Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A cross-code schedule clash has prompted the AFL to review the structure of next season’s Opening Round.
The MCG will be out of action for the first half of next March for the 150th Anniversary Test match between Australia and England.
Opening Round was initially designed to be a promotion of the non-Victorian states but Victoria hosted a match between St Kilda and Collingwood at the MCG this season.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Opening Round had been a resounding success but conceded it was under review.
“We are reviewing how that will start,” he said.
“I think it’s well-documented that access to the MCG will be different than what it was this year with the Centenary Test. We will be looking at how we will start the season for 2027.
“What we do know that Opening Round in the three iterations we’ve had has been a success in terms of crowds, viewership, membership for the clubs in NSW and Queensland.
“This year with the addition of the game on the Sunday at the MCG, between St Kilda and Collingwood, where we had over 80,000 attend, which was a record home-and-away crowd for St Kilda.
“Opening Round has been a success but we do know it will look different with the access to the MCG, so we will be reviewing that. We know momentum is incredibly important.”
The AFL also said it was also monitoring the global fuel crisis and how it could impact travel.
Dillon suspected there would be “no issues for the next couple of weeks” but had started assessing options if restrictions were put in place.
“It’s something I think all businesses will be looking at, there’s uncertainty,” he said.
“What we are working through is, ‘What are the options?’ We’re not concerned but we’re always working on making sure we’re ahead of where we are and where we can be.
“We’ve got no issues for the next couple of weeks, but you’ve always got to look at options.”
