Essendon will play the Kangaroos in Round 1 of the 2008 AFL season and will play interstate four times. 
 
The AFL released the full 2008 fixture this morning and Chief Broadcasting and Commercial Officer, Gill McLachlan, who heads up the AFL Fixturing Committee, detailed the key points of the 2008 fixture to media.
 
The Bombers will play Sydney, Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast once each interstate.
 
Essendon will play seven games at the MCG and 11 games at Telstra Dome.
 
The Bombers play St Kilda, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Richmond, Adelaide and West Coast twice.
 
Essendon have eight Saturday games, seven Sunday games, six Friday night games and a Monday game. 
 
The ANZAC day clash with Collingwood will be played in Round 6 on Friday 25th April at the MCG. Dreamtime at the G against Richmond will be played in Round 9 (Indigenous Round) on Saturday, 24th May at the MCG.
 
""It's not a bad draw for the club and we are happy with it,"" Essendon Managing Director, Peter Jackson, said.
 
""It would have been nice to have a game in Brisbane for the sake of our supporters there but, overall, we are happy.""
 
Essendon Coach, Matthew Knights, said: ""We start the season with a game against the Kangaroos, who had a very good season, and then Geelong, who were the best team this year, so it will be a good challenge for our exciting, young list of players and one we are looking forward to.""
 
Essendon's 2008 AFL season draw:
 
Round 1 - Monday, 24th March (2:10pm)
 
v Kangaroos       Telstra Dome  (Away)
 
Round 2 - Sunday, 30th March (2:10pm)
 
v Geelong           Telstra Dome  (Away)   
 
Round 3 - Saturday, 5th April (7:10pm)
 
v Carlton            MCG              (Home)
 
Round 4 - Friday, 11th April (7:40pm)
 
v West Bulldogs  Telstra Dome  (Home)
 
Round 5 - Friday, 18th April (7:40pm)
 
v St Kilda            Telstra Dome  (Away)
 
Round 6 - Friday, 25th April (2:40pm)
 
v Collingwood      MCG             (Away)
 
Round 7 - Sunday, 4th May (4:40pm)
 
v Port Adelaide    Telstra Dome (Home)
 
Round 8 - Sunday, 18th May (2:10pm)
 
v Sydney             Telstra Stadium  (Away)
 
Round 9 - Saturday, 24th May (7:10pm)
 
v Richmond         MCG   (Home)
 
Round 10 - Friday, 30th May (7:40pm)
 
v Adelaide          AAMI Stadium  (Away)
 
Round 11 - Saturday 7th June (7:10pm)
 
v Hawthorn         Telstra Dome  (Home)
 
Round 12 - Friday, 13th June (7:40pm)
 
v West Coast      Telstra Dome  (Home)
 
Round 13 - Sunday, 22nd June (2:10pm)
 
v Carlton             MCG  (Away)
 
Round 14 - Sunday, 29th June (2:40pm)
 
v Fremantle          Subiaco  (Away)
 
Round 15 - Saturday, 12th July (7:10pm)
 
v Brisbane Lions   Telstra Dome  (Home)  
 
Round 16 - Saturday, 19th July (2:10pm)
 
v Richmond          MCG  (Away)
 
Round 17 - Saturday, 26th July (2:10pm)
 
v Collingwood      MCG  (Home)
 
Round 18 - Saturday, 2nd August (2:10pm)
 
v Melbourne         MCG  (Home)
 
Round 19 - Sunday, 10th August (2:40pm)
 
v West Coast        Subiaco  (Away)
 
Round 20 - Saturday, 16th August (2:10pm)
 
v Adelaide            Telstra Dome  (Home)
 
Round 21 - Friday, 22nd August (7:40pm)
 
v West Bulldogs   Telstra Dome  (Away)
 
Round 22 - Sunday, 31st August (4:40pm)
 
v St Kilda            Telstra Dome  (Home)