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.

Carlton have the most primetime games. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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.

Carlton have been given the most primetime games. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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:

- 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

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) November 16, 2023

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.

The Brisbane Lions have been dealt a brutal draw. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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)

The Gold Coast Suns have been dealt a kind draw. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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