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A LAST-MINUTE change to the round one fixture looks set to cost St Kilda recruit Jake Carlisle the chance to attend his sister's wedding.
Carlisle had been looking forward to a blissful opening weekend of the 2017 season, originally planning to attend the Melbourne wedding of his older sister on Saturday, March 25, before making his long-awaited debut for the Saints against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium the next day.
Given the 25-year-old's trials and tribulations in recent times – he was granted his wish for a trade to St Kilda at the end of 2015 before being caught up in a video scandal and then missed the entire 2016 season for his role in Essendon's controversial supplements program – the start of the 2017 season loomed bright on the horizon.
AFL.com.au understands Carlisle and his family had been nervous about a potential double-booking in round one but were relieved when a leak five days before the AFL's official fixture launch revealed that the big man would be able to have his sister's wedding cake and eat it.
The indicative first-round schedule had the Saints hosting Melbourne on the Sunday.
Relief turned to disappointment on Thursday morning when the AFL launched the full fixture, which showed the Saints v Demons clash had been moved to the 4.35pm timeslot on the Saturday.
The change was made because the AFL, in consultation with broadcasters, felt it was a better fit and that it enhanced the overall look of the opening round.
Carlisle is the only son among five children and has the names of his four sisters tattooed on his ribs, but it's highly unlikely the key defender will attend the ceremony.
The Saints/Demons twilight game is scheduled to finish around 7pm, so it's expected Carlisle will turn up at the reception later in the evening to celebrate with the newlyweds.
As if he didn't already have enough on his mind.
Carlisle hopes his alliance with the Saints will also be a match made in heaven. He recently spoke of his excitement about preparing for his return to the field.
"The only thing I can do is let my actions do the talking, so when I do return I'm in the best shape possible (and) mentally I'm really fresh and ready to go," Carlisle said in early October at a media event promoting the World Cup of Golf.
"I'm hanging (for pre-season to start). It's obviously been a long year … I'm actually feeling the best I've ever felt and the positive thing is I've got a long way to go."
