Fremantle and West Coast have been fixtured to play a derby at Patersons Stadium the night after the Crows tackle the Bombers.
The following weekend Richmond and Carlton will do battle in their now-traditional Thursday night contest at the MCG.
And the monster round one will come to an end when Geelong and Hawthorn meet at the 'G on Easter Monday.
The Cats will go into the game boasting a nine-match winning streak against the Hawks.
In fact, Hawthorn has not beaten Geelong since the 2008 Grand Final.
"Scheduling opening round over two weeks enables us to showcase the start of the season on Friday and Saturday night in SA and WA in week one and then schedule the remainder of the matches over Easter in the second week, which will maximise exposure opportunities for the commencement of 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season," the League's general manager broadcasting, scheduling and legal affairs, Simon Lethlean told AFL.com.au.
If Adelaide or Essendon qualify for the NAB Cup Grand Final, the pre-season decider will be held on Friday, March 15 to ensure both clubs have a seven-day break before they kick-off the premiership season.
If the Crows and Bombers don't qualify, the NAB Cup Grand Final will be held on Saturday, March 16.
The last time Adelaide hosted the opening game of the premiership season was in 1991 - the club's first year in the competition.
On that Friday night, which was also March 22, the new boys beat Hawthorn by 86 points before a sell-out crowd.
Next year's clash with Essendon will mark the start of the last season that AAMI Stadium will be used for AFL matches, as both the Crows and Port Adelaide will play their home games at Adelaide Oval from 2014.
The Bombers will be part of numerous must-watch contests next year.
They'll play St Kilda in round four in a contest sure to be loaded with emotion after their decision to sign former Saints star Brendon Goddard.
Only a few days later they'll meet Collingwood in the ANZAC Day blockbuster.
Essendon has also requested to play Carlton on June 7 to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the club's first match, which was against the Blues on that date in 1873.
The full 2013 premiership season fixture will be released later this month.
ROUND 1, 2013: AS REVEALED SO FAR
Friday, March 22: Adelaide v Essendon at AAMI Stadium
Saturday, March 23: Fremantle v West Coast at Patersons Stadium
Thursday, March 28: Carlton v Richmond at the MCG
Monday, April 1: Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG
Follow Adam McNicol on Twitter: @AFL_AdamMcNicol
