The AFL this morning will announce thefixture for the 2013 home and away season to kick off on Friday March 22.

It has already been revealed that Essendonwill play the season opener against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on that Friday night.

Also revealed is that Essendon will take onSt. Kilda in round four in a contest set to be full of emotion with the signingof Brendon Goddard to the Bombers during the off-season.

A few days after that round four clash withthe Saints the Bombers will get ready to tackle Collingwood on ANZAC Day.

Essendon has also requested to playCarlton on June 7 to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the club's firstmatch, which was against the Blues on that date in 1873.

The full 2013 premiership season fixturewill be released at 10am.