Essendon Football Club will play five blockbuster games at the spiritual home of football next season.

The Bombers first home game of the season is the Round 2 ‘Clash for Cancer’ match against Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

A huge fortnight of football is scheduled at the ‘G in April, with the inaugural ‘Country Game’ against Geelong in Round 4, followed by the traditional ANZAC Day clash against Collingwood in Round 5.

Essendon will host the annual Dreamtime at the ‘G against Richmond in Round 10, before finishing the home and away season against arch rival Carlton.

CEO, Xavier Campbell, said the Club was proud to be part of these iconic fixtures.

“Our MCG blockbuster games are the biggest games outside of the Grand Final, and I know our fans are already clearing space in their calendars,” Campbell said.

“We are extremely proud to be part of the iconic games in ANZAC Day, Dreamtime at the ’G and the newly created ‘Country Game.’

“These games celebrate and pay respect to the incredible people who have shaped our nation in their own unique way.”

Of Essendon’s 11 home games in Victoria, seven will be played at Etihad Stadium and four at the MCG.

The Club will play five games in the ‘family friendly’ time slots of Saturday (3) and Sunday afternoon (2), three Sunday twilight games and two night games.

Campbell said achieving the perfect fixture was a hard task.

“We are disappointed a number of our requests were overlooked by the AFL,” Campbell said.

“Our draw presents some commercial challenges for the football Club, with only one home Friday night and Saturday night game in 2016.

“We are happy with the draw from a football perspective. We only have six six-day breaks, we don’t have to travel interstate after Round 19 and we play the final three games of the season at home.”

Essendon fans across the country are amongst the biggest beneficiaries of the Club’s 2016 fixture.

Next year will see the Bombers play two games in Western Australia, two games in South Australia, and one game in New South Wales and Queensland.

Campbell said the Club was looking forward to engaging with its passionate members and supporters across the country.

“We have one of the strongest national supporter bases in the competition and the 2016 fixture rewards our passionate and loyal fans across the country with the opportunity to come and watch the Bombers live in their home state.

“Our West Australian supporters will benefit the most with three games scheduled at Domain Stadium, including a NAB Challenge match.

“We return to South Australia for the first time since 2014 with games against Port Adelaide in Round 3 and Adelaide in Round 19.”

The Club will be announcing a number of initiatives to engage with its interstate members closer to the commencement of the season.