The countdown to the start of Adelaide’s 2027 Toyota AFL Premiership Season is on, with the Crows’ one-to-four year players returning from their breaks on Monday, November 23, before the five-plus years are back a week later.

Here's a snapshot of what to look forward to in 2027.

MARQUEE MATCH-UPS GALORE

The Crows will host three marquee Thursday night fixtures in the first half of the season, with Brisbane (Gather Round), Geelong (Round Nine) and Hawthorn (King’s Birthday long weekend) all heading to Adelaide.

Adelaide will also feature in three blockbuster interstate Friday night clashes. Marquee fixtures include:

Round Two v Fremantle 

Optus Stadium, Good Friday March 26, 6,45pm (ACDT) - 2026 Grand finalists provide an early-season benchmark.

Round Four v Brisbane 

Gather Round opener

Adelaide Oval, Thursday, April 8, 7.10pm (ACST) - An opportunity to test against the reigning premiers.

Round Six v Sydney 

SCG, Friday, April 23, 7.10pm (ACST) - A Friday night battle with a fellow 2026 finals contender.

Crows ruckman Lachlan McAndrew battles Swans' Brodie Grundy in 2026.

Round Eight v Port Adelaide 

Adelaide Oval, Friday, May 7, 7.40pm (ACST) - Showdown rivalry under Friday night lights.

Round Nine v Geelong 

Adelaide Oval, Thursday, May 13, 7pm (ACST) - A prime-time clash with a perennial contender.

Round 13 v Hawthorn 

Adelaide Oval, Thursday, June 10, 7pm (ACST) - King’s Birthday long weekend opener against one of the league’s rising forces.

SEASON OPENER: GIANTS RETURN TO LAUNCH 2027

Adelaide will kick off its campaign against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, March 20, at 3.45pm (ACDT).

This will mark the third time the Crows and GWS have met in a season opener.

Key facts

  • Third Round One meeting between Adelaide and GWS (2017, 2023, 2027).

  • Eight of the past nine clashes have been staged at Adelaide Oval.

  • Melbourne remains the only club from outside South Australia that the Crows have never faced in a Round One fixture.
Izak Rankine, Jordan Dawson, Dan Curtin and Josh Rachele celebrate during R24 against GWS in 2026.

ROAD TRIPS TO WATCH AT HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

The Crows will again criss-cross the country in 2027, including a return to Alice Springs and two trips to Western Australia.

There will also be plenty of action for Victorian fans, with the Crows making five trips to the state in 2027.

That includes facing Essendon at the MCG, the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, Carlton at Marvel, Collingwood at the ‘G, and Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

Key away fixtures

  • Fremantle at Optus Stadium (Round Two) - first interstate trip of the season.

  • Sydney at the SCG (Round Six) - a return to Sydney where Adelaide has won 15 out of the 25 games played there.
  • Melbourne in Alice Springs (Round Seven) - first time playing in the red centre since 2018.

  • Essendon at the MCG (Round 10) - Second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round and the team’s first game at the venue in 2027.
  • West Coast at Optus Stadium (Round 16) - The first of two games in Perth for the season.

  • Collingwood at the MCG (Round 22) - The Crows’ last minor round match at the MCG for 2027 and a clash against one of the AFL’s biggest clubs.

More historical facts

  • It will be the second time Adelaide has played a premiership game in Alice Springs, with the first being against Melbourne in 2018.

  • The Crows’ match against the Swans at the SCG will be the fourth-straight clash between the two teams at the venue.
  • Adelaide’s winning record also extends to Marvel Stadium, having triumphed 39 times from 76 games.

  • Adelaide last played Essendon at the MCG in 2025 but the previous clash at the venue was way back in 1995.
Dan Curtin in action against Essendon at the MCG in 2025.
  • It will be the third consecutive year the Crows have twice played in Perth v West Coast and Fremantle.

HOME GAMES TO CIRCLE
From school holiday footy, intriguing player match-ups and a unique piece of history, here’s a handful of Adelaide Oval games worth locking in for 2027.

  • Gold Coast (Round Five Saturday, April 17 at 12.45pm)

A match in the middle of SA’s school holidays, plus with the growing rivalry between the Crows and Suns stemming from a series of fiery on-field encounters.

  • Melbourne (Round 14 Sunday, June 20 at 2.45pm)

 A return meeting with the Demons on the Crows’ home turf, just seven weeks after the two meet in Alice Springs.

  • North Melbourne (Round 15 Saturday, June 26 at 3.45pm)

 The second of back-to-back home games against Victorian opposition.

  • St Kilda (Round 17 time and date TBC)

The match against the Saints will mark the sixth consecutive meeting between the two clubs at Adelaide Oval, with the teams not having played in Melbourne since 2019.

GATHER ROUND OPENER

Adelaide will open Gather Round for a fifth-straight season when it faces reigning premier Brisbane at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, April 4.

The four-day Festival of Footy, which has all 18 clubs play in nine matches across venues in SA, will be headlined by the Crows and will coincide with school holidays across the country.

Members and fans will be required to purchase tickets for Gather Round, with tickets going on sale via Ticketek on Wednesday, December 9, from 10am for Crows Members.

The general public sale will then be on Thursday, December 10, at 10am.

SHOWDOWNS LOCKED IN

Adelaide’s rivalry with Port Adelaide will again take centre stage, with Showdown 61 to be played under Friday night lights at Adelaide Oval on May 7 in Round Eight.

The Crows will host Showdown 62 in Round 19, with the date and time to be confirmed when scheduling for the second half of the fixture is released.

Brayden Cook after kicking the winning goal in Showdown 59 in 2026.

REPEAT MATCH-UPS

Six opponents will feature twice on Adelaide’s 2027 fixture, and they include:

Fremantle

Round Two at Optus Stadium, Friday, March 26 at 6.45pm

Round 23 at Adelaide Oval (time and date TBC)

Geelong

Round Nine (week one of Sir Doug Nicholls Round) at Adelaide Oval, Thursday, May 13 at 7pm 

Round 24 at GMHBA Stadium (time and date TBC)

Melbourne

Round Seven at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs, Saturday, May 1 at 12.45pm (ACST)

Round 14 at Adelaide Oval, Sunday, June 20, at 2.45pm

Port Adelaide

Round Eight at Adelaide Oval, Friday, May 7 at 7.40pm (away Showdown)

Round 19 at Adelaide Oval (home Showdown time and date TBC)

Richmond

Round 12 at the MCG, Saturday, June 5 at 1.05pm (ACST)

Round 21 at Adelaide Oval (time and date TBC)

Western Bulldogs

Round Three at Adelaide Oval, Saturday, April 3 at 4.05pm

Round 18 Marvel Stadium (time and date TBC)