What the AFL’s Proposed Round 1 Fixture Change Means

What is changing in the AFL’s 2027 Round 1 fixture?

The main proposal is to move Carlton and Richmond out of the Thursday-night primetime slot that has often opened the AFL season. Reports on October 23 say the traditional matchup could instead be played on Saturday or Sunday afternoon during Round 1 ¹².

That is a reported plan, not a confirmed fixture. The AFL had not released its 2027 schedule in the material available for this explainer. So supporters should treat the proposed day and time, and the choice of opening match, as unconfirmed.

The change concerns the order and timeslot of games. It does not, on its own, tell us how many teams will play in Round 1 or establish a new competition format. Reports also link the fixture discussion to the end of Opening Round, but the full schedule and its arrangements are not yet available here ¹³.

Why might Carlton and Richmond lose the opening slot?

One report says the AFL has concerns about the quality of the game as a season opener ². That is a reported explanation, not a detailed statement from the league in the supplied sources. The teams’ recent ladder positions may form part of the discussion: the report notes Richmond’s run of bottom-two finishes and Carlton’s recent finals appearance ².

But recent results do not tell the whole story. The same report says the clubs’ last four Round 1 meetings were decided by an average of 5.5 points, and that the 2026 match was a four-point Carlton win ². Nine reports that their last four meetings drew more than 74,000 at the MCG and were all decided by fewer than two goals ¹. These details suggest the matchup has continued to attract a crowd and produce close games, even as the clubs’ fortunes have differed.

The AFL may have other scheduling priorities, but the sources do not spell them out. A Brisbane–Fremantle grand final rematch has been suggested as a possible replacement for the opener; it is only a possibility, not a confirmed selection ¹.

What would the change mean for fans?

For Carlton and Richmond supporters, the most immediate difference would be when they might see the clubs play, and whether their match is the first major game of the season. A weekend afternoon slot would be a change from the familiar Thursday-night opening, if the reports prove accurate ¹². The match could still be part of Round 1, but fans should wait for the official fixture before making plans around a day or time.

The opening game also has a wider audience beyond the two clubs. AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said some supporters had grown used to Carlton–Richmond as the first game and questioned the proposed change. He also pointed to crowds averaging roughly 70,000 to 80,000 in recent years, according to the report ³. That is one fan representative’s view, not evidence of what all supporters think.

If another game takes the opening slot, it could give a different set of clubs the spotlight. The sources do not establish which match will replace Carlton–Richmond, or how fans will respond once a full schedule is announced.

When might the 2027 AFL season start?

The season is expected to start later than usual because the MCG is due to be unavailable for the 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England, which ends on March 15, 2027, according to Nine ¹. The report says Round 1 is expected to begin on March 18, while a Wednesday-night start on March 17 is another possibility ¹.

Those dates should be understood as reported expectations, not confirmed kick-off dates. The source does not provide the complete fixture or confirm which games would be played on the first day. Until the AFL publishes its schedule, supporters cannot rely on a particular date, venue or timeslot.

What is still unknown about the fixture?

The supplied reports leave several important details open. They do not include a final AFL announcement, a confirmed date and time for Carlton–Richmond, or confirmation of which match will open the season. Nor do they provide the complete Round 1 schedule.

The clearest practical step for fans is to check the AFL’s official fixture when it is released. Until then, headlines about a change describe a proposal or reported expectation, rather than a settled arrangement ¹².