The AFL has locked in the final fixtures of the home-and-away season, including a historic occasion at Victoria’s colosseum.
Round 23 will kick off with a Friday night clash featuring ladder leaders Fremantle and the gutsy Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium.
Saturday’s schedule features a series of matches with significant finals implications, including the Cats’ trip to Marvel Stadium to face North Melbourne and the Lions hosting the Suns at the Gabba.
The penultimate round will feature an AFL men’s double-header at the MCG for only the fourth time in history, with Richmond taking on the Saints at 12.35pm on Saturday followed by Hawthorn v Collingwood at 7.40pm.
To open round 24, St Kilda will host the Gold Coast Suns on a Thursday night at Marvel Stadium before one of the marquee matches of the round, as Collingwood takes on the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Friday night.
Saturday’s action in round 24 includes Carlton’s clash with Fremantle at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne facing the Bulldogs at the MCG, the Cats hosting Richmond at GMHBA Stadium, and the Crows meeting Giants at Adelaide Oval, with every result likely to play a role in shaping final ladder positions and the chance for a home final advantage.
AFL head of strategy and scheduling Josh Bowler said both rounds “are set to play a significant role in shaping the finals picture”.
“A number of clubs are still competing for top-four positions, home finals and places in September,” he said.
“Fans can look forward to several marquee match-ups featuring some of the competition’s leading teams as the race to the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series reaches its conclusion.”
Originally published as AFL reveals final rounds fixtures with huge double-headers to decide finals race