Essendon’s round 2 clash against Collingwood at Windy Hill will kick be a key feature during the first month of Channel 7’s coverage of the VFL.
AFL Victoria has announced the first month of broadcast games for season 2015, with new TV rights partner Channel 7 to kick off their broadcast with the match between Footscray and the Hawks on Saturday April 18.
Under the new TV rights agreement Channel 7 will show the VFL ‘Match of the Round’ live in Melbourne every weekend at midday throughout the regular season, as well as the VFL Legendairy Finals Series and Grand Final, with the TV schedule to be released on a month by month basis.
Round 2 will see the first of two Sunday home and away broadcast games for the season, with the traditional ANZAC Day weekend clash between Essendon and Collingwood at Windy Hill.
This will be followed by the Round 3 battle of standalone VFL teams Coburg and Frankston at Piranha Park, with both teams producing AFL draftees at the end of 2014 in Adam Saad (Gold Coast Suns) and Nic Newman (Sydney).
Rounding out the first group of TV matches will be a trip to Casey Fields for the Round 4 clash between Casey Scorpions and Sandringham, with both teams welcoming new coaches in 2015 in Justin Plapp (Casey) and Paul Hudson (Sandringham).
The move to Channel 7 will be the first change in television broadcaster for the competition since 1987, when the ABC first covered the then VFA finals, taking over the rights from ATV 10.
A host of former AFL players including the likes of Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne/Casey Scorpions) James Polkinghorne (Brisbane/Essendon VFL), Kyle Hardingham (Essendon/Essendon VFL), Jordan Schroder (Geelong/Essendon VFL) Trent Dennis Lane (St Kilda/Sandringham), Clint Jones (St Kilda/Sandringham), Mitch Brown (Geelong/Sandringham), Sam Dunnell (St Kilda/Williamstown) and Jordan Lisle (Brisbane/Port Melbourne) are set to continue their careers in the VFL this season, along with a host of TAC Cup graduates including Morrish Medal winners Jacob Chisari (Bendigo Pioneers) and Alex Carr (Gippsland Power).
The Peter Jackson VFL season starts on Friday April 17 under lights at Avalon Airport Oval with the clash between Werribee and Geelong.
All games live on Channel 7
Round 1: Saturday April 18, 12pm – Footscray vs Box Hill Hawks
Round 2: Sunday April 26, 11:30am – Essendon vs Collingwood
Round 3: Saturday May 2, 12pm – Coburg vs Frankston
Round 4: Saturday May 9, 12pm – Casey Scorpions vs Sandringham
