In the 2026 AFL season opener, Charlie Curnow will face his former team, Carlton, as Sydney hosts the match at the SCG on March 5. The opening round will feature five games, including Collingwood versus St Kilda at the MCG on March 8, marking the earliest AFL match at the venue since 2000. Other matches include GWS against Hawthorn, Gold Coast versus Geelong, and Brisbane hosting the Western Bulldogs. The new recruits for various teams, such as Tom De Koning and Christian Petracca, are set to make their debuts during this exciting round.
