Versus Richmond

Friday 27th February 2026

4:10pm

Mars Stadium, Wendouree

Thanks GW.

Would have been silly having it on the weekend as you wouldn't want people heading down on a Saturday and making a day of it.

AFL AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES 2026 PRE-SEASON FIXTURE

All times AEDT - All games live on Fox Footy and Kayo

Wednesday February 25

Carlton v Geelong, 7:10pm at Ikon Park

Thursday February 26

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, 4:10pm at Henson Park

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, 7:10pm at Brighton Homes Arena

Friday February 27

Melbourne v Richmond, 4:10pm at Mars Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, 7:10pm at Mission Whitten Oval

Saturday February 28

St Kilda v Essendon, 3:10pm at Mars Stadium

Fremantle v Adelaide Crows, 6:10pm at Rushton Park

Sunday March 1

North Melbourne v Collingwood, 3:10pm at Mars Stadium

West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide, 6:10pm at Mineral Resources Park

Aren't the Bulldogs the club that is trying to get a foothold in Ballarat?

Why the hell would you play Melbourne and Richmond in Ballarat (on a Friday afternoon, no less), when the Bulldogs are playing elsewhere on the same day?

The AFL genuinely could not care less about club members and supporters.

9 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Thanks GW.

Would have been silly having it on the weekend as you wouldn't want people heading down on a Saturday and making a day of it.

That’d be outrageous! Imagine how many kids who live in Melbourne would be able to attend were it on a non-school day?! We can’t have that!

Seriously, 4:10pm on a Friday sucks and apart from locals and retirees and nuffie DA members who luvs them a V/Line trek there won’t be many there.

10 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

That’d be outrageous! Imagine how many kids who live in Melbourne would be able to attend were it on a non-school day?! We can’t have that!

Seriously, 4:10pm on a Friday sucks and apart from locals and retirees and nuffie DA members who luvs them a V/Line trek there won’t be many there.

To be fair, the target market live audience for these rural community games is the people who actually live in those towns. Live attendance isn’t aimed at fans from Melbourne or the surrounding suburbs. The AFL is perfectly content for us to watch from home and keep paying our Kayo or Foxtel subscriptions.

Have they released our Community Series guernsey options to vote on yet?

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Rab D Nesbitt

8 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Have they released our Community Series guernsey options to vote on yet?

Done.

For those who like visual representations of fixtures:

Carlton should have to play the Cats in Geelong given they probably have not played there since the late 80s.

Is there a particular reason why three games are at Mars Stadium? Is the AFL "promoting" the game in Ballarat as part of some broader agenda (either for the AFL or the City of Ballarat)?

We are playing Tigs on Mars

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

To be fair, the target market live audience for these rural community games is the people who actually live in those towns. Live attendance isn’t aimed at fans from Melbourne or the surrounding suburbs. The AFL is perfectly content for us to watch from home and keep paying our Kayo or Foxtel subscriptions.

I agree that it is aimed rurally and local audiences, but as other have said, 4:10 on a Friday afternoon is just weird scheduling really.

Had it been on a Saturday then yes, people outside of the area like myself could make a day of it.

Oh well, cant please everyone i suppose.

boss isn’t gonna too happy when i tell him im clocking off 3 hours early to make the trip to ballarat for a pre season game…

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

Versus Richmond

Friday 27th February 2026

4:10pm

Mars Stadium, Wendouree

any word on our unofficial pre season game? last year verse north was perfect (until amw obliterated his knee)

46 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I agree that it is aimed rurally and local audiences, but as other have said, 4:10 on a Friday afternoon is just weird scheduling really.

Had it been on a Saturday then yes, people outside of the area like myself could make a day of it.

Oh well, cant please everyone i suppose.

Agreed. It is a shocking day and time for those in the surrounding areas as well as for a TV audience. Given ours and the Tigers performances over the past 2 seasons it is no surprise that we have been given such a bad draw.

Last season's 14th vs 16th with nothing on the line. Maybe there are better venues and times but the AFL probably just wants to get these things out of the way. Will yhe hundreds of spectators even be charged?

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Is there a particular reason why three games are at Mars Stadium? Is the AFL "promoting" the game in Ballarat as part of some broader agenda (either for the AFL or the City of Ballarat)?

20th team? Ballarat Nuggets.

3 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Thanks GW.

Would have been silly having it on the weekend as you wouldn't want people heading down on a Saturday and making a day of it.

Yeah wouldn't want to give a way too many secrets to a handful of people on a friday either!!

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

To be fair, the target market live audience for these rural community games is the people who actually live in those towns. Live attendance isn’t aimed at fans from Melbourne or the surrounding suburbs. The AFL is perfectly content for us to watch from home and keep paying our Kayo or Foxtel subscriptions.

You’re right. But even for the locals this is not a good time/day for it.

2 hours ago, harveylangfordisthegoat said:

any word on our unofficial pre season game? last year verse north was perfect (until amw obliterated his knee)

I’m trying hard to forget this year’s preseason matches. AMW at Arden St and Shane at Casey Fields (the latter wasn’t even against an opposition team). I’m sure I won’t be alone in worrying for the whole time during this match about potential injuries.

2 hours ago, harveylangfordisthegoat said:

any word on our unofficial pre season game? last year verse north was perfect (until amw obliterated his knee)

Just heard we’re playing North at Arden Street again. Date and time yet to be announced.

8 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Just heard we’re playing North at Arden Street again. Date and time yet to be announced.

Excellent. It’s a lovely ground to watch a game and I can get to the new underground station easily. Just hope it’s not 40 degrees again!