Sydney and Geelong are the big winners of the AFL's latest wave of fixtures released on Thursday.
Carlton has been shunned to Saturday and away from Channel Seven broadcasting, while fellow Victorian powerhouses Richmond and Essendon have missed primetime slots.
Friday night double-headers will remain in Rounds 17 and 20.
Rounds 23 and 24 will be held as floating rounds, and will be unveiled later in the season.
AFL Head of Strategy and Scheduling Josh Bowler said the league made it a priority to deliver the best match-ups in primetime footy, rewarding some of the more exciting and in-form clubs.
"So far across the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season more than 2.8 million fans have attended the footy, and we've seen memorable moments, record attendances and strong ratings," Bowler said.
"When finalising the second half of the fixture, it's our priority to deliver the best primetime football to our fans right across the country as we build momentum ahead of the finals series.
"It's exciting to have Kids Footy Month thanks to Coles returning and lining up with school holidays nationally, allowing families to enjoy a day at the footy."
2026 TOYOTA AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON FIXTURE, R16-22
(all times AEST)
Round 16
Thursday Jun 25
Brisbane v Sydney, Gabba, 7.30pm
Friday Jun 26
Hawthorn v Greater Western Sydney, MCG, 7.40pm
Saturday Jun 27
Carlton v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 1.15pm
Collingwood v Richmond, MCG, 4.15pm
Port Adelaide v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 7.35pm
Sunday Jun 28
North Melbourne v Essendon, Marvel Stadium, 3.15pm
Fremantle v Gold Coast, Optus Stadium, 5.10pm
Byes: Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
Round 17
Thursday Jul 2
Geelong v Brisbane, GMHBA Stadium, 7.30pm
Friday Jul 3
Sydney v Western Bulldogs, SCG, 7.40pm
West Coast v Adelaide, Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Saturday Jul 4
Hawthorn v Melbourne, UTAS Stadium, 1.15pm
Greater Western Sydney v Fremantle, Corroboree Group Oval Manuka, 1.35pm
Gold Coast v Collingwood, People First Stadium, 4.15pm
Richmond v Carlton, MCG, 7.35pm
Sunday Jul 5
Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium, 3.15pm
Port Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 4.40pm
Round 18
Thursday Jul 9
Fremantle v Sydney, Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Friday Jul 10
Collingwood v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm
Saturday Jul 11
St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 1.15pm
Greater Western Sydney v Geelong, Engie Stadium, 4.15pm
Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG, 7.35pm
Adelaide v Gold Coast, Adelaide Oval, 8.10pm
Sunday Jul 12
Western Bulldogs v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm
Melbourne v Richmond, MCG, 3.15pm
Brisbane v Essendon, Gabba, 4.40pm
Round 19
Thursday Jul 16
Geelong v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium, 7.30pm
Friday Jul 17
Sydney v Adelaide, SCG, 7.40pm
Saturday Jul 18
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 1.15pm
North Melbourne v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4.15pm
Collingwood v Carlton, MCG, 7.35pm
West Coast v Brisbane, Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Sunday Jul 19
Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG, 1.10pm
Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs, People First Stadium, 3.15pm
Essendon v Greater Western Sydney, Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm
Round 20
Thursday Jul 23
Adelaide v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval, 7.30pm
Friday Jul 24
Melbourne v Geelong, MCG, 7.40pm
Fremantle v West Coast, Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Saturday Jul 25
Carlton v Gold Coast, Marvel Stadium, 1.05pm
Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG, 4.15pm
Greater Western Sydney v Sydney, Engie Stadium, 4.35pm
Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm
Sunday Jul 26
Brisbane v Port Adelaide, Gabba, 1.10pm
North Melbourne v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium, 3.15pm
Round 21
Thursday Jul 30
Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 7.30pm
Friday Jul 31
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Saturday Aug 1
St Kilda v Sydney, Marvel Stadium, 1.05pm
Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium, 1.35pm
Port Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 6.35pm
Carlton v Brisbane, Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm
Sunday Aug 2
Richmond v West Coast, MCG, 1.10pm
Gold Coast v Melbourne, People First Stadium, 3.15pm
Essendon v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm
Round 22
Thursday Aug 6
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7.30pm
Friday Aug 7
Brisbane v Hawthorn, Gabba, 7.40pm
Saturday Aug 8
Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG, 1.15pm
Sydney v Port Adelaide, SCG, 4.15pm
Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 4.35pm
Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval, 7.35pm
Sunday Aug 9
Greater Western Sydney v Gold Coast, Corroboree Group Oval Manuka, 1.10pm
West Coast v Collingwood, Optus Stadium, 4.10pm
St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium, 7.20pm
