MATT Burgan takes a looks at Melbourne’s 2015 home and away fixturestarting with the club’s season-opener against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCGand finishing with GWS at Etihad Stadium in round 23

Saturday, April 4, MCG, Home, 1.40pm, Foxtel

Melbourne is back at the ‘G to open its 2015 campaign, after starting against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this year. Paul Roos will come up against his Sydney predecessor Rodney Eade, who debuts as Gold Coast coach. The Dees lost to the Suns by just eight points at the ‘G this year, which makes for a fascinating start. Heritier Lumumba is set to play his 200^th AFL match and first for the Demons.

Round 2 v Greater Western Sydney

Saturday, April 11, StarTrack Oval, Away, 2.10pm, Foxtel

The Demons will play their first match in Canberra – at the venue formerly known as Manuka Oval – since 2012. It will be Melbourne’s sixth match for premiership points in the nation’s capital. Former Giant and Melbourne recruit Sam Frost could play his former side in potentially his second match for the Demons. It will also be the first of two clashes against GWS in 2015.

Round 3 v Adelaide Crows

Saturday, April 18, Adelaide Oval, Away, 1.40pm, Foxtel

Melbourne returns to Adelaide Oval, where it produced two of its finest performances at the brilliant venue in 2014. The Demons claimed a thrilling three-point victory against the Crows in round seven this year, ending a losing streak in the city of churches stretching back to 2001. It will be Melbourne’s only clash at Adelaide Oval in 2015.

Round 4 v Richmond

Friday, April 24, MCG, Away, 7.50pm, Seven

Melbourne will play its first Friday night match since May 11, 2012, when it went down to Hawthorn by 66 points. The Demons take on the Tigers in what should be a beauty, particularly after the Dees defeated the yellow and black by 17 points in their only contest this year. The match is also the first of five consecutive MCG matches from rounds four to eight.

Round 5 v Fremantle

Sunday, May 3, MCG, Home, 1.10pm, Foxtel

One of three 1.10pm matches for the season – the earliest starts for Melbourne in 2015 – is also the first of two matches against Fremantle next year. It is also Melbourne’s first Sunday match of the season – and just the first of two Freo matches at the ‘G next year. Fremantle is also the only 2014 finalist the Demons will have to front up twice in 2015. Jack Watts is set to play his 100^th AFL game.

Round 6 v Sydney Swans

Saturday, May 9, MCG, Home, 7.20pm, Seven

Melbourne’s first of two Saturday night matches of the season is against Paul Roos’ former team. It will be the second time he has coached against the club he guided to the 2005 premiership. Interestingly, Melbourne has been competitive against the Swans in their past four matches at the MCG. It defeated Sydney by 73 points in 2010, drew in 2011, and dropped both its 2013-14 matches by 31 points.

Round 7 v Hawthorn

Saturday, May 16, MCG, Away, 2.10pm, Foxtel

This will be the first time Melbourne comes up against key defender James Frawley, who recently crossed to Hawthorn as a free agent after 139 matches from 2007-14. The Demons will play the reigning premiers just once in the 2015 season and it will be the second of three games played at the ‘traditional’ 2.10pm timeslot. It will also conclude a four-match streak against 2014 finalists.

Round 8 v Western Bulldogs

Sunday, May 24, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Seven

The Demons had two genuine arm wrestles against the Dogs last year and this looms as another with the past five contests decided by 21 points or less. It will also be the first time new development and strategy coach Brendan McCartney will come up against the Bulldogs – the team he coached from 2012-14 – for the first time for premiership points.

Round 9 v Port Adelaide

Saturday, May 30, TIO Traeger Park, Home, 1.40pm, Foxtel

For Indigenous Round, Melbourne heads back to the picturesque Alice Springs venue for the second home and away match to be played in Central Australia. Although the Demons went down by 20 points against the eventual 2014 preliminary finalist this year, it was one of Melbourne’s best performances – and most exciting – it played in 2014.

Round 10 v Collingwood

Monday, June 8, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Seven

The traditional Queen’s Birthday blockbuster will continue in 2015. It will be new Demon and 2010 Collingwood premiership player’s Heritier Lumumba’s first game against his former side. It is one of just two Monday matches scheduled in the 2015 AFL fixture, with the other being the Easter Monday clash between Hawthorn and Geelong in round one.

Round 11 v St Kilda

Sunday, June 14, Etihad Stadium, Away, 4.40pm, Foxtel

Melbourne’s first of three matches at Etihad Stadium will also be the first time it has played St Kilda in 33 matches, after they met just once in 2014, when the Saints prevailed by 17 points. The Demons will also be aiming to win their first match over the Saints since their most recent finals win in the 2006 second elimination final. Lynden Dunn is also on target to play his 150^th AFL match.

Round 12 v Geelong Cats

Sunday, June 21, Simonds Stadium, Away, 3.20pm, Foxtel

The Demons venture back down to the Cattery in 2015, after their only meeting in 2014 was at the MCG. Melbourne has been a regular visitor to Simonds Stadium in recent times, having played there every year since 1999 – except 2001, 2007 and this year. Melbourne will be aiming for its first win at Geelong since round 20, 2005 when Russell Robertson played his finest game, kicking seven goals.   

Round 13 v Bye

Round 14 v West Coast Eagles

Saturday, July 4, TIO Stadium, Home, 7.10pm, Foxtel

Melbourne’s sixth match for premiership points in Darwin will also be West Coast’s inaugural home-and-away game in the Northern Territory. The Demons have previously played Port Adelaide three times and the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle once each. It will also be Melbourne’s only clash against West Coast in 2015.

Round 15 v Essendon

Saturday, July 11, MCG, Away, 1.40pm, Foxtel

The Demons produced their most stunning win of 2014 against the Bombers, coming back from a 33-point deficit to win by the narrowest of margins. It proved to be Melbourne’s fourth and final win for the season. The Dees have won four of their past five matches against the Dons – can it make it five from six in 2015? Jack Grimes is on track to play his 100^th game this round.

Round 16 v Brisbane Lions

Saturday, July 19, MCG, Home, 1.10pm, Foxtel

Melbourne will play its first match against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG since 2012, with their past three encounters played at Etihad Stadium, TIO Stadium and the Gabba. It will be their only encounter for the season, meaning Melbourne won’t have played in Queensland since 2013. For the Lions, it will be their only home and away clash at the MCG in 2015.

Round 17 v St Kilda

Sunday, July 26, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Seven

After waiting almost a season and a half to play St Kilda – from round one, 2014 to round 11, 2015 – the Demons and Saints will meet for the second time in the space of 43 days next year. And if it doesn’t happen in round 11, could this be the match where the top three draft selections from this year – remembering St Kilda has the first choice and Melbourne has picks No.2 and No.3 – play in this match?

Round 18 v Collingwood

Saturday, August 1, MCG, Away, 2,10pm, Foxtel

Two of the game’s greatest rivals go head-to-head for the 231^st time. It will also be the first time since 2010 that the two sides have met twice in a season. Melbourne’s clash against the Pies is also its last Saturday match of the 2015 season – at the ‘traditional’ 2.10pm timeslot – and its first since round 15 against Essendon.

Round 19 v North Melbourne

Sunday, August 9, MCG, Home, 1.10pm, Foxtel

Multicultural round also coincides with Melbourne’s first clash against North Melbourne for 2015 – and the fifth match in a row at the MCG. It is also the first of four consecutive Sunday matches to conclude the red and blue’s home and away season. The Demons will be desperate to snap a 13-game losing streak against the Kangaroos, dating back to round 20, 2006.

Round 20 v Western Bulldogs

Sunday, August 16, Etihad Stadium, Away, 3.20pm, Seven

For the third year running, Melbourne will play the Western Bulldogs twice in a home and away season. After falling short to the Dogs by 16 points in round eight at the MCG and six at Etihad Stadium in round 15, this has the makings of another even contest. It will also be the first of three successive away matches for the Demons – the first time since rounds two to four.

Round 21 v Carlton

Sunday, August 23, MCG, Away, 3.20pm, Seven

The last opponent Melbourne will play for the first time next year is Carlton. It will also be 38 matches since the two sides have met, with the red and blue’s 23-point win in round four this year their most recent. Goalkicking recruit Jeff Garlett will also take on his former side for the first time. It will also be Melbourne’s last MCG home and away match for 2015.

Round 22 v Fremantle

Sunday, August 30, Patersons Stadium, Away, 2.40pm, Foxtel

It will be the third time in the past four seasons that Melbourne has played its second last round or final match at Patersons Stadium. And can Nathan Jones play every match up until this point of the season – his durability would suggest he can – and become just the 25^th player to have played 200 matches for Melbourne since it became a foundation VFL/AFL club in 1897.

Round 23 v Greater Western Sydney

TBC, Etihad Stadium, Home, TBC, TBC

The AFL has again scheduled a floating fixture for the final round of the home and away season. Although a second match against the Giants has been locked in, the day, date, time and broadcaster has yet to be confirmed. Jeremy Howe and Jordie McKenzie could play their 100^th match each – if they play all 22 matches next year. It will be the first time Melbourne and GWS have played at Etihad Stadium.