The AFL’s pre-season series will run across just five days with regional areas to miss out on planned games as the league cuts down on travel.
All 18 clubs will feature in just one match before the home-and-away season starts, with the AFL coming to the decision to protect the competition against the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
Carlton and St Kilda will kick-off the AAMI community series on March 4 at Marvel Stadium – the first of three games at Docklands across the weekend.
Games in regional towns such as Albury, Coffs Harbour, Morwell, Noarlunga, Mandurah and Whyalla have been scrapped.
“Each of those regions play an extremely important role in our game and the decision to revise the fixture was made to protect the health and safety of the competition and the wider community,” AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said.
“While we share the disappointment of these regions, we also look forward to more fans being able to safely attend community series matches.”
North Melbourne and Hawthorn will head to Launceston, with AFL games taking place in Tasmania for the first time since last year’s pre-season after border restrictions prevented any 2020 regular season matches in the apple isle.
* 2021 AFL pre-season series fixtures (all times AEDT)
Thursday, March 4
Carlton v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium, 7.10pm
Friday, March 5
Collingwood v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 7.10pm
Saturday, March 6
Hawthorn v North Melbourne, University of Tasmania Stadium, 1.10pm
Fremantle v Adelaide, Fremantle Oval, 4.10pm
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm
Sunday, March 7
Sydney v Gold Coast, Giants Stadium, 1.10pm
Greater Western Sydney v Brisbane, Manuka Oval, 4.10pm
West Coast v Port Adelaide, Leederville Oval, 7.10pm
Monday, March 8
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 3.10pm