The Agenda Setters on Channel 7 Caroline Wilson on the changes to the AFL fixture next season – on Seven and 7plus.
Wilson: “The issue this year is there is a day night test at the MCG. It could end on the Monday before the date the season is going to start, which is potentially Thursday, March 18th. So we know the season is starting two weeks later. We know it’s going to be called Hallelujah, Round One. It’s not going to be called Opening Round. Everyone admits that that was a failure.”
Morris: “Opening Round is dead?”
Wilson “It’s dead.”
Thomas: “Forever?”
Wilson: “Forever.”
Thomas: “Good.”
Wilson: “I can tell you, too, that the AFL and the broadcasters and the clubs now believe that they gave the NRL a one-month head start, because of the failure of this year’s Opening Round.”
Cornes: “They feel like they botched it. Are they admitting that behind the scenes?
Wilson: “Yes.”
Cornes: “Will they do that publicly?”
Wilson: “I don’t know. No, I doubt it, but they’re going to change it.”
Morris: “So how will Sydney and Brisbane and Gold Coast and GWS feel about this?”
Wilson: “Well, because the season’s starting late, there’s a real doubt that, for example, GWS’s ground will be available because of the Easter show, Easter is early. The MCG have told the AFL they cannot get the ground ready by Thursday, if the test goes all the way to Monday.”
Morris: “Which it absolutely won’t, given it’s a pink ball test.”
Wilson: “You can’t legislate for that, because the fixture comes out in October.”
Morris: “They’re saying they can’t get it ready in three days?”
Wilson: “That’s what they’re saying. They said Friday, to be safe. So Thursday, the opening game, will have to be somewhere else, they might even open the season on a Wednesday. There will be 9 games, they want blockbusters across the MCG.”
The Agenda Setters – 7.30pm every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night on 7mate and 7plus Sport.
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The Agenda Setters on Channel 7 Caroline Wilson on the changes to the AFL fixture next season
