The AFL has announced key dates for the 2015 home and away season with the season to kick off on Thursday 2 April.

The league will now begin the construction of the fixture as it consults with clubs, broadcast partners, venues and key stakeholders.

At today’s club CEOs conference in Melbourne, the AFL confirmed the 2015 season would start on Thursday April 2, 2015, across the Easter period, so that the AFL had access to all key venues after the conclusion of the cricket world cup.

Clubs were told it was unlikely the AFL would schedule any game for Good Friday, despite being given the ability to so from the AFL Commission.

Due to the later start to the season, the 2015 Toyota AFL Grand Final will be played on Saturday October 3.

Clubs were also told there would be only one bye through the 2015 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, with each club to play their 22 games across a 23-week period.

The key dates for the 2015 Toyota AFL Premiership Season have therefore been set as follows:

Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 1Thursday 2 April 2015 – Monday 6 April 2015
ANZAC Day – Round 4Saturday 25 April 2015 (five matches scheduled on the day)
Toyota AFL Premiership Season – Round 23Friday 4 September August – Sunday 6 September 2015
Toyota AFL Finals Series – Week 1Friday 11 September  - Sunday 13 September 2015
Toyota AFL Grand FinalSaturday 3 October 2015