HAWTHORN will play Collingwood on Friday night in Round 23, the AFL announced on Tuesday.

As part of the AFL's rolling fixture for the final round of the home-and-away season, scheduling of the final round's matches is determined depending on late-season ladder positions to provide teams with adequate preparation for finals.

As the Hawks currently sit in second position on the ladder on percentage, the AFL decided it should be scheduled to play on Friday night under the agreement to give higher-ranked teams preference.

“It was the AFL’s view that the Collingwood vs. Hawthorn match should be scheduled on the Friday night as this was the only game in Round 23 whereby a current top-four side was able to be fixtured for that night, and preference needed to be given to higher-ranked sides on the ladder,” the AFL said on Tuesday.

“This will maximise the number of days’ break for the currently second-placed Hawthorn before week one of the finals.”

Hawthorn will play Collingwood at the usual Friday night timeslot of 7.50pm with the game to be televised live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

Tickets will go on sale to club members on Monday 11 August and to the general public at 13 August via Ticketek.

The game is a member replacement game.
 

Round 23 fixture

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Carlton vs. Essendon, MCG, 1.45pm
Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide, Patersons Stadium, 1.10pm
Sydney Swans vs. Richmond, SCG, 4.40pm
Geelong Cats vs. Brisbane Lions, Simonds Stadium, 7.40pm
North Melbourne vs. Melbourne, Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
Gold Coast SUNS vs. West Coast Eagles, Metricon Stadium, 1.10pm
Adelaide Crows vs. St Kilda, Adelaide Oval, 2.50pm
Western Bulldogs vs. GWS GIANTS, Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm