Overview
- The league confirmed Gather Round for April 9–12 in South Australia, opening with Adelaide v Carlton and closing with Port Adelaide v St Kilda across Adelaide Oval, Barossa Park and Norwood Oval.
- Adelaide Oval will stage a Friday night marquee between Collingwood and Fremantle, with the full round’s match‑ups and times now set.
- Opening Round begins Thursday, March 5, with Sydney hosting Carlton at the SCG, and includes St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG to finish that first weekend in Victoria.
- The AFL locked broadcast times through the first 16 rounds and introduced six Friday night double‑headers in the early season block, featuring marquee rivalries such as a Sydney derby and an Adelaide Showdown.
- Fremantle and West Coast will start the season away from home due to Optus Stadium’s Women’s Asian Cup semifinal scheduling, while South Australia’s longer‑term hosting of Gather Round remains undecided and media reports differ on ticket on‑sale dates.