THE 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will kick off with a pair of blockbuster matches at the MCG.
For the fourth consecutive year, Carlton and Richmond will play in the opening game, which will take place on Thursday, March 24.
Geelong hosts St Kilda at the 'G the following evening, while Collingwood gets its premiership defence underway with a Saturday afternoon home game against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
The Magpies are not expected to unfurl their flag before that game. Instead, they have indicated they will do it at their Friday night clash against Carlton in round three.
Other highlights of the opening round include Adelaide hosting Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium in a Saturday night contest to commemorate the Crows' first official match in 1991.
A day later, James Hird will coach Essendon in a home and away game for the first time. The Bombers take on the highly-rated Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
But supporters of expansion club Gold Coast will have to wait until the second week of the season for their team to run out.
"The Suns will make their debut in round two, playing Carlton at the Gabba," the AFL's chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said.
"Their first home match at the redeveloped Gold Coast Stadium will be in round 10 against Geelong."
The inclusion of Gold Coast means the 2011 season will be played across 24 rounds. All clubs will play 11 home games and 11 away games, and have two byes.
"The season structure features 19 rounds of eight matches with one bye and five rounds of seven matches with three byes, to best manage the spread of byes for all clubs," McLachlan said.
"Our game is privileged to have membership and attendance support that is unmatched in Australia.
"With the support of our broadcast partners, we aim to have the widest possible coverage of all 187 home and away games, along with the nine matches of the finals series."
The grand final has been scheduled for the first Saturday in October.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2011 HOME AND AWAY FIXTURE
- All teams, except the Gold Coast Suns, to play at least one match on either Thursday or Friday night.
- The Sydney Swans to play their first Friday night home and away game at the SCG since 2003.
- Every club to play at least one match at the MCG.
- Two Anzac Day matches with Essendon to host Collingwood at the MCG and Fremantle hosting the Western Bulldogs in the Len Hall tribute game.
- 2010 grand finalists Collingwood and St Kilda to meet at the MCG in round 11 and at Etihad Stadium in round 21.
- Geelong to play North Melbourne at Skilled Stadium in round seven, which will see twin brothers Chris and Brad Scott go to head to head in the coaches' boxes.
- Floating fixture for round 24.
- Richmond to host Gold Coast at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns. It will be the first home and away match played in north Queensland.
The full 2011 AFL Premiership Season Fixture is available at www.afl.com.au
Courtesy of www.afl.com.au
Last Modified on 10/05/2011 16:30