THE RECONSTITUTED Essendon will kick off the rebadged AFL pre-season competition with a Thursday night Etihad Stadium clash with Collingwood on February 16.
And further life has been breathed into summer football with great modern rivals Hawthorn hosting Geelong in Launceston at what is now called University of Tasmania Stadium the following evening.
With the JLT Community Series, the AFL has stuck with the three-games-over-four-weeks format for every club and at venues right around the country, but there will be a change in scheduling in 2017, with Etihad Stadium hosting four matches over the opening three weeks and none in the final week while it reverts back to concert mode.
"There's going to be more excitement, more so than normal with Essendon rolling out their full squad," said AFL general manager of fixturing and operations, Travis Auld. "It will be a big game for us and a great way to kick it off."
Check out the full pre-season fixture
A feature of this year's schedule is the number of matches set for suburban Melbourne venues.
As revealed exclusively on AFL.com.au on November 12, Arden Street will host its first official League game since 1985 when North Melbourne meets Hawthorn on Sunday, February 26. The Western Bulldogs will host Melbourne the week before at Whitten Oval, while Carlton and St Kilda will play at Ikon Park (Princes Park) on Saturday, March 4.
Auld admitted there would be some logistical challenges in bringing Arden Street back to life as an AFL match venue, but no more than some of the regional venues where matches were played this year.
As is the case every year, club members are admitted free to JLT Community Series matches and there is every chance that North's traditional home might be sold out for the clash against a traditional rival.
Some of the more exotic locations for JLT Community Series games include a Greater Western Sydney-West Coast clash at Narrendera in southwest New South Wales, a Sydney-North Melbourne clash at Coffs Harbour, a West Coast-Fremantle match at Wonthella in suburban Geraldton and Port Adelaide-Richmond match in Mount Gambier.
Mackay gets another opportunity to host a game after last year's washout when Gold Coast meets Essendon, while another SANFL venue comes on stream over the final weekend when South Adelaide's home ground at Noarlunga hosts matches on consecutive days – Adelaide-Brisbane Lions on the Saturday and Port Adelaide-Hawthorn the following afternoon.
Another feature on Sunday, March 12, the final day of the pre-season, is Geelong-Essendon at Bendigo's storied Queen Elizabeth Oval, giving Cats skipper Joel Selwood the opportunity to play in his home town.
"These towns look forward to the games," Auld said. "We work with cricket and local councils to create great legacy outcomes in terms of facilities. Towns like Moe that have done it tough in recent times get to host Richmond and Collingwood in what will be a great game."
Once again, all 27 matches will be televised live on Fox Footy and live streamed through the official AFL App.
Metricon Stadium, Domain Stadium and Manuka Oval are existing AFL venues that will also host pre-season matches.
Several AFL pre-season matches will comprise double-headers that also feature the new AFL Women's competition.
Auld said there was little consideration given to re-introducing a pre-season Grand Final, with AFL coaches content to play three matches over four weeks.
"Essentially, the pre-season competition is there to prepare players for round one and the home and away season, and this format serves that purpose quite well," he said.
Collingwood runs out on the field in the 2016 pre-season competition. Picture: AFL Photos
WELCOME BACK TO FOOTY –YOUR TEAM'S FIRST GAME
Adelaide v Richmond, Friday February 24, 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast, Saturday February 18, 3.40pm AEST (Kombumerri Park, Broadbeach)
Carlton v Melbourne, Saturday February 25, 2.05pm AEDT (Casey Fields)
Collingwood v Essendon, Thursday February 16, 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
Essendon v Collingwood, Thursday, February 16, 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
Fremantle v West Coast, Saturday, February 25, 3.40pm AWST (Wonthella Oval, Geraldton)
Geelong v Hawthorn, Friday February 17, 7.40pm AEDT (University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston)
Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions, Saturday February 18, 3.40pm AEST (Kombumerri Park, Broadbeach)
GWS v West Coast, Saturday February 18, 2.05pm AEDT (Narrandera Sports Stadium)
Hawthorn v Geelong, Friday February 17, 7.40pm AEDT (University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston)
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Saturday February 18, 4.40pm AEDT (VU Whitten Oval)
North Melbourne v Sydney, Sunday February 19, 2.05pm AEDT (Coffs Harbour International Stadium)
Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Thursday February 23, 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
Richmond v Adelaide, Friday, February 24 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Thursday February 23, 7.40pm AEDT (Etihad Stadium)
Sydney v North Melbourne, Sunday February 19, 2.05pm AEDT (Coffs Harbour International Stadium)
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Saturday February 18, 4.40pm AEDT (VU Whitten Oval)
West Coast v GWS, Saturday February 18, 2.05pm AEDT (Narrandera Sports Stadium)
