The first Saturday in October will host the 2027 AFL Grand Final as the league works through a range of concessions, including the 150th Anniversary cricket test at the MCG and an NFL match.
In the AFL era, there have been seven deciders played in October. The 2020 COVID-19-impacted season played late in the month due to the delayed campaign.
The Western Bulldogs' victory and Hawthorn's win in 2016 and 2015 were early in October.
Collingwood's loss to Geelong in 2011 was in October.
The 2010 Grand Final replay was in October after Collingwood and St Kilda drew the week before, resulting in another match.
The Pies defeated Essendon in 1990, as did West Coast over Geelong in 1994 during October.
The pushed-back Grand Final date is due to the unavailability of the MCG in early March for the 150th Anniversary cricket test match. The MCG will be unavailable from Thursday, March 11-15, as it hosts a Test between Australia and England.
Opening Round is set to be scrapped, but games will still be played early in the season in the northern states to help kick-start the season.
The controversial NFL match will be moved next year.
The American Football code will descend onto the MCG in the semi-final weekend, and could potentially clash with finals at the home of football.
Fortunately for the AFL, there's only one potential match at the MCG if Hawthorn lose to Fremantle on Thursday in the qualifying final.
A list of changes, according to Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters:
- Grand Final on October 2
- 150th Anniversary Cricket Test played early in March - set to push back the AFL season by a week
- First game at the MCG on March 19
- At least one game before that in NSW/QLD on Thursday, March 18
- Maybe another game in NSW/QLD on Wednesday, March 17
- The 2027 NFL game will be played over the Qualifying Final weekend
- Moving matches to Marvel Stadium or Geelong has been swiftly dismissed
