How will the start of the 2027 AFL season look?

The league is considering introducing an AFLW representative game in next year's Gather Round edition.

And who is set for contract extensions?

All that and more from media buzz...

Opening Round set for major change

The 2027 iteration of Opening Round is set for a major change as the AFL works through the scheduling headache involving the MCG being unavailable for the first two weeks of March.

It is understood that league boss Andrew Dillon is working towards including all 18 teams in the first week of the season, which would remove the disjointed start and early-season byes.

Blue omission "first casualty" of football evolution

Carlton's decision to drop midfielder George Hewett from the side has been deemed the "first casualty" of football's evolution, according to Kane Cornes.

Speaking on The Agenda Setters, Cornes said coaches are leaning toward more explosive midfielders to suit the modern game. He acknowledged that captain Patrick Cripps is "lucky".

"He is just going," Cornes said. "If he wasn't the captain of this side I think his position would be at risk as well.

"The impact isn't there."

Mason Cox joins Scott in bashing over AFL Wildcard Round

Fremantle forward Mason Cox made his feeling known regarding the AFL's introduction of the Wildcard Round, joining the chorus led by Geelong coach Chris Scott in his stance against it.

"There's no hiding from that whatsoever," Cox said of the cash-grab labels on the Red Time podcast. "I think we all know that is the reasoning the Wildcard exists. Same thing with Gather Round, they implemented two new rounds and weekends of games over a five-year period. It's cheeky, but there's no hiding from that.

"The players and coaches aren't getting their fair share of that money, and everyone is very well aware of that," Cox said. "You look at percentage revenue of what we get comparatively to other sports around the world, and it is close to half."

Veteran Crow pleads for fixes, not apologies

Taylor Walker is getting fed up with the AFL apologising for umpiring errors in the wake of the missed 6-6-6 warning in the final quarter of the thrilling contest against Fremantle last week.

Adelaide have been on the backend of plenty deplorable calls, and this latest one has Walker pleading for solutions.

"I don't get sick of mistakes because I reckon everyone in this vicinity has made a mistake in their life," he said

"I just would like to know what we're doing about it.

"Don't continue to make apologies, but tell us what you're going to do about it.

"It's not really about the Adelaide footy club at all ... just gather round and find a solution for it, not be part of the mistake."

Gather Round set for Rep footy

League boss Andrew Dillon says the AFL is considering introducing representative football next year during Gather Round, which could host an AFLW clash.

“We're looking at how we get our best AFLW players on the ground at the same time,” he said.

“Whether that's a State of Origin type, which we had earlier this year for the men, or Australia v Ireland, which I think playing Australian Rules footy would be an incredibly close game and would be an amazing spectacle.

“That's certainly on the horizon for us with AFLW, and Laura Kane and her team are leading those discussions at the moment with the playing group just to find the right time in the calendar for a game like that.

“I think there's certainly an appetite.”

Essendon circling around Sun

The Bombers' need for more established talent has resulted in them registering interest in Gold Coast forward Jed Walter.

The Suns tall has been on the outer in recent times, either spending time in the VFL or spending less time on the field under Damien Hardwick.

Given the key forward squeeze at the Suns, Essendon, as well as West Coast, are keen to lure the services of Walter, says AFL Media.

Giant duo tabled extensions

GWS has shown its commitment to veteran pair Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan by offering the gun duo two-year extensions, according to AFL Media.

Greene and Hogan come out of contract, but it hasn't crossed the AFL landscape's mind that they'd consider a move away from New South Wales.

Roo beauty

North Melbourne veteran Jack Darling is set to hit a trigger in his contract to extend his career into 2027.

Darling signed a two-year deal when he joined the Kangaroos from West Coast, with a third season on offer pending he reached a certain amount of games.

Young Lion set to be rewarded with new deal

Brisbane tall Zane Zakostelsky is poised to put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

He debuted in Opening Round as a second ruck but has shown attributes as a key position player in other areas of the ground.

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