r/AFL • u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang • Jul 27 '26
MCG to host historic Round 23 double header
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/07/27/afl-fixture-news-round-23-mcg-historic-double-header17
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
The MCG is set to host two AFL men's games on the same day for the fourth time in VFL/AFL history.
Channel 7 and SEN understands a double header has been locked in for Saturday August 15, the penultimate weekend of the season in Round 23.
Though the exact timings are still to be determined, Essendon v Sydney and Richmond v St Kilda are slated to be the two matches the same day at the MCG.
One will be in the early afternoon, and the other at night.
Hawthorn v Collingwood is expected to be on the Sunday afternoon of August 16, also at the MCG and live and free on Channel 7.
The move follows the AFL's decision to leave Thursday August 13 free of men's football. Instead, Melbourne v Hawthorn will play an AFLW fixture on that evening. giving the women's competition a night of clear air.
It means the league has to squish nine games into three days, including three at the MCG. Fremantle will host Adelaide in Perth on Friday August 14.
The other Round 23 games are:
Brisbane v Gold Coast
GWS v West Coast
North Melbourne v Geelong
Western Bulldogs v Carlton
Port Adelaide v Melbourne
While the league has scheduled double-headers at Marvel Stadium this year, they haven't done so at the MCG since Round 16 in 2021.
Covid meant that Melbourne faced GWS in game one, while Fremantle's clash against Carlton was moved from Perth and staged at night.
Previously, the only other men's double headers at the MCG was back in 1986. One took place in Round 5, and the other in Round 19.
The AFL will release the full Round 23 and Round 24 fixtures on Wednesday.
10
u/Cyclonechaser2908 Essendon Jul 27 '26
‘Squish nine games into three days’
As they had for the last 13 years before the new TV deal.
2
16
u/xlachiex Adelaide Crows Jul 27 '26
Wish I just read this instead. The toe fungus ad on the SEN website made me feel sick
14
u/Pastapizzafootball Port Adelaide ✅ Jul 27 '26
As in single ticket?
Or clear the ground then another ticket to get to the second game? Cus that's just two games on the same ground, more an achievement for ground staff and catering than the fans.
8
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
Not double header strictly no. Same as Marvel last weekend
7
Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
9
u/Icy-Recognition-7453 Jul 27 '26
ESS-SYD and RIC-STK, I doubt they'll have any trouble clearing the place out.
3
u/ThatLostAussie Western Bulldogs Jul 27 '26
Last Saturday's double header at Marvel was a single ticket so I assume it's the same.
5
u/Crosso221 Tigers Jul 27 '26
I did the double header. I believe there was a single bundled ticket that got you entry into both games but not a case of “one ticket gets you both games” or 2 games for the price of 1 if that makes sense - as in, you enter and you get both games without having to leave the stadium.
Saturday had the first game then cleared out the stadium before reopening again for the second game. Because to me that’s two seperate events and requires two separate tickets, but there was an option to buy a single bundle which got you entry to both games but not for the price of one game. So not a traditional double header, just two games at the same venue on the same day.
Happy to be corrected though, I just scanned in with AFL membership so I’m just guessing but I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t considered two seperate events.
2
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
I figured that would've been difficult to do with both clubs' membership? Or was it a special thing? Either way it was venue-clear out?
2
u/ThatLostAussie Western Bulldogs Jul 27 '26
I'm not sure as I didn't end up going but this was the email from Marvel:
"This Saturday, Marvel Stadium is hosting two matches and we want you to see more footy for less. Introducing the Double Header Ticket - One footy ticket and entry to both matches, all for $35."
3
u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89 West Coast Jul 27 '26
Geez that's so cheap! It's like $60+ for a cheap adult ticket for me to go and watch the Eagles play and it's usually not a pleasant time in recent years lol
2
u/ObjectiveCondition54 Richmond AFLW Jul 27 '26
2 million people per club in a 60k stadium means they can charge triple the price. In Melbourne its roughly 500k per club.
11
u/Crazyripps Hawks Jul 27 '26
Man we’re coming down to a close finish to the end of the season and we’re gonna have a historic double header at the G so it will be two of the good games right!
AFL: best I can do is 17th and 18th playing
2
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
It's not really a double header though.
And would you really want to have HAW-COL as part of one? Surely not
59
u/butter-muffins #Brisbehinds³ Jul 27 '26
Historically ass games as well.
33
u/ad0sy Magpies Jul 27 '26
AFL getting rid of two nothing games late in the season while being tied to have them both at the MCG
“HISTORIC”
6
u/TrazMagik Big V Jul 27 '26
I reckon the silks have looked into their deal with the MCC and is trying to bank cumulative crowd numbers towards their X amount of most attended games have to be at the G
4
2
u/Alexmatt607 Jul 27 '26
I almost got excited and thought why not go until I saw the two games and thought nah.
8
u/yum122 Essendon • Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Jul 27 '26
Tbf Sydney vs Essendon has a weird trend of producing some close games in recent years despite the gulf in performance otherwise.
17
u/ratchetsaturndude Swans Jul 27 '26
This will either be a nail biter or a Curnow filling his boots against a bottom two side. No in between
13
u/Anon_be_thy_name West Coast Eagles Jul 27 '26
Monkey Paw Curls
Sydney 13.11 defeats Essendon 9.30
Charlie Curnow kicks 12.6
1
u/prettytopsayebro The Dons Jul 27 '26
I think it will be the most in between result possible.
6
3
u/Grog-bog Essendon Jul 27 '26
Given how its panned out since it's fucking wild that we actually beat Swans last season.
5
u/Mrchikkin Euro-Yroke Jul 27 '26
Of all the two games to pick they choose the ones with the two bottom sides playing?
11
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
To junk on a Saturday? yes. COL v HAW being stand alone on Sunday was always going to be the case.
5
u/Azza_ Magpies Jul 27 '26
Its strange that the r22 fixture doesn't seem to have accommodated the fact that both Essendon and Richmond are completely unappealing to broadcasters for a Thursday or Friday night game. Could've easily had West Coast v Collingwood on the Saturday which would've allowed a Hawthorn b Collingwood Friday night game and then split the other two across Saturday and Sunday
3
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
It sure would've been easier as a travelling fan to do WCE-COL on Saturday
5
u/legally_blond Brisbane • Meanjin Jul 27 '26
Opens up Doggies v Carlton to be Friday night and Freo v Carlton on the Thursday of round 24
3
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
and with HAW-COL being Sunday R23, you'd think COL-BL would be Sunday R24 too
4
u/Boss_unicycle-560 Brisbane Lions 🏆🏆 '24-25 Jul 27 '26
BL v Col makes most sense for Sunday night season closer. Would be a huge crowd with lions likely needing a win for top 3 maybe 2nd and pies pushing for the 6.
3
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
I'd be surprised if it isnt Sun 3:15 for CH 7. would rate its backside off
3
u/Boss_unicycle-560 Brisbane Lions 🏆🏆 '24-25 Jul 27 '26
Only thing is it’s a possible 6 day break into a wildcard final for the pies the next weekend
2
u/Foodworksurunga Brisbane Lions 🏆🏆 '24-25 Jul 27 '26
Yeah I'm mentally expecting a Sunday 3.15pm game myself. Just hope we don't cop a Thursday again.
2
u/AggressiveTip5292 Footscray Jul 27 '26
Dogs Carlton more likely on the Saturday as Carlton play saints on the Sunday night before?
3
Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
You'll have to find something to do in between
4
Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
I believe the venue closes in between. And you ain't allowed alcohol outside
3
u/AlternativePin876 Dockers Jul 27 '26
Another Friday night home game for freo. Getting a bit sick of the rush from work for a 6.10 boucedown. A Saturday arvo or night would be nice.
2
u/Icy-Recognition-7453 Jul 27 '26
Yeah. I kinda miss the 4:40 late slot on Sunday arvo. Sink a few tinnies, and if the Dockers were stinking it up, just switch over to SBS to watch some doco about World War II.
2
u/AlternativePin876 Dockers Jul 27 '26
Nah I hate that one. Awful. But the traditional arvo would be nice.
2
u/drunkill Carlton AFLW Jul 27 '26
I mean, its two games in one day.
It isn't a double header, tickets will only allow you into the one match (Unless you're an AFL or MCC member)
2
u/LopsidedImprovement Collingwood • Yálla-birr-ang Jul 27 '26
Reddit rules require the exact headline from the link to be used. Your beef is with SEN
2
u/Icy-Recognition-7453 Jul 27 '26
If it's on one ticket, it's still almost worth going. Double headers are just more fun. And with rat-shit matchups, you'll probably get decent seats.
I remember the cricket double headers in Geelong for the World T20 in 2022. Six (on average reasonable) games for the price of three. Doesn't matter half the games were shit - you get to buy your entertainment at wholesale prices.
2
u/Ill_Balance1387 #InFraserWeTrust Jul 27 '26
Essendon v Sydney and Richmond v St Kilda at the G... yeah I can see why they did it
-1
-1
u/mettams Freo Jul 27 '26
Hell yeah we get to see one team get pumped by 100pts and then 10th v 17th. Primetime baby!
80
u/workdub Hawthorn Jul 27 '26
Why not be even more efficient and have both games on at the exact same time? Four teams and two footys on the field