Essendon will kick off its 2006 season against the reigning premiers on Saturday night, April 1 when it plays the Sydney Swans at The Dome. The 2006 fixture will be officially released today with the Bombers scheduled to play eight games at the MCG, ten games at The Dome and four interstate matches. Essendon will play West Coast, Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne, the Kangaroos, Fremantle and St Kilda just once.

The Bombers will play five Sunday games in 2006 – three of them being home games. They will play 14 night games – six of them home games – and eight away games.

""We are pleased with the draw and think it is one that will encourage our supporters to purchase memberships in 2006. We have 18 games at either the MCG or The Dome - two of the pre-eminent sporting stadiums in Australia. The Dome is now a venue supporters want to watch football at while the refurbished MCG will be spectacular in 2006,"" Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said today.

""We are particularly pleased to have been allocated a Saturday night match against Richmond in Round 6 at the MCG. Both clubs are working hard on turning this Dreamtime at the G game into one of the season's showcase events and a night fixture will give us every opportunity to create a unique AFL occasion.""

To look at Essendon’s full 2006 fixture click here.