The round-one AFL blockbuster next season between Hawthorn and Geelong is just one of the big clashes in the opening rounds of the AFL 2013 season.

Mick Malthouse and his Carlton side will face his old club Collingwood in Round 2 at the MCG, on April 7th.

The Blues face Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and West Coast in their first four games.

Highlights of the 2013 AFL Fixture

* 23-week home-and-away season, starting March 22
* Grand final on Saturday, September 28
* 198 home and away matches. Each team plays 22 games – 11 home and 11 away – with one bye
* St Kilda play Sydney in Wellington on Anzac Day, the first AFL match outside Australia for premiership points
* Grand finalists Sydney and Hawthorn play in rounds seven and 23
* Round 23 will again be a “floating fixture”, with game details to be finalised later in the season

Features:

· Opening Round to be played over two weeks, commencing on March 22, with a Friday night match between the Adelaide Crows and Essendon, followed by a WA derby featuring Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles on the Saturday night.

· Round 1 to continue over Easter, from March 28-April 1, with Carlton to host Richmond in the season’s first match at the MCG on Easter Thursday, March 28.

· Sydney Swans to unfurl the premiership flag at the SCG in Round 2 against the Gold Coast Suns in their first match ever at the SCG.

· Six matches to be played in Tasmania, with North Melbourne to again play two home matches at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena, against the Sydney Swans (Round 3) and Port Adelaide (Round 6), while Hawthorn will play four matches at Launceston’s Aurora Stadium, hosting Fremantle (Round 4), GWS GIANTS (Round 8), Brisbane Lions (Round 14) and Western Bulldogs (Round 17).

· GWS GIANTS to host three matches at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, in Rounds 3 (under lights for the first time), 5 and 15, against St Kilda, the Gold Coast SUNS and Western Bulldogs respectively, with other home games at Skoda Stadium.

· Two matches at TIO Stadium in Darwin with Western Bulldogs hosting Port Adelaide in Round 10 and Melbourne hosting Brisbane Lions in Round 17.

· The now traditional Richmond vs. Gold Coast Suns match at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns will take place on Saturday, July 13, with Richmond looking for its first win against the Suns.

· Two Friday night matches to be played at the SCG, with the Sydney Swans to host the Geelong Cats in Round 4 and Carlton in Round 14.

· Essendon’s turn to host Collingwood on ANZAC Day at the MCG, with the match to be played on the holiday Thursday.

· Fremantle to host the traditional Len Hall tribute match in Perth on Friday, April 26, hosting Richmond as part of ANZAC Round.

· The rematch between 2012 AFL Grand Final opponents the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn to take place on Saturday night in Round 7 at the MCG, before a return meeting in the final round of the season at ANZ Stadium.

· Two Monday night matches to be played, between St Kilda and Carlton in Round 7 at Etihad Stadium, and the West Coast Eagles and Richmond in Round 10 at Patersons Stadium.

· Indigenous Round to be celebrated in Round 9, highlighted by the showpiece Richmond vs. Essendon “Dreamtime at the ‘G” match on the Saturday night.

· The Gabba to see football played under Friday night lights, when the Brisbane Lions take on Collingwood in Round 10.

· The Geelong Cats to play the Gold Coast SUNS at the redeveloped Simonds Stadium when the venue reopens in Round 10 under lights for the first time at the venue on Saturday night. The Cats will then play a further six matches at the venue in the latter half of the home and away season.

· A mid-season break for all clubs to be spread across Rounds 11, 12 and 13. Six matches will be played in each round, enabling six clubs to enjoy a bye across each of the three weeks.

· Melbourne and Collingwood to meet in the traditional Queen’s Birthday Monday holiday match at the MCG in Round 11.

· Thursday night football to again be played in Perth, with the West Coast Eagles to host Essendon at Patersons Stadium in Round 14.

· Three games to be played at ANZ Stadium, including a derby between the Giants and Swans (Round 1), and blockbusters featuring the Sydney Swans up against Collingwood (Round 20) and Hawthorn (Round 23).

· Intra-state rivalries in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales to including two Q-Clashes between the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast SUNS (Rounds 3 and 15), two derbies between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle (Rounds 1 and 16), two showdowns between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide (Rounds 3 and 19) and two derbies between the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS (Rounds 1 and 16).

· Matches scheduled both home and away between strong-drawing Victorian clubs to maximise attendances and television audiences – Carlton-Richmond (Rounds 1 and 21); Hawthorn-Geelong Cats (Rounds 1 and 15); Carlton-Collingwood (Rounds 2 and 15); Collingwood-Hawthorn (Rounds 3 and 21); Essendon-Collingwood (Rounds 5 and 19); Richmond-Essendon (Rounds 9 and 23) and Carlton-Essendon (Rounds 11 and 22).

· No teams to play each other for the second time until after Round 10. There must also be a minimum of six weeks between clubs’ first and second meetings.

· All clubs to play each other once by Round 22.

· Minimum six-day break for all clubs between each match, with exceptions only for ANZAC Day.

· All Victorian-based clubs to travel interstate on a minimum of five occasions.

· All clubs to play at least one match at the MCG, as part of a minimum five in Victoria.

· Round 23 matches to remain as a floating fixture to maximise scheduling flexibility for the first week of the 2013 AFL Finals Series.

Opening Round to be played over two weeks, commencing on March 22, with a Friday night match between the Adelaide Crows and Essendon, followed by a WA derby featuring Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles on the Saturday night.

Friday Night

The AFL is becoming increasingly selective about who plays in this prime timeslot – telling clubs this is the best game of the week. Play entertaining footy, or you won’t be seen on Friday night:

7 – Collingwood
5 – Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn
3 – Geelong, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast
2 – Adelaide, Fremantle, Richmond
1 – Brisbane
0 – Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs

Complete AFL Fixture – 2013:

ROUND 1

Friday, March 22
Adelaide Crows vs. Essendon AAMI Stadium (N)

Saturday, March 23
Fremantle vs. West Coast Eagles Patersons Stadium (N)

Thursday, March 28
Carlton vs. Richmond MCG (N)

Saturday, March 30
Western Bulldogs vs. Brisbane Lions Etihad Stadium
GWS GIANTS vs. Sydney Swans ANZ Stadium (T)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. St Kilda Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, March 31
Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide MCG (E)
North Melbourne vs. Collingwood Etihad Stadium (T)

Monday, April 1
Hawthorn vs. Geelong Cats MCG

ROUND 2

Friday, April 5
St Kilda vs. Richmond MCG (N)

Saturday, April 6
Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast SUNS SCG
Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle Etihad Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide Crows Gabba (T)
Essendon vs. Melbourne MCG (N)
Port Adelaide vs. GWS GIANTS AAMI Stadium (N)

Sunday, April 7
Geelong Cats vs. North Melbourne Etihad Stadium
Collingwood vs. Carlton MCG
West Coast Eagles vs. Hawthorn Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 3

Friday, April 12
Fremantle vs. Essendon Patersons Stadium (N)

Saturday, April 13
North Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans Blundstone Arena
Melbourne vs. West Coast Eagles MCG
GWS GIANTS vs. St Kilda Manuka Oval (T)
Geelong Cats vs. Carlton Etihad Stadium (N)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Brisbane Lions Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, April 14
Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium (E)
Collingwood vs. Hawthorn MCG
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide Crows AAMI Stadium (T)

ROUND 4

Friday, April 19
Sydney Swans vs. Geelong Cats SCG (N)

Saturday, April 20
Hawthorn vs. Fremantle Aurora Stadium
Richmond vs. Collingwood MCG
St Kilda vs. Essendon Etihad Stadium (T)
West Coast Eagles vs. Carlton Patersons Stadium (N)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Port Adelaide Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, April 21
Melbourne vs. GWS GIANTS MCG (E)
Adelaide Crows vs. Western Bulldogs AAMI Stadium
North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions Etihad Stadium (T)

ROUND 5

Thursday, April 25
Essendon vs. Collingwood MCG
St Kilda vs. Sydney Swans (WS) (N)

Friday, April 26
Fremantle vs. Richmond Patersons Stadium (N)

Saturday, April 27
GWS GIANTS vs. Gold Coast SUNS Manuka Oval
Carlton vs. Adelaide Crows MCG (T)
Western Bulldogs vs. Geelong Cats Etihad Stadium (N)
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast Eagles AAMI Stadium (N)

Sunday, April 28
Brisbane Lions vs. Melbourne Gabba
Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne MCG (T)

ROUND 6

Friday, May 3
Collingwood vs. St Kilda Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, May 4
Essendon vs. GWS GIANTS Etihad Stadium
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide Blundstone Arena
Adelaide Crows vs. Hawthorn AAMI Stadium (T)
Richmond vs. Geelong Cats MCG (N)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Fremantle Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, May 5
Sydney Swans vs. Brisbane Lions SCG (E)
Carlton vs. Melbourne MCG
West Coast Eagles vs. Western Bulldogs Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 7

Friday, May 10
Geelong Cats vs. Essendon Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, May 11
Port Adelaide vs. Richmond AAMI Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs. West Coast Eagles Gabba
Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne Etihad Stadium (T)
Hawthorn vs. Sydney Swans MCG (N)
Fremantle vs. Collingwood Patersons Stadium (N)

Sunday, May 12
GWS GIANTS vs. Adelaide Crows Skoda Stadium (E)
Melbourne vs. Gold Coast SUNS MCG (T)

Monday, May 13
St Kilda vs. Carlton Etihad Stadium (N)

ROUND 8

Friday, May 17
West Coast Eagles vs. North Melbourne Patersons Stadium (N)

Saturday, May 18
Essendon vs. Brisbane Lions Etihad Stadium
Hawthorn vs. GWS GIANTS (AU)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Western Bulldogs Metricon Stadium (T)
Collingwood vs. Geelong Cats MCG (N)
Sydney Swans vs. Fremantle SCG (N)

Sunday, May 19
Carlton vs. Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium (E)
Richmond vs. Melbourne MCG
Adelaide Crows vs. St Kilda AAMI Stadium (T)

ROUND 9

Friday, May 24
Collingwood vs. Sydney Swans MCG (N)

Saturday, May 25
Port Adelaide vs. Geelong Cats AAMI Stadium
GWS GIANTS vs. West Coast Eagles Skoda Stadium
St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium (T)
Richmond vs. Essendon MCG (N)
Brisbane Lions vs. Carlton Gabba (N)

Sunday, May 26
Hawthorn vs. Gold Coast SUNS MCG (E)
North Melbourne vs. Adelaide Crows Etihad Stadium
Fremantle vs. Melbourne Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 10

Friday, May 31
Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood Gabba (N)

Saturday, June 1
Carlton vs. GWS GIANTS Etihad Stadium
Adelaide Crows vs. Fremantle AAMI Stadium
Sydney Swans vs. Essendon SCG (T)
Geelong Cats vs. Gold Coast SUNS Simonds Stadium (N)
Western Bulldogs vs. Port Adelaide TIO Stadium (N)

Sunday, June 2
Melbourne vs. Hawthorn MCG
North Melbourne vs. St Kilda Etihad Stadium (T)
Monday, June 3
West Coast Eagles vs. Richmond Patersons Stadium (N)

ROUND 11

Friday, June 7
Essendon vs. Carlton MCG (N)

Saturday, June 8
GWS GIANTS vs. Geelong Cats Skoda Stadium
Adelaide Crows vs. Sydney Swans AAMI Stadium (T)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. North Melbourne Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, June 9
St Kilda vs. West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium (T)

Monday, June 10
Melbourne vs. Collingwood MCG

Byes: Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Hawthorn,
Port Adelaide, Richmond, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 12

Friday, June 14
Carlton vs. Hawthorn Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, June 15
Richmond vs. Adelaide Crows MCG
Fremantle vs. Brisbane Lions Patersons Stadium (T)
Essendon vs. Gold Coast SUNS Etihad Stadium (N)

Sunday, June 16
GWS GIANTS vs. Port Adelaide Skoda Stadium (E)
Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium (T)

Byes: Geelong Cats, Melbourne, North
Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney Swans,
West Coast Eagles

ROUND 13

Friday, June 21
Hawthorn vs. West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, June 22
Port Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans AAMI Stadium
St Kilda vs. Melbourne MCG (T)
Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond Etihad Stadium (N)

Sunday, June 23
Fremantle vs. North Melbourne Patersons Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong Cats Gabba (T)

Byes: Adelaide Crows, Carlton, Collingwood,
Essendon, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS

ROUND 14

Thursday, June 27
West Coast Eagles vs. Essendon Patersons Stadium (N)

Friday, June 28
Sydney Swans vs. Carlton SCG (N)

Saturday, June 29
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Adelaide Crows Metricon Stadium
Port Adelaide vs. Collingwood AAMI Stadium (T)
Geelong Cats vs. Fremantle Simonds Stadium (N)
Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs MCG (N)

Sunday, June 30
Hawthorn vs. Brisbane Lions (AU) (E)
North Melbourne vs. GWS GIANTS Etihad Stadium
Richmond vs. St Kilda MCG (T)

ROUND 15

Friday, July 5
Carlton vs. Collingwood MCG (N)

Saturday, July 6
GWS GIANTS vs. Western Bulldogs (MO)
North Melbourne vs. Richmond Etihad Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs. Gold Coast SUNS Gabba (T)
Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn MCG (N)
Adelaide Crows vs. West Coast Eagles AAMI Stadium (N)

Sunday, July 7
Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans MCG (E)
Fremantle vs. St Kilda Patersons Stadium
Essendon vs. Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium (T)

ROUND 16

Friday, July 12
Collingwood vs. Adelaide Crows MCG (N)

Saturday, July 13
Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn AAMI Stadium
Geelong Cats vs. Melbourne Simonds Stadium
Richmond vs. Gold Coast SUNS (CS) (T)
Carlton vs. St Kilda Etihad Stadium (N)
Brisbane Lions vs. North Melbourne Gabba (N)

Sunday, July 14
Sydney Swans vs. GWS GIANTS SCG (E)
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon Etihad Stadium
West Coast Eagles vs. Fremantle Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 17

Friday, July 19
North Melbourne vs. Carlton Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, July 20
Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs (AU)
St Kilda vs. Port Adelaide Etihad Stadium
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Collingwood Metricon Stadium (T)
GWS GIANTS vs. Essendon Skoda Stadium (N)
Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions TIO Stadium (N)

Sunday, July 21
Richmond vs. Fremantle MCG (E)
Adelaide Crows vs. Geelong Cats AAMI Stadium
West Coast Eagles vs. Sydney Swans Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 18

Friday, July 26
Essendon vs. Hawthorn Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, July 27
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Carlton Metricon Stadium
Melbourne vs. North Melbourne Etihad Stadium
Collingwood vs. GWS GIANTS MCG (T)
Geelong Cats vs. St Kilda Simonds Stadium (N)
Fremantle vs. Adelaide Crows Patersons Stadium (N)

Sunday, July 28
Port Adelaide vs. Brisbane Lions AAMI Stadium (E)
Western Bulldogs vs. West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium
Sydney Swans vs. Richmond SCG (T)

ROUND 19

Friday, August 2
North Melbourne vs. Geelong Cats Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, August 3
GWS GIANTS vs. Melbourne Skoda Stadium
Hawthorn vs. Richmond MCG
West Coast Eagles vs. Gold Coast SUNS Patersons Stadium (T)
Carlton vs. Fremantle Etihad Stadium (N)
Brisbane Lions vs. St Kilda Gabba (N)

Sunday, August 4
Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans Etihad Stadium (E)
Adelaide Crows vs. Port Adelaide AAMI Stadium
Collingwood vs. Essendon MCG (T)

ROUND 20

Friday, August 9
St Kilda vs. Hawthorn Etihad Stadium (N)

Saturday, August 10
Richmond vs. Brisbane Lions MCG
Geelong Cats vs. Port Adelaide Simonds Stadium
Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium (T)
Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood ANZ Stadium (N)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Melbourne Metricon Stadium (N)

Sunday, August 11
Essendon vs. West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium (E)
Adelaide Crows vs. North Melbourne AAMI Stadium
Fremantle vs. GWS GIANTS Patersons Stadium (T)

ROUND 21

Friday, August 16
Hawthorn vs. Collingwood MCG (N)

Saturday, August 17
Richmond vs. Carlton MCG
Port Adelaide vs. Gold Coast SUNS AAMI Stadium
Essendon vs. North Melbourne Etihad Stadium (T)
West Coast Eagles vs. Geelong Cats Patersons Stadium (N)
Brisbane Lions vs. GWS GIANTS Gabba (N)

Sunday, August 18
Melbourne vs. Fremantle MCG (E)
Sydney Swans vs. St Kilda SCG
Western Bulldogs vs. Adelaide Crows Etihad Stadium (T)

ROUND 22

Friday, August 23
Collingwood vs. West Coast Eagles MCG (N)

Saturday, August 24
Adelaide Crows vs. Melbourne AAMI Stadium
North Melbourne vs. Hawthorn Etihad Stadium
Geelong Cats vs. Sydney Swans Simonds Stadium (T)
Carlton vs. Essendon MCG (N)
Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide Patersons Stadium (N)

Sunday, August 25
St Kilda vs. Gold Coast SUNS Etihad Stadium (E)
GWS GIANTS vs. Richmond Skoda Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs Gabba (T)

ROUND 23

Friday, August 30-

Sunday, September 1
Port Adelaide vs. Carlton AAMI Stadium
Sydney Swans vs. Hawthorn ANZ Stadium
Western Bulldogs vs. Melbourne Etihad Stadium
St Kilda vs. Fremantle Etihad Stadium
Gold Coast SUNS vs. GWS GIANTS Metricon Stadium
Essendon vs. Richmond MCG
Collingwood vs. North Melbourne MCG
West Coast Eagles vs. Adelaide Crows Patersons Stadium
Geelong Cats vs. Brisbane Lions Simonds Stadium

AFL Finals Series
September 6, 7, 8
Week 1 – Qualifying & Elimination Finals (4)
September 13, 14
Week 2 – Semi-Finals (2)
September 20, 21
Week 3 – Preliminary Finals (2)

September 28
Week 4 – AFL Grand Final