The curtain raiser is set to return for the Northern Blues in 2019 following the release of the VFL fixture for next season.

While still to be confirmed, the Blues could have as many as six curtain raisers, to be played at both the MCG and Marvel Stadium.

Confirmation will come in the new year, with Northern’s games in Rounds 8, 9, 11, 18, 19 and 20 potentially coming at the AFL grounds. Five of those are expected to come prior to Carlton matches.

The Blues will kick their season off in Round 2 with a trip down the highway, taking on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium after having a bye on the opening weekend of the season.

Northern’s first home game will be against Werribee in Round 4 at Preston City Oval, in what will be one of four home games at Cramer Street.

That also includes a return of the Battle of Bell Street on Queen’s Birthday weekend, with Northern to host local rivals Coburg on Sunday 9 June.

The Blues will have double-up fixtures against Collingwood, Geelong, North Melbourne and Sandringham: the games against the Pies (Round 4) and North (Round 17) will come at Victoria Park and Arden Street respectively.

Northern will have to wait until the penultimate game of the season to take on the reigning premiers, not playing Box Hill until Round 20. That game is scheduled for Marvel Stadium or Box Hill City Oval, pending arrival.

With 15 teams in the competition, the Blues will have three byes including Round 1. The other two will come in Round 6 as well as Round 12, with the latter in line with Carlton’s bye in the AFL.

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RoundGameVenueDateTime
1BYE
2Geelong vs. Northern BluesGMHBA StadiumSunday 14 April1pm
3Collingwood vs. Northern BluesVictoria ParkSaturday 20 April2pm
4Northern Blues vs. WerribeePreston City OvalSaturday 27 April2pm
5Northern Blues vs. North MelbournePreston City OvalSunday 5 May2:30pm
6BYE
7Northern Blues vs. FrankstonPreston City OvalSaturday 18 May2pm
8Sandringham vs. Northern BluesMarvel Stadium*Sunday 26 May11:40am
9Essendon vs. Northern BluesWindy HillSunday 2 June11:40am
10Northern Blues vs. CoburgPreston City OvalSunday 9 June1pm
11Northern Blues vs. FootscrayMarvel Stadium*Saturday 15 June2pm
12BYE
13Northern Blues vs. GeelongIkon ParkSaturday 29 June2pm
14Casey Demons vs. Northern BluesCasey FieldsSaturday 6 July2pm
15Port Melbourne vs. Northern BluesAdcon StadiumSaturday 13 July2pm
16Northern Blues vs. WilliamstownIkon ParkSunday 21 July11am
17North Melbourne vs. Northern BluesArden StreetSaturday 27 July2pm
18Northern Blues vs. CollingwoodMarvel Stadium*Sunday 4 August11:40am
19Richmond vs. Northern BluesMCG*Sunday 11 August11:40am
20Box Hill Hawks vs. Northern BluesMarvel StadiumSunday 18 August12:30pm
21Northern Blues vs. SandringhamIkon ParkSunday 25 August1pm