The AFL is being urged to implement a permanent Thursday night footy fixture, with Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy stating that the game has evolved to need it on the calendar.
Currently in 2023, there have been 5 rounds of football played on a Thursday night, with the next not until Round 13 when St Kilda face Sydney.
Healy, the Brownlow medal recipient in 1988, is pushing for the league to introduce a permanent fixture, telling SEN Sportsday that Thursday nights are already widely considered to be an AFL night.
"Teams may have been the highlight of Thursday night, but Thursday night has evolved slowly but surely into a game night," Healy said.
"Thankfully, it looks like it's going to become a permanent fixture."
Late last year, the AFL extended their broadcasting rights with Telstra, Seven Network and Foxtel until the end of 2031 for over $4 billion, increasing each season's net worth to $643 million. The league is planning to implement the Thursday night fixtures when the new deal commences, however, Healy doesn't understand the AFLs desire to wait until then.
"I'm not sure why we are going to wait for the new broadcast agreement to kick in. The AFL have been slow on the uptake, but better late than never," he said.
"I know that not everyone is a fan, but the game has evolved, the rhythm of the football week has evolved, and Thursday will soon be the starting point."
An article released by TV Blackbox in relation to viewership for Seven Network found that Seven's AFL: Thursday Night Football gained over 500,000 viewers in total, making it the most watched program for Channel 7.
In a statement released by the AFL following their broadcasting extension deal in September 2022, CEO Gillon McLachlan stated that the first 15 rounds of the AFL Premiership Season will feature Thursday night matches, after the contract begins in 2025.
"Broadcast live and free nationally on the Seven Network and 7+ digital will be AFL on Thursday nights, Friday nights, selected Saturday nights, Sunday afternoons, Marquee matches, the Brownlow Medial, all AFL Finals and the AFL Grand Final," McLachlan said.
"The first 15 rounds of the AFL Premiership Season to feature Thursday night matches will be on the Seven Network and 7+ digital."