What the 2028 AFL Fixture Changes Mean for Clubs and Fans
The Australian Football League is facing a scheduling puzzle. When Tasmania enters the competition in 2028, the league will have 19 teams. That extra team forces a structural decision: keep the current 23-round format and create an uneven schedule, or expand to 24 rounds.
AFL chair Craig Drummond has confirmed the league is leaning toward change. "We need to have either 24 or something different," he said. The comment signals that the status quo is not viable.
Why the Current Format Breaks
With an odd number of teams, the existing 23-round fixture cannot work fairly. Every team would need an uneven number of games against opponents, creating inherent advantages and disadvantages. The league has floated two main options.
The first is a straight expansion to 24 rounds. Every team plays one more game, which extends the season by a week or requires trimming the pre-season.
The second is more radical: a mid-season tournament or a group-stage format after the home-and-away season. These ideas were discussed with clubs during the 2026 season, and Drummond says "meaningful change" is likely.
A mid-season tournament would break the traditional rhythm of the premiership season. It could introduce a knockout element reminiscent of international soccer competitions, offering clubs a secondary trophy and giving broadcasters a distinct programming block.
The Tasmania Effect
Tasmania's entry is the catalyst. The new club, based in Hobart, will need a viable fixture from its first season. A 24-round season with 19 teams means each club plays 24 games, but with bye rounds and uneven home-and-away splits, the logistics become complex.
The league is also weighing travel demands. Adding a 19th team increases the number of cross-country trips, particularly for Tasmanian-based players and opponents travelling to the island state.
Retirements Signal the Transition
The fixture overhaul is happening alongside a generational shift. Tom Liberatore, the Western Bulldogs midfielder, announced his retirement after 268 games. The 34-year-old played just 11 AFL games in 2026, hampered by injuries and concussion issues.
Liberatore was a father-son recruit in 2010, won the Charles Sutton Medal in 2014, and played in the club's drought-breaking 2016 premiership. His departure is part of a broader turnover as veterans from the mid-2010s era exit the game. Another AFL legend, a 16-year veteran, also announced an emotional retirement after his club declined to offer a new contract.
These retirements are not mere individual milestones. They shape list management decisions, salary-cap space, and draft strategies. Clubs approaching the 2028 expansion draft—where Tasmania will select players from existing lists—must make decisions about older players now.
What Fans Should Expect
The 2028 fixture is not just a calendar exercise. It affects membership pricing, broadcast schedules, and the competitive balance. If the league adopts a mid-season tournament, it will change how fans consume the sport. A group stage after the home-and-away season would alter the finals structure dramatically.
Drummond's comments suggest the league is open to experimentation. "We are talking to the clubs," he said. The consultation process will be critical.
For now, the fixture for 2027 remains unchanged. But the decisions made over the next year will determine what Australian football looks like for a decade. The 2028 season is not just another year—it is the beginning of a new competitive era.