MELBOURNE is set to make its long-awaited return to the Northern Territory, with the AFL this morning confirming the club will face Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park.

The Dees will head to Alice Springs for Round 18 of the 2022 AFL season, which is estimated to take place during the weekend of July 15-17, with the match's date and time to be announced at a later date.

This will be the first time Melbourne has played at TIO Traeger Park since its Round 14 clash against the Saints in 2020. 

On Tuesday it was announced that three games in the upcoming AFL season would be scheduled to take place in the Territory, with Melbourne's CEO Gary Pert thrilled to be a part of footy's return to the Red Centre. 

“The Northern Territory is an incredibly special place, and we are really looking forward to getting back there to play football again in 2022,” Pert said.

See below for the current details surrounding the match. 

Round 18 - Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Date: Weekend of July 15-17 
Venue: TIO Traeger Park
Time: TBC