The AFL today announced it had written to each of the 18 AFL clubs, along with the AFL's broadcast partners, venues and other key partners, to outline the likely key dates for the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season and to begin the work of the construction of the fixture.
AFL General Manager Clubs Travis Auld said the AFL had written to major stakeholders seeking their input and it was expected the fixture would be completed in mid to late October 2018, as per the schedule of recent seasons.
He said the likely key dates for each part of the 2019 season had been advised at this stage to be as follows:
JLT Community Series
Commencing Mid-February and concluding early March
Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 1
Thursday 21 March 2019 – Sunday 24 March 2019
Easter - Round 5
Thursday 18 April 2019 – Monday 22 April 2019
ANZAC Day - Round 6
Wednesday 24 April 2019 – Sunday 29 April 2019
Queen’s Birthday (except WA) – approx. Round 12
Monday 10 June 2019
Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 23
Friday 23 August 2019 – Sunday 25 August 2019
Toyota AFL Finals Series – Week 1
Thursday 5 September 2019 – Sunday 8 September 2019
Toyota AFL Grand Final
Saturday 28 September 2019
The 2019 Fixture will retain the current structure of a ‘regular round' of one Friday night match, two Saturday afternoon matches, one Saturday twilight match, two Saturday night matches, one early Sunday match, one Sunday afternoon match and one Sunday twilight match.
The AFL will again schedule a number of irregular rounds principally around key public holidays, bye weekends and/or matches scheduled in specific timeslots such as Thursday nights.
In conclusion, Mr Auld said, the other key considerations when developing the fixture for the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will be:
- AFL and AFL Club contractual obligations with broadcasters and venues
- Player welfare, including days' breaks
- Travel considerations for AFL Clubs
- Maximising attendances, tv audiences and general fan engagement
- Continuation of "blockbuster" matches and "themed" rounds
- Maintaining consistency of match start times where appropriate
- Balancing second round match-ups - the 'Weighted Rule" (as per recent seasons)
- Expansion market and related growth objectives
- Rewarding on-field performance
All parties have been asked to respond by Friday August 10.
