Veteran broadcaster Eddie McGuire revealed on Nine Network's 'Footy Classified' that the AFL calendar could be in for a dramatic overhaul as soon as next year as the league looks to add what he described as additional "mega events" to the season.
Despite the league reporting an underlying profit of $41m for 2024, significant moves are afoot according to McGuire to collaborate with the NFL's inaugural regular season game in Melbourne by borrowing "millions of dollars of infrastructure" shipped over by the NFL for the AFL's preliminary finals and grand final, the latter of which is guaranteed to be played at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.
McGuire told viewers that the AFL is also contemplating beginning the 2026 season with a two-week State of Origin carnival featuring eight teams split into two divisions as well as a women's International Rules match between Australia and Ireland. The six states and Northern Territory would be joined by a composite Indigenous All-Stars side, the latter of which would play in a four-team Division 1 bracket alongside Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.
The home and away season would then begin two weeks later than usual, not only to give the players additional time to prepare after the December-January holidays but also to avoid a direct clash with Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix, which in 2025 drew an aggregate crowd of 465,000 across four days and no doubt had an impact on Round 1 attendances in Melbourne.
Despite league CEO Andrew Dillon declaring the controversial 'Opening Round' a tremendous success, McGuire also believes that the 2026 season will see all 18 clubs play in the first week of the season with as many all-Victorian games as possible to ensure the competition hits the ground running nation-wide from the start.
As compensation for losing their exclusivity as hosts of 'Opening Round', northern states Queensland and New South Wales could host a series of split rounds in June to avoid playing in Melbourne during the coldest month of the year.
As expected, McGuire's report received polarising feedback from the community, who are split when it comes to both the return of State of Origin and a switch to a night Grand Final, two debates which have raged for years.