The GIANTS are set for a blockbuster opening to their 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, with the reigning Premiers, Collingwood, heading to Sydney for a standalone clash at GIANTS Stadium.

As part of a new initiative, the four northern clubs will open the 2024 season with standalone games across NSW and Queensland.

Starting a week earlier than the rest of the competition, the GIANTS will host Collingwood in a prime-time blockbuster on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm at GIANTS Stadium.

Beginning on Thursday, March 7, the four games for premiership points in the Opening Round will be played the week before a traditional round one.

Round one will then begin the following week with the Carlton v Richmond fixture at the MCG on Thursday, March 14 and consist of a full round of nine matches.

‘Opening Round’ will get under way on Thursday night when the Swans host Melbourne at the SCG, before heading north to the Gabba on Friday night for a re-match of the 2023 Preliminary Final between the Brisbane Lions and Carlton.

The Gold Coast SUNS and their new Coach Damian Hardwick will host Richmond at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon ahead of another Preliminary Final re-match between the GIANTS and Collingwood.

The eight teams that play in the Opening Round will then have a bye between rounds two and six, with all 18 teams in the competition having played the same number of games by the beginning of round seven.

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon said the AFL was presented with a unique opportunity to feature four matches ahead of the traditional start to the season.

“We were fortunate to be in a position where we were able to have access to our major venues in Queensland and New South Wales a weekend earlier than usual which gave us a unique opportunity to play these four games in key markets where footy continues to grow in popularity,” said Mr Dillon.

“The four match-ups are big, with four of our biggest supported Victorian clubs travelling north, and we look forward to starting our season with real momentum before we head into a blockbuster round of matches in round one.

“We continue to find opportunities to build marquee games and events across the season, with recent examples being King’s Birthday Eve, ANZAC Day Eve and Gather Round and our four matches in the Opening Round build on this approach.

“Given this weekend also falls on the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria it presents a terrific opportunity for fans to travel north to support their club and enjoy an extended interstate break.

“We are driven to have footy in every home around the country, whether that be playing, coaching, umpiring, supporting or volunteering and starting the season across Queensland and NSW will only amplify this desire.

“There’s a lot of people behind the scenes who helped bring this concept to life and I would like to thank our venues and the clubs for sharing in our Opening Round vision.”

Ticketing on-sale information will be released in the coming weeks, with the full fixture expected to be released later this week.

Opening Round

GIANTS v Collingwood
Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm
GIANTS Stadium

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