The AFL is pleased to announce the dates and times for Rounds 15 to 22 of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season.

The fixture announcement completes home and away scheduling for both competitions, following the original release of scheduling up to Round 14 of the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season.

The Lions will play host to Richmond in Round 15 at Brighton Homes Arena on Friday June 30, with Geelong and Williamstown also travelling to Brisbane in Rounds 18 and 21.

Victorian fans will get their chance to catch the Lions VFL side on two occasions, in Round 16 against the Northern Bullants and the final Round of the Home and Away season against Casey.

A highlight of the update fixture is the QClash double header, with the Lions tackling the Suns at Heritage Bank Stadium prior to the AFL fixture.

The Lions will have two more byes in Rounds 17 and 20.

The 2023 Smithy’s VFL home and away season consists of 22 rounds, with each of the 21 teams to play 18 matches and have four byes.

For the first time, the Smithy’s VFL season will feature a Wildcard Round, which will be played across the weekend of August 26-27, following the final round of the home and away season.

The Wildcard Round will feature two matches – 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9. The two winners will advance, with the highest-ranked winner during the Wildcard Round to enter the elimination finals as the seventh-placed team.

The top-six teams on the Smithy’s VFL ladder will have a pre-finals bye during Wildcard Round, ahead of the commencement of their finals campaign on the weekend of September 2-3.

The 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 24, the weekend before the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.