2021 AFL Fixtures Released
- The AFL have released the 2021 fixture
- The AFL have locked in the opening six rounds
- Rounds 7-23 have allocated match-ups, but no set dates or times

The AFL have released the fixture for the 2021 season (Getty)
The 2021 AFL fixture has been released, with the opening six rounds locked in with venues, dates and times, while rounds 7-23 have their allocated match-ups, with times and dates still to be decided.
Details about these rounds will be released approximately 4-6 weeks in advance of the round, ensuring that we see more blockbuster games in prime timeslots.
See the 2021 AFL fixture below.
ROUND 1
Thursday, March 18
Richmond vs. Carlton (MCG) 7.25pm
Friday, March 19
Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs (Marvel) 7.50pm
Saturday, March 20
Melbourne vs. Fremantle (MCG) 1.45pm
Adelaide Crows vs. Geelong Cats (AO) 4.35pm
Essendon vs. Hawthorn (Marvel) 7.25pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans (G) 7.45pm
Sunday, March 21
North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide (Marvel) 1.10pm
GWS GIANTS vs. St Kilda (GS) 3.20pm
West Coast Eagles vs. Gold Coast SUNS (OS) 6.10pm
ROUND 2
Thursday, March 25
Carlton vs. Collingwood (MCG) 7.20pm
Friday, March 26
Geelong Cats vs. Brisbane Lions (GMHBA) 7.50pm
Saturday, March 27
Sydney Swans vs. Adelaide Crows (SCG) 1.45pm
Port Adelaide vs. Essendon (AO) 4.35pm
St Kilda vs. Melbourne (Marvel) 7.25pm
Gold Coast SUNS vs. North Melbourne (MS) 8.10pm
Sunday, March 28
Hawthorn vs. Richmond (MCG) 1.10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. West Coast Eagles (Marvel) 3.20pm
Fremantle vs. GWS GIANTS (OS) 6.10pm
ROUND 3
Thursday, April 1
Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood (G) 7.40pm
Friday, April 2
North Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs (Marvel) 4.20pm
Adelaide Crows vs. Gold Coast SUNS (AO) 7.50pm
Saturday, April 3
Richmond vs. Sydney Swans (MCG) 1.45pm
Essendon vs. St Kilda (Marvel) 4.35pm
West Coast Eagles vs. Port Adelaide (OS) 8.10pm
Sunday, April 4
Carlton vs. Fremantle (Marvel) 3.20pm
GWS GIANTS vs. Melbourne (MO) 6.10pm
Monday, April 5
Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn (MCG) 3.20pm
ROUND 4
Thursday April 8
Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG (7:20pm)
Friday April 9
Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (7:50pm)
Saturday April 10
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Mars Stadium (1:45pm)
St Kilda v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (4:35pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Carlton, Metricon Stadium (7:25pm)
Collingwood v GWS Giants, MCG (7:25pm)
Sunday April 11
North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium (1:10pm)
Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG (3:20pm)
Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium (4:40pm)
ROUND 5
Thursday April 15
St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (7:20pm)
Friday April 16
West Coast Eagles v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8:10pm)
Saturday April 17
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (1:45pm)
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (4:35pm)
Carlton v Port Adelaide, MCG (7:25pm)
Brisbane Lions v Essendon, Gabba (7:25pm)
Sunday April 18
Adelaide Crows v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (1:10pm)
Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (3:20pm)
Geelong Cats v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (4:40pm)
ROUND 6
Friday April 23
GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, Manuka Oval (7:50pm)
Saturday April 24
Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles, GMHBA Stadium (1:45pm)
Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans, Metricon Stadium (1:45pm)
Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (4:35pm)
Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7:25pm)
Fremantle v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium (8:10pm)
Sunday April 25
Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (12:30pm)
Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (3:20pm)
Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (6:40pm)
ROUND 7 (Dates and times are yet to be confirmed)
Round Begins Friday, April 30*
Adelaide Crows vs. GWS GIANTS (AO)
Brisbane Lions vs. Port Adelaide (G)
Collingwood vs. Gold Coast SUNS (MCG)
Essendon vs. Carlton (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Melbourne (BA)
Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs (MCG)
St Kilda vs. Hawthorn (Marvel)
Sydney Swans vs. Geelong Cats (SCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. Fremantle (OS)
ROUND 8
Round Begins Friday, May 7*
Fremantle vs. Brisbane Lions (OS)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. St Kilda (MS)
GWS GIANTS vs. Essendon (GS)
Hawthorn vs. West Coast Eagles (MCG)
Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Collingwood (Marvel)
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide Crows (AO)
Richmond vs. Geelong Cats (MCG)
Western Bulldogs vs. Carlton (Marvel)
ROUND 9
Round Begins Friday, May 14*
Essendon vs. Fremantle (Marvel)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Brisbane Lions (MS)
Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne (UTAS)
Melbourne vs. Carlton (MCG
Port Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs (AO)
Richmond vs. GWS GIANTS (Marvel)
St Kilda vs. Geelong Cats (Marvel)
Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood (SCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. Adelaide Crows (OS)
ROUND 10
Round Begins Friday, May 21*
Adelaide Crows vs. Melbourne (AO)
Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond (G)
Carlton vs. Hawthorn (MCG)
Collingwood vs. Port Adelaide (MCG)
Essendon vs. North Melbourne (Marvel)
Fremantle vs. Sydney Swans (OS)
Geelong Cats vs. Gold Coast SUNS (GMHBA)
GWS GIANTS vs. West Coast Eagles (GS)
Western Bulldogs vs. St Kilda (Marvel)
ROUND 11
Round Begins Friday, May 28*
Brisbane Lions vs. GWS GIANTS (G)
Collingwood vs. Geelong Cats (MCG)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Hawthorn (TIO)
Port Adelaide vs. Fremantle (AO)
Richmond vs. Adelaide Crows (MCG)
St Kilda vs. North Melbourne (Marvel)
Sydney Swans vs. Carlton (SCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. Essendon (OS)
Western Bulldogs vs. Melbourne (Marvel)
ROUND 12
Round Begins Friday, June 4*
Adelaide Crows vs. Collingwood (AO)
Carlton vs. West Coast Eagles (MCG)
Essendon vs. Richmond (MCG)
Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs (OS)
Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions (TP)
St Kilda vs. Sydney Swans (Marvel)
Byes: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS,
Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
ROUND 13
Round Begins Friday, June 10*
Fremantle vs. Gold Coast SUNS (OS)
Melbourne vs. Collingwood (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. GWS GIANTS (BA)
Port Adelaide vs. Geelong Cats (AO)
St Kilda vs. Adelaide Crows (Marvel)
Sydney Swans vs. Hawthorn (SCG)
Byes: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Essendon,
Richmond, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs
ROUND 14
Round Begins Thursday, June 17*
Geelong Cats vs. Western Bulldogs (GMHBA)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Port Adelaide (MS)
GWS GIANTS vs. Carlton (GS)
Hawthorn vs. Essendon (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions (Marvel)
West Coast Eagles vs. Richmond (OS)
Byes: Adelaide Crows, Collingwood, Fremantle,
Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney Swans
ROUND 15
Round Begins Thursday, June 24*
Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong Cats (G)
Carlton vs. Adelaide Crows (Marvel)
Collingwood vs. Fremantle (Marvel)
Essendon vs. Melbourne (MCG)
GWS GIANTS vs. Hawthorn (GS)
North Melbourne vs. Gold Coast SUNS (BA)
Port Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans (AO)
Richmond vs. St Kilda (MCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. Western Bulldogs (OS)
ROUND 16
Round Begins Thursday, July 1*
Adelaide Crows vs. Brisbane Lions (AO)
Collingwood vs. St Kilda (MCG)
Fremantle vs. Carlton (OS)
Geelong Cats vs. Essendon (GMHBA)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Richmond (MS)
Hawthorn vs. Port Adelaide (Marvel)
Melbourne vs. GWS GIANTS (MCG)
Sydney Swans vs. West Coast Eagles (SCG)
Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne (Marvel)
ROUND 17
Round Begins Friday, July 9*
Brisbane Lions vs. St Kilda (G)
Carlton vs. Geelong Cats (MCG)
Essendon vs. Adelaide Crows (Marvel)
GWS GIANTS vs. Gold Coast SUNS (GS)
Hawthorn vs. Fremantle (UTAS)
Port Adelaide vs. Melbourne (AO)
Richmond vs. Collingwood (MCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. North Melbourne (OS)
Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans (Marvel)
ROUND 18
Round Begins Friday, July 16*
Adelaide Crows vs. West Coast Eagles (AO)
Collingwood vs. Carlton (MCG)
Fremantle vs. Geelong Cats (OS)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Western Bulldogs (MS)
GWS GIANTS vs. Sydney Swans (GS)
Melbourne vs. Hawthorn (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Essendon (Marvel)
Richmond vs. Brisbane Lions (MCG)
St Kilda vs. Port Adelaide (Marvel)
ROUND 19
Round Begins Friday, July 23*
Carlton vs. North Melbourne (Marvel)
Essendon vs. GWS GIANTS (Marvel)
Geelong Cats vs. Richmond (MCG)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Melbourne (MS)
Hawthorn vs. Brisbane Lions (MCG)
Port Adelaide vs. Collingwood (AO)
Sydney Swans vs. Fremantle (SCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. St Kilda (OS)
Western Bulldogs vs. Adelaide Crows (MARS)
ROUND 20
Round Begins Friday, July 30*
Adelaide Crows vs. Hawthorn (AO)
Brisbane Lions vs. Gold Coast SUNS (G)
Collingwood vs. West Coast Eagles (MCG)
Essendon vs. Sydney Swans (Marvel)
Fremantle vs. Richmond (OS)
GWS GIANTS vs. Port Adelaide (MO)
Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Geelong Cats (BA)
St Kilda vs. Carlton (Marvel)
ROUND 21
Round Begins Friday, August 6*
Adelaide Crows vs. Port Adelaide (AO)
Brisbane Lions vs. Fremantle (G)
Carlton vs. Gold Coast SUNS (Marvel)
Geelong Cats vs. GWS GIANTS (GMHBA)
Hawthorn vs. Collingwood (MCG)
Richmond vs. North Melbourne (MCG)
Sydney Swans vs. St Kilda (SCG)
West Coast Eagles vs. Melbourne (OS)
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon (Marvel)
ROUND 22
Round Begins Friday, August 13*
Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions (Marvel)
Fremantle vs. West Coast Eagles (OS)
Geelong Cats vs. St Kilda (GMHBA)
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Essendon (MS)
GWS GIANTS vs. Richmond (GS)
Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs (UTAS)
Melbourne vs. Adelaide Crows (MCG)
North Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans (Marvel)
Port Adelaide vs. Carlton (AO)
ROUND 23
Round Begins Friday, August 20*
Adelaide Crows vs. North Melbourne (AO)
Brisbane Lions vs. West Coast Eagles (G)
Carlton vs. GWS GIANTS (Marvel)
Essendon vs. Collingwood (MCG)
Geelong Cats vs. Melbourne (GMHBA)
Richmond vs. Hawthorn (MCG)
St Kilda vs. Fremantle (Marvel)
Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast SUNS (SCG)
Western Bulldogs vs. Port Adelaide (Marvel)
AFL FINALS SERIES
Date TBC
Week One – Qualifying & Elimination Finals (4)
Date TBC
Week Two – Semi-Finals (2)
Date TBC
Week Three – Preliminary Finals (2)
Date TBC
Week Four – Toyota AFL Grand Final
AFL Fixture FAQs
Who plays in the first match of the season?
As usual, Richmond and Carlton headline the season opener, playing on Thursday, March 18, 2021.
Why do rounds 7-23 not have dates?
The AFL have decided that to ensure that the best matches are played in the prime timeslots, round dates and times will be released four to six weeks in advance.
What date does the season kick off?
The 2021 AFL season kicks off on March 18, at the MCG between Richmond and Carlton.