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yesterday

Rams and 49ers Open NFL Season in Melbourne as Teams Split on Jet‑lag Strategy

The Melbourne game tests the NFL’s push into Australia as the league watches how long‑haul travel affects player health

A century before the NFL arrived for its anticipated match at the MCG, American football had already reached Melbourne.
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Overview

  • The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the NFL’s first regular‑season game in Australia with about 90,000–100,000 fans expected.
  • The teams used opposite travel plans: the 49ers arrived more than a week early to acclimatise while the Rams flew in roughly a day before kickoff to try to stay on U.S. time.
  • The Rams will debut defensive star Myles Garrett in Los Angeles colours while veteran Aaron Donald did not travel and will be held out as he ramps up his return from retirement.
  • NFL medical staff and sleep experts are on site to monitor injury risk and recovery, and the league says it will use this fixture to evaluate protocols for future international games.
  • The game is part of a multi‑year deal with Victoria reported to include at least two Melbourne games and will be shown in the U.S. on Netflix with local broadcasts on Fox/Kayo and Seven.