MCG fixtures announced for 2022 AFL Season

The Melbourne Cricket Club, managers of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, welcome the AFL’s announcement of the 2022 AFL Premiership Season fixture today.

The fixture – with dates and times confirmed for matches from Rounds 1 to 9, as the AFL continues to monitor the various measures and guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic in all states and territories – confirms that the MCG will host 46 home-and-away matches during the 2022 season.

Matchups and venues for Round 10 to 23 were also released today with dates and times for those matches to be released following the commencement of the premiership season.

The AFL on Saturday confirmed that a season-opening 2021 AFL Grand Final rematch between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs for Wednesday March 16, which will headline four opening round matches at the MCG as the Demons prepare to unfurl their 2021 AFL Premiership flag.

Traditional Round 1 opponents Carlton and Richmond will resume their Thursday night slot on March 17. The Country Festival match between Geelong Cats and Essendon will take centre stage on the afternoon of Saturday March 18, before Hawthorn and North Melbourne round out a massive Round 1 at the MCG on Sunday March 20.

Other matches of note in the first allotment of confirmed fixtures include:

• A new chapter of the Richmond and GWS GIANTS rivalry in Round 2 on Sunday March 27 at 3.20pm;
• Hawthorn and Geelong Cats resume the Easter Monday tradition, when they meet in Round 5 on Monday April 18 at 3.20pm;
• Round 6 features two ANZAC Weekend blockbusters with Richmond and Melbourne to renew their rivalry on ANZAC Day Eve (Sunday April 24, 7.25pm);
• Essendon and Collingwood feature in the traditional ANZAC Clash on Monday April 25 from 3.20pm to round out Round 6;

Beyond the end of Round 10, and set to be confirmed in future fixture releases by the AFL at later dates, the MCG will host several high-profile fixtures during the 2022 season.

Richmond will host Essendon for Dreamtime at the ‘G in Round 10 as part of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the Queen’s Birthday Melbourne and Collingwood clash sees the two sides meet in Round 13, and Round 15 will see a 2021 AFL Qualifying Final rematch between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions.

MCC Chief Executive, Stuart Fox said today’s release of fixtures was exciting step for football fans in Melbourne and Victoria, whose football experience has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two seasons.

“We are very excited to be able to bring our Club members and footy fans across the state of Victoria, a great spread of marquee fixtures to look forward to at the MCG during the 2022 season,” Fox said.

“The last two years have been difficult on everyone and not least football fans who have been starved of live sport and entertainment.

“The MCG is a place of connection for so many people from many walks of life. It brings friends and families together, and to be able to commit ourselves to a full home-and-away season fixture with no interruptions is one of our big commitments to our Members, footy fans and the broader community.

AFL Executive General Manager of Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said the initial block of the fixture was constructed with the primary aim to achieve a strong start to the season with a series of key Thursday and Friday night matches to build momentum into the early part of the season.

“We begin season 2022 with a renewed level of confidence – taking the learnings of the previous year and focusing on delivering fans another blockbuster schedule of matches,” Auld said.

“For supporters it is a chance to get back to doing what we all love, going to the footy with our family and friends.

“We will continue to remain diligent and will always be led by respective Governments and health authorities on the right advice, ensuring the health and wellbeing of everyone remains the key priority.”

On-sale ticketing dates for MCC, AFL and Club Members and the General Public will be communicated in due course.

View the full fixture here.

AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON 2022 MATCHES AT THE MCG

ROUND 1

Wednesday March 16, 7.10pm AEDT – Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Thursday March 17, 7.25pm AEDT – Carlton v Richmond
Saturday March 19, 2.10pm AEDT – Geelong Cats v Essendon
Sunday March 20, 1.10pm AEDT – Hawthorn v North Melbourne

ROUND 2

Saturday March 26, 1.45pm AEDT – Collingwood v Adelaide Crows
Sunday March 27, 3.20pm AEDT – Richmond v GWS GIANTS

ROUND 3

Friday April 1, 7.20pm AEDT – Melbourne v Essendon
Saturday April 2, 7.25pm AEDT – Collingwood v Geelong Cats
Sunday April 3, 1.10pm AEST – Carlton v Hawthorn*

ROUND 4

Saturday April 9, 7.25pm AEST – Richmond v Western Bulldogs
Sunday April 10, 3.20pm AEST – Hawthorn v St Kilda

ROUND 5

Saturday April 16, 7.25pm – Melbourne v GWS GIANTS
Sunday April 17, 1.40pm – Carlton v Port Adelaide
Monday April 18, 3.20pm – Hawthorn v Geelong Cats

ROUND 6

Sunday April 24, 7.25pm AEST – Richmond v Melbourne
Monday April 25, 3.20pm AEST – Essendon v Collingwood

ROUND 7

Saturday April 30, 4.35pm AEST – Melbourne v Hawthorn
Sunday May 1, 1.10pm AEST – Collingwood v Gold Coast SUNS

ROUND 8

Saturday May 7, 1.45pm AEST – Richmond v Collingwood
Sunday May 8, 1.10pm AEST – Melbourne v St Kilda

ROUND 9

Saturday May 14, 1.45pm AEST – Hawthorn v Richmond

ROUND 10**

May 20-22, TBC – Richmond v Essendon

ROUND 11

May 27-29, TBC – Melbourne v Fremantle
May 27-29, TBC – Collingwood v Carlton

ROUND 12

Jun 3-5, TBC – Melbourne v Sydney Swans
Jun 3-5, TBC – Hawthorn v Collingwood

ROUND 13

June 9-13, TBC – Richmond v Port Adelaide
June 9-13, TBC – Essendon v Carlton
June 9-13, TBC – Collingwood v Melbourne

ROUND 14

June 16-19, TBC – Richmond v Carlton

ROUND 15

June 23-26, TBC – Melbourne v Brisbane Lions
June 23-26, TBC – Geelong Cats v Richmond
June 23-26, TBC – Collingwood v GWS GIANTS

ROUND 16

June 30-July 3, TBC – Essendon v Sydney Swans
June 30-July 3, TBC – Richmond v West Coast Eagles

ROUND 17

July 7-10, TBC – Collingwood v North Melbourne

ROUND 18

July 15-17, TBC – Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles
July 15-17, TBC – Carlton v Geelong Cats

ROUND 19

July 22-24, TBC – Collingwood v Essendon

ROUND 20

July 29-31, TBC – Richmond v Brisbane Lions
July 29-31, TBC – Collingwood v Port Adelaide

ROUND 21

August 5-7, TBC – Melbourne v Collingwood

ROUND 22

August 12-14, TBC – Richmond v Hawthorn
August 12-14, TBC – Melbourne v Carlton

ROUND 23

August 19-21, TBC – Essendon v Richmond
August 19-21, TBC – Carlton v Collingwood

* Please note Australian Eastern Daylight Savings will end at 3.00am on Sunday April 3, 2022
** Please note: All matches across Round 10-23 are listed in alphabetical order with timeslots to be determined at a later date