Fans to enjoy a kick on the ground at nearly half of all games this year
FOOTY fans will have the chance to take part in kick-to-kick on the ground after the final siren at nearly half of all home-and-away games this season.
In a significant boost to the popular activity, supporters across Australia will be allowed onto the playing arena after 96 matches as part of the League's continued 'Sunday Funday' push.
Children under 15 will again be given free general admission entry to MCG and Etihad Stadium matches on Sundays, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
"One of our major objectives over the past 18 months has been to improve the accessibility and affordability of attending matches," AFL general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld said.
"Free entry for children under 15 on Sundays at Etihad Stadium and the MCG makes attending the football really affordable for families at a really appealing time-slot, and this proved a great success in 2015."
Kick-to-kick will start in round one and will be available to fans after games in every state and territory.
"There is no doubt our fans love the tradition of having a kick on the ground after the final siren," Auld said.
"With close to half the matches during the home-and-away season including this opportunity, it shows that the AFL and our stadium partners are committed to continuing this tradition.
"We appreciate our partners accommodating this initiative while also balancing the need to prepare their grounds to such high standards.”
Due to the difficulty maintaining surfaces in winter, kick-to-kick won't be available after games at the MCG or Etihad Stadium in June or July.
Full 2016 schedule of kick-to-kick games
MCG - Eight matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
2
Sunday, April 3
Hawthorn v West Coast
3.20pm
4
Sunday, April 17
Collingwood v Melbourne
3.20pm
6
Sunday, May 1
Carlton v Essendon
3.20pm
8
Sunday, May 15
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
3.20pm
10
Sunday, May 29
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs
3.20pm
20
Sunday, August 7
Carlton v St Kilda
1.10pm
21
Sunday, August 14
Richmond v Geelong
3.20pm
22
Sunday, August 21
Carlton v Melbourne
1.10pm
Etihad Stadium - 12 matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
1
Sunday, March 27
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
1.10pm
2
Sunday, April 3
Carlton v Sydney Swans
4.40pm
3
Sunday, April 10
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn
3.20pm
4
Sunday, April 17
North Melbourne v Fremantle
4.40pm
5
Sunday, April 24
St Kilda v GWS
1.10pm
7
Sunday, May 8
St Kilda v North Melbourne
3.20pm
8
Sunday, May 15
Carlton v Port Adelaide
1.10pm
9
Sunday, May 22
St Kilda v Essendon
4.40pm
10
Sunday, May 29
Carlton v Geelong
1.10pm
20
Sunday, August 7
Geelong v Essendon
3.20pm
21
Sunday, August 14
Essendon v Gold Coast
1.10pm
22
Sunday, August 21
Essendon v Western Bulldogs
4.40pm
Simonds Stadium (Geelong) - Eight matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
3
Sunday, April 10
Geelong v Brisbane Lions
4.40pm
6
Saturday, April 30
Geelong v Gold Coast
7.25pm
7
Saturday, May 7
Geelong v West Coast
2.10pm
11
Saturday, June 4
Geelong v GWS
4.35pm
16
Friday, July 8
Geelong v Sydney Swans
7.50pm
18
Saturday, July 23
Geelong v Adelaide
7.25pm
19
Friday, July 29
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
7.50pm
23
TBC
Geelong v Melbourne
TBC
Aurora Stadium (Launceston) - Four matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
4
Saturday, April 16
Hawthorn v St Kilda
2.10pm
8
Saturday, May 14
Hawthorn v Fremantle
2.10pm
14
Sunday, June 26
Hawthorn v Gold Coast
3.20pm
19
Saturday, July 30
Hawthorn v Carlton
2.10pm
Blundstone Arena (Hobart) - Three matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
3
Sunday, April 10
North Melbourne v Melbourne
1.10pm
11
Friday, June 3
North Melbourne v Richmond
7.50pm
22
Saturday, August 20
North Melbourne v Sydney Swans
1.45pm
SCG - Eight matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
1
Saturday, March 26
Sydney Swans v Collingwood
7.25pm
3
Saturday, April 9
Sydney Swans v GWS
4.35pm
5
Saturday, April 23
Sydney Swans v West Coast
1.40pm
7
Saturday, May 7
Sydney Swans v Essendon
4.35pm
13
Sunday, June 19
Sydney Swans v Melbourne
1.10pm
15
Saturday, July 2
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs
4.35pm
18
Saturday, July 23
Sydney Swans v Carlton
1.45pm
20
Saturday, August 6
Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide
1.45pm
Spotless Stadium (GWS) - Eight matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
6
Saturday, April 30
GWS v Hawthorn
4.35pm
8
Saturday, May 14
GWS v Gold Coast
4.35pm
9
Sunday, May 22
GWS v Western Bulldogs
3.20pm
12
Sunday, June 12
GWS v Sydney Swans
4.40pm
14
Saturday, June 25
GWS v Carlton
4.35pm
16
Saturday, July 9
GWS v Collingwood
1.40pm
21
Saturday, August 13
GWS v West Coast
4.35pm
22
Saturday, August 20
GWS v Fremantle
4.35pm
Manuka Oval (Canberra) - Three matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
2
Sunday, April 3
GWS v Geelong
1.10pm
4
Sunday, April 17
GWS v Port Adelaide
1.10pm
19
Saturday, July 30
GWS v Richmond
1.45pm
Metricon Stadium (Gold Coast) - 11 matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
1
Saturday, March 26
Gold Coast v Essendon
3.35pm
3
Saturday, April 9
Gold Coast v Carlton
7.25pm
5
Saturday, April 23
Gold Coast v North Melbourne
4.35pm
7
Saturday, May 7
Gold Coast v Melbourne
5.10pm
9
Saturday, May 21
Gold Coast v Adelaide
2.10pm
11
Saturday, June 4
Gold Coast v Sydney Swans
7.25pm
15
Saturday, July 2
Gold Coast v St Kilda
1.40pm
16
Saturday, July 9
Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions
4.35pm
18
Saturday, July 23
Gold Coast v Fremantle
2.10pm
20
Saturday, August 6
Gold Coast v GWS
4.35pm
23
TBC
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide
TBC
Cazaly's Stadium (Cairns) - one match
Round
Date
Match
Local time
17
Saturday, July 16
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast
7.25pm
The Gabba - 11 matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
2
Saturday, April 2
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne
3.35pm
4
Saturday, April 16
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast
4.35pm
6
Sunday, May 1
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans
1.10pm
8
Saturday, May 14
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood
7.25pm
10
Saturday, May 28
Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn
1.45pm
12
Saturday, June 11
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle
4.35pm
13
Saturday, June 18
Brisbane Lions v West Coast
1.40pm
17
Sunday, July 17
Brisbane Lions v GWS
4.40pm
19
Saturday, July 30
Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide
7.25pm
21
Saturday, August 13
Brisbane Lions v Carlton
1.45pm
22
Sunday, August 21
Brisbane Lions v Geelong
3.20pm
Adelaide Oval - Seven matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
1
Sunday, March 27
Port Adelaide v St Kilda
2.50pm
2
Saturday, April 2
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
1.15pm
6
Saturday, April 30
Adelaide v Fremantle
1.40pm
9
Saturday, May 21
Port Adelaide v West Coast
4.05pm
12
Saturday, June 11
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
1.10pm
18
Sunday, July 24
Port Adelaide v GWS
4.10pm
23
TBC
Adelaide v West Coast
TBC
Domain Stadium (Perth) - 10 matches
Round
Date
Match
Local time
5
Sunday, April 24
Fremantle v Carlton
2.10pm
6
Sunday, May 1
West Coast v Collingwood
2.40pm
8
Sunday, May 15
West Coast v St Kilda
2.40pm
10
Sunday, May 29
West Coast v Gold Coast
2.40pm
12
Saturday, June 11
West Coast v Adelaide
5.40pm
13
Saturday, June 18
Fremantle v Port Adelaide
2.35pm
16
Sunday, July 10
West Coast v North Melbourne
1.20pm
19
Sunday, July 31
Fremantle v Sydney Swans
1.20pm
21
Sunday, August 14
Fremantle v Adelaide
2.40pm
23
TBC
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
TBC
TIO Stadium (Darwin) - One match
Round
Date
Match
Local time
16
Saturday, July 9
Melbourne v Fremantle
7.10pm
TIO Traeger Park (Alice Springs) - One match
Round
Date
Match
Local time
10
Saturday, May 28
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
1.40pm
Featured
14:12
Behind the scenes of one of the greatest Grand Finals
Join us for exclusive access to the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final between Collingwood and Brisbane
Must Watch
24:15
CTTG GF review: Dak’s big moment, skipper stands tall
Sarah Black, Gemma Bastiani and Lucy Watkin take a look at the key moments and best performances from the 2023 AFLW Grand Final on Credit to the Girls
12:56
THE FINAL WORD: GF captains and coaches have their say
Hear from Brisbane’s Bre Koenen and Craig Starcevich, as well as North Melbourne’s Emma Kearney and Darren Crocker before the 2023 NAB AFLW Grand Final
03:18
Get ready with me: Jesse Wardlaw at the W Awards
St Kilda star Jesse Wardlaw takes us behind the scenes as she prepares to attend and present at the W Awards, with Essendon forward Brooke Walker as her plus one
Next Up
Sisterly success: Lions duo make history in GF win
Sunday saw the Svarc sisters make history in Brisbane's Grand Final win over North Melbourne
'My career would be unfulfilled': Ex-Pie desperate for flag
Taylor Adams is desperate to win a premiership after joining the Swans from the Magpies
New Docker eager to prove a point, eyes wing spot
Jeremy Sharp has joined the Dockers with fire in his belly
Sisterly success: Lions duo make history in GF win
Sunday saw the Svarc sisters make history in Brisbane's Grand Final win over North Melbourne
'My career would be unfulfilled': Ex-Pie desperate for flag
Taylor Adams is desperate to win a premiership after joining the Swans from the Magpies
New Docker eager to prove a point, eyes wing spot
Jeremy Sharp has joined the Dockers with fire in his belly
'Stamped our standards': The bold call that propelled Lions' premiership tilt
When Jade Ellenger and Poppy Boltz were omitted mid-season due to disciplinary reasons, it turned out to be the wake-up call that kicked the Lions into gear