Collingwood will host the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster for the first time since 2000 while Carlton will face Hawthorn in Tasmania

COLLINGWOOD will host the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne for the first time in almost 20 years next season while Brisbane returns to primetime and Carlton is off to Tasmania.

Steele Sidebottom in action during the Queen’s Birthday clash. Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD will host the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne for the first time in almost 20 years next season.

The Herald Sun has confirmed Collingwood will host the Demons on June 10 next year, ending a generous agreement from the Magpies to help boost Melbourne’s coffers.

The Pies have allowed Melbourne to host the match and reap all the gate takings from the annual public holiday game since 2001.

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But, with Melbourne in a much stronger financial position after years of consecutive profits, next year it will be Collingwood’s turn to net the takings from a bumper 80,000-strong crowd.

The two clubs will now take it in turns to host the annual blockbuster, helping evenly split the money made from the game.

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Melbourne has successfully used the day as a big stage for Neale Daniher’s Freeze MND fundraiser.

Steele Sidebottom battles James Harmes. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood and Melbourne will play each other twice in 2019 as the two clubs prepare for more difficult draws next season.

Both clubs finished in the top-four, meaning they will play more double-up games against top-six sides.

But the Magpies’ sharp rise up the ladder last season will ensure the club enjoys more prime time Thursday and Friday night matches next season, after only three Friday night games in 2018.

One of those games will be against Brisbane at the Gabba.

As AFL 2019 fixture details continue to surface, the Lions will host Collingwood in a Easter Thursday blockbuster at the Gabba.

However, there’s bad news for the Blues with Brendon Bolton set for a return to Tasmania to face Hawthorn.

Tom Cutler chases Taylor Adams. Picture: Michael Klein

Brisbane’s excellent finish to 2018 and impressive trade period has seen expectations rise and a return to Easter Sunday after appearances in 2003-07 and 2010-12.

Lions CEO Greg Swann said it was an important fixture for the club.

“Traditionally the Easter Thursday games were our biggest for the year,” he told the club’s website.

“We are delighted that our fans can again enjoy this primetime match at our home ground (and) we believe the AFL has recognised we play an exciting brand of footy, which has been justly rewarded by this fixture.

“We believe this will be huge for our club and football in Queensland.”

While the Lions are on the rise, Carlton’s horror decade has seen it shipped off to Tasmania for just the second time.

Matthew Kennedy gets a kick away under pressure from Tom Mitchell during the JLT Cup. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Blues’ clash with Hawthorn at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium is the first since 2016 and just second meeting between the two power clubs outside Victoria.

In their previous clash at Launceston, the Hawks and Blues attracted 18,112 people, a figure that remains the biggest crowd in the last eight years.

The clubs have only met twice since, drawing 35,799 and 30,405 in 2017 and 2018 respectively at Marvel Stadium.

Hawthorn will host four games in Launceston in 2019, taking on Carlton in Round 6 in the Sunday, 3.20pm timeslot.

The Hawks have won 15 of their last 16 encounters against Carlton and 32 of 35 contests at UTAS Stadium.

Originally published as Collingwood will host the Queen’s Birthday blockbuster for the first time since 2000 while Carlton will face Hawthorn in Tasmania