Essendon will face arch-rival Hawthorn in the opening game of the 2023 AFL season.
The Brad Scott era at the Bombers will begin against the Hawks in a massive afternoon clash at the MCG on Sunday, March 19 at 3:20pm.
Round one's fixture is a familiar one, with the Dons and Hawks battling each other in 2021's season opener in which Hawthorn scored a nail-biting one-point win in an instant classic.
It will also be the first time both teams have faced each other on the MCG since 2018.
The full fixture, with the first 15 rounds plus rounds, match-ups and locations for the rest of the season, will be released next week.
With round one now locked in there's no better time to join the Bombers family with a 2023 membership to support the team, click here for more info.
