The resumption of pre-season is right around the corner and the anticipation for the 2020 home-and-away season is beginning to heat up.

It serves as the perfect moment to look at some of the key matches for Carlton this year.

Round 1 v Richmond 
MCG, Thursday 19 March, 7:25pm

We couldn’t start anywhere else. There’s now just over 10 weeks until the AFL season opener, which will have no shortage of subplots from a Carlton point-of-view. It could prove to be Sam Docherty’s first game as captain, Jack Martin’s first game as a Blue and Eddie Betts’ first game back in the No.19 Navy Blue jumper. There’s always excitement for the season opener, and this one is no different.

Of course, the AFLW season will also see Richmond and Carlton kick things off. Here are the top AFLW fixtures that can’t be missed.

Round 3 v Essendon
MCG, Thursday 2 April, 7:25pm

Once again, a match under Thursday night lights. Carlton’s grudge match against the arch enemy is one of the big matches for the season for all Bluebaggers, and the stakes are sure to be high when the two sides meet in April. It’s a Carlton home fixture, so there’s show to be a sea of Navy Blue in the crowd in this primetime fixture. It’s also shaping up to be the game where Kade Simpson rises to third in Carlton’s all-time games played list.

Round 9 v Collingwood
MCG, Sunday 17 May, 1:10pm

Similar to the clash with Essendon, this will be the only game between the two traditional rivals and it will be a Carlton home game. Another bumper crowd can be expected at the home of football: games between Carlton and Collingwood don’t really need an introduction. The game will also mark the 50th anniversary since the most famous game of all: the 1970 Grand Final. You beauty.

Round 10 v Adelaide
Adelaide Oval, Saturday 23 May, 4:35pm

Eddie Betts returns to Adelaide Oval in Sir Doug Nicholls Round. This is one of those things where it just writes itself. The moment Betts runs out in Navy Blue will be a special moment, and there’ll be extra significance when he returns to his pocket for the first time. It’ll be just the second time Carlton has travelled to take on Adelaide since 2011.

Round 14 v Fremantle
Optus Stadium, Saturday 20 June, 4:35pm

Returning to the scene of the great heist. Nearly 12 months to the day to what transpired in 2019, Carlton makes the trek across the Nullabor to take on Fremantle. Of course, it was a memorable day for the Blues the last time they took on the Dockers, with Marc Murphy providing the magic on the way to a nail-biting win. The prospect of AFLPA MVP Patrick Cripps against Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe is pretty enticing, too.

Round 18 v Brisbane Lions
Marvel Stadium, Sunday 19 July, 3:20pm

Up against one of the breakthrough teams of 2019, Carlton’s youngsters will be looking to match it with Brisbane’s own emerging crop when the two sides meet at Marvel Stadium. There’ll be happy memories compared to the last time the two sides met in David Teague’s first game as coach, but it’ll be a long time between drinks come July. This clash with Brisbane is the second of seven consecutive Melbourne games to end the season for the Blues.