With all bar the big one played out for season 2015, we know the teams who have earned a few Fridays, those who are exciting enough to be given a bit of grace, and which have next-to-no hope of getting any prominent timeslots.
This is how Round 1 next year should unfold (all times local):
Richmond versus Carlton
Thursday, March 24, 7:20pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Despite the Blues’ wooden spoon season this year, their annual season opening match against Richmond will remain; this will also double as the official coaching debut of their new coach, Brendon Bolton.
As for the Tigers, they’ll be keen to start the new season with a win, and hopefully go one better in 2016 after their season ended with a third consecutive elimination final exit in 2015.
Gold Coast Suns versus Port Adelaide
Saturday, March 26, 12:40pm
Metricon Stadium
For the first time, there will be two matches in south-east Queensland in the same round, the first of which will see the Gold Coast Suns host Port Adelaide on the Saturday afternoon at Metricon Stadium.
With Charlie Dixon expected to land at Port Adelaide during the trade period, his debut game for the Power, who are coached by ex-Suns assistant Ken Hinkley, could see him return home to the holiday strip, where he made a name as a foundation player.
West Coast Eagles versus GWS Giants
Saturday, March 26, 1:35pm
Domain Stadium
Having kicked 24 goals in four matches against GWS (including an eleven-goal haul in 2014), reigning Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy and his West Coast Eagles will relish an opening round home showdown against the Giants, who will be expected to take the next step up and contend for a finals berth in 2016.
With the Giants’ regular home ground Spotless Stadium unavailable due to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Leon Cameron’s men will be forced on the road for at least the first five-to-six rounds of the season, and a first round trip to Perth, where their average losing margin is 83 points, will test the players’ mentality early on.
Brisbane Lions versus Sydney Swans
Saturday, March 26, 6:20pm
Gabba
The second match in south-east Queensland will see the Brisbane Lions take on the Sydney Swans at the Gabba on Saturday night.
It will be the first time the two clubs have met in the opening round since 2004, will be the third consecutive meeting between the two clubs at the Gabba, and will also be their only meeting in season 2016, as was the case in the last four seasons.
After a poor 2015 season, the Lions will be out to make a statement against the new-look Swans, who will be without retired duo Adam Goodes and Rhyce Shaw, and possibly Lewis Jetta but will still be expected to contend for another flag in 2016.
Collingwood versus Western Bulldogs
Saturday, March 26, 7:20pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
As mentioned above, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood have requested to play each other in Round 1 next year, which will mark the first time since 2010 that they have done so.
The Bulldogs’ improved 2015 season will see it afforded more commercial opportunities as the club looks to emulate its stunning resurgence this year in 2016. A date with the Pies, finals casualties for the second year running, could be the perfect opening round test.
The Pies, on the other hand, will be keen to be a part of September action again next season and with Adam Treloar expected to be on board, there will be reason for the club and their fans to believe.
North Melbourne versus Fremantle
Sunday, March 27, 1:10pm
Blundstone Arena
Like the Hawks did in 2014, North Melbourne could look to start its 2016 season in Tasmania, and what better opponent to do it against in the form of Fremantle, who will almost certainly have a new skipper with Matthew Pavlich expected to announce his retirement very soon.
This season, the Roos drew a record crowd to Hobart’s Bellerive Oval for its Round 6 clash against Richmond, and went three from three at the venue, defeating the Tigers, the West Coast Eagles in Round 10, and St Kilda in Round 20.
In addition, the Roos were able to beat the Dockers when they met at Etihad Stadium in Round 21, and as for the Dockers, they’ll be hoping that they fare better in Hobart after being on the wrong end of too many lopsided losses in Launceston.
Adelaide Crows versus St Kilda
Sunday, March 27, 2:50pm
Adelaide Oval
For the second consecutive year, the Adelaide Crows will have the honour of playing the first game of the season at the Adelaide Oval, and it will come against St Kilda, another side expected to improve in season 2016.
As was the case last year, for the Crows it will be their first game under a debutant coach, who is yet to be appointed by the club to permanently succeed the late Phil Walsh.
It will also be the third time in five seasons the Saints have started a season with an interstate match, having played Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in 2012 and Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium in 2013.
Essendon versus Melbourne
Sunday, March 27, 4:40pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Another traditional opening round match could be borne out of Essendon and Melbourne, with the former expected to appoint John Worsfold as its new coach at some point this month.
And how appropriate would it be that his first game as Bombers coach is against Paul Roos, who guided the Sydney Swans to their 2005 flag against Worsfold’s West Coast Eagles, who in return coached the Eagles to the 2006 flag against Roos’ Swans.
This will be the final season in which Roos is in charge of the Melbourne Demons, and their slow but gradual progress will be expected to continue on in 2016 before he hands the keys to Simon Goodwin in 2017.
Geelong Cats versus Hawthorn
Monday, March 28, 3:20pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
And finally, Round 1 next year will conclude with the traditional Easter Monday showdown between the Geelong Cats and Hawthorn.
With the fixture being a Cats home game this year, it is unlikely that the Hawks will unfurl their premiership flag (if of course they are victorious in the grand final this Saturday), in which case they’ll do it very likely in Round 2.
After missing the finals for the first time since 2006, the Cats will be out to take it right up to the Hawks, and it could also double as the first game in the blue and white hoops for Patrick Dangerfield, if as expected he calls Kardinia Park home next season.
As for the Hawks, they’ll be keen to start their bid for a four-peat (not achieved since Collingwood in 1927-30) with another big win against the Cats, whom they defeated twice in a season for the first time since 2006 this year.
That’s how I think Round 1 next year should unfold. It could shape as arguably the biggest opening round in recent AFL history, with four MCG blockbusters, two games in south-east Queensland, as well as matches in Perth, Adelaide and Hobart.
Carlos
Guest
If they're lucky
Carlos
Guest
If this game were to ever be "fair" in the fixture, what should happen, is a clean slate, NO "favours" or requests, and rounds 1 - 17 be drawn from a hat. Then rounds 18 - 22 a reverse home game repeat of 1-5. The following year to follow on as rounds 6-22 of the previous year, ending with the first 5 played again. The current rubbish sees certain teams meeting 8 times in 8 years, while others could meet 16 times in the same period. And it would even up the interstate travel as well. Too many Vic teams play too many "away" games between the MCG and Etihad.
Zac Cole
Guest
How are both the lions and the Suns meant to get any crowd if they play on the same day both in Queensland
Glenn Forsyth
Roar Rookie
What's the point of having Etihad Stadium? Why not just bulldoze the joint? If it cannot host one single match from Thursday till Monday then what on earth is its purpose? Surely that fixture could not be taken seriously? Essendon V Melbourne should be at Etihad...not the G..
johno
Guest
Probably a soccer thingy after Victory got the sulks on last year not being able to play a final there
Mark
Guest
My Round 1 Fixture **All times Local** Thursday March 24 Richmond Vs Carlton MCG 7.50pm Channel 7 Saturday March 26 Melbourne Vs Essendon MCG 1.40pm Gold Coast Vs Sydney MS 3.35pm West Coast Vs Adelaide DS 4.40pm W Bulldogs Vs Collingwood ES 7.20pm Channel 7 Sunday March 27 GWS Giants Vs Bris Lions SP 1.10pm St Kilda Vs North Melb ES 3.20pm Channel 7 Port Adelaide Vs Fremantle AO 4.15pm Monday March 28 Geelong Vs Hawthorn MCG 3.20pm Channel 7
Luke
Guest
Is Etihad Stadium having a spell round one?
jax
Guest
WC and Freo both play in Tassie once a year and they alternate playing the Dees in the NT off memory, Are the Tigers still playing in FNQ? I seem to recall the Dockers or Eagles playing there before but I can't be sure.
jax
Guest
And wanting to make sure that WC and Freo only play one game each on the MCG before the finals.
jax
Guest
If Hawthorn or North won and WC or Freo lost they would be playing it in Tassie. Then again, they probably wouldn't because it would be viewed as an important event and a precedent would be set. Yes they can set them and do it when it suits them to do so. WC has played on the MCG twice in two years, When they play the Hawks and North at their 'home' WC and Freo go to Tassie and when they play Melbourne they go to Darwin. The VFL covets the MCG for the Victorian clubs. That's where the big game is played and they wouldn't want to give an interstate teams an 'unfair advantage' by playing two or three games a year on the hallowed turf now would they! I quite like your idea though. I think the Cats and Hawks played each other in R1 a few times during those glory years.
Fourth_Ump
Guest
Why does Fremantle play the number of games it does in Tasmania? Which team plays in Tas most often after Hawthorn and North Melbourne?
Michael Huston
Guest
GWS vs Gold Coast, Thursday/Friday night. Two clubs with bright futures that need all the positives they can get. Anticipation and excitement will be around the competition, give it to the two who need it most.
Me Too
Guest
If I had one wish it would be that the AFL scrap the Richmond v Carlton kickoff and share the opener around. It,s a free kick to two clubs with enough support already without the AFL giving them a further leg up at the expense of other clubs that need more promotion. Starting poor GWS off in Perth is a bit unfair also given they are essentially playing away for five rounds. I'd prefer round 1 to be all derbies/showdowns so no team has to travel interstate in week one.
Me Too
Guest
How can the AFL expect the Giants to get any kind of foothold in NSW when the fans enter the season so late? They must be wondering if it's really their team or Canberras.
Karla D
Guest
Won't happen, the AFL has set it up so that all the outliner state i.e. not Victoria have a game each week, so can't have both GWS & Sydney away, same with WC & Freo at home, etc, etc.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I agree 100%. That'll prevent the Eagles from having to travel to Tasmania at least once
bryan
Guest
A capacity crowd at Bellerive Oval? What's that---20,000? Make it a WCE-v-Freo game at Subi,instead------good for 40,000 or so! Let "Norf" play the Giants at Bellerive.---20,000 will seem huge to GWS. :)
Brian
Guest
Fair enough I had not considered sneaking in a 1st October GF but not sure they would want to start the season as late as 24th Marhc.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Those discussions have taken place in the recent past, so these are the balls being juggled by the AFL: 1. looking to start a week earlier than normal 2. looking to fit in a 2nd bye 3. trying to negotiate the overlap with cricket which the earlier start means 4. wanting to avoid an opening split round which means the season doesn't start with enough oomph.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Two byes is high on the priority list. I'm expecting a start on the Easter weekend and the Grand Final to be played on 1st October.