The 2012 premiership race was one of the tightest in recent memory, meaning this season has been hugely anticipated. After all the off-season drama over summer, here are the ten must watch games for the year.

Hawthorn v Geelong, Round 1, MCG, Monday Afternoon – Will the legend continue?

After a long and festive Easter weekend, the AFL world can sit down and watch two of the biggest modern day rivals. The rivalry was renewed in the 2008 Grand Final, where the Hawks defeated the Cats by 26 points on the biggest stage. Since that heartbreaking Grand Final, Hawthorn have not defeated Geelong, while their most recent clash a thriller last year – decided when Tom Hawkins kicked the winning goal after the siren from 50 metres out.

Collingwood v Carlton, Round 2, MCG, Sunday Afternoon – The savior’s first game against his old side

Mick Malthouse stood down as Collingwood coach, at the end of the 2011 season, amidst tears and emotion. Now he is coaching Collingwood’s biggest rival – the Carlton Football Club. Arguably, no rivalry is bigger in the AFL, and whenever these two sides meet there’s much more than just four points on the line. Both teams are expected to be pushing for finals this year, making this early season encounter crucial.

St Kilda v Essendon, Round 4, Etihad Stadium, Saturday Twilight – Goddard faces his old team

Brendan Goddard’s decision to leave St. Kilda for Essendon at the end of last year, was one of the most talked about stories of the summer. When his old club meets new, under the bright Friday night lights at Etihad Stadium, expect a blockbuster.

Essendon v Collingwood, Round 5, MCG, Thursday Afternoon – ANZAC Day clash

The annual ANZAC Day battle, between Collingwood and Essendon, means more than just about any other home and away game. Crowd numbers of 95,000 and up are the norm for this fixture, and expect the same this year. Collingwood got the win last year, with a Jarryd Blair goal in final seconds snaring a classic one-point victory. Essendon will be looking to atone for that loss.

St Kilda v Sydney, Round 5, Wellington Stadium, Thursday Night – First match for points out of the country

This is a historic moment for the AFL, with it being the first game to be played of outside of Australia for premiership points. Wellington, New Zealand, will play host to the AFL’s first international spectacle, with the league hoping that the game could spark a new group of spectators across the Tasman.

Hawthorn v Sydney, Round 7, MCG, Saturday Night – Grand final rematch

The grand final rematch is always a must-watch. It brings back memories from the year before, and we can compare the difference between the previous benchmark sides. After such an incredible match last year, Hawthorn will be looking for revenge, while Sydney will be looking at to replicate their premiership winning efforts.

Collingwood v Geelong, Round 8, MCG, Saturday Night – Modern heavyweights battle again

The Magpies and Cats have been powerhouse sides since 2007, with neither having missed the finals in six years and they have combined for four of the past six premierships. They boast the biggest average crowd of any rivalry in that time, producing some of the most memorable finals and regular season battles. With Collingwood considered a genuine premiership contender, and Geelong bullish about their chances of pushing for more silverware, this clash shapes as another crucial blockbuster.

Richmond v Gold Coast, Round 16, Cazaly’s Stadium, Saturday Twilight – Can the Tigers finally defeat the Suns up in Cairns?

The Tigers have sold two home games up to Cairns in previous years, and have lost both of them against Gold Coast. However, to the Gold Coast’s credit, they showed glimpses of the future and earned their successes. Richmond remains the only team to have not beaten the Suns – this is a must win for the Tiges’.

West Coast v Fremantle, Round 16, Paterson’s Stadium, Sunday Afternoon – The battle of two top teams from the West

The Western Australian ‘derby’ is always a hyper-competitive contest. After Fremantle picked up the win in Round One, an exciting rematch between two  bitter rivals can be expected. Both teams look set to push for a top four berth, and the four points on offer could be pivotal to the finals make up.

Hawthorn v Collingwood, Round 21, MCG, Friday night – Two rounds before the finals and two of the states biggest teams go head to head.

Hawthorn has convincingly won the last three encounters against Magpies. However, due to the tense fight for top positions, this will go down as one of the biggest games in the latter stages of the season. If the two sides perform as expected up to this point, the winner will emerge as the premiership favourite

Nick Ciantar is a third year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University. You can follow him on Twitter: @nick_saint13.