Collingwood will face Essendon at the MCG on Saturday 1 September at 7:40pm after the AFL finalised the fixture for round 23 of the 2012 home and away season this afternoon.

The final weekend of the season had been left as a 'floating round' when the fixture was announced late last year. The AFL seeks to schedule clubs that appear likely to finish in the higher positions of the ladder on Friday and Saturday in the final round to allow for greater recovery time for players.

It will be an away fixture for the Magpies who were the designated home team last time the two clubs met on ANZAC Day. The match will be broadcast on the Seven Network.

The league has employed a floating fixture in the final round since 2010. Collingwood last played Essendon in the final round of the home and away season in round 22, 2000.

Match Ticketing Information
Reserved seating tickets for the Essendon v Collingwood match will be sold through Ticketek. Tickets will be released for sale to club members with away game entry entitlements and the general public from 2pm EST on Monday 13 August. For AFL members, tickets will go on sale from 12pm midday EST Thursday 9 August.

From the above dates and times, member and general public reserved seating tickets can be purchased via Ticketek phone bookings 132 849, ticketek.com.au or from any Australian Ticketek outlet.

Click here to view our Membership FAQ’s page with step by step instructions on how to upgrade your membership to a reserved seat through Ticketek.

Friday August 31
Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles at the MCG, 7.50pm (Channel 7)
 
Saturday September 1
Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium, 1.45pm (Channel 7)
Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns at AAMI Stadium, 1.40pm (Foxtel / Fox Sports)
GWS Giants v North Melbourne at Skoda Stadium, 4.40pm (Foxtel / Fox Sports)
Fremantle v Melbourne at Patersons Stadium, 5.40pm (Foxtel / Fox Sports)
Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.40pm (Channel 7)
 
Sunday September 2
Carlton v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm (Foxtel / Fox Sports)
Richmond v Port Adelaide at the MCG, 3.15pm (Channel 7)
Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 4.40pm (Foxtel / Fox Sports)