MELBOURNE will play Richmond and Geelong Cats in a revamped NAB Challenge in 2014.
The Demons will play Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Friday, February 14 at 7.10pm.
The Dees will then head to Alice Springs, hosting the Geelong Cats at TIO Traeger Park on Friday, February 28 at 5.40pm (CST).
All AFL clubs will play 18 matches across every state and territory in Australia in 18 days to open the 2014 season.
Matches will be played in all eight states/territories, including venues Blacktown (NSW), Joondalup (WA), North Ballarat (Vic), Richmond Oval (SA), TIO Traegar Park, Alice Springs (NT), Townsville (Qld), Wagga (NSW) and Wangaratta (Vic).
After a comprehensive review of the pre-season period and premiership season by the AFL Commission and Executive during 2013, it was determined that the consensus among clubs was that two competitive matches was appropriate preparation for the regular season, resulting in a revised NAB Challenge format.
Geelong and Collingwood will open the NAB Challenge with the first match at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday February 12, with one game per day running through to Saturday, March 1 with two games for each club.
AFL General Manager of Broadcasting, Scheduling and Major Projects Simon Lethlean announced the fixture for the 2014 NAB Challenge on Thursday. Every pre-season match will be telecast by key partner Foxtel/Fox Footy.
“All clubs have a minimum six-day break between their games and every match has been scheduled either as a night game or late-afternoon match to avoid the peak heat in the late summer period,” Lethlean said.
"The shortened format enables clubs to use their senior players as they see fit to prepare for the opening to the premiership season, as well as offering the flexibility to provide opportunities for new players and rookies that is such a key feature of the NAB Challenge.
"As we introduced for the 2012 season, by having fixtured each club's matches for the NAB Challenge, clubs are aware of their travel schedule and can fully plan their preparation and training workload as they build up to the start of the premiership season.”