The Sydney Swans will open the 2027 Toyota AFL Season with a stand-alone blockbuster clash with Geelong at the SCG.
The Swans and Cats have been given the opportunity to start the season with a bang in Sydney, with the Round 1 game kicking off at 7.30pm local time on Wednesday March 17.
Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats - Round One
7:30pm - Wednesday, March 17
SCG
In the last two matches between the teams at the SCG there has been one win apiece, with the Swans prevailing in 2024 by 30-points, while the Cats won the most recent encounter at the venue in 2025.
It will be just the third time this century that the AFL season has started on a Wednesday night, having also done so in 2000 and 2022.
The announcement of Round One follows from the announcement of Gather Round 2027, where the red and white will host Collingwood at Adelaide Oval.Â
Round One, 2027
Wednesday, March 17
Sydney v Geelong at the SCG, 7.30pm AEDT
Thursday, March 18
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, 5.10pm AWST (8.10pm AEDT)
Friday, March 19
Hawthorn v Brisbane at the MCG, 7.40pm AEDT
Saturday, March 20
Richmond v Carlton at the MCG, 12.35pm AEDT
Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval, 3.45pm (4.15pm AEDT)
St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.40pm AEDT
Sunday, March 21
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm AEDT
Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG, 3.15pm AEDT
West Coast v Gold Coast at Optus Stadium, 3.10pm AWST (6.10pm AEDT)
TICKETING
Tickets for Round 1 of the 2027 Toyota AFL Premiership Season will go on sale at a later date, with details to be communicated in advance.
The AFL confirmed last month that the Opening Round concept has been scrapped after three years, with all 18 teams to play in a traditional round one.
The later start to the 2027 season – March 17 compared to March 5 in 2026 – is due to the Test match between Australia and England on March 11-15, with the Grand Final also pushed back to Saturday, October 2.
