The fixtures for Round 1 of the 2015 AFL season have been released, with the round set to span from Thursday April 2 to Monday April 6.
AFL fans don’t have to wait long for some enticing match-ups in the 2015 season, with the opening round fixture placing fierce rivals, finals contenders, and recently traded stars in the spotlight.
Carlton and Richmond return to their traditional curtain raiser on the Thursday night at the MCG. Richmond have snagged the last two Round 1 meetings between the sides and will be desperate to keep that record rolling along.
One of the biggest stories to come out of the 2014 AFL trade period was Dayne Beams’ decision to leave Collingwood in order to return home and join his younger brother at Brisbane.
Beams and his new side host the Magpies at the Gabba on the Saturday evening. How Beams performs against the side at which he made his name will be the story of the night.
Port Adelaide’s campaign starts off with a a tough trip to face Fremantle at Patersons Stadium. The memory of their last visit – an impressive come from behind win in the 2014 semi-final – that saw the Dockers tumble out of the finals in straight sets, will be fresh in the minds of the Fremantle faithful.
Both sides are sure to be in finals contention again in 2015, making this match one of the most intriguing of the round.
The excitement surrounding Hawthorn and Geelong’s Easter Monday clash won’t be at the lofty peaks it has seen in recent seasons; with the premiers winning three of their past four meetings, the ‘Kennett curse’ has well and truly been put to bed.
But fans can be sure the fierce rivals will put on a show with all the focus of the day firmly locked on the MCG.
Thursday, April 2
Carlton v Richmond (MCG)
Saturday, April 4
Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns (MCG)
Sydney Swans v Essendon (ANZ)
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood (GABBA)
Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (ES)
Sunday, April 5
St Kilda v GWS Giants (ES)
Adelaide v North Melbourne (AO)
Fremantle v Port Adelaide (PS)
Monday, April 6
Hawthorn v Geelong Cats (MCG)
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Bad Freya's day footy live from Glenn Frey Oval would do me
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Nope that's probably going to be a 2015 regularity. The guy who actually runs the show has made the call on that one. If you're drawn to play Freo or WC in Perth be ready for Sunday twilight games most times. Good onya Eddie, you icehole.
Penster
Guest
Glenn Frey is the Hawks old home ground isn't it?
Martin
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't be confident about picking the winner for any of those matches in round one. So therefore, if I had to choose I would go for the home teams.
Don Freo
Guest
But Freya was a bad girl...it would have to be Bad Freyday. If it was Glenn Frey Day, it would favour The Eagles.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
No footy of Good Friday again? As fridsy is named after the Norse goddess Freya maybe the AFL could rebadge the day as Freya's day and thus the good friday crowd could look on without guilt? I would have thought some old VFL rival games on Saturn's day and the day of the sun would have got the punters , plus a bit of two team city rivalry would have been the go but what do I know
Mark
Guest
Great line up, well done AFL, looking forward to RICH v CARL and BL v COLL the most
Paul D
Roar Guru
There's always a Sunday twilight game in the west - it seems that way anyway. I guess it makes for great TV numbers on the east coast Sunday evening.
Franko
Guest
Have no problem playing Freo away in Round 1 (beats Rd23) but why oh why did they put on Sunday twilight. Means our lads will be getting home midday Monday at best, I presume we'd be Sunday the following week and in the interests of a fair start, I guess at home to Geelong or Hawthorn?
Slane
Guest
I don't care who plays or whether either team does anything for the RCH. Just give me some Footy on a Good Friday ffs.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Freo vs Port will be one of the matches of the round without a doubt. Also looking forward to Hawthorn vs Geelong.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Will be Fremantle's third match against Port Adelaide in about 5 starts. Some good matches, and will certainly put pressure on teams to be on their game from the opening bounce. I am dreading all the bleating and whinging about the fixturing through march/april 2015. Hopefully people retain a bit of perspective and realise it's the first time in 23 years the cricket world cup has been here.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Okay - so, North Melbourne neither get their semi traditional season opener against Essendon - nor a Good Friday gig against say the Doggies. Perhaps the Godd Friday slot might work well for NM v Carlton (they border the RCH) but that's not doable when Carlton play Richmond to kick off the season. The test will be 2016. Realistically all the rhetoric had been that Good Friday wouldn't happen in 2015 because of the Easter start.