McGuire’s pitch to ‘explode’ AFL finals after Opening Round dumped
Eddie McGuire has pitched a radical overhaul of the 2027 AFL calendar on Footy Classified, including changes such as a Sunday night grand final and a major shift around public holidays.
This bold move aims to help the code conquer sporting rival NRL and appease the NFL.
Eddie McGuire on Footy Classified. Nine
The 2027 season is already slated to push into October as games will start a week later than usual, the delay accommodating the historic 150th-anniversary Test match between Australia and England at the MCG from March 11-15.
The AFL on Wednesday announced next season will begin with a full round on March 17 or 18. The failed Opening Round experiment has been dumped following much criticism.
McGuire believes it gives the league a golden opportunity as they can completely reimagine their showpiece event and gain an edge in the northern states, where the sport historically struggles.
The 24-round home-and-away season will conclude on August 30 and a five-week finals series pushes the grand final to the first Saturday in October. It will likely be played the day before the NRL grand final, which is typically on the first Sunday of October.
“There’s a chance to completely reimagine what the season looks like. And the AFL is going to be in October next year anyway, because I think it’s October 2nd for the final for the moment,” McGuire said on Footy Classified.
“But if they moved it to the following week, it would mean we’d have clean air against the NRL.
“At the moment, the AFL…gets absolutely swamped in New South Wales and Queensland, which the AFL keeps telling us is where we have to grow.
“And if you want to get more television money - money in the game - that’s where we have to grow. So at the moment, we get slaughtered up there, and the NRL gets a clean week for their grand final.”
“What we could do if we moved it into the second week is explode grand final week… Sunday night grand final.”
Beyond domestic turf wars, McGuire noted that shifting the schedule would prevent the AFL from clashing with the NFL, avoiding unnecessary friction over MCG availability.
“Where it seems interesting is if we throw up the next one, this is what the AFL have got the chance to do. Instead of poking the NFL in the eye and my information from New York has been that the NFL is disappointed,” he revealed.
McGuire’s overhaul of the 2027 season. Footy Classified.
He pointed to the NRL’s blockbuster TV rights deals signed this year and argued the AFL must make bolder choices to penetrate unfamiliar markets and work alongside global giants.
“Good luck getting a cheque next time around that’s going to be anywhere near what Peter V’Landys has been able to do, because he’s been progressive and open, and he goes to make money for his partners and give the best possible opportunity for people to enjoy and do great things,” McGuire said.
“All we’re saying is come on, let’s play ball; don’t dig in for a fight you don’t need to have.
“This is an opportunity for the AFL to be internationalised alongside (the NFL), to learn from what’s going to happen next week, and build our game.
“We love our game, you’re not second fiddle, you’re actually partners with the NFL, and if it doesn’t work, guess what happens? The NFL go to a different country.
“What we’re saying is if you move back, for me, the idea is to get into October and get that free air. To run past V’Landys, for football to have a win for a change in this situation.”
