The AFL 2016 season has lined up some great matches and in a perfect world, it would be possible to watch them all. However, if you have to pick and choose consider the options listed below for the AFL 2016, these 17 games that you can’t miss is a good place to start.
Round 1 Fixtures
The action kicks off from the first match in the AFL 2016; with the opening being one of 17 games that you can’t miss begin with Richmond and Carlton getting things going at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 24 March. In the Sydney vs. Collingwood match at ANZ Stadium in Saturday 26 March at 7:25 p.m. the Swans will be hoping that Lance Franklin will be back after his battles with mental illness, and the Hawks hosting the Cats in a Hawthorn vs Geelong match on 28 March should also be a treat.
Later Round Fixtures
There are sure to be plenty of later thrills in the AFL 2016 and 17 games that you can’t miss might not even cover it! However, one of the essentials must be the Round 2 Hawthorn vs West Coast Eagles re-match on 2 April at 3:20 p.m. These teams went head-to-head in the 2015 Grand Final, and the showing from the Eagles was rather abysmal so they’ll be raring to put on a better performance. The other Round 2 game to prepare for is on the same day, when Brisbane squares off against North Melbourne.
Kevin Sheedy’s latest concept match involving Essendon, the 4th round Country Game, is also not to be missed. The Bombers will host Geelong on Saturday 16 April at the MCG, as part of an event to honour country farmers, regional communities and fire authorities.
The traditional Anzac Day Clash between Essendon and Collingwood will take place in Round 5, on 25 April. Peter Gordon, president of the Western Bulldogs, has been lobbying for Friday night games for the Dogs in an attempt to boost their popularity and has had some success. Their first Friday night is in Round 6, on 29 April against North Melbourne and fans can expect to see them going all out.
Several other games also look to be exciting. Collingwood goes up against Carlton in Round 7 on 7 May and the traditional Queen’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood, in Round 12, will take place on June 13 at MCG. This should prove quite interesting as Dees tries to show his new Collingwood club that he is a worthwhile investment. The Giants vs the Suns in Round 8, on 14 May, should also be thrilling as should the Crows and Suns match in Round 9 on 21 May. North Melbourne going up against Hawthorne in Round 13 should also bring some highlights to AFL 2016 and when it comes to 17 games you can’t miss you should include this one and the one between Giants and Carlton in Round 14 at Spotless Stadium on June 25.
The Round 19 game between Hawthorn and Carlton should also be exciting thanks to the addition of Brendon Bolton to the Carlton line up. Things should really be hotting up by the time Sydney plays Port Adelaide on 6 August in Round 20, and this is a game to get up early for too!
The Final
The floating Round 23 Fixture is Football at its most theatrical and will be no different in the AFL 2016 season. The 17th of 17 games that you can’t miss culminates in this one event. Spectators will be in suspense and should have chosen their favourites after watching the full series to really enjoy this game.