The 2027 AFL season is set to kick off with all 18 teams participating in a conventional nine-game opening week. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has announced the discontinuation of the three-year “Opening Round” initiative aimed at promoting the sport in Queensland and New South Wales.
This decision follows Dillon’s earlier defense of the initiative, which he had described as essential for expanding Australian rules football’s presence in the northern regions of the country. However, the “Opening Round,” which featured four matches exclusively in Queensland and New South Wales involving only eight teams, faced significant criticism for its scheduling format, which resulted in a staggered launch and early-season byes.
In March, Dillon had emphasized the importance of the Opening Round, noting that it was instrumental in raising awareness and fostering growth in those states, citing record attendance figures and increases in membership. He stated, “What we’ve found in the last couple of years is that the focus on NSW and Queensland is helping to grow awareness in those areas while not detracting from our traditional round one.”
However, with the upcoming season set to commence a week later due to the MCG hosting the 150th anniversary cricket Test between Australia and England, the Opening Round has been scrapped. Dillon commented, “We have been exploring alternative options for starting the AFL season. After receiving valuable feedback from fans, stakeholders, and consulting with clubs and broadcasters, we have decided to revert to a traditional nine-game round for round one.”
The first round is scheduled to take place on either Wednesday or Thursday, March 17 or 18, just a few days following the conclusion of the historic Ashes Test. The home-and-away season will span 24 rounds, concluding on Sunday, August 30, followed by a five-week finals series that will kick off with two wildcard matches in the first week of September. The grand final is set for Saturday, October 2, and the Gather Round event in South Australia is confirmed for April 8-11.
