Stevo's list: Top 10 takeaways from the AFL fixture reveal

It's out! The floating fixture between Rounds 16 and 22 is set. The waiting game frustrates fans, but the new block of timeslots suits the broadcasters, who in effect pay for the game. It also gives the AFL another announcement and time to shine, while at the same telling us all who those at City Hall (and in the halls of TV land) think is hot and who is not. Below is my top 10 takeaways from the fixture reveal: There were leaks Having been part of this process at Seven News, with a wink from certain people in the scheduling process as we leaked out random detail, it is no surprise there were no surprises in the announcement. TV networks have a big say and afl.com.au even broke stories including "it's understood" as a rider. If it's understood on afl.com.au, it's right! Sun goes down Gold Coast has a glamourous list and plenty of big names, yet missed out on a single game in the prime Thursday night and Friday night slots. Top of the pops The AFL has used its crystal ball to create a standalone Thursday night clash between Fremantle and Sydney at Optus Stadium on July 9. As the only two sides on 8-1, it could very well be 1 v 2. Demons stiff Melbourne is playing attractive, TV friendly footy under new coach Steven King, but the AFL is not yet ready to be seduced. The Demons get only one prime time slot, in Round 20 against Geelong. Still barking The Bulldogs at 4-0 were no doubt looking at a bevy of prime time slots in the new fixture chunk. It has turned a bit pear-shaped since, via injury, but the AFL has still awarded two big-time games: Round 17 on a Friday night v Sydney at the SCG, a Friday night clash against Fremantle in Perth in Round 21 and in Round 22 on a Thursday night v North Melbourne at Marvel. Doubling down The AFL is happy with its Friday night double-ups and they won't be consigned to the bin. The double ups will still be a feature ... West Coast v Adelaide in Perth clashing with the Swans v Dogs for example. New love affair The AFL's crush has moved to ladder-leading, run-and-gun Sydney Swans and Geelong. They will each feature in four Thursday and Friday night blockbusters each between Rounds 16 and 22. A love-in Roos back to the future North Melbourne invented Friday night footy, then gradually disappeared from the glamour timeslot to an off-Broadway existence. That all changes with a Round 18 clash against Collingwood. It's the Kangaroos' first Friday night game in seven years! I reckon they will be firmly in top 10 contention at the time, too. Showdown shines Finally, the calls for a standalone Port Adelaide v Adelaide clash have been answered. It's in Round 16. But it only comes on a Saturday night, not on the premium Friday night. Thursday nights work well in Adelaide, and the AFL could have used that slot. Bye bye Blues and Bombers We all knew Carlton and Essendon were on the nose, and the AFL agrees. Not a single Thursday night or Friday night game between them in the new fixture block. Cop that. Richmond misses out too, but we expected that from the very start of the year.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	9	8	1	32	157.2
2	FRE	9	8	1	32	131.6
3	GEEL	10	7	3	28	123.5
4	HAW	9	6	2	26	116.8
5	GC	9	6	3	24	118.5
6	BL	10	6	4	24	116.6
7	MELB	9	6	3	24	103.9
8	ADEL	9	5	4	20	101.7
9	WB	9	5	4	20	92.4
10	COLL	9	4	4	18	99.9

Stevo’s list: Top 10 takeaways from the AFL fixture reveal

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