The AFL has released the full 2018 fixture, with a number of mouthwatering matches comprising the schedule.
The season will commence on Thursday, March 22, when Richmond unfurls their premiership flag against archrival Carlton. Other elements of the opening weekend include Gary Ablett’s return to the MCG stage, when his Geelong outfits battles Melbourne. Essendon and Port Adelaide will reveal their new look line-ups on Friday night against Adelaide and Saturday afternoon against Fremantle, respectively.
Meanwhile, the West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans will renew their modern day rivalry at the new Perth Stadium to end the round.
Richmond, Adelaide and Sydney headline the Friday night affairs, all securing five primetime matches. Carlton, who finished 16th in 2017, have four Friday night games.
Brisbane, Fremantle, Gold Coast and North Melbourne don’t get a Friday night game.
However, the Roos will remain on Good Friday, with St Kilda replacing the Western Bulldogs in that fixture.
The Swans have the most six-day breaks with eight, while the Suns have the fewest with three.
ROUND 1
Thursday March 22
Richmond v Carlton, MCG (7.25pm)
Friday March 23
Essendon v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday March 24
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium (3.35pm)
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne, Cazaly’s Stadium — Cairns (7.25pm)
Hawthorn v Collingwood at MCG (7.25pm)
Sunday, March 25
GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, UNSW Canberra Oval (1.10pm)
Melbourne v Geelong, MCG (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Perth Stadium (7.20pm)
ROUND 2
Thursday March 29
Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Friday March 30
North Melbourne v St Kilda, Etihad Stadium (4.20pm)
Saturday March 31
Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Etihad Stadium (1.45pm)
Collingwood v GWS Giants, MCG (4.35pm)
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, Gabba (7.25pm)
Fremantle v Essendon, Perth Stadium (7.40pm)
Sunday April 1
Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, SCG (4.40pm)
Monday April 2
Geelong v Hawthorn, MCG (3.20pm)
ROUND 3
Friday April 6
Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7.50pm)
Saturday April 7
Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (1.45pm)
Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG (2.10pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle, Perth Stadium (4.35pm)
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (7.25pm)
St Kilda v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday April 8
Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG (1.10pm)
Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v Geelong, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 4
Friday April 13
Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Saturday April 14
GWS Giants v Fremantle, UNSW Canberra Oval (1.45pm)
Richmond v Brisbane Lions, MCG (2.10pm)
Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (4.35pm)
North Melbourne v Carlton, Blundstone Arena — Hobart (7.25pm)
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns, Perth Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday April 15
Essendon v Port Adelaide, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (3.20pm)
Geelong v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 5
Friday April 20
Sydney Swans v Adelaide, SCG (7.50pm)
Saturday April 21
St Kilda v GWS Giants, Etihad Stadium (1.45pm)
Carlton v West Coast Eagles, MCG (4.35pm)
Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Perth Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday April 22
North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, Gabba (4.40pm)
Tuesday April 24
Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7.25pm)
Wednesday April 25
Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (3.20pm)
ROUND 6
Friday April 27
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday April 28
Geelong v Sydney Swans, GMHBA Stadium (1.45pm)
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Etihad Stadium (2.10pm)
GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions, Spotless Stadium (4.35pm)
Hawthorn v St Kilda, UTAS Stadium — Launceston (7.25pm)
Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Sunday April 29
Essendon v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Collingwood v Richmond, MCG (3.20pm)
Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 7
Friday May 4
Geelong v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday May 5
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns, Mars Stadium — Ballarat (1.45pm)
Essendon v Hawthorn, MCG (2.10pm)
West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide, Perth Stadium (4.35pm)
Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG (7.25pm)
Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Sunday May 6
Richmond v Fremantle, MCG (1.10pm)
St Kilda v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, Gabba (4.40pm)
ROUND 8
Friday May 11
Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, MCG (7.50pm)
Saturday May 12
GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles, Spotless Stadium (1.45pm)
Carlton v Essendon, MCG (2.10pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, Gabba (4.35pm)
Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (5.10pm)
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Fremantle v St Kilda, Perth Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday May 13
North Melbourne v Richmond, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Collingwood v Geelong, MCG (3.20pm)
ROUND 9
Friday May 18
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Saturday May 19
North Melbourne v GWS Giants, Blundstone Arena — Hobart (1.45pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Arena — Shanghai (3.15pm)
Essendon v Geelong, MCG (4.35pm)
Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG (7.25pm)
St Kilda v Collingwood, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday May 20
Carlton v Melbourne, MCG (1.10pm)
Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, Gabba (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 10
Friday May 25
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday May 26
Richmond v St Kilda, MCG (1.45pm)
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, Gabba (4.35pm)
Geelong v Carlton, GMHBA Stadium (7.25pm)
GWS Giants v Essendon, Spotless Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday May 27
Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Melbourne v Adelaide, TIO Traeger Park — Alice Springs (3.20pm)
Fremantle v North Melbourne, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
Byes: Gold Coast Suns, Port Adelaide
ROUND 11
Friday June 1
Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7.50pm)
Saturday June 2
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (1.45pm)
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, UTAS Stadium — Launceston (2.10pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Geelong, Metricon Stadium (4.35pm)
Essendon v Richmond, MCG (7.25pm)
West Coast Eagles v St Kilda, Perth Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday June 3
North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Collingwood v Fremantle, MCG (3.20pm)
Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
ROUND 12
Friday June 8
Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Saturday June 9
Geelong v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (1.45pm)
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, Spotless Stadium (4.35pm)
St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday June 10
Brisbane Lions v Essendon, Gabba (1.10pm)
Fremantle v Adelaide, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
Monday June 11
Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)
Byes: Carlton, Hawthorn, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 13
Thursday June 14
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Friday June 15
Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles, SCG (7.50pm)
Saturday June 16
Carlton v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium (1.45pm)
Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda, Metricon Stadium (4.35pm)
Hawthorn v Adelaide, MCG (7.25pm)
Sunday June 17
Geelong v Richmond, MCG (3.20pm)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Essendon, GWS Giants, Melbourne, North Melbourne
ROUND 14
Thursday June 21
West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Perth Stadium (8.10pm)
Friday June 22
Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Saturday June 23
Hawthorn v Gold Coast Suns, UTAS Stadium — Launceston (1.45pm)
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, Gabba (4.35pm)
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday June 24
Collingwood v Carlton, MCG (3.20pm)
Byes: Adelaide, Fremantle, Geelong, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney Swans
ROUND 15
Thursday June 28
Richmond v Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (7.20pm)
Friday June 29
Western Bulldogs v Geelong, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday June 30
Carlton v Port Adelaide, MCG (1.45pm)
Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, Metricon Stadium (7.25pm)
GWS Giants v Hawthorn, Spotless Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday July 1
Melbourne v St Kilda, MCG (1.10pm)
Essendon v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 16
Thursday July 5
Sydney Swans v Geelong, SCG (7.20pm)
Friday July 6
Richmond v Adelaide, MCG (7.50pm)
Saturday July 7
Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba (1.45pm)
Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Melbourne v Fremantle, TIO Stadium — Darwin (7.40pm)
Sunday July 8
North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Essendon v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 17
Thursday July 12
Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval (7.50pm)
Friday July 13
St Kilda v Carlton, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday July 14
Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, UTAS Stadium — Launceston (1.45pm)
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (4.35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, Metricon Stadium (7.25pm)
GWS Giants v Richmond, Spotless Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday July 15
Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, MCG (1.10pm)
North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (3.20pm)
Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 18
Friday July 20
St Kilda v Richmond, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday July 21
Collingwood v North Melbourne, MCG (1.45pm)
Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns, SCG (2.10pm)
Essendon v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium (4.35pm)
Brisbane Lions v Adelaide, Gabba (7.25pm)
Geelong v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday July 22
Carlton v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs, Perth Stadium (3.20pm)
Port Adelaide v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
ROUND 19
Friday July 27
Essendon v Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday July 28
Richmond v Collingwood, MCG (1.45pm)
Geelong v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (2.10pm)
GWS Giants v St Kilda, Spotless Stadium (4.35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Carlton, Metricon Stadium (7.25pm)
Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Sunday July 29
North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Blundstone Arena — Hobart (1.10pm)
Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Mars Stadium — Ballarat (3.20pm)
Fremantle v Hawthorn, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 20
Friday August 3
Richmond v Geelong, MCG (7.50pm)
Saturday August 4
Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG (1.45pm)
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne, Gabba (2.10pm)
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG (7.25pm)
Sunday August 5
Carlton v GWS Giants, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 21
Friday August 10
Essendon v St Kilda, Etihad Stadium (7.50pm)
Saturday August 11
Hawthorn v Geelong, MCG (1.45pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, Metricon Stadium (2.10pm)
Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (4.35pm)
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
GWS Giants v Adelaide, UNSW Canberra Oval (7.25pm)
Sunday August 12
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG (3.20pm)
Fremantle v Carlton, Perth Stadium (4.40pm)
ROUND 22
Friday August 17
Richmond v Essendon, MCG (7.50pm)
Saturday August 18
Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (1.45pm)
Geelong v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium (2.10pm)
GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, Spotless Stadium (4.35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, Metricon Stadium (7.25pm)
St Kilda v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium (7.25pm)
Sunday August 19
Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium (1.10pm)
West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Perth Stadium (3.20pm)
Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
ROUND 23
ROUND 23 (Dates and times TBC)
Friday August 24 — Sunday August 26
Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval
Carlton v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium
Geelong v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium
Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, SCG
Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles, Gabba
St Kilda v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG
Fremantle v Collingwood, Perth Stadium