The AFL is “strongly considering” a Wednesday night start for 2022 which could see the now-traditional Carlton-Richmond opener scrapped, reports the Herald Sun.

The league is reportedly interested in beginning the 2022 home and away season with consecutive primetime matches on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

It could see a Grand Final rematch between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, including the Demons’ premiership flag unfurling, open Round 1 before the Blues and Tigers do battle on Thursday night as has become commonplace.

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Alternatively Carlton and Richmond could hold their spot before the Grand Final rematch on Thursday or Friday.

All three matches would be played in Victoria, per the report, given just 30 games have been played in front of crowds at the MCG over the last two seasons.

Having fewer men’s games on Saturday and Sunday of Round 1 could make it easier to place the AFLW Grand Final, if fixtured for that weekend, in a stand-alone timeslot.

Richmond and Carlton have opened each season since 2015 on Thursday night, also doing so between 2008 and 2011. But the match-up has drawn criticism for its frequently one-sided nature, with the Tigers winning the last eight openers and the last 11 overall in the series.

Between 2012 and 2014, a split round opened the season, with GWS-Sydney, Adelaide-Essendon and Fremantle-Collingwood given the opening honours.

Since 2001, the only games played on Wednesdays have been Anzac Eve/Day match-ups and several clashes during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

But no matter which pairing the AFL picks for the proposed Wednesday night opener, there’ll be a repeat from the last time the league opened a season on that day, as Richmond and Melbourne began the 2000 season on Wednesday March 8 in front of 41,648 fans at the MCG.