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• Pies, Dons to split Anzac gate
• Top teams light up Friday nights

Richmond v Carlton, round one, MCG
The traditional season-opener has an added element this year with speedster Chris Yarran set to line-up for the Tigers for the first time against his old team. It will also be new coach Brendon Bolton's first game in charge of the Blues.

Gold Coast v Essendon, round one, Metricon Stadium
Michael Rischitelli is not the biggest name in the game but he stood up for the Suns in 2015 when leadership was needed. He kicks off the season in his 200th game.

Hawthorn v West Coast, round two, MCG
Can the Eagles recover from their Grand Final humiliation at the hands of the Hawks? They have to travel back to the MCG where Hawthorn will unfurl its premiership flag in the Grand Final rematch.

Fremantle v Gold Coast, round two, Domain Stadium
New Dockers recruit Harley Bennell faces the Suns for the first time on his new home deck. He has a chance to vindicate Freo's faith early by lighting up Domain Stadium against his former club.

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, round two, Etihad Stadium
Champion Saints' forward Nick Riewoldt is due to reach his 300th game in round two against the Dogs. The St Kilda star and club captain's stellar career will be celebrated under the roof at his home ground. 

The 2016 fixture explained

GWS v Geelong, round two, StarTrack Oval
Steve Johnson thought he still had some footy left in him but the Cats moved him on. No doubt Stevie J will be pulling out all his tricks to prove Geelong wrong.

St Kilda v Collingwood, round three, MCG
A great occasion with the Saints celebrating the 50th anniversary of the club's one and only premiership, won in 1966, by a point. If Nathan Freeman is fit and in the team there will be added spice to the game, as Magpie fans will make it quickly known what they think of his departure.

Sydney Swans v West Coast, round five, SCG
Quick versus tall as the neatest exchange of the NAB AFL Trade Period goes head-to-head early in the season, with Callum Sinclair in Sydney Swans colours and Lewis Jetta lining up for West Coast. 

Hawthorn v Adelaide, round five, MCG
The man they call 'Silk' chalks up game 300 against the Crows. Shaun Burgoyne has been a champion in every sense so the appreciative Hawthorn fans will attend in their droves to pay tribute.

All going well champion Shaun Burgoyne should bring up game 300 in round five. Picture: AFL Media

St Kilda v North Melbourne, round seven, Etihad Stadium
Barring injury Drew Petrie, one of football's most popular characters, will bring up his 300th game at home against the Saints. Will he pull out 'Frank the Tank' if he kicks a goal?

Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, round eight, The Gabba
James Aish is in for a torrid night if he lines up against his old side at the Gabba. The Lions faithful didn't take too fondly to his request to be traded to the Pies at the end of last season, and this will be the first chance they have to tell him about it.

Adelaide v Geelong, round eight, Adelaide Oval
The Patrick Dangerfield trade was done with a minimum of fuss but the Crows supporters are unlikely to be as placid. To say the reception he’ll receive will be vigorous is an understatement.

Paddy Dangerfield may not want to get so close to the fence at Adelaide Oval anymore. Picture: AFL Media

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, round eight, MCG
All-Australian captain Robert Murphy has the football world's respect. Even neutral supporters might take the chance to acknowledge his 300th match by turning up to the Demons home game at the MCG on a Sunday afternoon in May.

St Kilda v Essendon, round nine, Etihad Stadium
The Saints gave up pick No. 5 to get Jake Carlisle, only to see him involved in a scandal hours after acquiring him. Essendon fans were constantly disappointed by his performance, so Carlisle won’t exactly be a popular figure when the two teams meet.

Essendon v Richmond, round 10, MCG
The annual Dreamtime match is always a highlight and is the showpiece of Indigenous Round, which has been renamed Sir Doug Nicholls Round to honour the Aboriginal icon.

The Dreamtime game is always a big ticket event on the footy calendar. Picture: AFL Media

North Melbourne v Hawthorn, Round 13, Etihad Stadium
Apart from giving Jed Anderson a chance to shine, it will be the first time the two clubs have met since the Hawks bullied the Kangaroos in round five, 2015, with Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis being suspended after nasty incidents.

GWS v Carlton, Round 14, Spotless Stadium
An interesting intra-club ahead of the bye for the Giants as half their former players take the field for the Blues. If that's the case then Carlton will be pretty happy, with the club punting on the fortunes of six ex-Giants for 2016.

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, round 15, SCG
The Western Bulldogs gave Michael Talia away for basically nothing after the club had him investigated for allegedly releasing game-sensitive information to Adelaide ahead of an elimination final. It’s sure to be a spicy affair if Talia lines up for the Swans.

West Coast v Essendon, round 15, Domain Stadium
On a Thursday night after the bye, West Coast's premiership captain and coach John Worsfold returns to Perth to coach the Bombers. Time for the jackets to be twirled as his alma-mater welcomes him back to coaching.

Different colours, different reception on the cards for John Worsfold in Perth. Picture: AFL Media

Carlton v Adelaide, round 16, MCG
Troy Menzel joins Eddie Betts inside 50 in Adelaide colours against the Blues for the first time. A goal feast from the clever duo against the Blues would once again shine a light on Carlton's recent list management despite the fact little blame can be attached to the current football department.

Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood, round 16, Spotless Stadium
Revelations that Adam Treloar had a post-season operation without the Giants' knowledge, long running trade negotiations and a video showing Treloar signing on as a Magpie before the trade was official all combined to make the 22-year-old a compelling post-season story. Will he haunt the Giants?

North Melbourne v St Kilda, round 19, Etihad Stadium
Brent Harvey could become the game's record holder if he plays every game until this point, passing Michael Tuck's 426-game mark that has stood since 1991. This could be a champion's finest hour.

Hawthorn v Carlton, round 19, Aurora Stadium
It will be master versus apprentice when Tasmania’s own Brendon Bolton coaches against his former boss Alastair Clarkson for the first time. If the Blues are down at half-time we probably won’t see Bolton punch a hole in the wall, but anything could happen.

Fremantle v West Coast, round 20, Domain Stadium
Could this be Matthew Pavlich's final western derby? The champ has played in every one since arriving at the Dockers. He won't leave anything on the ground.

Wester derbies just won't be the same without Matthew Pavlich. Picture: AFL Media

Gold Coast v Port Adelaide, round 23, Metricon Stadium
We have to wait until the final round to see Charlie Dixon play his old team in Port Adelaide colours. By then we'll know whether he has made the right move and Suns supporters will be able to find some voice as a villain appears on their turf.

GRAND FINAL DAY, October 1, The Big One!
The Grand Final has been played on the first day of October six times with Collingwood being involved four times for two wins and two losses. The Magpies won on this day in 1910 and 1927. The Tigers took the 1932 honours, North Melbourne won the replay in 1977, West Coast in 1994 while Geelong defeated the Magpies in 2011 to kick off October.