Newly appointed coach Rhyce Shaw will lead his charges north across the border for the opening round of the 2016 NEAFL season.
As revealed by Wednesday’s fixture release, Shaw will make his coaching debut in Brisbane when the Swans take on the Lions in the first-round clash at Burpengary.
The encounter, on April 2, kicks off a 21-round season in which the Swans have eight home games – four at the SCG, two in Drummoyne, one at ANZ Stadium and one at Marrickville’s Henson Park – and three byes.
Five of those plus two away games will serve as AFL curtain-raisers. The pick of bunch being Round 14 in which the Swans clash with reigning premier NT Thunder in the lead up the AFL Swans’ grudge match against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.
Shaw will have a challenging start to the season with the Swans’ first bye not coming until Round 8.
Before then, four interstate trips will keep the players and coaching staff busy.
The fixture will take the Swans’ youngsters to different corners of Sydney with two games at Drummoyne Oval, the host venue of the AFL Swans’ second NAB Cup game last season, and at Henson Park in Marrickville.
There’s the annual trip to Isaac Heeney’s home town of Newcastle while there are seven interstate trips overall including the always ever-difficult night game against NT Thunder at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
All AFL-affiliated teams play each other three times throughout the season before finals begin on August 28.
See the Swans’ full 2016 NEAFL fixture below.
Round 1 - Saturday, April 2 v Brisbane (Burpengary)
Round 2 - Saturday, April 9 v UWS Giants (Henson Park)
Round 3 - Saturday, April 16 v Redland (Yeronga)
Round 4 - Saturday, April 23 v Southport (Drummoyne Oval)
Round 5 - Sunday, May 1 v Brisbane (GABBA)*
Round 6 - Saturday, May 7 v Gold Coast (Drummoyne Oval)
Round 7 - Saturday, May 14 v Eastlake (Star Track Oval)
Round 8 - Bye
Round 9 - Saturday, May 27 v Sydney Uni (SCG)*
Round 10 - Saturday, June 4 v Gold Coast (Metricon Stadium)*
Round 11 - Sunday, June 12 v UWS Giants (Spotless Stadium)*
Round 12 - Sunday, June 19 v Aspley (SCG)*
Round 13 - Bye
Round 14 - Saturday July 2 v NT Thunder (SCG)*
Round 15 - Saturday July 9 v Eastlake (Star Track Oval)
Round 16 - Saturday July 16 v Gold Coast (Newcastle)
Round 17 - Saturday July 23 v UWS Giants (ANZ Stadium)*
Round 18 - Bye
Round 19 - Saturday August 6 v Brisbane (SCG)*
Round 20 - Saturday August 13 v NT Thunder (TIO Stadium)
Round 21 - Saturday August 20, v Sydney Uni (Henson Park)
Elimination Finals - August 27/28 (TBA)
Preliminary Finals - September 3/4 (TBA)
Grand Final - September 10/11 (TBA)
* Denotes AFL curtain-raiser
