AFL chief Andrew Dillon confirms more Friday-night double headers in 2026 fixture
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Dillon is committing to more doubleheaders on Friday night.
- Magpie Bobby Hill appears at the Indigenous tour launch.
Football fans can expect more Friday night double-headers for the rest of the year, according to league boss Andrew Dillon.
Addressing the media ahead of the Sir Doug Nicholls Tour, Dillion confirmed that attendance for the double headers was “really strong” and that fans would be seeing more of them in the coming weeks.
“We will be announcing the fixtures for rounds 16 to 22 in the next few days and there will be a few more of these double headers,” he said.
Dillon confirmed that double-headers on Friday nights gave the league’s fixtures team greater flexibility in judging home and away games and provided teams with adequate breaks between matches.
“The other thing is that [double headers] “Also providing us with five-day breaks and six-day breaks allows us to keep Thursday nights as strong as they are,” he said.
“Thursday nights have been incredibly well attended, but our strongest rating games this year have also been Thursday night games.”
Following St Kilda’s defeat to Gold Cast on Saturday, Saints coach Ross Lyon called for all clubs to play in Darwin.
“Probably the opportunity for the AFL is to play nine games here; every team comes and plays one game here,” Lyon said. “Imagine Darwin getting nine games this year. Why give that to one club and two games?”
The Suns will remain in Darwin to play Port Adelaide on Friday, while Melbourne will play a game against GWS in Alice Springs later this month.
Dillon said “about three or four is about the right amount at the moment” in terms of the number of games played in the Top End.
“For me, that means making sure young boys and girls in the NT can see that the game up close is important, but it also doesn’t matter whether you’re from the distant NT, suburban Melbourne or suburban Sydney, we still want to provide opportunities for First Nations players.”
Bobby Hill at Local launch as comeback approaches
Peter Ryan
Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz says he has seen a huge change in Bobby Hill’s fitness as the 2023 Norm Smith medalist continues to progress towards a return to the AFL via the VFL.
Hill has played just one AFL game since round 17 last year.
He took time away from the club during pre-season for personal reasons before returning to play the final three VFL matches. Hill played a full game over the weekend.
His return could spark a forward line that failed again on Saturday night after appearing to find form in the previous two games.
Schultz said Hill will make a difference, but his return won’t be rushed.
Schultz said, “He is a very special player in our forward half. He will make a great contribution to our forward line.”
“We love seeing Bobby being his bright and cheerful self. He’s a very popular guy at the club and we love having him around.”
Hill was at the opening of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round but did not speak to the media.
The popular Magpies were part of a photo that featured a dozen Indigenous players from across the competition wearing Indigenous jumpers that clubs will wear in rounds 10 and 11.
It continues to be a matter of intense debate among players about what the league should do about it. Reversing the decline in the number of domestic players At the highest level of the game.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league was considering allowing clubs to reserve a roster spot for Indigenous players, but said it was important to address the underlying issues that hindered Indigenous players’ opportunity to reach elite level or prevented them from spending as much time on club rosters as non-Indigenous players.
“We are looking at different list mechanisms [to increase numbers]But ultimately it’s about investing in the grassroots and getting more boys and girls playing, making sure there are opportunities at the ability level. [and] later when the draft is prepared [First Nations players] I have support to stay in the game as long as the others,” Dillon said.
He confirmed that the Indigenous All-Stars match played in 2025 will remain alongside state of origin matches as part of the calendar of representative matches played over the next few seasons.
Dillon also said a broader group of people would be consulted than those who met last week as part of a subcommittee of interested parties to discuss how the number of Indigenous players on the rosters could be increased.
Saints veteran Brad Hill said AFL Indigenous and multicultural engagement manager Pauly Vandenbergh and former Crow and Blues great Eddie Betts should be part of the conversation as their relationships with the players and grassroots are strong.
“He was the best for me, he helped me a lot,” Hill said of Vandenberg. “Eddie is laying the groundwork, and I think they will have a real voice and influence on this committee.”
Former Demons and Giants midfielder Toby Bedford said clubs needed to be flexible about drafting Indigenous players and cited Melbourne’s readiness to allow Kysaiah Pickett to travel back to Darwin to see his child between matches as an example of the need.
He said that players should be supported not only away but also when they come to their club in order to develop in their careers. Hawthorn’s Karl Amon said programs and the ecosystem affected by COVID needed to rebuild.
Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Bears champion Michael McLean was awarded the Sir Doug Nicholls Round this season; The AFL recognized his outstanding contribution to the sport, both as a player and as one of the key figures who stood against racism to effect change throughout his career.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports journalist and Formula 1 writer for The Age.Connect via email.
