Full AFL 2024 fixture: Grand finallists dudded as new ‘primetime darlings’ crowned
The AFL has revealed the full fixture for season 2024 and there are some clear winners and losers from a new-look schedule.
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The AFL has announced the full fixture for season 2024, which will look slightly different than usual.
The season will kick off with the ‘Opening Round’ or Round Zero in early March, with four games held in Sydney and Queensland as the league tries to grab the attention of footy fans in the northern states.
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The AFL has announced the full slate of games for the first 15 rounds and will confirm times and dates for games from Round 16 onwards midway through the year, as part of their floating fixture.
Round 1 will begin with the traditional Thursday night clash between Carlton and Richmond at the MCG.
The ripple effect of only eight teams playing in the ‘Opening Round’ means the season will be somewhat more disjointed than unusual — with a total of nine various bye rounds across the season.
Most Thursday night games will start at 7.30pm — 10 minutes later than previous seasons — and Friday night games will start at 7.40pm, 10 minutes earlier than previous years in a bid to be more family friendly.
Footy fans will be pleased there is very little overlap in games on Sunday, with many Sundays featuring two games starting at 1pm and 4pm.
Winners and loses from 2024 AFL fixture
The Gold Coast Suns have arguably one of the easiest draws for 2024. They are the only team to play battlers North Melbourne and West Coast twice as new coach Damien Hardwick aims to lead the Suns to their first ever finals appearance.
Couple of things to note for the NSW teams in today's #AFL Draw:
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) November 16, 2023
- Giants to play at 12 different venues (Any time, any place as Tom Green would say)
- Swans-Pies to play twice in a season for the first time since 2013
- GWS play 3 of last year's bottom 4 in the first month
Always fascinating to see who the AFL anoint prime time darlings. Next year Carlton have been given a league-high 8 games on Thu and Fri in the first 15 rounds, including the Good Friday twilight slot against North Melbourne. Lions and Pies with 7. The improving Crows given 6.
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) November 16, 2023
Carlton has been rewarded for a resurgent second half of the 2023 season that saw them make the preliminary final.
The Blues have been given eight games in ‘prime time’ slots on Thursday and Friday night — the most out of any team in the first 16 weeks of the season.
Grand finalists Brisbane have been dealt a brutal draw — playing West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle all away from home in a tough travel schedule.
The Lions also play Collingwood, Melbourne, and GWS twice. They also have double ups against Gold Coast and Adelaide, who are expected to contend for finals.
GWS will make the most interstate trips of any side in 2024 and will again play at the most venues, with the Giants to suit up in 12 different locations after winning at a league record 11 grounds last season.
The Giants’ 12 interstate trips do not include their three ventures to Manuka Oval for home games in Canberra, while Gold Coast (excluding its two Darwin home games), Fremantle, Brisbane, Sydney and West Coast will all head interstate 11 times.
St Kilda could enter a 2024 AFL finals campaign with fresh legs after receiving six consecutive matches at Marvel Stadium to finish the home-and-away season.
2024 AFL FIXTURE — ROUND-BY-ROUND
All times AEDT until Saturday April 6, then AEST from Sunday April 7 onwards
OPENING ROUND
Thursday March 7
Sydney Swans v Melbourne, SCG (7.30pm)
Friday March 8
Brisbane Lions v Carlton, Gabba (7.40pm)
Saturday March 9
Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, Heritage Bank Stadium (4.20pm)
GWS Giants v Collingwood, Giants Stadium (7.30pm)
Byes: Adelaide Crows, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong Cats, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 1
Thursday March 14
Carlton v Richmond, MCG (7.30pm)
Friday March 15
Collingwood v Sydney Swans, MCG (7.40pm)
Saturday March 16
Essendon v Hawthorn, MCG (1.45pm)
GWS Giants v North Melbourne, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)
Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium (7.30pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows, Heritage Bank Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday March 17
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (1.00pm)
Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (4.00pm)
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium (6.50pm)
ROUND 2
Thursday March 21
St Kilda v Collingwood, MCG (7.30pm)
Friday March 22
Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Saturday March 23
North Melbourne v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)
Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (4.35pm)
Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG (7.30pm)
Sunday March 24
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns, Mars Stadium (1.00pm)
Richmond v Port Adelaide, MCG (4.00pm)
West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium (6.50pm)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, Carlton
ROUND 3
Thursday March 28 (Easter Thursday)
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7.30pm)
Friday March 29 (Good Friday)
North Melbourne v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (4.20pm)
Fremantle v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (7.20pm)
Saturday March 30
Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (4.20pm)
Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Sunday March 31 (Easter Sunday)
Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1.00pm)
Richmond v Sydney Swans, MCG (4.00pm)
Monday April 1 (Easter Monday)
Hawthorn v Geelong Cats, MCG (3.20pm)
Byes: Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants
ROUND 4 (Gather Round)
Thursday April 4
Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Friday April 5
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne, Norwood Oval (5.10pm)
Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)
Saturday April 6
West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Hills – Mt Barker (1.30pm)
Fremantle v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (4.20pm)
Western Bulldogs v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)
Sunday April 7
Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, Adelaide Hills – Mt Barker (12.30pm)
Richmond v St Kilda, Norwood Oval (3.20pm)
Collingwood v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (5.10pm)
ROUND 5
Thursday April 11
Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, MCG (7.30pm)
Friday April 12
Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)
Saturday April 13
GWS Giants v St Kilda, Manuka Oval (1.45pm)
Carlton v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, Heritage Bank Stadium (7.30pm)
Sunday April 14
Geelong Cats v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (1.00pm)
West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium (4.00pm)
Byes: Collingwood, Sydney Swans
ROUND 6
Thursday April 18
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)
Friday April 19
Adelaide Crows v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Saturday April 20
Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (1.45pm)
Carlton v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, The Gabba (7.30pm)
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday April 21
Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns, SCG (1.00pm)
North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (4.00pm)
Byes: Melbourne, Richmond
ROUND 7
Wednesday April 24
Richmond v Melbourne, MCG (7.25pm)
Thursday April 25 (Anzac Day)
Essendon v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)
GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions, Manuka Oval (7.30pm)
Friday April 26
Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)
Saturday April 27
North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Blundstone Arena (1.45pm)
Geelong Cats v Carlton, MCG (4.35pm)
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (7.30pm)
Sunday April 28
Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles, Heritage Bank Stadium (1.00pm)
Hawthorn v Sydney Swans, MCG (4.00pm)
ROUND 8
Thursday May 2
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Friday May 3
Carlton v Collingwood, MCG (7.40pm)
Saturday May 4
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (1.45pm)
St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)
Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG (7.30pm)
West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)
Sunday May 5
Richmond v Fremantle, MCG (1.00pm)
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (4.00pm)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba (7.10pm)
ROUND 9
Thursday May 9
Carlton v Melbourne, MCG (7.30pm)
Friday May 10
Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium (7.10pm)
Fremantle v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (8.20pm)
Saturday May 11
Hawthorn v St Kilda, UTAS Stadium (1.45pm)
Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (4.35pm)
Richmond v Western Bulldogs, MCG (7.30pm)
Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne, TIO Stadium – Darwin (7.30pm)
Sunday May 12 (Mother’s Day)
Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1.00pm)
Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (4.00pm)
ROUND 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)
Thursday May 16
Gold Coast Suns v Geelong Cats, TIO Stadium – Darwin (7.30pm)
Friday May 17
Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7.40pm)
Saturday May 18
Collingwood v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.45pm)
GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)
St Kilda v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)
Brisbane Lions v Richmond, The Gabba (7.30pm)
Sunday May 19
Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (1.10pm)
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)
West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (6.20pm)
ROUND 11
Thursday May 23
Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)
Friday May 24
Fremantle v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)
Saturday May 25
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Blundstone Arena (1.45pm)
Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)
Geelong Cats v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium (4.35pm)
Richmond v Essendon, MCG (7.40pm)
Sunday May 26
Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (1.10pm)
Melbourne v St Kilda, MCG (3.20pm)
Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
ROUND 12
Thursday May 30
Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Friday May 31
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)
Saturday June 1
Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.45pm)
West Coast Eagles v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (4.35pm)
Geelong Cats v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium (7.30pm)
Sunday June 2
Melbourne v Fremantle, TIO Traeger Park – Alice Springs (1.00pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, Heritage Bank Stadium (4.00pm)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Sydney Swans
ROUND 13
Thursday June 6
Adelaide Crows v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Friday June 7
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)
Saturday June 8
Hawthorn v GWS Giants, UTAS Stadium (1.45pm)
West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium (4.35pm)
St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)
Sunday June 9
Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, SCG (3.20pm)
Essendon v Carlton, MCG (7.20pm)
Monday June 10 (King’s Birthday)
Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG (3.20pm)
Byes: Fremantle, Port Adelaide
ROUND 14
Friday June 14
Brisbane Lions v St Kilda, The Gabba (7.40pm)
Saturday June 15
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (1.45pm)
Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG (4.35pm)
Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
Sunday June 16
North Melbourne v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium (1.00pm)
GWS Giants v Port Adelaide, Giants Stadium (4.00pm)
Byes: Carlton, Essendon, Geelong Cats, Gold Coast Suns, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles
ROUND 15
Friday June 21
Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG (7.40pm)
Saturday June 22
Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (1.45pm)
GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, Giants Stadium (4.35pm)
Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG (7.30pm)
Sunday June 23
Essendon v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (1.00pm)
Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (4.00pm)
Byes: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 16 (days and times TBC)
Friday June 28 – Sunday June 30
Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, The Gabba
Geelong Cats v Essendon, MCG
Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, Heritage Bank Stadium
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
Richmond v Carlton, MCG
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium
Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG
West Coast Eagles v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium
ROUND 17 (days and times TBC)
Friday July 5 – Sunday July 7
Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows, The Gabba
Collingwood v Essendon, MCG
Fremantle v Richmond, Optus Stadium
Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium
GWS Giants v Carlton, Giants Stadium
Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, MCG
North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval
St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 18 (days and times TBC)
Friday July 12 – Sunday July 14
Adelaide Crows v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval
Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG
Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide, Heritage Bank Stadium
Hawthorn v Fremantle, UTAS Stadium
Melbourne v Essendon, MCG
Richmond v GWS Giants, MCG
Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG
West Coast Eagles v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 19 (days and times TBC)
Friday July 19 – Sunday July 21
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba
Carlton v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Essendon v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium
Fremantle v Melbourne, Optus Stadium
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, Giants Stadium
Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG
Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval
St Kilda v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 20 (days and times TBC)
Friday July 26 – Sunday July 28
Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval
Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium
Collingwood v Richmond, MCG
Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium
Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, Heritage Bank Stadium
Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG
North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Blundstone Arena
St Kilda v Essendon, Marvel Stadium
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG
ROUND 21 (days and times TBC)
Friday August 2 – Sunday August 4
Collingwood v Carlton, MCG
Essendon v Fremantle, MCG
Geelong Cats v Adelaide Crows, GMHBA Stadium
GWS Giants v Hawthorn, Manuka Oval
North Melbourne v Richmond, Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 22 (days and times TBC)
Friday August 9 – Sunday August 11
Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, The Gabba
Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG
Essendon v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium
Fremantle v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium
Melbourne v Port Adelaide, MCG
North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Blundstone Arena
Richmond v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
Sydney Swans v Collingwood, SCG
ROUND 23 (days and times TBC)
Friday August 16 – Sunday August 18
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG
Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium
Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, Heritage Bank Stadium
GWS Giants v Fremantle, Giants Stadium
Hawthorn v Richmond, MCG
Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval
St Kilda v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium
West Coast Eagles v Carlton, Optus Stadium
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 24 (days and times TBC)
Friday August 23 – Sunday August 25
Brisbane Lions v Essendon, The Gabba
Carlton v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium
Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium
Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles, GMHBA Stadium
Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium
Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG
Richmond v Gold Coast Suns, MCG
Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, SCG
Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Mars Stadium
Pre-finals bye: Weekend of August 31-September 1
Qualifying and elimination finals: Weekend of September 7-8
Semi-finals: Weekend of September 14-15
Preliminary finals: Weekend of September 21-22
Grand Final: Saturday September 28, MCG
Originally published as Full AFL 2024 fixture: Grand finallists dudded as new ‘primetime darlings’ crowned
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