Overview
- Opening Round expands to five games starting March 5 with Sydney vs Carlton at the SCG and includes the first Victorian Opening Round match, St Kilda vs Collingwood at the MCG on March 8, with rounds 16–24 to be finalised later.
- South Australia’s Gather Round runs April 9–12, opening with Adelaide vs Carlton at Adelaide Oval, featuring Collingwood vs Fremantle on the Friday night, and closing with Port Adelaide vs St Kilda.
- The AFL schedules six Friday night double‑headers concentrated across rounds 4 and 6–11, including the Showdown in round 8, the Sydney derby in round 6, and Dreamtime at the ’G followed by a late game in round 11.
- The grand final rematch is set for Thursday, May 14, with Brisbane hosting Geelong at the Gabba to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
- Prime‑time allocations heavily favour Geelong, Hawthorn and Adelaide (eight Thursday/Friday slots each), Brisbane receive three and West Coast none, and Adelaide’s Izak Rankine will miss the Round 1 trip to the MCG due to the final game of his suspension.