The AFL has unveiled a revamped season-opening round fixture for 2027, headlined by a historic Wednesday night blockbuster and the end of a long-standing Thursday night tradition.

Plus Essendon and Richmond will play two Dreamtime matches in 2027, one of them at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

The two clubs will play Dreamtime at the G in Round 9, and then host Dreamtime at Maali – the Noongar word for black swan – in Round 16 as part of a two-year deal with Tourism Western Australia.

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The second match coincides with NAIDOC week and the clubs will swap hosting rights in 2028, with Essendon the 2027 host.

Meanwhile with Opening Round banished after three seasons as the opening weekend of football, Sydney will host the first home-and-away match of 2027, welcoming fellow premiership contender Geelong to the SCG on March 17.

The Swans and Cats will kick off the new campaign at 7:30pm, with the AFL reverting to a traditional nine-game opening round after three years of experimenting with a staggered start to the season.

It will be Sydney’s first-ever Wednesday fixture since relocating from South Melbourne, whose last appearance on the unusual game day of the week came on Anzac Day in 1979.

Geelong, meanwhile, last featured on a Wednesday during the COVID-affected 2020 season, defeating North Melbourne by 33 points at the Gabba.

The competition’s slightly later start to 2027 comes as a result of the one-off sesquicentennial Test between Australia and England at the MCG, scheduled for March 11-15 to commemorate 150 years of Test cricket.

The AFL has nonetheless ensured a blockbuster opening to its new campaign, with matches across five consecutive days and a host of heavyweight encounters set to headline the first weekend of football.

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In another significant scheduling shake-up, the traditional Thursday night clash between Richmond and Carlton has been moved to Saturday afternoon, exclusively on Kayo Sports.

Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs have instead been handed the standalone prime time slot as one of two games at Optus Stadium that weekend, which with all things going to plan, will see Zak Butters make his home-and-away debut in the red, white and blue for the first time since leaving Port Adelaide.

Their 8:10pm encounter will be followed by a Friday night blockbuster between Hawthorn and reigning three-time premiers Brisbane at the MCG, in an instant re-match of their all-time preliminary final clash in September.

Kicking off Super Saturday, where all three games are live and exclusive on Kayo Footy, the Tigers and Blues’ rivalry still remains a prominent feature of Round 1 — locking horns at the MCG with a red Sherrin from 12:35pm on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Richmond CEO Shane Dunne spoke to the “frustration” at not taking part in their 19-year Thursday night tradition at the MCG.

“We all share the disappointment that our blockbuster Round 1 game against Carlton won’t be played in its traditional Thursday night time slot,” Dunne, said.

“Since 2008, this fixture has become one of the marquee events on the AFL calendar, attracting an average crowd of over 80,000, major television audiences and helping launch the football season with the atmosphere only a packed MCG can provide. However, the AFL has been clear that this year’s change is solely due to the MCG’s availability, and we understand it is a one-year arrangement.

“While that doesn’t lessen the frustration felt by our club and supporters, we appreciate the circumstances and look forward to this iconic fixture returning to its traditional Thursday night time slot next year.

“While this is a one-year arrangement, it’s hard to ignore that a 12:35pm Saturday start creates barriers for some of the game’s most passionate supporters.

The Saturday night spotlight will then fall on St Kilda and Collingwood, who last year closed out Opening Round in a two-goal thriller.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Harry Perryman wrestle during Opening Round on March 8, 2026 at the MCG.Source: Getty Images

Either side of the four Melbourne-based teams playing on Saturday, Adelaide will open its crucial 2027 campaign on home soil against a much-younger GWS outfit.

First up on Sunday afternoon, North Melbourne will host Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium for the second-straight year as their season opener.

Melbourne and Essendon will renew hostilities at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, before West Coast and Gold Coast round out the opening weekend with a Sunday night clash at Optus Stadium.

“We have listened to feedback and are pleased to be able to deliver a Round One for all our 18 clubs and fans as we bring back a traditional nine-game opening weekend across the country,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said in a statement.

“The 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season was one to remember with some of the best footy of the modern era, which resulted in record crowd and broadcast numbers, and we are excited for what 2027 will bring.

“We have the best fans in the world. Their passion is unmatched and we see this Round One fixture as delivering a perfect start the season.”

AFL FIXTURE 2026: ROUND 1 (all times AEDT)

Wednesday March 17

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, 7:30pm (SCG)

Thursday March 18

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, 8:10pm (Optus Stadium)

Friday March 19

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, 7:40pm (MCG)

Saturday March 20

Richmond v Carlton, 12:35pm (MCG)

Adelaide Crows v GWS GIANTS, 4:15pm (Adelaide Oval)

St Kilda v Collingwood, 7:40pm (MCG)

Sunday March 21

North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, 1:10pm (Marvel Stadium)

Melbourne v Essendon, 3:15pm (MCG)

West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast SUNS, 6:10pm (Optus Stadium)