Our home and away season will start at the home of football in 2018, with a round one clash with Hawthorn locked in for Saturday 24 March (7.25pm) at the MCG.

The Saturday night timeslot is poised to host an exciting match, with both sides desperate to kick the new season off in winning fashion after missing the finals in 2017.

The Magpies and Hawks split bragging rights in the season past. Scott Pendlebury starred in an 18-point victory in round nine, before having his 250th game spoilt by the Hawks in the corresponding fixture in round 15.

The news comes a day after Collingwood’s JLT Community Series fixture was announced. The Magpies will travel to Canberra and Moe in the pre-season competition.

The remainder of the 2018 home and away fixture is expected to be released by the AFL next week.

ROUND ONE

Thursday 22 March
Richmond v Carlton, MCG, 7:25pm

Friday 23 March
Essendon v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm

Saturday 24 March
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium, 3.35pm
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm
Gold Coast v North Melbourne, Cazaly’s Stadium Cairns, 7.25pm
Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG, 7.25pm

Sunday 25 March
Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs, Canberra, 1.10pm
Melbourne v Geelong, MCG, 3.20pm
West Coast v Sydney, Perth Stadium, 7.10pm

All fixtures in Melbourne time.