MELBOURNE will take on Richmond and Brisbane in its two JLT Community Series matches next year.
Announced on Monday, the Demons will open the pre-season competition at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton, going up against the Tigers on Sunday 3 March at 4.40pm.
It will be the first time since 2016 that an official AFL match will be played in the region.
Melbourne’s second JLT game will see a return home to Casey Fields, which has been a regular pre-season venue in recent years.
The Demons will do battle against Brisbane in the second week of the competition, with the match taking place on Saturday 9 March at 4.10pm.
General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said it was pleasing for the South-East region to again feature in the fixture.
“Our presence at Casey Fields continues to grow, now with the alignment of the VFL and VFLW Casey Demons, as well as the Melbourne Academy,” he said.
“The JLT Community Series match is another opportunity for Melbourne to engage with the local community, bringing AFL back to the strong football region.
“We also are excited to head to Shepparton, with the region one of our past recruiting zones.
“We look forward to seeing all the red and blue supporters getting down to watch the boys next year.”
The series will span across a 12-day period, from Thursday 28 February to Monday 11 March, and consist of 18 matches.
Melbourne’s JLT Community Series Matches
Week One
Richmond v Melbourne
Sunday, March 3, 4:40pm AEDT
Deakin Reserve, Shepparton
Week Two
Melbourne v Brisbane
Saturday, March 9. 4:10pm AEDT
Casey Fields
