GEELONG will head interstate to open the 2021 AFL season after drawing wooden-spooner Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.
The Cats will meet the Crows in the Saturday twilight timeslot on March 20.
It’s the third time in five years Geelong has started the season outside of Victoria following a loss to the GWS Giants this year and a win over Fremantle in 2017.
It will be the first occasion the Cats have met the Crows in Adelaide in Round 1, and only the second time the two teams have started a season against each other after doing battle at Kardinia Park in 2014.
The only previous time Geelong started a campaign in the City of Churches came in 2008 against Port Adelaide.
Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins, who were both starting their second seasons in the AFL, both featured in a nine-point win in a re-match of the 2007 grand final.
The 2021 fixture is due to be released on Monday
Twitter: @tom_king79
2021 AFL ROUND 1
THURSDAY, MARCH 18
| Richmond vs. Carlton | MCG | 7:25pm |
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
| Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs | MCG | 7:50pm |
SATURDAY, MARCH 20
| Melbourne vs. Fremantle | MCG | 1:45pm |
| Adelaide Crows vs. Geelong Cats | Adelaide Oval | 4:35pm |
| Essendon vs. Hawthorn | Marvel Stadium | 7:25pm |
| Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans | The Gabba | 7:45pm |
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
| North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide | Marvel Stadium | 1:10pm |
| GWS GIANTS vs. St Kilda | GIANTS Stadium | 3:20pm |
| West Coast Eagles vs. Gold Coast SUNS | Optus Stadium | 6:10pm |
