Geelong Cats, Collingwood Magpies lead blockbuster AFL round 7 in Perth
Up to 90,000 AFL fans will head to the footy in Perth in round seven to attend a western derby and a Friday night blockbuster between Victorian rivals Geelong and Collingwood.
The AFL released its round seven fixture on Thursday, with the Perth hub front and centre of the conversation.
The twilight western derby between West Coast and Fremantle on July 19 is set to attract a capacity crowd of around 60,000.
The Geelong-Collingwood Friday-night fixture falls two days earlier on July 17.
Scott Pendlebury, Patrick Dangerfield Getty
With the WA government not expected to completely lift restrictions on Optus Stadium until July 18, a cap of 30,000 fans is expected to be in place for that match.
But it will still be a bumper result for the AFL, which has already lost millions of dollars after it had to bar fans from attending matches in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cats and Magpies will spend about three weeks in Perth as part of a rolling hub. Once their time is nearing an end, two other Victorian sides will fly in to replace them.
Geelong and Collingwood players will have to quarantine in a hotel for their first 14 days in Perth, but they have been given permission to train and play during that period.
West Coast and Fremantle players will be allowed to serve their quarantine at home given they are flying in from Queensland where the coronavirus situation is under control.
The other highlight fixture of round seven is the grand final replay between Richmond and GWS at the MCG, to be played on Sunday, July 19.
The Giants will be gunning for revenge after copping an 89-point hammering in last year's decider.
Essendon and Hawthorn will kick off the round on a Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.
Adelaide has been drawn to face North Melbourne on a Saturday night at Marvel Stadium, while Port Adelaide will play St Kilda at the same venue the following day.
Sydney take on Brisbane on a Saturday at the SCG, while Melbourne face the Bulldogs (MCG) and Gold Coast take on Carlton (Metricon Stadium) on the same day.
AFL Rd 1 - West Coast v Melbourne Getty
ROUND 7 FIXTURE
Thursday, July 16
Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
Friday, July 17
Geelong v Collingwood, Optus Stadium, 6:10pm AWST, 8.10pm AEST
Saturday, July 18
Sydney v Brisbane, SCG, 1.45pm AEST
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG, 4.35pm AEST
Gold Coast v Carlton, Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
North Melbourne v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
Sunday, July 19
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 1.05pm AEST
Richmond v Greater Western Sydney, MCG, 3.35pm AEST
Fremantle v West Coast, Optus Stadium, 4.35pm AWST, 6.35pm AEST
