Kick-to-kick set to go back-to-back
Fans to enjoy a kick on the ground at nearly half of all games this year
FOOTY fans will have the chance to take part in kick-to-kick on the ground after the final siren at nearly half of all home-and-away games this season.
In a significant boost to the popular activity, supporters across Australia will be allowed onto the playing arena after 96 matches as part of the League's continued 'Sunday Funday' push.
Children under 15 will again be given free general admission entry to MCG and Etihad Stadium matches on Sundays, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
"One of our major objectives over the past 18 months has been to improve the accessibility and affordability of attending matches," AFL general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld said.
"Free entry for children under 15 on Sundays at Etihad Stadium and the MCG makes attending the football really affordable for families at a really appealing time-slot, and this proved a great success in 2015."
Kick-to-kick will start in round one and will be available to fans after games in every state and territory.
"There is no doubt our fans love the tradition of having a kick on the ground after the final siren," Auld said.
"With close to half the matches during the home-and-away season including this opportunity, it shows that the AFL and our stadium partners are committed to continuing this tradition.
"We appreciate our partners accommodating this initiative while also balancing the need to prepare their grounds to such high standards.”
Due to the difficulty maintaining surfaces in winter, kick-to-kick won't be available after games at the MCG or Etihad Stadium in June or July.
Full 2016 schedule of kick-to-kick games MCG - Eight matches Round Date Match Local time 2 Sunday, April 3 Hawthorn v West Coast 3.20pm 4 Sunday, April 17 Collingwood v Melbourne 3.20pm 6 Sunday, May 1 Carlton v Essendon 3.20pm 8 Sunday, May 15 Melbourne v Western Bulldogs 3.20pm 10 Sunday, May 29 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs 3.20pm 20 Sunday, August 7 Carlton v St Kilda 1.10pm 21 Sunday, August 14 Richmond v Geelong 3.20pm 22 Sunday, August 21 Carlton v Melbourne 1.10pm
Etihad Stadium - 12 matches Round Date Match Local time 1 Sunday, March 27 Western Bulldogs v Fremantle 1.10pm 2 Sunday, April 3 Carlton v Sydney Swans 4.40pm 3 Sunday, April 10 Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn 3.20pm 4 Sunday, April 17 North Melbourne v Fremantle 4.40pm 5 Sunday, April 24 St Kilda v GWS 1.10pm 7 Sunday, May 8 St Kilda v North Melbourne 3.20pm 8 Sunday, May 15 Carlton v Port Adelaide 1.10pm 9 Sunday, May 22 St Kilda v Essendon 4.40pm 10 Sunday, May 29 Carlton v Geelong 1.10pm 20 Sunday, August 7 Geelong v Essendon 3.20pm 21 Sunday, August 14 Essendon v Gold Coast 1.10pm 22 Sunday, August 21 Essendon v Western Bulldogs 4.40pm
Simonds Stadium (Geelong) - Eight matches Round Date Match Local time 3 Sunday, April 10 Geelong v Brisbane Lions 4.40pm 6 Saturday, April 30 Geelong v Gold Coast 7.25pm 7 Saturday, May 7 Geelong v West Coast 2.10pm 11 Saturday, June 4 Geelong v GWS 4.35pm 16 Friday, July 8 Geelong v Sydney Swans 7.50pm 18 Saturday, July 23 Geelong v Adelaide 7.25pm 19 Friday, July 29 Geelong v Western Bulldogs 7.50pm 23 TBC Geelong v Melbourne TBC
Aurora Stadium (Launceston) - Four matches Round Date Match Local time 4 Saturday, April 16 Hawthorn v St Kilda 2.10pm 8 Saturday, May 14 Hawthorn v Fremantle 2.10pm 14 Sunday, June 26 Hawthorn v Gold Coast 3.20pm 19 Saturday, July 30 Hawthorn v Carlton 2.10pm
Blundstone Arena (Hobart) - Three matches Round Date Match Local time 3 Sunday, April 10 North Melbourne v Melbourne 1.10pm 11 Friday, June 3 North Melbourne v Richmond 7.50pm 22 Saturday, August 20 North Melbourne v Sydney Swans 1.45pm
SCG - Eight matches Round Date Match Local time 1 Saturday, March 26 Sydney Swans v Collingwood 7.25pm 3 Saturday, April 9 Sydney Swans v GWS 4.35pm 5 Saturday, April 23 Sydney Swans v West Coast 1.40pm 7 Saturday, May 7 Sydney Swans v Essendon 4.35pm 13 Sunday, June 19 Sydney Swans v Melbourne 1.10pm 15 Saturday, July 2 Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs 4.35pm 18 Saturday, July 23 Sydney Swans v Carlton 1.45pm 20 Saturday, August 6 Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide 1.45pm
Spotless Stadium (GWS) - Eight matches Round Date Match Local time 6 Saturday, April 30 GWS v Hawthorn 4.35pm 8 Saturday, May 14 GWS v Gold Coast 4.35pm 9 Sunday, May 22 GWS v Western Bulldogs 3.20pm 12 Sunday, June 12 GWS v Sydney Swans 4.40pm 14 Saturday, June 25 GWS v Carlton 4.35pm 16 Saturday, July 9 GWS v Collingwood 1.40pm 21 Saturday, August 13 GWS v West Coast 4.35pm 22 Saturday, August 20 GWS v Fremantle 4.35pm
Manuka Oval (Canberra) - Three matches Round Date Match Local time 2 Sunday, April 3 GWS v Geelong 1.10pm 4 Sunday, April 17 GWS v Port Adelaide 1.10pm 19 Saturday, July 30 GWS v Richmond 1.45pm
Metricon Stadium (Gold Coast) - 11 matches Round Date Match Local time 1 Saturday, March 26 Gold Coast v Essendon 3.35pm 3 Saturday, April 9 Gold Coast v Carlton 7.25pm 5 Saturday, April 23 Gold Coast v North Melbourne 4.35pm 7 Saturday, May 7 Gold Coast v Melbourne 5.10pm 9 Saturday, May 21 Gold Coast v Adelaide 2.10pm 11 Saturday, June 4 Gold Coast v Sydney Swans 7.25pm 15 Saturday, July 2 Gold Coast v St Kilda 1.40pm 16 Saturday, July 9 Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions 4.35pm 18 Saturday, July 23 Gold Coast v Fremantle 2.10pm 20 Saturday, August 6 Gold Coast v GWS 4.35pm 23 TBC Gold Coast v Port Adelaide TBC
Cazaly's Stadium (Cairns) - one match Round Date Match Local time 17 Saturday, July 16 Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast 7.25pm
The Gabba - 11 matches Round Date Match Local time 2 Saturday, April 2 Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne 3.35pm 4 Saturday, April 16 Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast 4.35pm 6 Sunday, May 1 Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans 1.10pm 8 Saturday, May 14 Brisbane Lions v Collingwood 7.25pm 10 Saturday, May 28 Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn 1.45pm 12 Saturday, June 11 Brisbane Lions v Fremantle 4.35pm 13 Saturday, June 18 Brisbane Lions v West Coast 1.40pm 17 Sunday, July 17 Brisbane Lions v GWS 4.40pm 19 Saturday, July 30 Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide 7.25pm 21 Saturday, August 13 Brisbane Lions v Carlton 1.45pm 22 Sunday, August 21 Brisbane Lions v Geelong 3.20pm
Adelaide Oval - Seven matches Round Date Match Local time 1 Sunday, March 27 Port Adelaide v St Kilda 2.50pm 2 Saturday, April 2 Adelaide v Port Adelaide 1.15pm 6 Saturday, April 30 Adelaide v Fremantle 1.40pm 9 Saturday, May 21 Port Adelaide v West Coast 4.05pm 12 Saturday, June 11 Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs 1.10pm 18 Sunday, July 24 Port Adelaide v GWS 4.10pm 23 TBC Adelaide v West Coast TBC
Domain Stadium (Perth) - 10 matches Round Date Match Local time 5 Sunday, April 24 Fremantle v Carlton 2.10pm 6 Sunday, May 1 West Coast v Collingwood 2.40pm 8 Sunday, May 15 West Coast v St Kilda 2.40pm 10 Sunday, May 29 West Coast v Gold Coast 2.40pm 12 Saturday, June 11 West Coast v Adelaide 5.40pm 13 Saturday, June 18 Fremantle v Port Adelaide 2.35pm 16 Sunday, July 10 West Coast v North Melbourne 1.20pm 19 Sunday, July 31 Fremantle v Sydney Swans 1.20pm 21 Sunday, August 14 Fremantle v Adelaide 2.40pm 23 TBC Fremantle v Western Bulldogs TBC
TIO Stadium (Darwin) - One match Round Date Match Local time 16 Saturday, July 9 Melbourne v Fremantle 7.10pm
TIO Traeger Park (Alice Springs) - One match Round Date Match Local time 10 Saturday, May 28 Melbourne v Port Adelaide 1.40pm