AFL Fixture 2023: See the full slate of games for 2023

Standby for the Blues to own the prime-time as Michael Voss and the Carlton army searches for that elusive finals appearance next season. See every game from every round of the 2023 season.

Full 2023 AFL Fixture revealed

Carlton will become the prime-time kings of the AFL next season with almost half of their matches from the first 15 rounds to feature in a Thursday or Friday night timeslot.

As the Blues look to atone for a heartbreaking finals near-miss this season, the AFL’s release of its 2023 fixture has given Michael Voss and his team an early Christmas present, with a draw that puts them in a strong position to play finals for the first time in a decade.

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Carlton has been locked into seven marquee slots — three Thursdays and four Fridays (including the Good Friday clash) in the first 15 rounds. That’s one more than this year’s preliminary finalists Brisbane (six) and two more than the reigning premiers Geelong (five).

Carlton will also feature in a new King’s Birthday Eve game against old rivals Essendon at the MCG in Round 13 on the night before the annual Big Freeze Melbourne and Collingwood clash.

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It’s a massive show of faith in the Blues’ on-field marketability from AFL headquarters who see the recent success-starved club capable of making a big impression with headline-grabbing stars such as Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Charlie Curnow and co set to shine under bright lights.

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Five years ago the AFL faced criticism and the calls for a floating fixture came when Carlton was granted a swag of prime-time games, despite being one of the league’s cellar-dwellers.

But this time it is different as the Blues became one of the most watched AFL sides this year, with agonising slip ups in the last month of 2022 inadvertently paving the way for a more palatable 2023 draw.

See who your club plays and when in the 2023 fixture below.

In contrast, the Magpies — the team that denied the Blues a finals berth this year — face a tougher draw in 2023, with double-up games against Geelong, Brisbane, Carlton and likely improvers Port Adelaide.

Geelong and Brisbane also face tough draws, while Melbourne has the bonus of repeat matches against North Melbourne and Hawthorn.

AFL EGM Clubs, Broadcast and Fixturing Travis Auld said the league always intended to start the season with momentum.

“We are really pleased to be able to deliver a fixture that balances great broadcast slots and great access for fans,” Auld said.

Let the games begin: Carlton and Collingwood will renew hostilities next season. See below when two tribes go to war.

“Momentum early is key, and the fixture has been designed in a way to spread the marquee showpiece Thursday and Friday nights timeslots across all of the key states including games at the MCG, Marvel Stadium, SCG, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval and (Perth) Stadium.

“Thursday night blockbusters remain a priority for us, both from a broadcast and crowd-build perspective. We feel we have the right balance, having five in the first five rounds, a break then Thursdays come back into play across Rounds 13 through 15.”

New Lion Josh Dunkley will take on his former side Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in Round 3, while the Kangaroos-Jason Horne-Francis showdown will take place when Port Adelaide ventures to Hobart in Round 9.

Alastair Clarkson will be up against his old side Hawthorn — in his first head-to-head clash with Sam Mitchell — in Launceston in Round 3, while former Hawk and now Magpie Tom Mitchell will have to wait until Round 21 to come up against his former side.

Originally published as AFL Fixture 2023: See the full slate of games for 2023