The Sydney Swans will face Richmond in a Saturday twilight fixture in round 23 after the AFL released the final round draw this afternoon.

It is the AFL’s view that the twilight slot at ANZ Stadium will maximise the current first-placed Swans’ break leading into the finals series.

The round will begin on Friday August 29 with Collingwood hosting Hawthorn at the MCG.

Each of the other Round 23 matches involving current top-four sides (Sydney Swans vs. Richmond, Geelong Cats vs. Brisbane Lions and Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide) were not able to be scheduled for the Friday night as each match-up involved a team that had played on the Sunday of Round 22, and would have only had a five-day break before playing on Friday, August 29.

Round 23 fixture

Friday, August 29
Collingwood v Hawthorn MCG 7.50pm

Saturday, August 30
Carlton v Essendon MCG 1.45pm
Fremantle v Port Adelaide Patersons Stadium 1.10pm
Sydney Swans v Richmond ANZ Stadium 4.40pm
Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions Simonds Stadium 7.40pm
North Melbourne v Melbourne Etihad Stadium 7.40pm

Sunday, August 31
Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles Metricon Stadium 1.10pm
Adelaide Crows v St Kilda Adelaide Oval 3.20pm
Western Bulldogs v GWS Etihad Stadium 4.40pm