Collingwood vs Essendon Prediction
Collingwood Magpies vs Essendon Bombers Predictions Game 2 of Round…
The 2026 AFL Fixture is officially released, marking an exciting start to the AFL season with a unique “opening round” preceding Round 1. This innovative approach will showcase four spectacular matches spread across Sydney and Queensland. This early kickoff happens a week prior to the usual commencement of the AFL season.
Following this initial round, fans can anticipate a comprehensive nine-game AFL Draw the subsequent week. Each of the participating eight teams from the “opening round” is scheduled for a bye during Rounds 2 to 6. The AFL Fixture highlights an inaugural season match between Sydney and Melbourne at the SCG, set for Thursday, March 7. Another highlight in the AFL Draw is the much-anticipated clash at the MCG – a traditional blockbuster featuring Carlton and Richmond, slated for the following week.
The AFL Fixture also teases a highly awaited match, where Collingwood will battle against their grand final rivals, Brisbane, at the Gabba in Round 3. This crucial match is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 7:30pm, adding to the excitement of the 2026 AFL season.
All times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), Sydney, and Melbourne Time.
The 2026 AFL fixture can be found below.
The Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Thursday, March 6
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Friday, March 7
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Saturday, March 8
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Sunday, March 9
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, March 13
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, March 14
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Saturday, March 15
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Saturday, March 15
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 15
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 15
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, March 16
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, March 16
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, March 16
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, March 20
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, March 21
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 22
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, March 22
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 22
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Sunday, March 23
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, March 23
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, March 23
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, March 27
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, March 28
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 29
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, March 29
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, TAS – Saturday, March 29
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, March 30
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, March 30
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, April 3
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Friday, April 4
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Saturday, April 5
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, April 5
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, April 5
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Sunday, April 6
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, April 6
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, April 6
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Thursday, April 10
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Friday, April 11
Barossa Park, Lyndoch, SA – Saturday, April 12
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, April 12
Norwood Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, April 12
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, April 12
Barossa Park, Lyndoch, SA – Sunday, April 13
Norwood Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, April 13
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, April 13
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Thursday, April 17
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, April 18
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Friday, April 18
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, April 19
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, April 19
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, April 19
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Sunday, April 20
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, April 20
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Monday, April 21
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, April 24
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, April 25
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Friday, April 25
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, April 26
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, April 26
Manuka Oval, Canberra, ACT – Saturday, April 26
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Sunday, April 27
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, April 27
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, April 27
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, May 1
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, May 2
Mars Stadium, Ballarat, VIC – Saturday, May 3
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, May 3
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 3
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Saturday, May 3
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Sunday, May 4
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, May 4
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Sunday, May 4
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Thursday, May 8
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, May 9
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 10
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 10
TIO Stadium, Darwin, NT – Saturday, May 10
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, May 10
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, May 11
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Sunday, May 11
Ninja Stadium, Hobart, TAS – Sunday, May 11
TIO Stadium, Darwin, NT – Thursday, May 15
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Friday, May 16
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 17
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, May 17
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Saturday, May 17
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 17
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, May 18
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Sunday, May 18
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, May 18
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Thursday, May 22
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, May 23
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 24
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 24
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, May 24
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Saturday, May 24
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, May 25
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, May 25
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, May 25
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Thursday, May 29
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Friday, May 30
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Saturday, May 31
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Saturday, May 31
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Saturday, May 31
TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs, NT – Sunday, June 1
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, June 1
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, June 5
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Friday, June 6
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, June 7
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Saturday, June 7
Manuka Oval, Canberra, ACT – Saturday, June 7
Hands Oval, Bunbury, WA – Sunday, June 8
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, June 8
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Monday, June 9
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Thursday, June 12
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, TAS – Friday, June 13
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Saturday, June 14
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, June 14
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Saturday, June 14
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Sunday, June 15
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Sunday, June 15
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Thursday, June 19
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Friday, June 20
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, June 21
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Saturday, June 21
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Saturday, June 21
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Sunday, June 22
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Sunday, June 22
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Date & Time TBC
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, TAS – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Mars Stadium, Ballarat, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Date & Time TBC
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, TAS – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Date & Time TBC
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Manuka Oval, Canberra, ACT – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
Ninja Stadium, Hobart, TAS – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
People First Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD – Date & Time TBC
SCG, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney, NSW – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
MCG, Melbourne, VIC – Date & Time TBC
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD – Date & Time TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, SA – Date & Time TBC
Optus Stadium, Perth, WA – Date & Time TBC
If you are unable to make it to the game, there are several different ways you can watch the AFL. There is, of course, heading down to the local pub with your mates but if you are thinking of having a quiet night in there are a bunch of different options available, and thanks to the power of the internet you are now able to watch it from anywhere in the world directly from your phone or laptop.
Domestic broadcasting partners for the AFL include Channel 7, and 7mate, for your convenience we have included a link to bring you directly to the site to save you the trouble of having to find it.
Fox Footy has broadcasting availability for the footy for every single game, though it can be a little difficult to navigate their site due to the heavy news content.
For years Foxtel was known as the home of football, however, due to the recent upswing in alternative streaming methods, customer numbers for the Foxtel network have dropped significantly.
The website for AFL Live Pass, unfortunately, directs you to an “Out of Bounds” page, which we could only assume is the AFLs version of a 404 page.
Kayo Sports is available in pretty much every country that you can think of, if you have an internet connection you can be pretty sure that you can watch the AFL on Kayo.
When travelling abroad, you might find yourself on the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere when your favourite team is playing a make-or-break match, but have no fear; there are still ways to access the AFL no matter where you are in the world!
WatchAFL is the streaming partner for the AFL and has live access to every game including the finals; WatchAFL is available on mobile, tablet, computer, or TV (with an internet connection). It is worth noting that there is a note at the bottom of their page stating that WatchAFL is not available in Australia; however, you may be able to work around this using a VPN; we recommend using ExpressVPN.
You may also access the AFL from several domestic methods. However, it all depends on which country you reside in.
The AFL Draw 2026 is a much-anticipated event for all footy fans. It’s the roadmap to the season, outlining when and where each game will be played. The 2026 AFL draw is typically released towards the end of the previous year, giving fans plenty of time to plan their viewing schedules. Whether you’re planning to attend the games in person or watch them from the comfort of your own home, the AFL draw is an essential tool for any fan.
You can easily find this information online if you’re wondering about the AFL games next weekend. However, we would suggest that you look at the AFL Fixture above. Many broadcasting partners, such as Channel 7 and Fox Footy, provide up-to-date schedules on their websites. Alternatively, the official AFL website is a reliable source for current information on upcoming games.
Of all seasons so far, the AFL Fixtures 2026 has got to be one of the best-designed draws to date; with so many teams competing for the top spot, the heads of the AFL have had a lot of work cut out for them when choosing which teams will play off against each other in each AFL Drawn Games 2026 ensuring as close a competition as possible.
The AFL timetable 2026 is a crucial resource for fans. It provides the dates and times of each game and details about the venue and the teams playing. The AFL timetable is typically released with the AFL draw, making it easy for fans to plan their season.
Next week’s AFL games are always a hot topic of conversation among fans. Knowing the schedule is key whether you’re discussing the upcoming matches with your mates at the local pub or planning a quiet night in front of the TV. The easiest way to do this is to bookmark this page; keeping an eye on the AFL’s official website or your preferred broadcasting partner’s site for up-to-date information is also recommended.
Whether you’re planning to watch the games at the stadium, at your local pub, or from the comfort of your own home, staying updated with the AFL draw 2026, the AFL timetable 2026 and the schedule for next week’s AFL games is essential. With so many ways to watch the AFL, you’ll never have to miss a moment.
| AFL Club | City | State | Home Venue | Stadium Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Crows | Adelaide | South Australia | Adelaide Oval | 53,500 |
| Brisbane Lions | Brisbane | Queensland | The Gabba | 42,000 |
| Carlton Blues | Melbourne | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)/ Marvel Stadium | 100,024/ 53,359 |
| Collingwood Magpies | Melbourne | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) | 100,024 |
| Essendon Bombers | Essendon | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)/ Marvel Stadium | 100,024/53,359 |
| Fremantle Dockers | Fremantle | Western Australia | Optus Stadium | 60,000 |
| Geelong Cats | Geelong | Victoria | GMHBA Stadium | 40,000 |
| Gold Coast Suns | Gold Coast | Queensland | Metricon Stadium | 25,000 |
| Greater Western Sydney Giants | Greater Western Sydney | New South Wales | Sydney Showgrounds/ Manuka Oval | 24,000/13,550 |
| Hawthorn Hawks | Melbourne | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)/ York Park | 100,024/21,000 |
| Melbourne Demons | Melbourne | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) | 100,024 |
| North Melbourne Kangaroos | Melbourne | Victoria | Marvel Stadium/ Blundstone Arena | 53,359/20,000 |
| Port Adelaide Power | Port Adelaide | South Australia | Adelaide Oval | 53,500 |
| Richmond Tigers | Melbourne | Victoria | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) | 100,024 |
| St. Kilda Saints | Melbourne | Victoria | Marvel Stadium | 53,359 |
| Sydney Swans | Sydney | New South Wales | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) | 48,000 |
| West Coast Eagles | Perth | Western Australia | Optus Stadium | 60,000 |
| Western Bulldogs | Footscray | Victoria | Marvel Stadium/ Mars Stadium | 53,359/11,000 |
Keep up-to-date with your team’s injuries this week with our AFL injury list.
Stay on top of your game this season by keeping up-to-date with our AFL betting tips.