The 2019 AFL season will commence on Thursday, February 21. This is The Roar’s guide to the season, the squads and the fixtures for the year ahead.

The opening match will see traditional rivals the Carlton Blues and Richmond Tigers square off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the first bounce set down for 7:20pm (AEDT).

Each weekend will feature nine matches, with them being played between Thursday and Sunday, expect for special rounds around Easter, Anzac Day and the Queen’s Birthday, when matches are played on other days of the week.

Generally speaking, there will be one match on Thursday, one on Friday, four on Saturday and three on Sunday. When there is no Thursday night match, it will be moved to Saturday.

Following Carlton and Richmond to open the season, defending premiers Collingwood will take on Geelong in a critical clash.

Saturday’s four games will start with the Melbourne Demons and Port Adelaide Power, before the Adelaide Crows host the Hawthorn Hawks, the Western Bulldogs face the Sydney Swans, and the Brisbane Lions go up against the West Coast Eagles.

The Sunday games in the opening round will feature the St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney Giants up against the Essendon Bombers, and Fremantle Dockers to face the North Melbourne Kangaroos in the final match of the round.

» Full AFL fixtures

The only way to watch every match of the AFL season will be on Fox Footy.

Teams and squads

Adelaide Crows

2018 finish: 12th
Home ground: Adelaide Oval
Coach: Don Pyke
Squad
Hugh Greenwood, Brad Crouch, Riley Knight, Josh Jenkins, Matt Crouch, Bryce Gibbs, Jordan Gallucci, Jake Kelly, Rory Sloane, Myles Poholke, Paul Seedsman, Daniel Talia, Taylor Walker, David Mackay, Kyle Hartigan, Luke Brown, Tyson Stengle, Eddie Betts, Chayce Jones, Rory Atkins, Andy Otten, Shane McAdam, Sam Jacobs, Ned McHenry, Richard Douglas, Tom Lynch, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Rory Laird, Wayne Milera, Patrick Wilson, Darcy Fogarty, Brodie Smith, Elliott Himmelberg, William Hamill, Andrew McPherson, Paul Hunter, Lachlan Stoll, Tom Doedee, Ben Davis, Jordon Butts, Alex Keath, Reilly O’Brien, Lachlan Murphy, Kieran Strachan

Brisbane Lions

2018 finish: 15th
Home ground: The Gabba, Brisbane
Coach: Chris Fagan
Squad
Ben Keays, Luke Hodge, Allen Christensen, Ryan Bastinac, Mitch Robinson, Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Ely Smith, Lachie Neale, Daniel Rich, Lincoln McCarthy, Stefan Martin, Thomas Berry, Josh Walker, Dayne Zorko, Cameron Rayner, Jarryd Lyons, Nick Robertson, Jacob Allison, Cedric Cox, Sam Skinner, Mitchell Hinge, Charlie Cameron, Marcus Adams, Daniel McStay, Tom Cutler, Darcy Gardiner, Lewis Taylor, Alex Witherden, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Tom Joyce, Zac Bailey, Toby Wooller, Ryan Lester, Rhys Mathieson, Brandon Starcevich, Connor Ballendedn, Corey Lyons, Jack Payne, Matthew Eagles, James Madden, Noah Answerth, Archie Smith, Connor McFadyen, Oscar McInerney, Tom Fullarton

Carlton Blues

2018 finish: 18th
Home ground: MCG, Marvel Stadium
Coach: Brendon Bolton
Squad
Jack Silvagni, Paddy Dow, Marc Murphy, Lochie O’Brien, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Kade Simpson, Matthew Kennedy, Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Tom De Koning, Liam Stocker, Liam Jones, Sam Docherty, Darcy Lang, Sam Walsh, Angus Schumacher, Lachie Plowman, Jarrod Garlett, Caleb Marchbank, Jacob Weitering, Nic Newman, Zac Fisher, Harrison Macreadie, Matthew Lobbe, David Cuningham, Cameron Polson, Charlie Curnow, Tom Williamson, Alex Fasolo, Jarrod Pickett, Andrew Phillips, Ed Curnow, Pat Kerr, Ben Silvagni, Finbar O’Dwyer, Dale Thomas, Tomas Bugg, Levi Casboult, Kym Lebois, Will Setterfield, Matthew Owies, Hugh Goddard

Collingwood Magpies

2018 finish: 3rd
Home ground: MCG
Coach: Nathan Buckley
Squad
Jaidyn Stephenson, Jordan De Goey, Daniel Wells, Brodie Grundy, Jamie Elliot, Tyson Goldsack, Adam Treloar, Tom Langdon, Sam Murray, Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Matthew Scharenberg, Taylor Adams, James Aish, Lynden Dunn, Chris Mayne, Callum Brown, Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood, Ben Reid, Tom Phillips, Steele Sidebottom, Jordan Roughead, Josh Thomas, Jack Crisp, Josh Daicos, Will Kelly, Nathan Murphy, Tim Broomhead, Darcy Moore, Flynn Appleby, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Rupert Wills, Tyler Brown, Isaac Quaynor, Brayden Sier, Brayden Maynard, Jeremy Howe, Ben Crocker, Atu Bosenavulagi, Brody Mihocek, Anton Tohill, Jack Madgen, Max Lynch, Mason Cox, Mark Keane

Essendon Bombers

2018 finish: 11th
Home ground: MCG, Marvel Stadium
Coach: John Worsfold
Squad
Andrew McGrath, Tom Bellchambers, Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Devon Smith, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Martin Gleeson, Dylan Shiel, Aaron Francis, David Zaharakis, Mark Baguley, Orazio Fantasia, Jordan Ridley, Jayden Laverde, Josh Begley, James Stewart, Michael Hurley, Kobe Mutch, Zac Clarke, Dyson Heppell, Irving Mosquito, David Myers, Jordan Houlahan, Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker, Mason Redman, Mitch Brown, Patrick Ambrose, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Noah Gown, Brayden Ham, Jake Long, Matt Guelfi, Michael Hartley, Dylan Clarke, Sam Draper, Trent Mynott, Luke Lavender, Ben McNiece, Adam Saad, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Shaun McKernan, Conor McKenna, Thomas Jok, Matt Dea

Fremantle Dockers

2018 finish: 14th
Home ground: Optus Stadium, Perth
Coach: Ross Lyon
Squad
Hayden Ballantyne, Griffin Logue, Brandon Matera, Sean Darcy, Adam Cerra, Reece Conca, Nat Fyfe, Andrew Brayshaw, Bradley Hill, Michael Walters, Jesse Hogan, Mitchell Crowden, Harley Bennell, Nathan Wilson, Ethan Hughes, David Mundy, Hugh Dixon, Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely, Matt Taberner, Joel Hamling, Shane Kersten, Cam McCarthy, Tom North, Alex Pearce, Ed Langdon, Sam Sturt, Lachlan Schultz, Luke Valente, Lloyd Meek, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill, Travis Colyer, Brett Bewley, Jason Carter, Brennan Cox, Rory Lobb, Luke Ryan, Sam Switkowski, Scott Jones, Bailey Banfield, Stefan Giro, Ryan Nyhuis, Taylin Duman, Tobe Watson

Geelong Cats

2018 finish: 8th
Home ground: GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Coach: Chris Scott
Squad
Rhys Stanley, Zach Tuohy, Brandan Parfitt, Gary Ablett, Nakia Cockatoo, Jordan Clark, Harry Taylor, Jake Kolodjashnij, Zac Smith, Ben Jarvis, Tim Kelly, Wylie Buzza, Lachlan Fogarty, Joel Selwood, Nathan Kreuger, Scott Selwood, Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Constable, Quinton Narkle, Oscar Brownless, Jacob Kennerley, Mitch Duncan, Gary Rohan, Jed Bews, Lachie Henderson, Tom Hawkins, Sam Menegola, Darcy Fort, Cam Guthrie, Tom Atkins, Jordan Cunico, Gryan Miers, Jake Tarca, James Parsons, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Simpson, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie, Luke Dahlhaus, Jamaine Jones, Mark O’Connor, Stefan Okunbor, Tom Stewart, Ryan Abbott, Mark Blicavs

Gold Coast Suns

2018 finish: Stuart Dew
Home ground: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
Coach: 17th
Squad
Pearce Hanley, Anthony Miles, Jack Bowes, Jack Martin, Jarrod Harbrow, Alex Sexton, Will Brodie, Brayden Fiorini, Ben Ainsworth, Charlie Ballard, Touk Miller, Sam Day, Callum Ah Chee, Lachie Weller, Aaron Young, Rory Thompson, Corey Ellis, Brad Scheer, Joshua Corbett, Jack Hombsch, Jack Leslie, Tom Nicholls, Sean Lemmens, David Swallow, Sam Collins, Harrison Wigg, Wil Powell, Jarrod Witts, Chris Burgess, Peter Wright, Jordan Murdoch, Brayden Crossley, George Horlin-Smith, Ben King, Michael Rischitelli, Josh Schoenfeld, Izak Rankine, Jesse Joyce, Nick Holman, Jacob Heron, Jack Lukosius, Connor Nutting, Jez McLennan, Darcy MacPherson, Jacob Dawson, Caleb Graham

GWS Giants

2018 finish: 7th
Home ground: Spotless Stadium, Homebush
Coach: Leon Cameron
Squad
Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Jye Caldwell, Lachie Whitfield, Brett Deledio, Callan Ward, Jackson Hately, Aiden Bonar, Tommy Sheridan, Jonathon Patton, Isaac Cumming, Tim Taranto, Sam Taylor, Brent Daniels, Zac Langdon, Jeremy Cameron, Nick Haynes, Adam Tomlinson, Matt Buntine, Josh Kelly, Heath Shaw, Matt de Boer, Lachlan Keeffe, Dawson Simpson, Harry Himmelberg, Zachary Sproule, Zac Williams, Matthew Flynn, Jeremy Finlayson, Kieren Briggs, Xavier O’Halloran, Nick Shipley, Aidan Corr, Harry Perryman, Ian Hill, Daniel Lloyd, Connor Idun, Adam Kennedy, Shane Mumford, Jake Stein, Dylan Buckley, Jack Buckley, Callum Brown, Sam Reid

Hawthorn Hawks

2018 finish: 4th
Home ground: MCG, UTAS Stadium, Launceston
Coach: Alastair Clarkson
Squad
Harry Morrison, Jarryd Roughead, Tom Mitchell, Jarman Impey, James Worpel, James Sicily, Ben McEvoy, Mitchell Lewis, Shaun Burgoyne, Jaeger O’Meara, Conor Nash, James Frawley, Conor Glass, Grant Birchall, Blake Hardwick, Isaac Smith, Daniel Howe, Jonathon Ceglar, Jack Gunston, Chad Wingard, Tom Scully, Luke Breust, Tim O’Brien, Ben Stratton, Ryan Schoenmakers, Liam Shiels, Marc Pittonet, Paul Puopolo, Changkuoth Jiath, Kaiden Brand, Ricky Henderson, David Mirra, Mathew Walker, Jacob Koschitzke, Jack Scrimshaw, Dylan Moore, Jackson Ross, Darren Minchington, Tim Mohr, Harrison Jones, Oliver Hanrahan, Teia Miles, Damon Greaves, Will Golds, James Cousins

Melbourne Demons

2018 finish: 5th
Home ground: MCG
Coach: Simon Goodwin
Squad
Steven May, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem, James Harmes, Christian Petracca, Jordan Lewis, Jack Viney, Jake Lever, Charlie Spargo, Angus Brayshaw, Max Gawn, Toby Bedford, Clayton Oliver, Michael Hibberd, Billy Stretch, Kade Kolodjashnij, Sam Frost, Jake Melksham, Mitch Hannan, Corey Maynard, Braydon Preuss, Aaron Vandenberg, James Jordon, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Tom McDonald, Sam Weideman, Aaron Nietschke, Oscar McDonald, Jayden Hunt, Alex Neal-Bullen, Bayley Fritsch, Tom Sparrow, Oskar Baker, Marty Hore, Harrison Petty, Jeff Garlett, Kade Chandler, Timothy Smith, Neville Jetta, Corey Wagner, Josh Wagner, Guy Walker, Joel Smith, Declan Keilty, Austin Bradtke

North Melbourne Kangaroos

2018 finish: 9th
Home ground: Marvel Stadium, MCG, Blundstone Arena
Coach: Brad Scott
Squad
Majak Daw, Marley Williams, Jed Anderson, Shaun Higgins, Ben Jacobs, Taylor Garner, Jack Ziebell, Nathan Hrovat, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Ben Cunnington, Luke McDonald, Jy Simpkin, Jared Polec, Trent Dumont, Paul Ahern, Scott Thompson, Jasper Pittard, Shaun Atley, Sam Wright, Nick Larkey, Dom Tyson, Todd Goldstein, Ben McKay, Sam Durdin, Robbie Tarrant, Tarryn Thomas, Will Walker, Kayne Turner, Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor, Mason Wood, Ed Vickers-Willis, Jamie Macmillan, Declan Watson, Joel Crocker, Kyron Hayden, Tristan Xerri, Tom McKenzie, Tom Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Tom Campbell, Aaron Hall, Cameron Zurhaar, Red Og Murphy, Ben Brown

Port Adelaide Power

2018 finish: 10th
Home ground: Adelaide Oval
Coach: Ken Hinkley
Squad
Sam Powell-Pepper, Ryan Burton, Paddy Ryder, Matthew Broadbent, Steven Motlop, Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak, Tom Rockliff, Trent McKenzie, Todd Marshall, Billy Frampton, Karl Amon, Ollie Wines, Tom Clurey, Zak Butters, Jack Trengove, Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma, Charlie Dixon, Jack Watts, Kane Farrell, Sam Hayes, Riley Bonner, Joel Garner, Willem Drew, Scott Lycett, Joe Atley, Aidyn Johnson, Dougal Howard, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Sam Mayes, Boyd Woodcock, Jake Patmore, Peter Ladhams, Justin Westhoff, Jarrod Lienert, Riley Grundy, Tom Jonas, Dan Houston, Cameron Hewett, Martin Frederick, Sam Gray, Tobin Cox, Kai Pudney

Richmond Tigers

2018 finish: 1st
Home ground: MCG
Coach: Damien Hardwick
Squad
Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes, Dion Prestia, Dustin Martin, Brandon Ellis, Shaun Grigg, Dan Butler, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Jason Castagna, David Astbury, Jack Higgins, Bachar Houli, Jayden Short, Maverick Weller, Daniel Rioli, Alex Rance, Tom Lynch, Jacob Townsend, Josh Caddy, Kane Lambert, Toby Nankervis, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Jack Ross, Fraser Turner, Shai Bolton, Oleg Markov, Luke English, Kamdyn McIntosh, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad, Callum Moore, Connor Menadue, Noah Balta, Jake Aarta, Callum Coleman-Jones, Mabior Chol, Ryan Garthwaite, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Patrick Naish, Ben Miller, Ivan Soldo, Liam Baker

St Kilda Saints

2018 finish: 16th
Home ground: MCG, Marvel Stadium
Coach: Alan Richardson
Squad
Nick Coffield, Jake Carlisle, Jack Steven, Jade Gresham, Shane Savage, Sebastian Ross, Luke Dunstan, Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Dan Hannebery, Hunter Clark, Max King, Jack Lonie, Jarryn Geary, Jack Billings, Jack Newnes, Dylan Roberton, Billy Longer, Rowan Marshall, David Armitage, Ben Long, Nathan Brown, Jack Bytel, Logan Austin, Dean Kent, Josh Battle, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Jimmy Webster, Ed Phillips, Brandon White, Paddy McCartin, Ben Paton, Matt Parker, Jack Sinclair, Daniel McKenzie, Bailey Rice, Oscar Clavarino, Darragh Joyce, Nick Hind, Robbie Young, Lewis Pierce, Callum Wilkie, Doulton Langlands

Sydney Swans

2018 finish: 6th
Home ground: Sydney Cricket Ground
Coach: John Longmire
Squad
James Rose, Daniel Menzel, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan Clarke, Isaac Heeney, Jackson Thurlow, Harry Cunningham, James Rowbottom, Will Hayward, Zak Jones, Tom Papley, Josh Kennedy, Oliver Florent, Callum Mills, Kieren Jack, Zac Foot, Darcy Cameron, Callum Sinclair, Matthew Ling, Sam Reid, Jack Maibaum, Nick Blakey, Lance Franklin, Dane Rampe, Ben Ronke, Luke Parker, Justin McInerney, Durak Tucker, George Hewett, Tom McCartin, Harry Reynolds, James Bell, Ryley Stoddart, Jordan Dawson, Sam Naismith, Aliir Aliir, Colin O’Riordan, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Robbie Fox, Lewis Melican, Jake Lloyd, Samuel Wicks, Joel Amartey, Toby Pink

West Coast Eagles

2018 finish: Adam Simpson
Home ground: Optus Stadium, Perth
Coach: 2nd – premiers
Squad
Liam Ryan, Jake Waterman, Andrew Gaff, Dom Sheed, Brad Sheppard, Elliot Yeo, Chris Masten, Jack Redden, Nic Naitanui, Jarrod Brander, Oscar Allen, Luke Shuey, Liam Duggan, Jamie Cripps, Tom Hickey, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Venables, Nathan Vardy, Jeremy McGovern, Jack Petruccelle, Hamish Brayshaw, Lewis Jetta, Xavier O’Neill, Shannon Hurn, Francis Watson, Jack Darling, Thomas Cole, Luke Foley, Jackson Nelson, Will Schofield, Bailey Williams, Brayden Ainsworth, Mark Hutchings, Josh Rotham, Fraser McInnes, Tom Barrass, Kurt Mutimer, Jarrod Cameron, Keegan Brooksby, Brendon Ah Chee, Harry Edwards, Matthew Allen, Willie Rioli, Josh Smith, Patrick Bines, Brodie Riach

Western Bulldogs

2018 finish: 13th
Home ground: MCG, Marvel Stadium, Mars Stadium, Ballarat
Coach: Luke Beveridge
Squad
Matthew Suckling, Lewis Young, Mitch Wallis, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith, Lachie Hunter, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier, Easton Wood, Jack Macrae, Zaine Cordy, Josh Schache, Rhylee West, Taylor Duryea, Toby McLean, Tom Boyd, Fletcher Roberts, Lukas Webb, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore, Sam Lloyd, Laitham Vandermeer, Buku Khamis, Ben Cavarra, Billy Gowers, Patrick Lipinski, Callum Porter, Tory Dickson, Fergus Greene, Bailey Dale, Will Hayes, Aaron Naughton, Bailey Williams, Caleb Daniel, Brad Lynch, Roarke Smith, Dale Morris, Jason Johannisen, Lachlan Young, Jordon Sweet, Liam Picken, Tim English, Lin Jong

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