NEW Demon Mitch Clark won't have to wait long to face off against his former teammates, with Melbourne set to take on the Brisbane Lions in round one next season.

The match will be played at the MCG on the Saturday afternoon of March 31.

Clark walked out on the Lions ahead of this year's trade week, stating a desire to return to his home state of Western Australia.

But he was convinced to scrap those plans and join the Demons, who secured the ruckman/forward in exchange for pick 12 in this year's NAB AFL Draft.

The AFL said the clash has not been deliberately contrived, having already been set in the fixture before the Clark trade.

In another huge round one match-up, 2011 preliminary final foes Collingwood and Hawthorn will face off on Friday night at the MCG.

The Magpies won through to the Grand Final after beating the Hawks by just three points in one of the games of the season.

It will be new coach Nathan Buckley's first game in charge of Collingwood after succeeding Mick Malthouse.

Richmond will meet Carlton in their now-traditional Thursday night opening round slot, and a showdown between new club GWS and its cross-town rival the Sydney Swans is likely, although is still to be confirmed.

The full 2012 fixture will be released on AFL.com.au at 9.30am on Friday 28 October.