The league has confirmed multiple blockbusters* in the first week back and released the fixture for rounds two to five.
Victorian teams Richmond and Collingwood will kickstart the stalled season on June 11, followed by a clash between Geelong and Hawthorn the following night.
The two South Australian clubs are set to play in the prime Saturday night slot on June 13.
West Coast and Fremantle — based for the moment in Queensland — will take on Gold Coast and Brisbane respectively*, while round-one losers Carlton and Melbourne will lock horns*.
Sunday will feature GWS-North Melbourne, Sydney-Essendon and St Kilda-Western Bulldogs meetings.
By releasing the fixture in four-week blocks, it allows the AFL flexibility to adapt to changing coronavirus restrictions later in the year.
The restart to competition follows weeks of discussion between the AFL, clubs, state governments and health authorities. Geelong is a big winner, playing three of its next four matches at its Kardinia Park home ground, GMHBA Stadium.
Round two will be Hawthorn’s first trip to Geelong in 14 years, last playing there in 2006.
Government restrictions preventing crowds for now means that matches that would usually attract big crowds that the Cats would normally host at the MCG can be played in Geelong.
Collingwood and Essendon — whose games usually attract big numbers of spectators — could potentially play at Geelong for the first time this century.
South Australian rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide will clash in their home state before relocating to their temporary hub on the Gold Coast to play the rest of their matches in the first block of fixtures.
The Crows and the Power are still hopeful that further relaxation of SA travel restrictions will soon allow them to fly in and out of Adelaide.
ROUND 2
Thursday June 11
Collingwood vs Richmond, MCG, 7:40pm
Friday, June 12
Geelong Cats vs Hawthorn, GMHBA, 7:50pm
Saturday June 13
Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle, Gabba, 1:45pm
Carlton vs Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm
Port Adelaide vs Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval, 7:40pm
Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm
Sunday June 14
GWS Giants vs North Melbourne, Giants Stadium, 1:05pm
Sydney Swans vs Essendon, SCG, 3:35pm
St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm
ROUND 3
Thursday June 18
Richmond vs Hawthorn, MCG, 7:40pm
Friday June 19
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium, 7:50pm
Saturday June 20
North Melbourne vs Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium, 1:45pm
Collingwood vs St Kilda, MCG, 4:35pm
Geelong Cats vs Carlton, GMHBA, 7:40pm
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles, Gabba, 7:40pm
Sunday June 21
Gold Coast Suns vs Adelaide Crows, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm
Essendon vs Melbourne, MCG, 3:35pm
Fremantle vs Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 6:05pm
ROUND 4
Thursday June 25
Sydney Swans vs Western Bulldogs, SCG, 7:40pm
Friday June 26
GWS Giants vs Collingwood, Giants Stadium, 7:50pm
Saturday June 27
Port Adelaide vs West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 1:45pm
St Kilda vs Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm
Essendon vs Carlton, MCG, 7:40pm
Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm
Sunday June 28
Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows, Gabba, 1:05pm
Melbourne vs Geelong Cats, MCG, 3:35pm
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm
ROUND 5
Thursday July 2
West Coast Eagles vs Richmond, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm
Friday July 3
Collingwood vs Essendon, MCG, 7:50pm
Saturday July 4
Carlton vs St Kilda, MCG, 1:45pm
Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA, 4:35pm
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7:40pm
Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide, Gabba, 7:40pm
Sunday July 5
Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm
Sydney Swans vs Melbourne, SCG, 3:35pm
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn, Giants Stadium, 6:05pm
GLOSSARY
- blockbusters: big, popular games or shows
- respectively: separately, in the order mentioned
- lock horns: do battle
EXTRA READING
NRL and AFL clubs vote to play on despite virus
Teenager Prespakis wins AFLW best and fairest
Dusty models COVID-safe return to AFL
QUICK QUIZ
- Which teams play the first game of the restarted season?
- Why does the fixture start at Round 2?
- Why has the AFL only released to Round 5?
- What will Adelaide and Port Adelaide relocate to?
- Where is Geelong’s home ground? What are two names for it?
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