Carlton's hopes of securing more Thursday night and Friday night primetime fixtures are diminishing after an uneven start to the season, with the AFL set to release the remaining 2023 fixture in the coming weeks.
The Blues are in the midst of a tough schedule of matches to come against the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Sydney, Melbourne, and Essendon, which potentially define whether they end their 10-year finals drought.
With the league moving quickly to lock in the floating fixture for rounds 16-23, Carlton's hopes of getting more marquee matchups is no guarantee, having already been given three Thursday night games and four Friday games.
Per reports from Channel 7 AFL reporter Tom Browne, it looks as if the Blues have only been given one Friday night match in the upcoming fixtureย against Collingwood in Round 20.
"As if Carlton needed added incentive against the Bulldogs this weekend they need to win to stay on footy's equivalent of Broadway," Browne said.
"Club sources sat that at this stage of the draft fixture, Carlton are down to only one Friday night game."
Teams who are set to be rewarded for their excellent starts to the season include Premiership contenders Geelong, Melbourne, Collingwood, and Brisbane, and surprise packets St Kilda and Adelaide.
Last year's Grand Finalists Sydney are to feature in primetime games despite sitting 11th with a 3-5 record.
Carlton's uneven campaign comes after midfielder Adam Cerra told reporters on Monday it won't be a failure if the Blues don't make finals.
"Everyday we're just trying to get better and progress," Cerra said.
"If we're improving from last year as a team, not just ladder position but that connect. within the group and what we're building towards, I don't see it as a failure.
"Every week, (coach Michael) Voss is big on not just looking at the big picture, but looking at the little things week by week, just trying to get better.
"So I definitely wouldn't call it a failure, even though it's our goal.
"It might be this year, it might be next year, but we want to get there as soon as possible.
"Every football club feels the pressure to make the finals. That's what the players want to play in, that's what the fans want to go and watch.
"I'd be lying if I said no one feels the pressure but it's something we embrace."
