VERDICT
Making the finals in 2012 has impacted the difficulty of North Melbourne's 2013 fixture. Rather than being handed return matches against bottom 10 teams, the Roos face Hawthorn, Adelaide, Collingwood and Geelong twice. Unrelated to this year's ladder position, they also have the equal-highest number of six-day breaks. While success has come at a price on the football front, it has also meant the Roos have got their wish for more Friday night football. They'll appear three times in the biggest timeslot next season, two of them home matches.

CLUB REACTION
"On balance, we are overall happy with our fixture for next season. The AFL has provided most of our requests from the 'wish list' we submitted. Unfortunately three of our home matches are scheduled for Sunday twilight which raises a significant challenge for the club commercially, but we will work hard to make it a positive outcome for the club. Overall it's a good draw however it definitely presents a strong challenge football-wise. The only bottom four side we play twice is Brisbane but we play teams like Geelong, Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn twice. But after making finals this season we have to be ready to step up and compete against opposition like that." - North Melbourne interim CEO Cam Vale.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Home match against Collingwood at  Etihad Stadium to open the season on Easter Sunday.
  • Will again play two home matches at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, against reigning premiers the Sydney Swans in round three and Port Adelaide in round six.
  • Seven matches to be played outside Victoria, but with no consecutive travel  at any stage of the season (excluding rounds 11 and 13, having enjoyed the bye  in round 12).
  • To host two Friday night matches at Etihad Stadium, in round 17 against Carlton and round 19 against the Geelong Cats.
  • Must face four of the 2012 finalists twice - Hawthorn, Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong.
  • Will play final round of the season in Melbourne, with a match against Collingwood at the MCG, after travelling interstate for round 23, 2012.

To download a pdf version of the 2013 fixture, click here.

RDDATEOPPONENTVENUEH/A LOCAL TIME
1Sunday, March 31 CollingwoodEtihad StadiumHome4.40pm
2Sunday, April 7 Geelong CatsEtihad StadiumAway1.10pm
3Saturday, April 13 Sydney SwansBlundstone ArenaHome1.45pm
4Sunday, April 21 Brisbane LionsEtihad StadiumHome4.40pm
5Sunday, April 28 HawthornMCGAway4.40pm
6Saturday, May 4 Port AdelaideBlundstone ArenaHome2.10pm
7Saturday, May 11 Western BulldogsEtihad StadiumAway4.40pm
8Friday, May 17 West Coast EaglesPatersons StadiumAway6.40pm
9Sunday, May 26 Adelaide CrowsEtihad StadiumHome3.15pm
10Sunday, June 2 St KildaEtihad StadiumHome4.40pm
11Saturday, June 8 Gold Coast SUNSMetricon StadiumAway7.40pm
12Bye    
13Sunday, June 23 FremantlePatersons StadiumAway1.15pm
14Sunday, June 30 GWS GIANTSEtihad StadiumHome3.15pm
15Saturday, July 6 RichmondEtihad StadiumHome2.10pm
16Saturday, July 13 Brisbane LionsGabbaAway7.40pm
17Friday, July 19 CarltonEtihad StadiumHome7.50pm
18Saturday, July 27 MelbourneEtihad StadiumAway2.10pm
19Friday, August 2 Geelong CatsEtihad StadiumHome7.50pm
20Sunday, August 11 Adelaide CrowsAAMI StadiumAway2.45pm
21Saturday, August 17 EssendonEtihad StadiumAway4.40pm
22Saturday, August 24 HawthornEtihad StadiumHome2.10pm
23TBCCollingwoodMCGAwayTBC