- League released updated schedule on Thursday
They are two of the AFL’s biggest clubs, but Carlton and Essendon have both paid the price for diabolical starts to the 2026 season.
Having only won two games between them, the Blues and Bombers have been banished from prime-time football.
The development comes as the league will on Thursday formally release times for matches across rounds 16 to 22.
Neither struggling Victorian club has been given a Thursday or Friday night game in the seven-game block after the league lost patience with their dismal run of results.
It is vastly different from this time last year, when Carlton and Essendon played 10 Thursday and Friday night games between them in the last third of the season.
After nine rounds, the Blues are in 16th spot, only ahead of the Bombers in 17th on percentage.
They are two of the AFL’s biggest clubs, but Carlton and Essendon have both paid the price for diabolical starts to the 2026 season (pictured, dejected Bombers stars after a loss)
Having only won two games between them, the Blues and Bombers have been banished from prime-time football by the AFL (pictured, dejected Carlton stars after another defeat)
The Carlton board accepted the resignation of coach Michael Voss (pictured) this week as they look to revive a nightmare campaign
Carlton knew change was necessary, and earlier this week head coach Michael Voss resigned after 103 games in charge.
The club has also been rocked by the Elijah Hollands scandal during its loss to Collingwood earlier this year.
The young star, who has battled mental health issues in the past, displayed erratic behaviour before and during the match.
Hollands is now undergoing treatment.
Carlton – who take on the Western Bulldogs this weekend – were last frozen out of the prime-time slots in the back half of 2019, while Essendon missed out completely in 2022, according to SEN.
At Windy Hill, the outlook is equally grim, with head coach Brad Scott seemingly on borrowed time.
It doesn’t get any easier this weekend, with the Bombers hosting in-form Fremantle at Marvel Stadium.
Such is the dire state of Essendon at the moment, a win over the Dockers would arguably be the upset of the season.
Elsewhere, the ladder-leading Sydney Swans have been handed a number of lucrative time slots, while Geelong and Brisbane will also be prominent as the AFL leans on the competition’s form sides.
