Local-focused AFL lukewarm on trying a US push

The AFL wants to keep boosting its brand north of the Murray and build the new Tasmanian team before looking at more exploration outside Australia.

While the league's chief executive Andrew Dillon is impressed by what the NRL is achieving in Las Vegas, he says the AFL has plenty on its plate domestically.

The season will start outside the heartland of Australian rules football for the second year, with Brisbane and Sydney to host opening round.

Reigning premiers Brisbane play Geelong at the Gabba on Thursday - provided tropical cyclone Alfred doesn't intervene - in the first of four fixtures held in traditional rugby league country.

The AFL's interstate initiative follows a blockbuster weekend in Las Vegas by the NRL, another audience-building experiment also in its second year.

Dillon dismissed suggestions the Las Vegas weekend had drawn attention away from the AFL's opening round fixtures, but admitted admiration for the rival code's logistical achievement.

A total crowd of 45,209 attended Allegiant Stadium in the Nevada desert for a program featuring two NRL fixtures, one Super League clash and a women's Test.

"I saw a little bit of the first game (between Canberra and the Warriors) on the broadcast yesterday," Dillon said at Monday's opening round launch in Sydney.

"Like they did last year, it's a big logistical exercise bringing four (NRL) teams over.

"I think operationally, they pulled off something that's quite hard to execute."

The AFL played games annually in China from 2017-19 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dillon did not entirely brush off playing a game in the US, but reiterated that the AFL remained focused on becoming the top code in the northern markets.

Overseeing expansion club Tasmania, slated to enter the competition in 2028, is also on the list of priorities.

"You never rule anything out but any move internationally or anywhere where we take a game away ... there's a real strategic reason for doing it," Dillon said.

"To take a game outside of Australia, we want to make sure that it's part of a broad strategy that actually is fan-first.

"And at the moment, we've got so much work to do and so much opportunity in all around Australia, and that's really the key focus for us at the moment.

"Our fan base is continuing to grow in NSW and Queensland, and we're seeing more boys and girls and men and women playing the game in the community and that's great for us."

Asked if opening round is likely to remain as a permanent part of the competition's fixture list, Dillon said: "If this year goes anything like last year, and every indication is it will, we'll continue to do that."

Sydney host Hawthorn at the SCG on Friday night, Gold Coast play Essendon at People First on Saturday, before GWS close opening round with Collingwood at Engie Stadium on Sunday.