GEELONG will face Essendon in the first official pre-season game of 2025, while the two Western Australian clubs will head to the regions for the annual AAMI Community Series.
The AFL has announced the nine-game schedule of official pre-season games for next year, with West Coast and North Melbourne to get an early look at Hands Oval in Bunbury before the two sides play there for premiership points in round 13.
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The official pre-season games will be played from February 25 to March 2 and come after the optional, club-arranged match simulations, with details of those to be announced by the clubs (see match-ups confirmed so far below).
The premiership season will start with Opening Round, beginning on March 6.
The Cats will play the Bombers at GMHBA Stadium to start the AAMI Community Series on Tuesday February 25, before Richmond takes on Collingwood at Ikon Park the following night.
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs in Launceston and Brisbane v Adelaide in Brisbane will be played on the Thursday before Greater Western Sydney plays Carlton in Canberra and Gold Coast hosts Sydney on the Friday.
The Eagles and Roos will clash on Sunday afternoon, after St Kilda plays Port Adelaide at RSEA Park.
The AAMI Community Series will conclude with Fremantle hosting Melbourne in Mandurah on Sunday, March 2. It will be the Dockers' second hitout of the pre-season, following their match against the Indigenous All-Stars on February 15 at Optus Stadium.
All AAMI Community Series matches will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo. Tickets will be available in February, with members and kids to go free.
While the rules and duration of club-arranged match simulations are up to the discretion of the clubs, AAMI Community Series games must be played in four 20-minute quarters plus time on, as is the case in the premiership season. However, there will be no interchange cap, with clubs able to name a squad of 30 players, including eight on the interchange and four emergencies. There can be only four players on the interchange bench at any time.
The schedule gives Sydney six days between their pre-season game on the Gold Coast and their premiership season-opener against Hawthorn at the SCG on March 7, while the Hawks will have a seven-day break after their pre-season game in Launceston.
After Opening Round on March 6-9, all 18 clubs will feature in round one from Thursday March 13 to Sunday March 16.
The eight clubs that take part in Opening Round will have their byes in either round two, three or four before all 18 clubs take part in Gather Round in round five.
Indigenous All Stars game
Saturday, Feb 15
Fremantle v Indigenous All Stars, Optus Stadium, 7.30pm AEDT (4.30pm local)
Unofficial match simulations
Saturday, Feb 15
Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Whitten Oval, 2pm AEDT
Monday, Feb 17
Geelong v Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium, 2pm AEDT
Thursday, Feb 20
Collingwood v Gold Coast v Brisbane, time and venue TBC
Friday, Feb 21
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Mount Barker, 5.30pm AEDT (5pm local)
More to come …
AAMI Community Series
(all times in AEDT)
Tuesday, Feb 25
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 7:10pm
Wednesday, Feb 26
Richmond v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 7:10pm
Thursday, Feb 27
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, UTAS Stadium, 5:20pm
Brisbane v Adelaide, Brighton Homes Arena, 8:10pm (7.10pm local)
Friday, Feb 28
Greater Western Sydney v Carlton, Manuka Oval, 5:20pm
Gold Coast v Sydney, People First Stadium, 8:10pm (7.10pm local)
Saturday, Mar 1
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, RSEA Park, 3:10pm
West Coast v North Melbourne, Hands Oval (Bunbury), 6:10pm (3.10pm local)
Sunday, Mar 2
Fremantle v Melbourne, Rushton Park (Mandurah), 6:10pm (3.10pm local)
All AAMI Community Series matches broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo.
Tickets available in February. Members and kids go free.