The Australian Football League (AFL) has just released the long-awaited schedule for rounds 16 to 23 of the 2023 season, introducing a surprising turn of events for some of the teams. Of particular note is the fact that Carlton, after a shaky start to the season, will find itself stepping out of the primetime slots, save for a highly anticipated round 20 showdown with arch-rival Collingwood.
Carlton had previously been the spotlight of Thursday night (three times) and Friday night (twice) games in the earlier part of the year. However, the latter part of the season sees the Blues in just one marquee slot. On the other hand, teams like Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Lions, and Magpies will find themselves in the limelight more frequently.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 13: The Blues look dejected after a loss during the 2023 AFL Round 09 match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Interestingly, Collingwood will host a home game at Marvel Stadium in a rare turn of events, facing off against Brisbane in the round 23 Friday night match. The AFL has expressed hopes for a full house as these two potential premiership contenders clash.
Richmond and Sydney have been allotted two extra Thursday night fixtures, with the last of such games happening in round 18. By the end of the season, there will be a total of 11 Thursday night games, one more than in 2022.
The Western Bulldogs have found their excellent form rewarded with a Thursday night game and two Friday night games. This comes after they secured four consecutive wins, earning them a sixth-place standing on the ladder.
The fixture for round 19 also promises a nail-biting showdown, with Brisbane hosting Geelong in the twilight timeslot. This game will then lead directly into Yartapuulti facing off against the Magpies at the Adelaide Oval that night.
Looking to drive local attendance habits, the AFL has scheduled expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney into Saturday timeslots predominantly.
AFL executive general manager of finance, clubs and broadcasting, Travis Auld, commented that the League was looking to build on the massive start to the season. He said, “After record-breaking crowds and viewership numbers in the first nine rounds, we’re set to launch into the back half of the season and into the 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series.”
The fixture for round 24 remains fluid, with timeslots set to be locked in approximately a month from the season’s end. As always, we’ll be eagerly watching to see how the remainder of the AFL season unfolds.
The Fixture
Round 16
Thursday, June 29
Brisbane v Richmond, Gabba, 7.20pm AEST
Friday, June 30
Sydney v Geelong, SCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, July 1
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 1.15pm ACST
Gold Coast v Collingwood, Metricon Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
Essendon v Port Adelaide, MCG 7.25pm AEST
Sunday, July 2
Hawthorn v Carlton, MCG, 1.10pm AEST
Melbourne v GWS Giants, TIO Traeger Park, 2.50pm ACST
West Coast v St Kilda, Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
Round 17
Thursday, July 6
Richmond v Sydney, MCG, 7.20pm AEST
Friday, July 7
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, July 8
Brisbane v West Coast, Gabba, 1.45pm AEST
GWS Giants v Hawthorn, Giants Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
Port Adelaide v Gold Coast, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Sunday, July 9
Geelong v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
Essendon v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
Round 18
Thursday, July 13
Sydney v Western Bulldogs, SCG, 7.20pm AEST
Friday, July 14
Melbourne v Brisbane, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, July 15
Collingwood v Fremantle, MCG, 1.45pm AEST
Gold Coast v St Kilda, Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Sunday, July 16
North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
West Coast v Richmond, Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
Round 19
Friday, July 21
Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, July 22
Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG, 1.45pm AEST
Carlton v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Brisbane v Geelong, The Gabba, 4.35pm AEST
Port Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Fremantle v Sydney, Optus Stadium, 5.40pm AWST
Sunday, July 23
GWS Giants v Gold Coast, Manuka Oval, 1.10pm AEST
Melbourne v Adelaide, MCG, 3.20pm AEST
St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
Round 20
Friday, July 28
Collingwood v Carlton, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, July 29
Geelong v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Mars Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Gold Coast v Brisbane, Heritage Bank Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
Essendon v Sydney, Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Sunday, July 30
Hawthorn v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
Richmond v Melbourne, MCG, 3.20pm AEST
West Coast v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium, 2.4pm AWST
Round 21
Friday, August 4
Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, August 5
Essendon v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Adelaide v Gold Coast, Adelaide Oval, 1.40pm ACST
Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG, 4.35pm AEST
Geelong v Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
GWS Giants v Sydney, Giants Stadium, 7.30pm AEST
Sunday, August 6
North Melbourne v Melbourne, Blundstone Arena, 1.10pm AEST
St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
Fremantle v Brisbane, Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
Round 22
Friday, August 11
Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, August 12
North Melbourne v Essendon, Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Sydney v Gold Coast, SCG, 2.10pm AEST
Brisbane v Adelaide, Gabba, 4.35pm AEST
Carlton v Melbourne, MCG, 7.25pm AEST
West Coast v Fremantle, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
Sunday, August 13
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, University of Tasmania Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
Port Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST
Round 23
Friday, August 18
Collingwood v Brisbane, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, August 19
Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG, 1.45pm AEST
Gold Coast v Carlton, Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
St Kilda v Geelong, Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm AEST
Adelaide v Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
Sunday, August 20
Western Bulldogs v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG, 3.20pm AEST
Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium, 2.40pm AWST
