Community football venues across Victoria will play host to some of the game’s biggest stars, following the announcement of the AFL’s 2017 JLT Community Series fixture on Tuesday.
Six standout matches will played in metropolitan and regional locations throughout Victoria between February 16 and March 12, taking the national game to football’s heartland.
AFL Gippsland, AFL South East and AFL Central Victoria will host games at Moe, Cranbourne East and Bendigo respectively.
The country road show begins when the reigning premiers Western Bulldogs and Melbourne travel to Melbourne’s western suburbs at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday February 18 in Week 1 of the pre-season competition.
Week 2 sees Melbourne and Carlton battle it out at Casey Fields on Saturday February 25, followed by North Melbourne and Hawthorn at North Melbourne Recreation Reserve the following day on Sunday February 26.
Carlton’s famous IKON Park (Princes Park) is expected to welcome thousands of fans through its gates when Carlton host St.Kilda on Saturday March 4.
Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve will host AFL powerhouses Richmond and Collingwood on Saturday March 11, while Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval will welcome Geelong and Essendon on Sunday March 12.
AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper said the fixture was a great reflection on the standard of Victoria’s premier facilities.
“The city councils in these regional centres are to be commended for their work in bringing these venues up to AFL standard, work which has often been done in partnership with the AFL, AFL Victoria and the Victorian Government through the Country Football Netball Program,” he said.
“These events have a significant economic impact on these regions and it provides a fantastic opportunity for some of the AFL’s best players to experience some great country football hospitality.
“With many people in these communities unable to regularly access AFL football due to distance or other constraints, it is a great opportunity for them to experience the thrill of AFL football and see some of Victoria’s newly drafted players get their first taste at the elite level.”
For the third successive season, AFL club members with game access will be entitled to attend next year’s matches free of charge, subject to availability.
CLICK HERE to see all 27 matches in the 2017 JLT Community Series…
See below a list of Victorian venues set to host matches in the 2017 JLT Community Series:
DATE
MATCH
DETAILS
Week 1
Saturday February 18
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne
VU Whitten Oval
4:40pm
Week 2
Saturday February 25
Melbourne v Carlton
Casey Fields (Cranbourne East)
2:05pm
Week 2
Sunday February 26
North Melbourne v Hawthorn
North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (Arden Street)
2:05pm
Week 3
Saturday March 4
Carlton v St.Kilda
IKON Park
2:05pm
Week 4
Saturday March 11
Richmond v Collingwood
Ted Summerton Reserve (Moe)
1:10pm
Week 4
Sunday March 12
Geelong v Essendon
Queen Elizabeth Oval (Bendigo)
4:10pm
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