FOOTBALL fans in Victoria can look forward to three curtain-raisers next year and possibly more, following the release of the VFL fixture for 2017.

Already locked in on May 6 is a Footscray-Richmond clash at Etihad Stadium at 3pm ahead of a Western Bulldogs-Richmond AFL game that evening.

On June 24, Footscray and North Melbourne affiliate Werribee will meet in the afternoon ahead of the Bulldogs-Kangaroos round 14 clash.

On August 5, Werribee and Collingwood will play before North Melbourne hosts Collingwood.

The VFL schedule also has a tentative MCG curtain-raiser planned for May 20 with a Collingwood-Box Hill Hawks game preceding the round nine Collingwood-Hawthorn clash.

This year's grand finalists Footscray and Casey have been scheduled for just one re-match, in round nine, while North supporters interested in watching the club's listed players at Werribee will need to be prepared to travel, with no home games at Avalon Airport Oval because of redevelopment works.

The season begins with Footscray hosting Box Hill on Good Friday at the Whitten Oval. The grand final will be on September 24, six days before the AFL Grand Final.