The AFL has confimed the fixture for Round 23, with the Crows to host Gold Coast at 1:40pm on Saturday, September 1.
It was the AFL’s view that the sides who appear likely to finish in the higher positions of the ladder should play on Friday / Saturday in the final round, to maximise fixture options for week one of the 2012 Toyota AFL Finals Series and recovery time for players.
Given the Adelaide Crows held a top-two berth at Round 19 of the home and away season, the club has been scheduled to play on Saturday afternoon to maximise the number of days’ break before week one of the finals.
The matches scheduled for Sunday September 2 do not feature sides currently in the top eight at this point of the season, with Carlton and St Kilda both currently two games behind the eighth-placed side.
The schedule for week one of the 2012 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be announced on either Saturday night 1 September, following the completion of the Saturday night matches, or on the evening of Sunday September 2.
The full Round 23 fixture is as follows:
Friday August 31
Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles at the MCG, 7.50pm (Channel 7)
Saturday September 1
Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium, 1.45pm
Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns at AAMI Stadium, 1.40pm
GWS Giants v North Melbourne at Skoda Stadium, 4.40pm
Fremantle v Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, 5.40pm
Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.40pm
Sunday September 2
Carlton v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm
Richmond v Port Adelaide at the MCG, 3.15pm
Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 4.40pm
Tickets will go on-sale to the general public Thursday 9 August, following the members priority period (Wednesday 8 August).
Tickets are available via afc.com.au/tickets, by phoning 136 100 or at a Ticketmaster outlet. View the ticket FAQ, pricing guide or seating map for more information on home match ticketing.
Round 23 fixture announced
Adelaide will play Gold Coast at AAMI Stadium on a Saturday afternoon in its last minor round game
