CARLTON will face Gold Coast in the first leg of a Darwin double-header to open a history-making Round 13.
SEN.com.au can reveal the Blues will face the Suns at TIO Stadium under lights on Friday August 21 to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
On the next night, Essendon and Richmond will clash at the same venue for the first ever Dreamtime in Darwin clash.
It’s understood Melbourne will also be given a game in Alice Springs, but that will not take place in Round 13.
It would be a welcome fixture for the Demons, who have a commercial arrangement to play one game a year in Alice.
North Melbourne and Hawthorn, who have lucrative contracts with the Tasmanian Government, are still hopeful of getting a run of games in Hobart and Launceston, respectively, before the end of September.
The AFL is set to unveil the rest of the Round 13 fixture later today.
Exclusive: Carlton will face Gold Coast in the 1st leg of a Darwin double-header to open a history-making Rnd13. Blues & Suns will open Sir Doug Nicholls round on Aug21 before Essendon-Richmond clash at same venue for the Dreamtime in Darwin match. More on https://t.co/5hhj3jzPVZ
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) August 6, 2020