MELBOURNE will play Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, September 4, the AFL confirmed.

 

The round 24 fixture was locked in on Monday, after it had been a floating round when the program was announced late last year.

 

Melbourne is the only team scheduled to travel on the final day of the premiership season (Sunday September 4), on the basis that it is not currently in the top eight, coupled with the fact the trip to Adelaide for its game being the shortest possible flight of all teams scheduled to travel in round 24.

 

Playing in the earlier of the two matches on Sunday September 4 ensures that Melbourne will be home as early as possible on Sunday evening, should it be competing in the 2011 Toyota AFL Finals Series the following week.

 

The match against Port Adelaide will be the first-ever AFL match to be played at Adelaide Oval since the Adelaide Crows (1991) and Port Adelaide (1997) joined the national competition.

 

The AFL has sought to maximise fixture options for week one of the 2011 Toyota AFL Finals Series, with all sides currently in the top eight at this point of the season to have played by Saturday September 3.

 

Hawthorn and Fremantle will both be able to return to their home state by Saturday night.

 

It was determined that the Collingwood and Geelong Cats match should be fixtured on Friday night, with both sides likely to finish in the top two positions on the ladder and deserving of the maximum preparation and fixture options leading into the opening week of the finals.

 

As per recent years, the AFL has scheduled five games for Saturday, so that the majority of games can be completed by Saturday night, and enable the widest possible options to be considered for scheduling for week one of the finals.

 

The schedule for week one of the 2011 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be announced on the evening of Sunday September 4.

 

 

Collingwood v Geelong Cats at the MCG, 7.40pm (Channel 7)

 

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn at Metricon Stadium, 1.10pm (Fox Sports)

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (Network Ten)

Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions at the SCG, 4.10pm (Fox Sports)

Carlton v St Kilda at the MCG, 7.10pm (Network Ten)

West Coast v Adelaide Crows at Patersons Stadium, 5.10pm (Fox Sports)

 

Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 2.40pm (Channel 7)

Richmond v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm (Fox Sports)