AFL 2013 fixtures
The AFL yesterday announced new developments behind the construction of the 2013 fixtures. The most notable change being the top four sides from the 2012 season will only play the bottom four sides once in 2013, with the exception of the Swans and GWS.
New developments within the 2013 fixtures will include;
AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling and Legal Affairs Simon Lethlean confirmed that the modelling of the fixtures will stay the same as the 2012 season.
“We will continue to feature 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,” Mr Lethlean said.
“For the period where clubs have their byes between rounds 11-13, the AFL will again schedule three rounds of six matches to provide as much continuity as possible for fans, and with the goal of a team from each state competing in a match in each week through that period.”
Clubs will play 22 games out of a total 23 rounds, with 11 home fixtures per side.
There will be also be four Thursday matches in 2013 across Round 1, Anzac Day Round (two matches on Thursday April 25) and Round 14, along with two Monday night matches in Round 7 (Melbourne) and Round 10 (Perth) respectively.
The AFL is expected to finalise the 2013 fixtures by the end of October.
Key dates for the 2013 AFL Premiership Season
- Sydney, Hawthorn, Collingwood and Adelaide – will only play – GWS, Gold Coast, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs once – vying the Swans and GWS being cross town rivals.
- The 10 non-finalists from 2012 will all be scheduled to have a maximum of two return meetings with top eight sides from 2012.
- Where possible the eight finalists from 2012 will all be programmed to have a maximum of two return meetings with bottom-10 sides from 2012.
Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 1(two weeks) |
Friday March 22/ Saturday March 23 and Thursday 28 March 2013 – Monday 1 April 2013 |
ANZAC Day – Round 5 |
Thursday 25 April 2013 |
Queen’s Birthday (except WA) – Round 11 |
Monday 10 June 2013 |
Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 23 |
Friday 30 August – Sunday 1 September 2013 |
Toyota AFL Finals Series – Week 1 |
Friday 6 September 2013 |
Toyota AFL Grand Final |
Saturday 28 September 2013 |