caused fixturing problems for the AFL.
The Cats and Pies are set to fly straight back home, without stopping over in Adelaide.
The Geelong-Collingwood clash will be the first game in Perth with a crowd, with up to 30,000 set to be allowed in the stands, posing the question: with two non-WA teams taking part, how many fans will that game attract?
With SCOTT SPITS
ROUND SIX FIXTURE
Thursday July 9
St Kilda v Geelong, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
Friday July 10
Collingwood v Brisbane, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday July 11
Fremantle v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 12.35pm AEST
West Coast v Adelaide, Gabba, 3.05pm AEST
Hawthorn v Gold Coast, MCG, 6.05pm AEST
Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
Sunday July 12
Port Adelaide v GWS, Metricon Stadium, 1.05pm AEST
Carlton v Sydney, MCG, 3.35pm AEST
North Melbourne v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 6.10pm AEST