Finally, the return of football in AFL 2023 is imminent. AFL broadcasts resume on Thursday night with Richmond and Carlton starting off the new campaign. Make sure you’re prepared and aware of where and how to capture everything so you don’t miss a second of the action.

Almost every weekend will feature nine games; don’t be the only one to skip out. As 18 teams begin a fresh season with visions of premiership success, the 2022 season is in the past. According to the AFL, the schedule for 2023 will be slightly different. The home-and-away season will be spread out over 24 weeks, beginning on Thursday, March 16 with a matchup between longtime foes Richmond and Carlton at the MCG. Below are all of the games from each round.

How to watch AFL 2023 Season Live:

Viewers around the world can watch the action live on the following channels and here for free:

Live Broadcast: Watch AFL 2023 Season Live

How many rounds will be played in the 2023 AFL season?

Each squad will only have one bye during the extended season thanks to the bye rounds being spread out from round 12 to round 15 in the 2023 schedule. The times and days of games through round 15 have been set, and later in the season, the remaining fixtures will be announced. Round 24, the final round of the home and away season, will stay speculative, according to AFL executive Travis Auld. “We will confirm the dates and times for the rounds 16 – 23 around four to six weeks out,” he said.

Teams will compete in a 24-round season with 23 contests for the first time in history.

Due to the new Gather Round (where all teams play their game in one state), which will be contested in South Australia, there is an additional round this season.

Every squad will get a bye. Round 12 is the first bye-round. Only two teams will have a bye in Round 13, but six teams will not be participating in Round 14.

Round 15 is the final round that is “locked in,” after which the games have been confirmed but their times and dates have not yet been set.

The end of August will mark the start of Round 24.

Who are the 7AFL commentators?

The best commentary crew in football is primed and prepared to give fans a thrilling race to September during the 2023 AFL season.

There is no other spot football fans will want to be than on Seven, your home of football, with some new and well-known faces delivering all the action live and free.

In a bonus for fans, much-loved Collingwood and Carlton cult hero, Dale Thomas, will join Seven’s AFL broadcast in a field commentary role across the 2023 season, while current Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield will step behind the Seven mic, kicking off with a Saturday night appearance in Round 1.

Where to buy AFL tickets for the 2023 season

Ticketek sells tickets for events at the MCG, SCG, and Adelaide Oval.

Tickets for events at Marvel Stadium, GIANTS Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, and Optus Stadium are available from Ticketmaster.

For comprehensive information on tickets, visit the AFL website.

Key dates in the 2023 AFL premiership season

On March 16, the annual season kickoff between Carlton and Richmond will begin at the MCG.

The following night, in another highly anticipated blockbuster, current premier Geelong will play Collingwood, who narrowly missed qualifying for the grand final last year.

The first five rounds of the season will feature Thursday night matches, and Round 4 will be huge with a doubleheader on Good Friday (April 7), a Thursday night matchup at the Gabba between Brisbane and Collingwood, and the customary Easter Monday matchup between Geelong and Hawthorn.

The Anzac contests are once again scheduled for Round 6, with the Melbourne-Richmond matchup on Anzac Eve (April 24) at the MCG expected to draw huge crowds.

On Tuesday afternoon, Collingwood and Essendon will once more dominate the Anzac Day spotlight. (April 25).

The grand final repeat will take place at GMHBA Stadium on the Saturday night of that round, pitting Sydney against Geelong.

The two-week Sir Doug Nicholls Round, during which teams will wear Indigenous guernseys, begins with Round 10.

On Saturday night, the Dreamtime at the ‘G competition will be the main event. (on May 20).

On June 12, the King’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood will take place in Round 13.

In the closing week of August, round 24 will mark the conclusion of the home-and-away campaign.

How to watch the AFL live and for free

Throughout 2023, Channel 7 and 7mate will broadcast live AFL games.

Along with Saturday evenings and the majority of Sunday afternoons, Thursday and Friday night events take centre stage on the schedule.

Blockbuster games on Seven on Mondays include Melbourne vs. Richmond on April 24 and Geelong vs. Hawthorn on Easter Monday. Also live and free on Seven on Tuesday, April 25, is the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon.

Fans can follow their local teams on 7mate in South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland as well. Details can be found in neighbourhood guides.

Additionally, Foxtel, a pay-TV provider, broadcasts the AFL.

When is the 2023 AFL grand final?

The MCG is scheduled to host the 2023 AFL championship game on September 30.

Following the night and twilight experiments in Brisbane and Perth, respectively, in the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, it is expected to take place at a 2.30 pm AEST timeslot.

The grand final from the previous year was held at the MCG during the day.

Dates for the finals series have not yet been announced.

There will still be a pre-finals bye, which allows teams a week off before the finals.