Ahead of the announcement of the 2014 AFL fixture, collingwoodfc.com.au has summarised the rumoured key dates and matches as published in the major newspapers in recent days.

Sunday night footy?
The Age’s Caroline Wilson revealed the AFL is set to trial as many as three Sunday night matches in 2014.

According to Wilson, the matches will begin at 7.40pm and be broadcast on Channel Seven.

The Herald Sun believes Collingwood is expected to feature in one of these matches against arch rival Carlton with the match said to be scheduled for Sunday 29 June, which is the first weekend of the mid-year school holidays in Melbourne.

Opening up at Etihad
Radio 3AW and The Age’s Caroline Wilson have both reported that Collingwood is likely to open the 2014 home and away season against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Friday 14 March.

The last time Collingwood featured in the first match of the season was in round one, 2004 when it lost to Richmond by 40 points. The Magpies haven’t met the Dockers under the Etihad roof since round four, 2004.

Should it come to pass, it will mean the Pies have begun four of their last five home and away campaigns at Etihad Stadium.
 



The Herald Sun believes the MCG will not be available until the third week of the home and away season.

The challenge begins
The Age believes Collingwood will face some of the league’s best sides of 2013 in the early weeks of the new season.

Caroline Wilson reports the Magpies will begin their year with contests against three of the 2013’s four Preliminary Finalists – Fremantle, Sydney and Geelong – in the first month of the season.

Honouring Winmar’s legacy
On Wednesday, the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reported that St Kilda and Collingwood are set to begin Indigenous Round with a yearly reconciliation game to celebrate the legacy of Nicky Winmar.

Ralph wrote that the match is likely to be played at Etihad Stadium on the Friday night of Indigenous Round, 24 hours before the now traditional Dreamtime at the ‘G match game between Essendon and Richmond.

An all-star pre-season
The AFL is preparing for a revamped pre-season comprising an unofficial round-robin of 18 games played in 18 days, followed by an all-star representative game in early March, according to The Age’s Caroline Wilson.

Wilson believes the teams for the all-star match may be selected by the 2013 Grand Final captains, Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) and Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle).

The concept has the backing of Collingwood vice-captain Scott Pendlebury and reigning Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett.

It will replace the traditional NAB Cup pre-season Grand Final.

The 2014 AFL home and away fixture is scheduled to be announced on Thursday at 9.30am.