Essendon will once again feature prominently on the big stage next year after the 2020 home and away fixture was revealed on Thursday.
The Bombers will take part in four Thursday night games and two Friday night clashes, while they are also set to battle four times on Saturday evenings.
The Dons will clash with two top-six teams twice next year – Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood – alongside multiple games against middle-six sides Adelaide and North Melbourne. Sydney is the only bottom-six team the side will take on twice.
Essendon will be on the road on six occasions, including two trips to Adelaide Oval to take on both Adelaide (round five) and Port Adelaide (round 21).
Journeys to the SCG to take on the Swans in round two, Optus Stadium against West Coast in round 13 following the club’s bye in round 12, Giants Stadium against GWS in round 17 and the Gabba to clash with the Lions in a massive final round match-up complete the interstate schedule.
The club’s annual blockbusters against Collingwood in the Anzac Day game (round six), Richmond for Dreamtime at the ‘G (round 10) and Geelong in the Country Game (round eight) remain among the highlights of the fixture.
Anzac Day falls on a Saturday next year, with the slightly tinkered game set to be played in a twilight slot, as reported on Wednesday.
Twelve of the club’s games will be broadcast on Channel Seven, nine will be shown on Fox Footy and the network and start time for the round 23 clash with Brisbane are still to be confirmed.
The home and away campaign will kick off against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on March 21, while the team’s first pre-season hit-out for the 2020 Marsh AFL Community Series is set for February 28.
ESSENDON'S 2020 FIXTURE
ROUND | DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE | HOME/AWAY | LOCAL TIME | BROADCAST |
1 | Saturday, Mar 21 | Fremantle | Marvel Stadium | Home | 1:45pm | Fox Footy |
2 | Friday, Mar 27 | Sydney | SCG | Away | 7:50pm | Channel Seven |
3 | Thursday, Apr 2 | Carlton | MCG | Away | 7:25pm | Channel Seven |
4 | Saturday, Apr 11 | GWS | Marvel Stadium | Home | 7:25pm | Channel Seven |
5 | Thursday, Apr 16 | Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | Away | 7:10pm | Channel Seven |
6 | Saturday, Apr 25 | Collingwood | MCG | Away | 4:20pm | Channel Seven |
7 | Sunday, May 3 | Melbourne | MCG | Home | 3:20pm | Channel Seven |
8 | Saturday, May 9 | Geelong | MCG | Away | 4:35pm | Fox Footy |
9 | Saturday, May 16 | North Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | Away | 1:45pm | Fox Footy |
10 | Saturday, May 23 | Richmond | MCG | Home | 7:25pm | Channel Seven |
11 | Sunday, May 31 | Gold Coast | Marvel Stadium | Home | 1:10pm | Fox Footy |
12 | BYE | |||||
13 | Thursday, Jun 11 | West Coast | Optus Stadium | Away | 6:10pm | Channel Seven |
14 | Saturday, Jun 20 | St Kilda | Marvel Stadium | Home | 1:45pm | Fox Footy |
15 | Friday, Jun 26 | Western Bulldogs | Marvel Stadium | Away | 7:50pm | Channel Seven |
16 | Thursday, Jul 2 | Hawthorn | Marvel Stadium | Home | 7:20pm | Channel Seven |
17 | Saturday, Jul 11 | GWS | GIANTS Stadium | Away | 4:35pm | Fox Footy |
18 | Sunday, Jul 19 | North Melbourne | MCG | Home | 1:10pm | Fox Footy |
19 | Saturday, Jul 25 | Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | Home | 7:25pm | Channel Seven |
20 | Saturday, Aug 1 | Collingwood | MCG | Home | 1:45pm | Fox Footy |
21 | Sunday, Aug 9 | Port Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | Away | 4:10pm | Fox Footy |
22 | Saturday, Aug 15 | Sydney | Marvel Stadium | Home | 7:25pm | Channel Seven |
23 | TBC | Brisbane | The Gabba | Away | TBC | TBC |