Following a final four finish in 2018, Melbourne has secured a bumper fixture for the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership season.

Proving themselves on the big stage with impressive elimination and semi final wins, the Dees could appear in a series of blockbuster games on Thursday and Friday night along with Anzac Day eve and Queens Birthday.

Speaking following the release of the fixture on Wednesday morning, Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Gary Pert said.

“I think it’s a very good fixture for the Melbourne Footy Club supporters, and in many ways is a reward for their strong attendance and loyalty in recent times," Pert said.

“The fixture will deliver up to eight, big blockbuster games against rival clubs including Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon while television broadcast coverage has increased with Fox Sports covering all Melbourne Football Club games and Channel 7 covering 13 of our games next season free air”

Melbourne’s first Thursday night game since 2011 occurs early in the season, with a round four clash against the Swans at the SCG. Three Friday night appearances are spread throughout the season, taking on Essendon at the MCG in round three, West Coast at Optus Stadium in round 9 and a second clash with Swans in Melbourne in round 22.

Our spiritual home, the MCG will host 12 Melbourne matches, which includes nine home games and three away fixtures.

Amongst these home games will be clashes with top-drawing opponents Hawthorn, Essendon, Collingwood, Sydney and Richmond.

Another notable change for 2019 will see Collingwood play as the home team on Queen’s Birthday, for the first time since the establishment of the traditional match in 2001.

On the change, Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Gary Pert said "we support the alternating home game status of the Queen’s birthday game which is an appropriate solution that ensures our long term involvement in a game that has such a significance for Dees fans."

Melbourne will now alternate as the home team every second year for Queen’s Birthday, in a similar arrangement to the blockbuster ANZAC Day Eve match with Richmond, which will take place in round six on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:35pm.

The highly anticipated ANZAC Day Eve match could be the first time that former Gold Coast co-captains Steven May and Tom Lynch go head-to-head, in what will be an explosive match.

Round two will see Melbourne head down the highway to take on Geelong at GMBHA Stadium in the Demons’ only clash with the Cats in 2019.

As announced, Melbourne will again play two games in the Northern Territory, with matches scheduled in both Darwin and Alice Springs.

The first NT game will occur in round 11 against Adelaide on Saturday 1 June. This match will also mark Melbourne’s 10^th consecutive year of playing in Darwin.

The red and blue will return to the territory later in the season for a round 18 clash with the Eagles at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs on Sunday, 21 July at 2.50pm (ACST).

From a television broadcast perspective, Melbourne supporters will be able to see Dees play 13 matches free to air on the Seven Network, while all games will be broadcast on Fox Sports. All games will of course be available via the AFL Live Pass. 

As has been the case in recent years, a floating fixture for round 23 will take place. The date, time and broadcast details will be confirmed in the weeks before Melbourne’s clash against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.