Gold Coast and Essendon will play their Opening Round match in Round 24, as the AFL locked in the schedule for both matches postponed due to Cyclone Alfred.
As expected, Brisbane’s clash with Geelong, previously the season opener, has been moved to Round 3, when both teams previously had byes scheduled.
They will square off at the Gabba on Saturday, March 29 at 7:35pm (AEDT).
Essendon and Gold Coast’s reschedule was more complex owing to the two teams having separate bye weeks, with the league deciding on a Round 24 fixture, likely to be during the week of the pre-finals bye.
The schedule for that match, as well as all others for the second half of the season, are yet to be confirmed, with the league unveiling a floating fixture late last year, covering rounds 15-24.
Should the match be wedged into round 24, the Suns and Bombers will close the season having to play two games just days apart.
Gold Coast are scheduled to play Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in round 24, while the Bombers meet Carlton at the MCG.
CEO Andrew Dillon has fronted the media on Thursday morning, revealing the AFL’s focus on the reschedule was to ensure the least amount of disruption to the AFL fixture as possible.
“When looking at the rescheduling of these matches we had a focus on having the least amount of disruption on the competition, ensuring that all clubs still have a mid-season bye and managing travel arrangements across the season – particularly for the four impacted clubs,” Dillon said.
“I would like to thank our clubs, broadcasters and venues for their cooperation during this unprecedented situation and our thoughts remain with our staff, players, fans and all those in southeast Queensland and northern NSW that may be impacted.”
The two Queensland teams trained on Wednesday, but all Lions and Suns players are now sheltering at home in anticipation of the wild weather to come.
Some 20,000 properties in the Brisbane area face flooding as the category-two storm is expected to make landfall in southeast Queensland on Friday.
with AAP
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