AFL fixture news: Geelong big winners in revamped draw

After weeks of no football due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the time has finally come for the AFL to release the revamped fixture.

Rounds 2-5 of the 2020 AFL Premiership season are now locked in, putting many rival clubs against each other to build the most excitement and anticipation possible.

A new timeslot has also been created to fit everyone in the tight schedule, which will be Sunday night games starting from 6:05pm AEST.

Some of the biggest talking points will surround the teams in contention for the premiership this season, including the reigning premiers Richmond, losing grand finalists Greater Western Sydney, preliminary finalists Collingwood and 2018 premiers West Coast.

The AFL season will relaunch on Thursday, June 11 with a grudge match between Collingwood and Richmond, followed by Geelong and Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium on Friday and a South Australian Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide on Saturday.

Both the Crows and the Power will have to follow strict rules from the SA government for the clash at Adelaide Oval, after which they will join West Coast and Fremantle in isolation hubs on the Gold Coast.

The AFL is hopeful that the South Australian and Western Australian health officers will relax restrictions and allow their respective teams to play matches in their home states after Round 5.

Only four rounds have been released at this point as the AFL awaits news regarding restriction easing across the country, with the draw for Rounds 6-7 set to come out at the conclusion of Round 3.

Looking at which teams have the toughest run in the first five rounds, it is hard to look past Hawthorn. The Hawks will face Geelong away, Richmond at the MCG, North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium and GWS in Sydney.

Geelong fans can get excited for their new fixture. The Cats will restart their season with winnable clashes against Hawthorn, Carlton, Melbourne and Gold Coast, with three of those games scheduled for Kardinia Park.

An interesting factor will be home field advantage, even without crowds in attendance. The unique dimensions of GMHBA Stadium make Geelong hard to beat at home, while Brisbane won’t leave The Gabba in the first month back.

Round 2

Thursday, June 11
Collingwood Magpies vs Richmond Tigers: MCG at 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 12
Geelong Cats vs Hawthorn Hawks: GMHBA Stadium at 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, June 13
Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle Dockers: The Gabba at 1:45pm AEST
Carlton Blues vs Melbourne Demons: Marvel Stadium at 4:35pm AEST
Port Adelaide Power vs Adelaide Crows: Adelaide Oval at 7:40pm AEST
Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles: Metricon Stadium at 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, June 14
GWS Giants vs North Melbourne Kangaroos: Giants Stadium at 1:05pm AEST
Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers: SCG at 3:35pm AEST
St Kilda Saints vs Western Bulldogs: Marvel Stadium at 6:05pm AEST

Round 3

Thursday, June 18
Richmond Tigers vs Hawthorn Hawks: MCG at 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 19
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants: Marvel Stadium at 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, June 20
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans: Marvel Stadium at 1:45pm AEST
Collingwood Magpies vs St Kilda Saints: MCG at 4:35pm AEST
Geelong Cats vs Carlton Blues: GMHBA Stadium at 7:40pm AEST
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles: The Gabba at 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, June 21
Gold Coast Suns vs Adelaide Crows: Metricon Stadium at 1:05pm AEST
Essendon Bombers vs Melbourne Demons: MCG at 3:35pm AEST
Fremantle Dockers vs Port Adelaide Power: Metricon Stadium at 6:05pm AEST

Round 4

Thursday, June 25
Sydney Swans vs Western Bulldogs: SCG at 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 26
GWS Giants vs Collingwood Magpies: Giants Stadium at 7:50 pm AEST

Saturday, June 27
Port Adelaide Power vs West Coast Eagles: Metricon Stadium at 1:45pm AEST
St Kilda Saints vs Richmond Tigers: Marvel Stadium at 4:35pm AEST
Essendon Bombers vs Carlton Blues: MCG at 7:40pm AEST
Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle Dockers: Metricon Stadium at 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, June 28
Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows: The Gabba at 1:05pm AEST
Melbourne Demons vs Geelong Cats: MCG at 3:35 AEST
Hawthorn Hawks vs North Melbourne Kangaroos: Marvel Stadium at 6:05pm AEST

Round 5

Thursday, July 2
West Coast Eagles vs Richmond Tigers: Metricon Stadium at 7:40pm AEST

Friday, July 3
Collingwood Magpies vs Essendon Bombers: MCG at 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, July 4
Carlton Blues vs St Kilda Saints: MCG at 1:45pm AEST
Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast Suns: GMHBA Stadium at 4:35pm AEST
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Kangaroos: Marvel Stadium at 7:40pm AEST
Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide Power: The Gabba at 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, July 5
Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers: Metricon Stadium at 1:05pm AEST
Sydney Swans vs Melbourne Demons: SCG at 3:35pm AEST
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks: Giants Stadium at 6:05pm AEST