The AFL has announced the 2017 fixture, with Geelong starting the season in Perth against the Fremantle Dockers and finishing at Simonds Stadium against GWS.
Highlighting the season will be the opening of the new Brownlow Stand on 19 May against the reigning premiers, the Western Bulldogs.
With an increased capacity of 36,000, a full house against the Dogs will see the biggest crowd at Simonds Stadium since April 1981, when 41,395 saw the Cats take on Collingwood.
CLICK HERE for the Cats' full 2017 premiership season fixture
The Cats will have seven home games at Simonds Stadium, with the other four evenly split between the MCG and Etihad Stadium. The Cats will travel six times to interstate venues, and will have three away games at the MCG and two at Etihad Stadium.
Geelong will face Hawthorn, GWS, Collingwood, Fremantle and Adelaide twice through the 2017 campaign.
“As we have constantly said, we want more home games at Simonds Stadium,” Geelong CEO Brian Cook said.
“This is our home ground, and we will continue to push the AFL to schedule more games here, particularly now that there is more flexibility around scheduling games at Etihad Stadium after the AFL has purchased the venue.
“With the redevelopment of the Brownlow Stand due for completion in mid-May, we understand why the AFL has scheduled only seven games here in 2017.
"While we are disappointed by this outcome, we are pleased by the number of ‘big ticket’ games that have been scheduled at the ground.
“We will face the Bulldogs on the night of the Brownlow Stand opening, and our round 10 game against Port Adelaide will see us host a match during Indigenous Round.
“Richmond will play at Simonds Stadium for the first time since 2012, and with the increased capacity of the ground to 36,000 we expect a large contingent of Richmond supporters to attend that match.
We also believe that the increased capacity means that Simonds Stadium will see clubs such as Carlton and Essendon scheduled to play at the venue in future years.
“Our home games in Melbourne against Collingwood, Hawthorn, Melbourne and North Melbourne is a good mix for our city based supporters.
"Playing six interstate games means that our supporters in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia will have a great chance to see the team in action.
“There is a good mix of day and night games and mix of venues."
Highlights of the 2017 fixture include:
* The reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs to face Geelong on the night of the opening of the Brownlow Stand
* The Cats will start Indigenous Round when they tackle Port Adelaide in round 10
* Richmond’s first visit to Simonds Stadium since 2012
* Home MCG games against Hawthorn and Collingwood
* The annual Country Game against Essendon at the MCG in round 8
* Eight prime-time encounters
* The traditional Easter Monday contest against Hawthorn at the MCG
Potential milestone games:
* Joel Selwood 250th game – rd 23 vs GWS at Simonds Stadium
* Tom Hawkins 200th game – rd 11 vs Adelaide at Simonds Stadium
* Tom Lonergan 200th game – rd 15 vs GWS at Spotless Stadium
* Mitch Duncan 150th game – rd 16 vs Brisbane at Gabba
* Mark Blicavs 100th game – rd 10 vs Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium
* Chris Scott 150th game as coach – rd 8 vs Essendon at MCG
CATS' 2017 FIXTURE
