The Western Bulldogs will begin their 2020 AFL campaign on Friday night against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium at 7.50pm AEDT.

In an announcement from the AFL tonight, CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed the season would proceed as planned.

“Today’s inflection point has been reached after wide consultation with the whole AFL industry and including conversations with the Australian Chief Medical Officer and representatives from Government,” Mr McLachlan said.

“I said on Monday that we are moving to a 17-round season.

“I also said we had to be agile.

“Tonight, our 17-round season becomes a 153-game journey.”

All games will be shortened, with 16 minutes quarters plus time on.

Mr McLachlan said the AFL was confident about the level of risk attached to proceeding with the season.

“We start tomorrow night, confident after discussions with the Chief Medical Officer that our players are well placed to bear the proportionate risk of playing a contact sport,” he said.

“We feel confident in our club and industry protocols which we continue to refine based on the best advice available.

“We also embark on this journey with clear instruction from the government that all industry and all parts of society need to keep moving forward and we simply cannot stand still.

“But what I do know today is I feel comfortable with the government and medical advice, and the support of our Presidents, CEOs, players and coaches.”

The AFLW season will also proceed, with a twist – which means the Bulldogs’ season will unfortunately come to a premature close. 

Finals will commence for the AFLW competition this weekend, with the sixth-placed Bulldogs missing the cut from Conference B.