85,000+: St Kilda's ambitions for Opening Round venture

St Kilda and Collingwood have locked in an Opening Round blockbuster, facing off in a Sunday night bout at the MCG.

The fixture marks the first Opening Round fixture in Melbourne since the concept’s introduction, with the two clubs locking in a marquee contest over the Labour Day weekend.

Being the only fixture in Victoria over the first weekend of football in 2026, St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena is thrilled over the prospect of a standalone contest at the ‘G.

“It’s super exciting,” Dilena told SEN Afternoons.

“It’s something we’ve been building for a while, trying to get access to marquee games and playing on the big stage, so to land Opening Round in Melbourne as the only game is just sensational.

“Not only for Saints fans, but for all footy fans to have a game here in Opening Round, rather than them all being up north is a great result.”

A venture that the club sought over a six month pitch, Dilena expressed his desire to ensure St Kilda were front and centre for the start of the 2026 campaign.

“Picking up on the sentiment in Victoria around Opening Round and the fact that people were starved for footy content, and after a long wait in the off-season, we really wanted to be a part of the start,” he said.

“Picking up on that sentiment, we got onto the AFL and started talking to them about the concept of holding a game here in Melbourne.

“Collingwood were keen to explore it as well rather than having to travel north, and effectively for them it’s another game at their home ground. They were really supportive, so we made our pitch to the AFL on the concept, and they were really receptive.”

Due to the Australian Grand Prix taking place over the Opening Round long weekend, AFL crowd attendances in Melbourne coinciding with the major world event are yet to be trialled.

That said, Dilena hopes for a blockbuster crowd to open the season in the sporting capital.

“It’s untested, but you’d really want a super blockbuster crowd,” he said,

“85,000+ is what I’d like to see, because it is the only game on that weekend and it is the start of the season and it’s a holiday the next day. Plenty of visitors in town internationally and interstate possibly for the Grand Prix.

“It has the potential to be a huge event, make it a huge event weekend in Melbourne celebrating sport.

“Melbourne is very good at doing that, and if we can get everyone to come out and fill the ‘G, that would be the ambition.”

Despite having just confirmed the fixture for the first time in the club’s history, Dilena does hope that an Opening Round game against the Pies can become a yearly contest.

“It’s early days, given we’ve just had it confirmed today, but we would love to lock in something like this as a permanent fixture,” he confirmed.

“I think it would be brilliant for the club, and brilliant for the competition as well, to have that marquee game to open up the season.

“We’d certainly be all for that, but we certainly haven’t had any discussions yet because we’ve only just had it confirmed for this year. It’s something we will follow up on in due course.”

Speaking on the St Kilda website, superstar Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera expressed his excitement for their season opener.

“Really excited for Opening Round,” Nasiah said.

“Obviously, first time for the club and the first time it’s being played in Melbourne. It’s great to be a part of it for the club, and it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Can’t wait to get stuck into it.

“It’s huge, we get to play against Collingwood who have been a strong side over the last couple of years. Hopefully it’s a big crowd there.

“We’re super excited to be a part of it. I can’t wait, obviously on the big stage at the ‘G – I don’t think it gets much better than that!”

Facing the Magpies in the first Melbourne-based Opening Round fixture is an exciting prospect for Wanganeen-Milera, keen to get to work on the inside alongside the club’s prized recruits.

“They’re a strong club,” he said.

“They’ve got some superstars of the game, and it will be great for us as a club to test ourselves against strong opposition.

“I personally can’t wait to line up in the midfield, show our new recruits and get to work alongside them. Hopefully, set ourselves up for a strong year.”