The AFL has announced the 2024 pre-season practice matches with several rivals squaring off in preparation for the upcoming season.
Collingwood and Richmond will begin the AFL Community Series on Thursday, February 27 at IKON Park with every team playing across six days until St Kilda vs. North Melbourne wraps up the exhibition games on Sunday, March 3.
There will be a rematch of the 2023 semi-final between Carlton and Melbourne, while Essendon will journey down the highway to face Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
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Five matches will be staged outside of Victoria including Hawthorn's contest against Western Bulldogs at the University of Tasmania.
The South Australian clubs Adelaide and Port Adelaide will host West Coast and Fremantle respectively in South Australia, while Sydney will welcome Brisbane south.
GWS' second home at Manuka Oval in Canberra will be the venue to host Gold Coast Suns.
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AFL Community Series pre-season fixture
Feb 27-Mar 3 (Official practice matches)
| Date | Match | Local Time (AEDT) | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tues Feb 27 | Collingwood vs. Richmond | 6:40pm | IKON Park |
| Wed Feb 28 | Carlton vs. Melbourne | 6:40pm | IKON Park |
| Thu Feb 29 | Sydney vs. Brisbane Lions | 4:10pm | Blacktown International Sportspark |
| Thu Feb 29 | GWS vs. Gold Coast Suns | 7:10pm | Manuka Oval |
| Fri Mar 1 | Geelong vs. Essendon | 5:10pm | GMHBA Stadium |
| Fri Mar 1 | Port Adelaide vs. Fremantle | 7:30pm (8:00pm) | Alberton Oval |
| Sat Mar 2 | Adelaide Crows vs. West Coast Eagles | 2:40pm (3:10pm) | Hisense Stadium |
| Sat Mar 2 | Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs | 6:10pm | University of Tasmania Stadium |
| Sun Mar 3 | St Kilda vs North Melbourne | 2:10pm | RSEA Park |
AFL Match Simulation games (TBC)
AFL clubs will also be given the opportunity to stage an optional match simulation training session after the AFL Community Series.
This will be organised and communicated by the clubs involved in the match simulation.
Broadcast arrangements will be confirmed at a later date.
Tickets for AFL practice matches
All members and kids will be able to attend AFL Community Series matches for free.
Tickets will go on sale in February with information becoming available in late January.
AFL fixture 2024: Premiership season
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The full fixture for the 2024 AFL season has dropped and, as confirmed earlier, the year will kick off with an "opening round" ahead of round one, seeing four matches played across Sydney and Queensland, one week before the traditional season start.
A full nine-match round will then follow a week later, with each of the eight clubs playing in the "opening round" having a bye between rounds two and six.
Sydney and Melbourne will kick off the season at the SCG on Thursday, March 7, while the traditional MCG blockbuster between Carlton and Richmond will be played a week later.
Reigning premiers Collingwood will face GWS in Sydney on Saturday, March 9, while they will face grand final opponents Brisbane for the first time at the Gabba in Round 3, on Thursday March 28 at 7:30pm.
Click here to see the full AFL fixture for the 2024 season.