CARLTON supporters will twice get a double-dose of the Blues at Etihad Stadium in 2015.

Before the Blues play Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium in round seven, Carlton's VFL affiliate the Northern Blues will play North Ballarat.

In round 13, ahead of Carlton's clash against Gold Coast, the Northern Blues will play Frankston in the curtain-raiser.

The VFL fixture was released on Wednesday, with its season to kick off at Avalon Airport Oval when Werribee plays Geelong under lights on Friday April 17.

AFL.com.au understands Collingwood remains hopeful its VFL team will play curtain-raisers at the MCG later in the season, with games against the Northern Blues and Richmond potentially to be played ahead of the Magpies’ round 19 and round 21 AFL fixtures against Carlton and Richmond respectively.

Those matches have been scheduled as early starts at Victoria Park but may be switched depending on the result of talks underway between the VFL, AFL and MCG.

Geelong will host VFL matches at Simonds Stadium but not as curtain-raisers to AFL games, and the Geelong website has reported a proposal to play a VFL game after an AFL contest was shelved because of logistical issues.

Five former VFL/AFL grounds will host VFL matches in 2015 with Richmond playing at Punt Road Oval (ME Bank Centre), Footscray playing at VU Whitten Oval, Northern Blues playing at Visy Park, Essendon playing at Windy Hill and Collingwood at Victoria Park.

The VFL competition continues to grow in popularity, with many players making their way to the VFL after being on AFL lists in 2014.

Former Saints Clint Jones will play for Sandringham alongside former Cat Mitch Brown. Sam Dunell is heading to Williamstown, former Cat Jordan Schroder will line up for Essendon and Shannon Byrnes is continuing with Casey.

Four VFL players from 2014 – Adam Saad (Coburg to Gold Coast), Nic Newman (Frankston to Sydney Swans), Tyrone Downie (Bendigo to Gold Coast) and Kane Lambert (Williamstown to Richmond) – were selected at this month’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft.