The AFL today announced it had finalised the fixture for Round 22 of the Toyota AFL Premiership season, which had been left as a floating round when the fixture was announced late last year.

The Lions' Round 22 match against the Sydney Swans will be played at the Gabba on Saturday 28 August at 7:10pm.

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan said the full schedule of games would be as follows (local time in each case):

Friday August 27
Fremantle v Carlton at Subiaco Oval, 6.40pm (Channel 7)

Saturday August 28
Geelong Cats v West Coast at Skilled Stadium, 1.10pm (Fox Sports)
Hawthorn v Collingwood at the MCG, 2.10pm (Network Ten)
Adelaide Crows v St Kilda at AAMI Stadium, 3.40pm (Fox Sports)
Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm (Network Ten)
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans at the Gabba 7.10pm (Fox Sports)

Sunday August 29
Richmond v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (Channel 7)
Melbourne v North Melbourne at the MCG, 4.40pm (Fox Sports)

Mr McLachlan said the AFL’s primary aim was to maximise fixture options for week one of the 2010 Toyota AFL Finals Series, with high-ranking teams to have played by Saturday 28 August 28 and, preferably, to be in a position to return to their home state by that night if required to travel for round 22.

The AFL broadcast contract also requires commitments on the numbers of free to air matches involving the SA and WA-based sides over the course of the premiership season.

It was determined that Fremantle v Carlton should be fixtured on Friday night, to enable Carlton to return to Melbourne as early as possible, while a mid-afternoon match at AAMI Stadium on Saturday August 28 would also enable St Kilda to return to Melbourne that day.

Only one team (Port Adelaide) was scheduled to travel on the final day of the premiership season, on Sunday August 29, with the trip to Melbourne for its game being the shortest possible flight of all teams scheduled to travel in round 22.

“As per recent years, the AFL scheduled five games for Saturday, so that the majority of games can be completed by Saturday night, and enable us to consider the widest possible options for scheduling for week one of the finals,” Mr McLachlan said.

“It is our view that Fremantle v Carlton will be an outstanding game to play on Friday night, as both sides contest finals positions, while the schedule of games on Saturday should provide a strong mix for supporters across Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.”