Essendon is looking forward to its challenging first month of the 2014 home and away season following the release of the fixture earlier this week.

The Bombers face North Melbourne, Hawthorn, Carlton and Fremantle in the first four weeks of the season including a trip to Perth.

Football Operations Manager Steve Alessio said the first month of the season would provide a good test for the side.

“From our perspective it is a fairly balanced draw, it will be a tough start to the season with some really challenging games in the first four or five rounds but we are looking forward to that challenge,” Alessio said.

“There are not too many six day breaks in the draw which is great for our planning and recovery of our players throughout the year.”

“We are excited about it (the fixture) and really looking forward to it.”

The annual ANZAC Day blockbuster against Collingwood will take place on a Friday afternoon next year meaning the Bombers do not have a shortened break between games as experienced in previous seasons.

“Having the ANZAC Day game on a Friday keeps it within your normal football schedule and there are no extraordinarily short weeks,” he said.

“Our Dreamtime at the G game on a Saturday night in the middle of the year is a blockbuster we really enjoy and it is the tenth year anniversary of the Long Walk which means it will be a special game that night.”

The Bombers only play five interstate matches during the season including visiting every state except Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

“It is a good draw from that perspective and good for our supporters around Australia as they get to see us,” he said.

The club will play under the lights on 13 occasions throughout the season including a Sunday night clash against archrivals Carlton at the MCG.

Alessio said he was confident the players were ready to play on the big stage.

“It is common place now within the AFL to be playing a lot of night games, we are looking forward to that and the boys will get used to it.”