The AFL has detailed the schedule of events to be held across its Celebration of Football week between the end of the home and away season and the start of the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series.
No games will be held on the weekend of Saturday, September 3 after the League introduced a bye week for all finals-bound teams for the first time in AFL history.
The AFL has taken the opportunity to schedule a range of events during the week in the lead up to this year’s finals series and also raise the profile of all state league competitions and metropolitan, regional and community football.
Key events include…
- Tuesday August 30 – Club members on-sale date for week one tickets for the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series
- Tuesday August 30 and Wednesday August 31 – Coach / Captain Media Conferences for Teams 1-4 in Finals.
- Wednesday August 31 - AFL members and general public on-sale date for week one tickets for the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series
- Wednesday August 31 – AFL Launch of the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series. AFL to receive Premiership Cup and announce Grand Final Day key presenters.
- Thursday September 1 – Announcement of 2016 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team.
- Friday September 2 – EJ Whitten Legends Game at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm.
- Saturday September 3 – State League Finals begin. Women’s Exhibition Match, Hampson-Hardeman Cup at Whitten Oval, 7.10pm, to include a McDonald’s AFL 9’s feature match at half-time plus the NAB Youth Girls All Stars curtain raiser match
- Monday September 5 and Tuesday September 6 – Coach / Captain Media Conferences for Teams 5-8 in Finals.
- Tuesday September 6 – Announcement of 2016 NAB AFL Rising Star.
“The AFL wants to maximise the build-up and the interest for all eight teams who have qualified for the Toyota AFL Finals Series, and acknowledge the season just passed by having all leading players present for our key awards to celebrate all the milestones of the 2016 season,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.
“The AFL will also work with all eight teams to schedule an open training session for fans as they prepare for their first finals match.”
