PRELIMINARY final foes Hawthorn and Collingwood will face off in a huge Friday night MCG clash in round one of the 2012 season.

The Magpies won through to the 2011 Grand Final after beating Alastair Clarkson's men by just three points in the penultimate week of this year's finals.

In one of the games of the season, the Hawks led by 17 points at three-quarter-time but surrendered their advantage to the fast-finishing Collingwood.

That was despite a brilliant boundary line goal late in the game by Hawthorn star Lance Franklin, which briefly put his team back in front.

The opening round 2012 clash (a Hawks home game) to be played on Friday 30 March, will give the Hawks an immediate opportunity to atone for the heartbreaking defeat.

It will also be new Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley's first game in charge after succeeding Mick Malthouse.

The Club will release the full 2012 fixture on Friday 28 October on hawthornfc.com.au