SYDNEY is set to be the primetime king of 2027, with nine of the Swans' first 15 matches next season scheduled for either Thursday or Friday night, while three-time premier Brisbane, Grand Final opponent Fremantle and fellow finalists Hawthorn and Adelaide will also feature heavily in the prime slots next year.
In other notable features of the 2027 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture, Friday night double headers are back, including multiple non-Victorian derbies, while the first 13 rounds will feature a Sunday night game (starting after 6pm on the east coast) to limit the overlap of games on that afternoon.
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The Grand Final rematch between the Dockers and Lions at Optus Stadium will close round eight in that primetime timeslot, with a 7.20pm start time on the east coast.
But it is the Swans that will see a bulk of national television games, playing nine times on either Thursday or Friday night in the first 16 rounds. They also open the season in a standalone Wednesday night blockbuster against Geelong.
The Lions and Dockers (eight), Hawks and Crows (seven) and Collingwood and Geelong (six) also get plenty of primetime love, with St Kilda the only team to not get a marquee Thursday or Friday night slot in the first 16 rounds.
Gold Coast, Essendon, Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Richmond have all been given one game on either a Thursday or Friday.
Fremantle will get some rare exposure at the MCG, facing Collingwood (round three) and Hawthorn (round 14) on a Thursday night. Outside finals, the Dockers have played just three primetime games at the home of the Grand Final since 2000.
New Magpie Lachie Neale won't have to wait long to face his former triple-premiership Brisbane teammates, with the traditional Easter Thursday match at the Gabba coming in round two.
Of the other notable reunions of players against their former clubs, Hawthorn recruit Zach Merrett will face Essendon in round three, Toby Greene will run out for Geelong against the Giants in round seven, North Melbourne's Nick Blakey will play Sydney at the SCG in round eight and Gold Coast veteran Scott Pendlebury will have to wait until round 15 to face Collingwood at People First Stadium.
The games record holder will not play his former club at the MCG, with the Suns' only game at the 'G to come against Melbourne in round nine.
Reigning Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow will also not face his former teammates in Melbourne yet again, with the Swans to face Carlton at the SCG for the second straight year – in round 22.
The Suns have played back-to-back games in Darwin for the past five years but they will head to the Top End just once next season, playing Carlton to close round 10 at TIO Stadium, where they've accrued a perfect 10-0 record.
Fellow expansion outfit GWS will not play at its Engie Stadium home until round seven, when it faces Greene and the Cats, although the Giants will play in Sydney against the Swans in round three at the SCG.
As always, each club will play two games against six other teams, with several double-up games coming in quick succession; the Lions and Swans (round seven and 15), Lions and Dockers (eight and 16), Bombers and Tigers (nine and 16) and Blues and Giants (17 and 24).
Rounds 17 to 24 remain a floating fixture, with the timings of those games to be locked in later in the season.
Thursday/Friday matches, R1-16
9 - Sydney (2/7)
8 - Brisbane (4/4)
8 - Fremantle (6/2)
7 - Adelaide & Hawthorn (3/4)
6 - Collingwood & Geelong (3/3)
5 - Carlton & Melbourne (2/3)
5 - Western Bulldogs (3/2)
2 - West Coast (0/2)
1 - Essendon, GWS, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide & Richmond (0/1)
1 - Gold Coast (1/0)
0 - St Kilda