We delve into the detail of the fixture for the 2017 season, released by the AFL on Thursday morning, and uncover some of the more unusual points of interest in next year's schedule.

Round one 
First time since 2010 that North Melbourne and West Coast play each other in Melbourne.

Round two 
First time ever that the Western Bulldogs and Sydney play each other in a home-and-away Friday night match. The only time they have played each other in that timeslot was when they faced off in the 2008 second semi-final. This round will also host the first Thursday night game between Richmond and Collingwood since 2002. The only other Thursday meeting between the two clubs took place during the afternoon in 1911.

Round three 
First time that Geelong and Melbourne play each other at Etihad Stadium.

Round four 
First Good Friday game. North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will play each other at Etihad Stadium.

Round five

First Monday night game between Richmond and Melbourne. The last time the two sides played each other in a Monday fixture was 1991. In all they have faced off in nine Monday afternoon matches with the ledger tipped in Melbourne's favour 6-3.

Round six 
It is the first time since 1981 that Carlton and Sydney play each other in an MCG home-and-away game, while Greater Western Sydney will play their first Friday night match. The meeting with the Bulldogs will also be the first night game at Manuka Oval.

Round eight 
Port Adelaide and Gold Coast will meet in Shanghai to play the first game to be played in China. Meanwhile, it will be the first time since 2007 that West Coast and the Western Bulldogs play each other in a Friday night game.

Round 10 
It will be the first Friday night SCG match between Hawthorn and Sydney, and the first ever home-and-away night game between Geelong and Port Adelaide outside of South Australia.

Round 13
First time since 1996 that North Melbourne and St Kilda play each other in a Friday night home-and-away match.

Round 15 
First time for Melbourne and Sydney to meet in a Friday night MCG match.

Round 16 
First time ever Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs play each other in a Friday night game in South Australia.

Round 17 
Adelaide play their first game in the Northern Territory when they face Melbourne at TIO Stadium in Darwin, while in Victoria, it will be the first time since 2007 that Carlton and the Western Bulldogs play each other at the MCG.

Round 22 
First match to be played in Ballarat, when the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide play each other at Eureka Stadium. Meanwhile, a long drought will be broken, when, for the first time since 1994, Adelaide and Sydney play each other on a Friday night.

Round 23
First time since 2010 that Essendon and Fremantle play each other in Melbourne.