A LONG 183 days will have passed before the Game Changers return to play in front of the Carlton faithful at the home of women’s football.

With a fixture now in place, the countdown is well and truly on as the excitement builds toward an action-packed summer of football.

For Carlton’s General Manager of Women’s Football Brett Munro, after the uncertainty of the past two years, an entire season forecast is a welcome reassurance.

“We’re excited that we’ve got some surety about who we’re playing and when we’re playing,” Munro said.

It’s a tough start for the Game Changers, who face five of last year’s finalist in the first six rounds, including reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions.

“It’s a fair fixture – challenging – but I think we’re ready for that challenge,” he said.

“We’ve had a long off-season and pre-season and the girls now have some certainty about what’s ahead of them.”

But the Game Changers aren’t looking too far ahead, with a simple answer as to which game the team are most looking forward to:

“Collingwood, Round One," he said. 

“That’ll do us for the moment.”

The match will mark football’s return to IKON Park and shape the next chapter of the Game Changers' fierce rivalry with the Pies.

Beyond the season-opener, marquee matches will be celebrated in Pride Round, Indigenous Round and the annual Carlton Respects match.

Pride Round will take place in Round 3 against the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval, recognising pride by celebrating inclusiveness, gender diversity and welcoming all people, no matter their sexual orientation.

“The Pride Game is something that’s of real importance – we really look forward to that”

The Game Changers' Indigenous Round match will take place on away turf, hosted by the Giants at Manuka Oval in Round 8.

“Indigenous Round is a significant round and something that we really enjoy," he said. 

The design of the guernsey is something that’s great to see and our players really get totally immersed leading into that game.”

While a round is yet to be locked in, Carlton Respects will also be recognised for the fifth consecutive season.

The Carlton Respects initiative, established in 2016, is the flagship community program of the Carlton Football Club and aims to create a society of equality and respect in schools, workplaces, and the general community.

The Game Changers will ‘Pull up their Socks’ in support of gender equality for the prevention of violence against women to raise much needed awareness.

“Carlton Respects is also really important to us at the Club," he said. 

"Patty Kinnersly is really immersed in our program as our board member looking after women's football. She's a great advocate for women and change.

We really look forward to celebrating that round and giving more meaning to Carlton Respects."