MELBOURNE'S bid for redemption next year has a brutal opening hurdle to clear against 2018 premier and Tim Kelly's new team West Coast.
The AFL has released the full round one fixture, including the Demons' clash out west with the Eagles on Sunday, March 22 at Optus Stadium.
There is a Friday night blockbuster between the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, a night after Richmond and Carlton's traditional season opener at the MCG.
It is the first time in more than two decades that Melbourne, which finished 17th in 2019 after a preliminary final appearance last year, is heading out of Victoria for its round one match.
The last time was in 1998, when the Demons lost by 23 points to Fremantle at Subiaco, before going on to finish in the top four after claiming the wooden spoon a season earlier.
West Coast thumped Melbourne by 11 goals in the 2018 preliminary final at Optus Stadium and recorded a 16-point victory at the same venue in round nine this year.
However, the Demons won there in the penultimate round last year, and coach Simon Goodwin will be desperate for a repeat to prevent early pressure building.
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There will be no matches in Victoria on Saturday night, with Greater Western Sydney hosting Geelong at Giants Stadium and Gold Coast welcoming Port Adelaide to Metricon Stadium.
Essendon takes on Fremantle in the 1.45pm AEDT game earlier that day at Marvel Stadium, while the Crows and Swans will do battle at 4.05pm ACDT at Adelaide Oval.
The other two Sunday contests pit North Melbourne and St Kilda against one another in the early game, with Hawthorn and Brisbane going head-to-head at the MCG at 3.20pm AEDT.
Thursday, March 19
Richmond v Carlton at the MCG, 7.25pm AEDT
Friday, March 20
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT
Saturday, March 21
Essendon v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEDT
Adelaide v Sydney at Adelaide Oval, 4.05pm ACDT
Greater Western Sydney v Geelong at Giants Stadium, 7.25pm AEDT
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium, 6.25pm AEST
Sunday, March 22
North Melbourne v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEDT
Hawthorn v Brisbane at the MCG, 3.20pm AEDT
West Coast v Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 3.20pm AWST
