2027 AFL fixture revealed with MCG double-header and Ballarat return

The MCG will host four matches across the opening weekend and AFL action will return to an expanded Mars Stadium under the 2027 fixture, released in full today.

The 24-round schedule also includes a new Dreamtime match at Optus Stadium, nine Gather Round games across three South Australian venues and the return of premiership football to regional grounds around the country.

Dates and start times have been confirmed for Rounds 1–16, while match-ups and venues are locked in for Rounds 17–24, with those games to be scheduled later.

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The season begins on Wednesday 17 March with the Sydney Swans hosting Geelong at the SCG, followed by Fremantle against the Western Bulldogs in Perth on Thursday night. All 18 clubs will feature in the opening round in 2027.

Stadium availability has helped shape the start of the season, with the MCG hosting the 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England from 11-15 March. AFL access to the ground begins on Friday 19 March, when Hawthorn faces reigning premier Brisbane Lions.

The MCG then stages a rare Saturday double-header, with Richmond playing Carlton at 12:35pm before St Kilda hosts Collingwood at 7:40pm. Melbourne and Essendon complete the ground’s opening-round program on Sunday afternoon, making it four matches in less than 48 hours.

One of the notable regional venue developments is the return of AFL premiership matches to Mars Stadium, where the Western Bulldogs will host Gold Coast in Round 7 and GWS in Round 20.

The Ballarat venue recently completed two new grandstands, doubling permanent seating from approximately 5,000 to 10,000. The redevelopment also delivered a larger video scoreboard, upgraded broadcast facilities, additional changerooms and improved accessibility, with AFLW spectators the first to experience the new stands earlier this month.

South Australia will again host all nine matches in Round 4, with Gather Round running from Thursday 8 April to Sunday 11 April. Adelaide Oval stages five games, while Norwood Oval and Barossa Park each host two.

The round opens with Adelaide against Brisbane and concludes with Port Adelaide facing the Western Bulldogs. An inaugural Players Parade will also form part of the Friday program, ahead of Collingwood’s clash with Sydney.

Optus Stadium gains another marquee fixture with Richmond and Essendon meeting in the inaugural Dreamtime at Maali match during Round 16, coinciding with NAIDOC Week. It follows their traditional Dreamtime at the ’G encounter on the Friday of Round 9.

Perth will also host the first of two Grand Final rematches, with Fremantle facing Brisbane on Sunday night in Round 8. The return meeting is scheduled for Thursday night in Round 16 at the Gabba.

The regional program includes Melbourne against Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs in Round 7, followed by the Gold Coast Suns hosting Carlton at Darwin’s TIO Stadium in Round 10.

Matches also return to Canberra, Bunbury, Hobart and Launceston, maintaining the competition’s presence beyond its major metropolitan venues.

In Geelong, the Cats will play ten home matches at GMHBA Stadium, with their Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn staged at the MCG. Carlton is among the clubs scheduled to visit the Cats’ home ground in 2027.

The Easter weekend will see Brisbane host Collingwood at the Gabba on Thursday night, North Melbourne face Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday and Fremantle play Adelaide in Perth that evening.

ANZAC Day falls on a Sunday, with GWS hosting the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval before the traditional Collingwood and Essendon match at the MCG. Fremantle’s Len Hall Tribute game against St Kilda completes the day at Optus Stadium, following Melbourne and Richmond’s ANZAC Eve match the previous night.

The fixture also expands the spread of evening football, with Thursday night matches in every round through Round 16 and Sunday night games across the opening 13 rounds. Most early Sunday matches will begin at 12:30pm AEST, with exceptions in Rounds 1 and 6.

There will be no byes during the opening ten rounds. The five-week finals series begins with two Wildcard Finals in early September, ahead of the 2027 AFL Grand Final on Saturday 2 October.

The full 2027 AFL fixture is now available on Austadiums. Filter by team, stadium, city or round, explore venue information and add matches to your Austadiums account for reminders and to keep track of the games you plan to attend.