Essendon recruit Dylan Shiel will meet with his former club at Spotless Stadium in the opening round of the AFL season, when the Giants take on the Bombers on the first Sunday of the season.
The AFL, which is set to reveal the full fixture on Wednesday, announced the opening round on Saturday night.
The traditional clash between Richmond and Carlton will once again kick off the AFL season in 2019, with the opening game to be played on a Thursday night at the MCG.
Dylan Shiel became a Bomber in the final hour of the trade period.Credit:Jeffrey Chan
The AFL's Travis Auld said there was no consideration to changing the opening slot because the game always attracts a crowd, however the Blues were unlikely to get as many Friday night matches in 2019 after their games flopped in that timeslot in 2018.
Collingwood, which lost the recent Grand Final to West Coast, will host Geelong on Friday night at the MCG with Melbourne to play Port Adelaide the following day at the MCG.
Advertisement
Adelaide, which fell outside the eight in 2018 after reaching the previous year's Grand Final, will play Hawthorn in Adelaide with former Port Adelaide forward Chad Wingard to return to his home state for the first time in Hawks colours.
Brisbane hosts the defending premiers West Coast at the Gabba while the Western Bulldogs play the Sydney Swans at the newly named Marvel Stadium.
AFL round One, 2019
Thursday March 21
Carlton v Richmond, 7:20pm AEDT, MCG
Friday March 22
Collingwood v Geelong, 7:50pm AEDT, MCG
Saturday March 23
Melbourne v Port Adelaide, 1:45pm AEDT, MCG
Adelaide v Hawthorn, 4:05pm, ACDT, Adelaide Oval
Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans, 7:25pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Brisbane v West Coast, 7:20pm AEST, Gabba
Sunday March 24
St Kilda v Gold Coast, 1.10pm, AEDT, Marvel Stadium
GWS v Essendon, 3:20pm, AEDT, Spotless Stadium
Fremantle v North Melbourne, 3:20pm, AWST, Optus Stadium
Peter Ryan joined The Age in 2017 having covered AFL as a senior reporter with AFL Media.
