The AFL match between Brisbane and Geelong at The Gabba will take place in Round 3 as expected, going head-to-head with the existing Saturday night fixture featuring Hawthorn and GWS Giants in Launceston.
Both teams were due to have their first bye of the season at that time, making it a perfect replacement week for the rescheduled fixture.
Whilst reluctant to have two Saturday night fixtures directly clashing behind the Foxtel-Kayo paywall, it is understood the AFL were even more reticent to move the starting times of existing Round 3 fixtures to minimise the inconvenience and disruption caused to broadcasters and supporters.
It has also been reported that the AFL will make use of their late-season floating fixture to squeeze the postponed Gold Coast v Essendon match into Round 24, forcing each side to play twice in the round.
As compensation for losing the Geelong-Brisbane game that they were due to show this Thursday night, Seven have been promised broadcasting rights to the other rescheduled clash later this year.
The AFL commission will maximise the Round 24 breaks for both Gold Coast and Essendon as best they can through the floating fixture, with the potential of one or both sides having to play finals football the following week further complicating matters.
The day and time of the Gold Coast v Essendon match will be announced later in the year along with the remainder of the fixtures for beyond Round 15.