AFL 2027 fixture: Fremantle Dockers cop rough early start time for season opener against Western Bulldogs
Fremantle fans may face a challenge getting in their seats in time for the opening ball-up of next season, with the Dockers scheduled for their earliest-ever start to a non-holiday weekday game in WA.
Fremantle fans may face a challenge getting in their seats in time for the opening ball-up of next season, with the Dockers scheduled for their earliest-ever start to a non-holiday weekday game in WA.
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Freo will host the Western Bulldogs in a Thursday night blockbuster on Thursday March 18, with the clash between two expected premiership contenders marking the second game of the season after a Sydney-Geelong match the previous day.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But the AFL hasn’t been kind to the Purple Army by way of the start time for the season opener, with the match locked in for a 5.10pm beginning.
Just twice in Fremantle history has the club had an earlier start time for a weekday game in WA, but both previous examples came on public holidays. The Dockers played a 2.10pm match on a Tuesday on Anzac Day in 2000, while they started at 4.30pm on Good Friday in 2024.
All seven of Freo’s Thursday night matches at Optus Stadium have had a 6.10pm opening, most recently last season’s qualifying final against Hawthorn. But next year’s round one game takes place in the opening weeks of the season while daylight saving is in effect across most of the east coast, with the 5.10pm WA start translating to an 8.10pm beginning for TV viewers in Victoria.
Meanwhile, for the fifth time in seven years, Gold Coast will be the Eagles’ opponent for their season opener.
West Coast will host the Suns on Sunday March 21 at 3.10pm, with the Optus Stadium clash rounding out the opening week of the new AFL season.
It’s the third consecutive year where the Eagles take on Damien Hardwick’s side to begin their year, while the two sides also met in round one in 2021 and 2022.
Elsewhere in the round one fixture, Hawthorn and Brisbane square off in a Friday night MCG showdown in what will be a rematch of their preliminary final epic.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon hailed the return of a full slate of fixtures for the league’s first round, with the experiment of Opening Round abandoned.
“We have listened to feedback and are pleased to be able to deliver a Round One for all our 18 clubs and fans as we bring back a traditional nine-game opening weekend across the country,” Dillon said.
2027 AFL ROUND ONE FIXTURE
- Wednesday 17 March | Sydney Swans vs Geelong, 7:30pm, SCG
- Thursday 18 March | Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs, 5:10pm, Optus Stadium
- Friday 19 March | Hawthorn vs Brisbane, 7:40pm, MCG
- Saturday 20 March | Richmond vs Carlton, 12:35pm, MCG
- Saturday 20 March | Adelaide vs GWS, 3:45pm, Adelaide Oval
- Saturday 20 March | St Kilda vs Collingwood, 7:40pm, MCG
- Sunday 21 March | North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide, 1:10pm, Marvel Stadium
- Sunday 21 March | Melbourne vs Essendon, 3:15pm, MCG
- Sunday 21 March | West Coast vs Gold Coast, 3:10pm, Optus Stadium
