Round 1 of the 2027 AFL season will witness an MCG double-header on the Saturday whilst Sydney and Geelong will kickstart the new campaign on Wednesday.
Richmond and Carlton have been booted from their traditional Thursday night slot, starting their years on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.
St Kilda and Collingwood will play on the same ground later on Saturday.
The MCG hosted two games on the same day in Round 23 last August and will do so again for just the second time since 1986 (outside the COVID-impacted 2021 season).
Hawthorn will attempt to avenge its heartbreaking Preliminary Final loss against Brisbane as it plays host on Friday.
Fremantle will begin its year with a mouth-watering clash against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Thursday.
Essendon was shunted from its Round 1 request to face Hawthorn, and is instead taking on Melbourne on Sunday at the MCG.
North Melbourne is set to debut Nick Blakey against Port Adelaide on Sunday.
Gold Coast will partake in the biggest trip in Australia, heading from Queensland to Western Australia to take on West Coast.
The later start to the 2027 season is due to the 150th Anniversary Test match between Australia and England on March 11-15 at the MCG, with the Grand Final also pushed back to Saturday, October 2.
Round 1 2027 AFL Fixture
Wednesday 17 March
Sydney Swans vs Geelong Cats
7:30pm (AEDT), SCG (SEVEN)
Thursday 18 March
Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs
8:10pm (AEDT), Optus Stadium (SEVEN)
Friday 19 March
Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions
7:40pm (AEDT), MCG (SEVEN)
Saturday 20 March
Richmond vs Carlton
12:35pm (AEDT), MCG (KAYO)
Adelaide Crows vs GWS
4:15pm (AEDT), Adelaide Oval (KAYO)
St Kilda vs Collingwood
7:40pm (AEDT), MCG (KAYO)
Sunday 21 March
North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide
1:10pm (AEDT), Marvel Stadium (KAYO)
Melbourne vs Essendon
3:15pm (AEDT), MCG (SEVEN)
West Coast vs Gold Coast
6:10pm (AEDT), Optus Stadium (KAYO)
