Today’s unveiling of the 2019 Toyota AFL Fixture sees the GIANTS host some of the AFL’s biggest clubs in Sydney and Canberra next season.
In a fan-friendly fixture, members and supporters in NSW and the ACT will enjoy blockbuster home games across a range of time slots, while the GIANTS will also travel to Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, the Gold Coast and Perth.
As revealed earlier in the week, the GIANTS will open their season at home against Essendon on Sunday, March 24 with Sydney Showground Stadium (formerly Spotless Stadium) also hosting Richmond in round three before the Royal Easter Show commences.
A Friday night clash against Hawthorn headlines the 2019 games at UNSW Canberra Oval which will also host early-season matches against Fremantle and St Kilda.
Highlights of the 2019 GIANTS fixture include:
• Hosting traditional Victorian powerhouses Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton at Sydney Showground Stadium
• Hawthorn to play in Canberra for the first time for a Friday night blockbuster at UNSW Canberra Oval
• Two early-season games against Essendon and Richmond at Sydney Showground Stadium before the Sydney Royal Easter Show
• Eight home games in Sydney in the family-friendly afternoon and twilight time slots
• A return to Sunday football in Sydney with four home games on mid to late Sunday afternoons
• Two Sydney Derbies in round six at the SCG and round 20 at Sydney Showground Stadium
• One Perth trip in round two where the West Coast Eagles will unveil their Premiership Flag
• Three regular season games at the MCG in rounds eight, 10 and 17 - the most since 2014
• The club’s first regular-season Thursday night game against Essendon at Marvel Stadium in round 15
• Six games broadcast nationally on free to air television via the Seven Network
• Only four six-day breaks throughout the season
The GIANTS play Richmond, Hawthorn, Sydney, Essendon and Gold Coast twice with two trips to Adelaide Oval, five games in Victoria and one game in Hobart, Perth and on the Gold Coast.
The GIANTS will also host the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and the Gold Coast at Sydney Showground Stadium.
GIANTS CEO David Matthews said the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture was one GIANTS fans can look forward to.
“We’re pleased to be able to deliver some really high-quality matches to our members and fans across Sydney and Canberra once again in 2019,” Mr Matthews said.
“One of our main priorities was to open the season in Sydney with a bang which we will certainly do, hosting Essendon on a Sunday afternoon in the Opening Round.
“With Easter falling quite late next year, we’re also able to play last year’s minor premiers Richmond in round three before the Stadium is converted for the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
“The Sydney Derbies have grown into one of the biggest events on the NSW sporting calendar so we’re excited to head to the SCG in round six and host the Swans for the return clash in round 20.
“In addition to the Bombers and Tigers, to have fellow big Victorian clubs Collingwood, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs come to town, along with Brisbane and the Gold Coast, results in us having a nicely balanced eight-game fixture in Sydney.
“Our fans have consistently told us they prefer afternoon and twilight games and with all eight games at home in these time slots, we’ve been able to deliver on that front.
“We’re looking forward to playing a number of games in Sydney on Sunday afternoons which we expect will attract a different audience that haven’t been able to attend Saturday matches in recent years.
“We’re excited to also host a Friday night blockbuster in Canberra once again after the success of the first Friday night game there in 2017.
“The Friday night match against Hawthorn is their first-ever match at UNSW Canberra Oval and will no doubt be a big event as we continue to bring the biggest clubs in the AFL to the ACT.
“Our ACT members and supporters always give us tremendous support and matches against St Kilda and Fremantle round out a really exciting fixture across both our AFL and AFLW teams in the nation’s capital.
“The GIANTS have proven to be one of the most popular television products in the competition and we’re pleased to feature in our first regular-season Thursday night time slot as well as a Friday night match later in the year.
“2018 was another exciting year of growth for the GIANTS with the club making finals for the third consecutive season and breaking our membership milestone by passing 25,000 members for the first time.
“There’s a huge amount of optimism about the year ahead and we’re excited for what’s to come.”
As well as six games shown nationally via the Seven Network, every game will be shown live in NSW and the ACT on 7mate and Fox Footy.
The announcement of the 2019 fixture comes after the JLT Community Series fixture was announced on Monday, with the GIANTS to play games at Blacktown International Sportspark and UNSW Canberra Oval.
Last week the fixture for the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s competition was also released, with the GIANTS to host four home games across Drummoyne Oval, Blacktown International Sportspark (twice) and UNSW Canberra Oval.
After setting another membership record in 2018, over 9,000 GIANTS fans have already signed up as 2019 members. Everything’s bigger up close, be there for all the action by becoming a GIANTS member today - visit membership.gwsgiants.com.au or call 1300 442 687.
Click here to download the fixture or Add the fixture to your calendar
