Melbourne will unfurl their premiership flag when they host the Western Bulldogs in the 2022 AFL season opener to kick off a March football feast in Victoria.
Fans starved of live action during COVID-19 lockdowns this year are being enticed back to venues, with all ten Victorian teams playing in Melbourne in Round 1.
The Demons-Bulldogs clash – a rematch of September’s grand final – will be played on a Wednesday night (March 16) at the MCG.
(Photo by Gary Day/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Carlton and Richmond will play their traditional Thursday night match in Round 1, followed by St Kilda hosting Collingwood on Friday night.
Geelong and Essendon will meet in their feature Country Game on Saturday and Hawthorn take on North Melbourne on Sunday.
The fixture for the remaining four games, featuring the eight non-Victorian clubs, will be confirmed in the coming days.
Victoria’s “footy festival” will also see all 14 AFLW teams play their Round 10 matches across the state, beginning on March 11 and leading into a six-team finals series the following week.
In total, there will be 12 men’s and women’s matches in Victoria across a ten-day period.
“We want to get big crowds back to the footy, the weekly ritual of being able to go to a game and the sense of community it creates,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.
“Connecting families and friends is something we have missed in the state.
“We look forward to seeing fans return to our venues in huge numbers as well as to all the surrounding business and venues that rely on footy and big events being staged across the city.
“Footy can hopefully help bring the heartbeat of the city back to Melbourne and back to the state of Victoria.”
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
AFL Round 1
Wednesday, March 16
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MCG)
Thursday, March 17
Carlton v Richmond (MCG)
Friday, March 18
St Kilda v Collingwood (Marvel Stadium)
Saturday, March 19
Geelong v Essendon (MCG)
Sunday, March 20
Hawthorn v North Melbourne (MCG)
Other matches TBC
AFLW Round 11
Geelong v GWS (GMHBA Stadium)
North Melbourne v West Coast (Arden Street)
Melbourne v Carlton (Casey Fields)
Collingwood v Gold Coast (Victoria Park)
St Kilda v Adelaide (RSEA Park)
Richmond v Brisbane (Punt Road)
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (Mars Stadium)
Macca
Roar Rookie
Yes, I might have been tempted to watch the Wednesday night game (and get offside with the missus) against my better judgement but with Freo playing (as I don't watch them as a rule) it will make me less likely to watch the game. The decision isn't if I watch Freo or not, it is if I watch football on a Wednesday night!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
"Premiership Favourites"? Is that a commemorative brand of chocolates from yesteryear?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
"Anyway".
RT
Roar Rookie
Except after one day their attention will quickly turn to discussing the real season opener played on the Thursday night and the new Premiership favourites in Richmond.
Macca
Roar Rookie
"You don’t watch Freo anyway" Exactly, them playing on Wednesday night would make it easier not to watch the Wednesday night game? Given the relative accuracy of both our comments on Freo it seems watching them only makes things worse!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
After all, Vic number plates tell us they are "The Education State". A Wednesday night game gives students and teachers two days of classroom time to debrief the game and contextualise the rest of the round. What better education? It's only a problem for compulsive punters who have to wait 5 days before a full round multi is completed.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't watch Freo anyway. I can tell by your comments.
Macca
Roar Rookie
If you want Freo on a Wednesday night Don go for your life. Would make it a lot easier for me not to bother watching,
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
A Western derby would be a good start...or Dockers versus a Grand Finalist.
Macca
Roar Rookie
The last time these 2 teams meet the margin was over 12 goals and the 3 margins before that were 20, 28 & 28 with the highest losing score over those 4 games was 66 points. The last 4 margins between the Tigers and Blues have been 25, 24, 29 and 33 with losing scores of 80, 81, 45 & 64. Not convinced we will get a better game.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Record it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
At least Margetts is no longer there. I doubt WA has 3 umps on the panel now.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Better than starting with a Carlton game.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It’s a classic groundhog rehearsal :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It gives us the added bonus of knowing now & preparing for the rematch over summer, good or bad the demons are swirling in the dogs heads.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hahaha, the premiers could be 0-2 given the latest track record against the cellar dwellers if that’s the case.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Got to say I don’t agree with the grand finalist playing one another in round one. Give each of them bottom four opponents to build their confidence and get them to play in round 2
O M
Roar Rookie
I think that whole "do they play anywhere but the MCG" comment has become a bit tired. When it's your home ground, you're a Melbourne based Team and there are 5 MCG co-tenants, then of course you're going to play a few games there
O M
Roar Rookie
I think historically, if you lose the first 2 games of the Season, you rarely make the finals.
Will Stefanson
Roar Rookie
Something to do with Easter maybe :laughing: Either way the more games at different times the better. Hell I would be happy with one game a day