THE AFL is putting the feelers out for a permanent return to Monday night football following the release of the 2009 fixtures yesterday.
The bold move is an experimental one ahead of the introduction of two new teams from the Gold Coast and western Sydney.
To that end, there will be seven matches in total at those locations: Sydney hosting four at ANZ Stadium (Rounds 2, 8, 12 and 20), and St Kilda, Richmond and Carlton hosting three matches at Carrara (Rounds 7, 10 and 14).
Pleasingly, the Indigenous Round has been kept on as Round 9 with the Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime at the 'G the feature match of the round, with other key events planned across the country throughout the week to celebrate Indigenous football.
Other key features of the fixtures include:
Round 1: Hawthorn and Geelong to meet on the Friday night;
Round 5: ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday next year so the Essendon-Collingwood clash will be at 2.10pm (AEST) start, Hawthorn and West Coast will play in the first twilight (5.10pm) (AEST) match at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, North Melbourne will host Richmond at Telstra Dome, and Fremantle will play its Len Hall match against Sydney at Subiaco Oval (6.40pm WST)).
Round 7, Monday Night Football: Powerhouse club Collingwood will host St Kilda at Telstra Dome (7.20pm AEST).
Round 12, Split Round: Five matches in the first week (June 12-14) and three the next (June 19-21).
* To see how your team fared, click this link:
2009 AFL Fixtures.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Last Modified on 25/10/2008 04:38