The AFL has confirmed the fixture for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL, with the Pies set for some blockbuster matchups to start the season.
The fixture includes a full schedule from Rounds 1-13, along with matchups and venues for Rounds 14-21. More information about the final eight Rounds will be released around the same time as the remainder of the AFL fixture.
The Pies will take on the Sandringham Zebras in their opening match of the season on Friday March 22, the same weekend the Pies’ AFL side plays the Zebras’ AFL affiliate St. Kilda.
They will then travel to Brisbane in Round Two to take on the Lions on Good Friday, the day after the annaul Easter Thursday game between the two clubs’ AFL sides.
The Brisbane match is part of three interstate trips for the season, including an inaugural match against the Southport Sharks at their home ground, Fankhauser Reserve, on the Gold Coast in Round Six, as well as a trip to face the Sydney Swans in Round 20.
The Pies face Brisbane, Essendon, and Carlton twice during the season, while they will have four byes throughout the year just as they did in 2023.
One of those will be a league-wide week off during the AFL’s Gather Round, with a VFL-SANFL representative game to be held in Adelaide that weekend.
The side’s first home game for the year will come in the traditional Anzac week clash against Essendon in Round Five, part of four home games in the opening 13 Rounds.
After finishing seventh and falling in the Elimination Final last season, the Pies are out to climb the ladder in 2024 under Head Coach Josh Fraser.
Four road trips to begin the year headline a tough opening month, however new additions to the list in Ben Crocker, Ned Long, Ryan Sparkes and Jack Hutchinson have buoyed the side during pre-season.
Two practice matches will also be held in the coming weeks with a game against Richmond set for February 27 - the same day the the two clubs face off for the inaugural Charity Shield in the AAMI Community Series - before a game against Port Melbourne at Victoria Park on March 15, which falls on the sam day as the AFL side's Round One clash against Sydney.
The full 2024 fixture can be viewed here.
Rounds 1-13 key takeaways:
- 4 home games and 7 away games
- 3 Byes (Including league-wide bye)
- 3 Friday games, 4 Saturday games and 4 Sunday games
- 2 interstate trips
