Carlton’s big following and anticipated stand up the ladder have led to the Blues being given a robust hand of prime-time AFL fixtures subsequent 12 months.
The Michael Voss-led facet can have seven video games in Thursday and Friday night time slots by way of the opening 15 rounds, together with the season-opener towards Richmond on March 16.
They additionally get a Sunday night time blockbuster towards previous rivals Essendon on the MCG earlier than the King’s Birthday vacation in June.
The full 2023 AFL fixture was revealed on Saturday, with every membership enjoying 23 matches over 24 weeks, together with a revamped four-week bye interval throughout the center of the season.
The first 15 rounds of the season have been locked in and the remaining schedule has been left floating to make sure flexibility main into the finals.
The Brisbane Lions additionally function closely in sought-after timeslots, with two Thursday and 4 Friday night time fixtures, whereas reigning premiers Geelong have 5 video games in these slots.
Richmond, Melbourne, Sydney and Port Adelaide have 4 apiece.
Essendon, Hawthorn and GWS are the one golf equipment with out a Thursday or Friday night time fixture by way of the primary 15 rounds.
“We are really pleased to be able to deliver a fixture that balances great broadcast slots and great access for fans,” AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld mentioned.
“Momentum early is key, and the fixture has been designed in a way to spread the marquee showpiece Thursday and Friday nights timeslots across all of the key states, including games at the MCG, Marvel Stadium, SCG, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium.
“Thursday night time blockbusters stay a precedence for us, each from a broadcast and crowd-build perspective.”
There will be Thursday night matches through the opening five rounds and again during the bye weeks, from rounds 13 to 15.
Local derbies in South Australia and Western Australia highlight the round-three fixture, with St Kilda set to celebrate their 150th anniversary against Essendon in the same round.
North Melbourne host Carlton on Good Friday, while Geelong and Sydney will meet in a repeat of last season’s grand final in round six.
The Saturday night fixture will be the Cats’ first game for the year at GMHBA Stadium, which is undergoing a redevelopment, and they will unfurl the 2022 premiership flag before the match.
As previously announced, all clubs will be based in South Australia for the ‘Gather Round’ festival of football in round five.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be played across rounds 10 and 11, with the Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime clash at the MCG on May 20 as the centrepiece.
Carlton last played finals in 2013 but are well placed to end the drought after missing out by the barest of margins last season.
Of the 2022 finalists, they only meet the Magpies and Melbourne twice next year, with other double-up games against Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda and West Coast.
“Having had the very best residence crowd attendance within the competitors final season, which the AFL have recognised, that is mirrored in our fixture, with our membership in a excessive variety of prime-time video games throughout the first half of the season,” Blues CEO Brian Cook mentioned.
