AFL releases R16-23 fixtures, Essendon score three Friday games

The AFL has released its fixtures for rounds 16 to 23 in the 2024 season, with the Essendon Bombers and Collingwood Magpies each handed three Friday night games.

Essendon have been rewarded for a strong run of form that has them sitting third on the ladder after a five-game unbeaten run.

Brad Scott’s side will face Collingwood at the MCG in round 17 before hosting the Adelaide Crows and Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium in rounds 19 and 23, respectively.

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Besides their Friday night clash with the Dons, the Magpies will take on the Geelong Cats at the ‘G in round 18 before heading to Sydney to tackle the Swans in round 22.

The defending premiers are also set for a rare Saturday night game against Carlton — something that has not occurred since 2005 — in round 21 at the MCG.

Maybe the biggest surprise of the latest fixture release is that there are no Friday games for GWS Giants.

The Giants, who had been in the top four all season until last weekend’s loss to Essendon, remain $6 second-favourites in premiership betting at Neds.

Sydney head the AFL 2024 outright markets at $4.50, while the top online bookmakers have Carlton, Geelong and Melbourne sharing a $7 quote.

See the updated AFL fixture for rounds 16-23 below

Round 16

Friday, June 28
Brisbane v Melbourne (Gabba)

Saturday, June 29
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium)
Sydney v Fremantle (SCG)
Gold Coast v Collingwood (People First Stadium)
Adelaide v GWS Giants (Adelaide Oval)
Geelong v Essendon (MCG)

Sunday, June 30
St Kilda v Port Adelaide (Marvel Stadium)
Richmond v Carlton (MCG)
West Coast v Hawthorn (Optus Stadium)

Round 17

Friday, July 5
Collingwood v Essendon (MCG)

Saturday, July 6
North Melbourne v Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs (Adelaide Oval)
Geelong v Hawthorn (GMHBA Stadium)
GWS Giants v Carlton (ENGIE Stadium)
Fremantle v Richmond (Optus Stadium)

Sunday, July 7
Melbourne v West Coast (MCG)
St Kilda v Sydney (Marvel Stadium)
Brisbane v Adelaide (Gabba)

Round 18

Friday, July 12
Collingwood v Geelong (MCG)

Saturday, July 13
Hawthorn v Fremantle (UTAS Stadium)
Sydney v North Melbourne (SCG)
Western Bulldogs v Carlton (Marvel Stadium)
Adelaide v St Kilda (Adelaide Oval)
Melbourne v Essendon (MCG)

Sunday, July 14
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide (People First Stadium)
Richmond v GWS Giants (MCG)
West Coast v Brisbane (Optus Stadium)

Round 19

Friday, July 19
Essendon v Adelaide (Marvel Stadium)

Saturday, July 20
GWS Giants v Gold Coast (ENGIE Stadium)
St Kilda v West Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Hawthorn v Collingwood (MCG)
Geelong v Western Bulldogs (GMHBA Stadium)
Port Adelaide v Richmond (Adelaide Oval)

Sunday, July 21
Brisbane v Sydney (Gabba)
Fremantle v Melbourne (Optus Stadium)
Carlton v North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)

Round 20

Friday, July 26
Carlton v Port Adelaide (Marvel Stadium)

Saturday, July 27
North Melbourne v Geelong (Blundstone Arena)
Gold Coast v Brisbane (People First Stadium)
St Kilda v Essendon (Marvel Stadium)
Melbourne v GWS Giants (MCG)
Fremantle v West Coast (Optus Stadium)

Sunday, July 28
Collingwood v Richmond (MCG)
Sydney v Western Bulldogs (SCG)
Adelaide v Hawthorn (Adelaide Oval)

Round 21

Friday, August 2
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
West Coast v Gold Coast (Optus Stadium)

Saturday, August 3
North Melbourne v Richmond (Marvel Stadium)
Geelong v Adelaide (GMHBA Stadium)
Collingwood v Carlton (MCG)
Port Adelaide v Sydney (Adelaide Oval)

Sunday, August 4
GWS Giants v Hawthorn (Manuka Oval)
Essendon v Fremantle (MCG)
St Kilda v Brisbane (Marvel Stadium)

Round 22

Friday, August 9
Sydney v Collingwood (SCG)

Saturday, August 10
Brisbane v GWS Giants (Gabba)
North Melbourne v West Coast (Blundstone Arena)
Fremantle v Geelong (Optus Stadium)
Essendon v Gold Coast (Marvel Stadium)
Melbourne v Port Adelaide (MCG)

Sunday, August 11
Carlton v Hawthorn (MCG)
Richmond v St Kilda (Marvel Stadium)
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs (Adelaide Oval)

Round 23

Friday, August 16
Essendon v Sydney (Marvel Stadium)

Saturday, August 17
Gold Coast v Melbourne (People First Stadium)
GWS Giants v Fremantle (ENGIE Stadium)
Collingwood v Brisbane (MCG)
Port Adelaide v Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
St Kilda v Geelong (Marvel Stadium)

Sunday, August 18
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Hawthorn v Richmond (MCG)
West Coast v Carlton (Optus Stadium)

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