‘I don’t get it’: AFL accused of turning back on Victoria in ‘silly’ 2024 fixturing call

The AFL’s decision to begin the 2024 season with a weekend of matches outside Victoria has been slammed.

Next season will be launched with four matches as part of a weekend dubbed ‘Opening Round’, with games to be played exclusively in Sydney, Brisbane and on the Gold Coast from March 7.

The traditional Round 1 fixture between Richmond and Carlton will now be played on the following Thursday night, with the usual nine matches fixtured.

Click PLAY to hear Neil Mitchell discuss the AFL’s fixturing decision with 3AW sports presenter Shane McInnes 

“I don’t get it,” Neil Mitchell said on 3AW Mornings.

“This is silly, Victoria is a heartland. I’ve never liked the over-emphasis of the national competition but I accept it’s grown into that. This is forgetting your heartland, surely.”

“Remember where your base is and opening round is such a significant moment in the season where people have waited five months (for the games),” 3AW sports presenter Shane McInnes added.

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