The league has released the fixture for the start of next season, having already confirmed it was doing away with the Opening Round concept that divided opinion.
Cricket's 150th anniversary Test between Australia and England from March 11-15 means the MCG will be out of action until Friday, March 20.
So the season will open with Sydney hosting Geelong on the Wednesday, then grand finalists Fremantle at home on Thursday against the Western Bulldogs.
The Friday night blockbuster will be a rematch of the preliminary final between Hawthorn and eventual premiers the Brisbane Lions, lauded as an all-time classic match.
Then Richmond will host Carlton at 12.35pm on Saturday, before the MCG night match between St Kilda and Collingwood.
"We all share the disappointment that our blockbuster round-one game against Carlton won't be played in its traditional Thursday night time slot," Tigers chief executive Shane Dunne said in a statement.
"Since 2008, this fixture has become one of the marquee events on the AFL calendar, attracting an average crowd of over 80,000, major television audiences and helping launch the football season with the atmosphere only a packed MCG can provide.
"However, the AFL has been clear that this year's change is solely due to the MCG's availability, and we understand it is a one-year arrangement."
Dunne added the early start time "creates barriers" for some fans to attend.
The Blues were also pointed on their website.
"It is the traditional rival in the first round of the season, with a different feel to what footy fans have experienced most years since 2008," Carlton said.
"Since the inaugural season-opening clash between these two sides 18 years ago, over a million Blues, Tigers and even neutral footy fans have made the annual pilgrimage to the MCG in their droves for what has been the traditional round-one fixture."
The Swans-Cats season opener will guarantee plenty of headlines. As of Tuesday's announcement, sexual assault allegations were still being investigated by Victoria Police after an incident in August at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel.
Citing club standards, Sydney banned players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice for the rest of the season, along with Nick Blakey, who was traded to North Melbourne. All five players have denied the allegations and AAP is not suggesting any wrongdoing.
Geelong could also unveil big-name recruits Toby Greene, Jordan Ridley and Rowan Marshall.
Adelaide will host GWS in a Saturday twilight game, while the Sunday fixture will be North Melbourne versus Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne and Essendon at the MCG and West Coast at home against Gold Coast.
18°C