{
  "id": 5042240,
  "title": "AFL boss backflips by scrapping controversial 'Opening Round' experiment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/afl-boss-backflips-by-scrapping-controversial-opening-round-experiment-5042240",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T07:27:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-02/afl-scraps-opening-round-after-three-seasons-for-2027/107108814"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says the 2027 season will start with all 18 teams in action despite previously defending the staggered start.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "AFL boss backflips by scrapping controversial 'Opening Round' experiment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/afl-boss-backflips-by-scrapping-controversial-opening-round-experiment",
        "published": "2026-09-02T07:27:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}