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The AFL has released the full fixtures for the first six rounds of the 2021 AFL season on Monday, with blockbusters aplenty in the first month of the season.
After the opening round was made public on Saturday, rounds 1-6 were locked in and announced by the AFL executive general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld.
The remainder of the fixtures for rounds 7-23 have been tentatively scheduled, with opponents decided but dates and start times to be locked in at a later date depending on the implications of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The AFL has scheduled 14 of the 18 clubs to play on Thursday or Friday nights in the opening six rounds.
Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne and North Melbourne miss out on the coveted slots, although the Kangaroos will play a Friday match as part of a Good Friday double-header, taking on the Western Bulldogs in a twilight clash at Marvel Stadium.
Collingwood has the most blockbuster Thursday and Friday night matches, playing two on each night in the opening six rounds, while reigning premier Richmond plays three. Brisbane, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs have two each.
The season will open with the traditional blockbuster between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG, as Richmond unveil their third flag in four seasons.
The West Coast Eagles will play Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday March 21st, Fremantle away to Melbourne the previous day Saturday March 20th.
The Eagles face Western Bulldogs (Docklands), Port Adelaide (Optus), St Kilda (Docklands), Collingwood (Optus) and Geelong (GMHBA Stadium) in their other matches to round six, the Power game falling on Easter Saturday.
Fremantle's other five matches come against Greater Western Sydney (Optus), Carlton (Docklands), Hawthorn (Optus), Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Optus Stadium), the Roos fixture the club's annual Len Hall Tribute match on Anzac Day eve.
The Dockers will play Brisbane, West Coast, Carlton, Hawthorn and Sydney twice, while the Eagles meet their cross town rivals, Adelaide, St Kilda, Carlton, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs on two occasions in 2021.
The AFL season starts on March 18th, with the Marsh Community Series commencing a month earlier on February 18th.
IMAGE: Fox Sports.