MELBOURNE will play 14 games at its spiritual home, the MCG, next AFL season, with the league announcing details of the 2024 fixture on Thursday afternoon.
Next year’s draw will give members and supporters the opportunity to enjoy 10 home games at the iconic ground, the MCG, including a Round 1 clash with the Western Bulldogs, as well as four away matches.
In addition to playing the Dogs on its home deck, Melbourne will host Geelong, St Kilda, North Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood, while also welcoming Brisbane Lions, West Coast Eagles, GWS GIANTS and Port Adelaide from their respective states.
“We understand how important it is for our members and supporters that we are playing as many games as possible at the MCG, which is why a strong MCG fixture is always our highest priority,” Melbourne CEO Gary Pert said.
“We’re delighted to have 14 matches, including all 10 of our Victorian home games, at the MCG, giving our fans the opportunity to come and watch us play at the ground they love the most.
“This fixture will see us host some blockbuster matches, including MCG clashes against last season’s Grand Finalists in Brisbane (Round 5) and Collingwood (Round 24), Essendon, Hawthorn and Geelong.
“Melbourne fans will have the opportunity to attend games in a range of different timeslots, with four matches scheduled across each of Thursday night, Saturday and Sunday in the first half of the season.
“We will also play a Monday afternoon and Wednesday night game, due to King’s Birthday and ANZAC Eve respectively.”
Throughout the 2024 fixture, the Demons will face the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, West Coast Eagles, Fremantle and reigning premiers Collingwood on multiple occasions.
The first encounter with the Pies will be on King’s Birthday; one of two marquee matches – ANZAC Eve against Richmond being the other – that will be an away game for Melbourne next season, due to the alternating nature of these agreements.
The Dees’ 2024 campaign will kick off with an ‘Opening Round’ battle against Sydney at the SCG on Thursday 7 March.
The match for premiership points will be the first of the unique four-game fixture, which will take place in New South Wales and Queensland prior to Round 1, and mark one of eight interstate trips for the club.
A trip to Adelaide for Gather Round is also on the itinerary, as well as a return to the Alice Springs for the Heart of the Nation match in Round 12; a game the Demons are incredibly proud to be part of.
For fans unable to catch the Dees in action, 10 matches in the first half of the season will be available on free-to-air television thanks to the Seven Network, while four games will be broadcast exclusively by Fox Footy.
The AFL’s announcement on Thursday saw the full release of details for the first 15 rounds of the season. The remaining nine rounds will again be part of a floating fixture, with exact dates and times of these matches to be released at a later date.
Club memberships for Melbourne’s 2024 AFL campaign are now on sale. Be sure to sign up or renew your membership today, so you’re set with the best access ahead of an exciting season.
