Join the action as the 2026 AFL season approaches! As always, the season starts in spectacular fashion, with St Kilda taking on Collingwood at cricketing stronghold Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). That dream matchup will finally become reality on Labor Day eve, March 8. This game will be the earliest AFL match at the MCG since 2000! The Magpies had previously requested not to travel for the Opening Round after experiencing two consecutive away games in prior seasons.
The season starts on Thursday, March 5th! Sydney’s matchup against Carlton at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be one of the matchups to watch. Charlie Curnow will line up against his old side, Carlton. He had played the game before, but this time he was proudly representing Sydney in this inaugural game. The marquee matchup is sure to provide a thrilling start to the season with added juice. We can’t wait to see Curnow’s all-star talent on display in front of his new fans!
Brace yourselves for one heck of an Opening Round! It will grow to five matches, featuring an incredible mixture of talent that will have fans buzzing. It’s the GWS Giants hosting Hawthorn at Engie Stadium and Gold Coast taking on Geelong at People First Stadium. The Lions will host the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba.
St Kilda’s new-look multimillion-dollar lineup will be one of the main attractions of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash against Collingwood. Ollie Florent and Will Hayward return to do battle against their old side, Sydney. Murray’s return definitely brings another element of intrigue to the matchup! The anticipation surrounding this year’s Opening Round reflects the growing excitement among fans and players alike as teams gear up for the season ahead.
