Channel 7 to announce AFL Teams at 6:20pm in 2012

In an exclusive deal between the AFL and Channel 7, the Thursday night teams will be broadcast in the Seven News sports bulletin at approximately 6:20pm. Clubs cannot announce any changes, debutants or any selection information until 6:15pm.

While this isn’t a huge issue for Dream Team, it will be on the rounds where there is a Thursday night game. Rounds 1, 2 and 12 there are Thursday fixtures which will make team selection interesting. In both of these cases we will have a partial lockout. So we’ll know teams approximately an hour before the initial lockout.

It is unclear at this stage whether this will also be the case for final Sunday team announcements on Friday evening. That may stay at 5pm.

Watch this space.

SOURCE: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tv-deal-to-delay-team-selections-20111206-1oh70.html