THE AFL has changed the time of Port Adelaide’s Round 9 clash with Melbourne.

The game at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday 30 July was to have started at 8:10pm AEST but has been brought forward 20 minutes to 7:50pm AEST.

It was one of three games rescheduled with Essendon v Brisbane moved to 8:10pm AEST on Friday July 31 and the match up between Carlton and Hawthorn in Perth, which was to have occurred a day earlier will now become part of a Friday night double header, starting at 3:40pm WST/5:40pm AEST.

The Hawks and Blues are each scheduled to have a bye in Round 10 and the shift will mean they don’t have as much time between games.

It also means Port Adelaide’s game will be a stand-alone Thursday night fixture now.

AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld said the change made sense considering the days break for the two clubs leading in and out of the match.

"The change was made to afford Carlton and Hawthorn an extra day’s break leading into their match, and then one less day break post that match where they have a longer layoff due to quarantine in Western Australia," Auld said. 

"We thank the clubs, our venues and our broadcaster partners for being so accommodating, in what is another example of having to adjust quickly in a season full of firsts."

Updated Round 9 fixtures:

Thursday, July 30
Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Gabba, 7:50pm AEST

Friday, July 31
Carlton v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium, 3:40pm WST/5:40pm AEST
Essendon v Brisbane, Metricon Stadium, 8:10pm AEST