Hawthorn has been rewarded for its superb progression to this year’s AFL finals with a series of prime-time matches in 2025.

Nicknamed the “Hollywood Hawks” last season, Sam Mitchell’s hosts will play seven games on Thursday and Friday nights over the first 16 weeks of next year.

The Hawks, who begin their campaign in the ‘Opening Round’ for the first time, also feature in a blockbuster Sunday night match against Port Adelaide to end the Gather Round and the traditional Easter Monday standalone clash with Geelong.

That’s a far cry from last season, when Hawthorn didn’t play a single game on Thursday or Friday night during the home-and-away campaign.

“Our 2025 match rewards our members and loyal fans and puts our club back in the spotlight with a good balance of blockbuster matches, prime-time matches, as well as family-friendly time slots,” said Ash Klein, Director General of Hawthorn.

“Given the hype and enthusiasm generated by our 2024 Hawks, it is fitting that we host nine well-deserved games under the lights in the first 15 weeks of the season, giving the Maroon and Gold faithful the chance to sample to the ecstasy of night football once again.

Victorian heavyweights Carlton and Collingwood have also been allocated seven matches on Thursday and Friday in 2025, while Essendon (eight) is the only club with more.

The Bombers and Magpies countdowns include an afternoon slot for their traditional Anzac Day clash, which falls on a Friday next year.

At the other end of the scale, 2024 preliminary runners-up Port Adelaide were only allowed one Thursday or Friday match – the same number as West Coast and Gold Coast – while GWS has none.

The Power-Hawks clash in the Gather Round is part of a series of marquee Sunday night games that the AFL hopes will help generate record attendances and television audiences in 2025.

The new slot is a product of the league’s new $4.5 billion broadcast deal, which begins next year.

A handful of Sunday night games will be broadcast free-to-air, while the league looks to take advantage of the holidays around many of those games.

The Western Bulldogs play St Kilda on Easter Sunday, while Carlton and Essendon meet in their annual night match ahead of the King’s Birthday holiday.

The first Queensland derby of the season – the Brisbane Lions taking on the Gold Coast in round eight – takes place before the local Labor Day holiday.

West Coast will host Geelong in Round 12, the day before WA Day.

The Eagles and Fremantle will host five of the nine matches to be shown on Sunday night on the east coast, including a derby at 3:10 p.m. local time in round three.

The confirmation of Sunday night games comes on top of Thursday night football becoming a regular feature of the game, which is expected to be played over 23 home-and-away rounds next year.

AFL fixtures boss Josh Bowler hopes the showpiece games will help generate another record year of attendances after more than eight million fans passed through the gates last season.

“We are delighted to announce a match which will build on this, whilst being the fairest possible draw for all our clubs as they look to chase the Prime Minister’s flag,” Bowler said.

“We are excited to offer fans more Thursday nights than ever this season with 23 games scheduled throughout the season.

“Sunday nights proved very popular last season and we have a number of marquee matches scheduled for this time slot, including Gather Round, Easter Sunday, Queensland Labor Day Eve, WA and the day before the king’s birthday.

“These matches, along with other big matches scheduled on key dates in the country’s calendar, have become part of the holiday celebrations that fans can mark in their calendars and plan trips with friends and family.”

Reigning premiers Brisbane will unfurl their flag in the season opener against Geelong at the Gabba on March 6, before facing beaten grand final foes Sydney the following week.

Sir Doug Nicholls Round will feature the annual ‘Dreamtime at the G’ match between Essendon and Richmond as a standalone match on a Friday night in Round 11.

The following day, Marvel Stadium will host a rare double bill with matches Carlton-GWS (1:20 p.m.) and North Melbourne-Collingwood (7:35 p.m.).

The Bulldogs, Hawthorn and North will celebrate 100 years since their entry into the competition, then known as the VFL, with landmark matches in rounds two, eight and 20 respectively.

The schedule for the first 16 weeks of the season has been set, with match times for rounds 16 to 23 to be confirmed approximately four weeks later.

Timeslots for Matchday 24 will be finalized much closer to this week as the league attempts to arrange another grandstand finish to the home-and-away season.