AFL’s quest to try and gain the upper hand in traditional rugby states has driven the creation of round zero with four games across Queensland and New South Wales opening the 2024 season.

The league on Wednesday confirmed the season will start with a marquee set of four fixtures before a full set of nine games the following week in round one.

Finalists Sydney and Melbourne will start the new campaign with a clash at the SCG on Thursday March 7, with new Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy to face his former teammates for the first time.

The Brisbane Lions host Carlton at the Gabba the following night before Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick takes centre stage, leading the Suns into battle with his former club Richmond at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday.

GWS will meet reigning premiers Collingwood at Giants Stadium later that night.

It comes after the West Australian revealed West Coast Eagles will begin their season in the traditional round 1 with a tough away game to Port Adelaide while Fremantle will play Brisbane fresh off their round zero clash.

The Lions-Blues and Giants-Magpies meetings are rematches of last season’s preliminary finals.

The AFL hopes the set of opening round fixtures will give it a leg up in the northern markets.

“We were fortunate to be in a position where we were able to have access to our major venues in Queensland and New South Wales a weekend earlier than usual which gave us a unique opportunity to play these four games in key markets where footy continues to grow in popularity,” Dillon said.

“The four match-ups are big, with four of our biggest supported Victorian clubs travelling north, and we look forward to starting our season with real momentum before we head into a blockbuster round of matches in Round 1.

“Given this weekend also falls on the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria it presents a terrific opportunity for fans to travel north to support their club and enjoy an extended interstate break.

“We are driven to have footy in every home around the country, whether that be playing, coaching, umpiring, supporting or volunteering and starting the season across Queensland and NSW will only amplify this desire.”

Carlton will take on Richmond on Thursday March 14 to kick off a full set of nine matches in round one.

The eight teams that play in the Opening Round will have a bye between rounds two and six.

It will mean all 18 teams will have played the same number of games by the start of round seven.

The byes will not occur in round four, which has been locked in for ‘Gather Round’, when all clubs will meet for a full set of fixtures in South Australia.