ONCE again demonstrating their admiration for 1980s pop star Lionel Richie, the AFL has nicknamed the extravaganza which will take place over the Easter period in 2011 the 'Footy Fiesta'.
The fiesta will kick off on Easter Thursday (April 21) when the Brisbane Lions host St Kilda at the Gabba and it features two rounds - 14 games in total - across an 11-day period.
"We'll play football on nine of those days," chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said as he launched the 2011 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture.
With a grin, McLachlan continued: "Lionel Richie is everyone's hero and we've dubbed it the Footy Fiesta as we love listening to his 1983 hit All Night Long from the album Can't Slow Down.
"I don't know if Lionel will be coming back down for it but I'm sure he'll be watching."
The first part of the Footy Fiesta features the seven matches to be played in round five.
With Easter Monday and Anzac Day coinciding, the round will conclude with three big games.
Collingwood and Essendon will do battle in their traditional Anzac Day blockbuster, while that evening Fremantle hosts the Western Bulldogs in the Len Hall tribute game.
The following day, which is the Anzac Day public holiday, Hawthorn and Geelong will go head-to-head at the MCG.
"We've then taken the opportunity to give Fremantle, the Hawks and the Cats the bye on the following weekend," McLachlan explained.
Just two days after the Hawthorn-Geelong game, West Coast and Melbourne get round six underway by playing a Thursday night game at Patersons Stadium.
This is possible because both the Eagles and Demons will be coming off the bye.
The Sydney Swans will then host Carlton in their first Friday night home and away game at the SCG since 2003.
Finally, the fiesta wraps up with Collingwood hosting the Western Bulldogs in a Sunday twilight game at the MCG on May 1.
"Over an 11-day period we'll play football on nine days and I think it's a great quirk of the draw and will generate a lot of interest," McLachlan said.
"There will be some big games all over the country, not just in Victoria, and we think it's a real asset to this year's fixture."
2011 FOOTY FIESTA
ROUND FIVE
Thursday, April 21
Brisbane Lions v St Kilda at the Gabba, 7.40pm EST, Channel 7
Saturday April 23
Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns at AAMI Stadium, 2.40pm CST, Fox Sports
Carlton v Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm EST, Channel 10
Sunday, April 24
North Melbourne v Richmond at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm EST, Fox Sports
Monday, April 25
Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG, 2.40pm EST, Channel 10
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm WST, Fox Sports
Tuesday, April 26 (Anzac Day public holiday)
Hawthorn v Geelong at the MCG, 2.40pm EST, Channel 7
Byes: Melbourne, Sydney Swans, West Coast
ROUND SIX
Thursday, April 28
West Coast v Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm WST, Channel 10
Friday, April 29
Sydney Swans v Carlton at the SCG, 7.40pm EST, Channel 7
Saturday, April 30
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm EST, Fox Sports
Richmond v Brisbane Lions at the MCG, 7.10pm EST, Fox Sports
Adelaide v St Kilda at AAMI Stadium, 7.10pm CST, Channel 10
Sunday, May 1
Essendon v Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm EST, Fox Sports
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at the MCG, 4.40pm, Fox Sports
Byes: Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn
