“Borderline disgraceful”: Lyon’s issue with AFL fixture

Andrew Slevison • April 14th, 2026 10:54 am

Round 6 kicks off this Thursday night with a blockbuster between Carlton and Collingwood at the MCG.

But what follows is a Friday night double header of two Victorian clubs and the two New South Wales clubs.

Geelong hosts the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium from 7:20pm AEST before the Sydney Derby between the Swans and GWS Giants kicks off 30 minutes later.

Given the AFL has been so gung-ho on featuring the NSW and Queensland clubs with Opening Round, why aren’t they standing the Swans v Giants clash alone with a prime time fixture?

Swans coach Dean Cox admits his club finds it a bit odd and that they’ll hold talks with the AFL regarding the situation.

“I find it quite strange to be honest,” Cox said on Fox Footy.

“If you’re trying to build traction to clash against two great Melbourne clubs, it’s just different. We want to try and build as much traction as we possibly we can and get the Sydney football world having their eyes on two teams going at it across the bridge.

“It’s something that’s a little bit different and we’ll speak to the AFL about it.”

SEN’s Garry Lyon went a step further, labelling it “borderline disgraceful” that this rivalry is not being featured on its own.

Lyon also pointed out that the Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide in Round 8 is not a standalone either.

“It’s just wrong, it’s borderline disgraceful,” Lyon said.

“This Friday night we’ve got a great game at GMHBA Stadium between Geelong and the Western Bulldogs which is worthy of a Friday night game.

“But we’ve got another great game with the Sydney Swans on top of the ladder versus the Giants - they hate each other - at the SCG at 7:50pm.

“Then there’s a double header in Round 8, Round 9, Round 10 and Round 11, and it would appear that the AFL just don’t trust the interstate or non-Victorian sides in this instance to be able to carry Friday night footy.

“That’s just not on and if I were the Sydney Swans or GWS Giants or Adelaide and Port in Round 8 - the Showdown is worthy of a standalone game.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the fixture. There’s an issue.”

A caller then suggested that there should have been a bigger drawcard fixture over the Gather Round weekend, floating ideas such as Collingwood v Carlton or Essendon v Carlton, something along those lines.

Lyon firmly agreed.

“I’m with you. I think the fixturing needs to be front of Andrew Dillon, Greg Swann and Tommy Harley’s list,”

“I think it’s missed on more than one occasion and we’re only at Round 5.

“There could have been a more competitive Gather Round fixture and I don’t like what’s happening on Friday night.”