Melbourne will finish the home and away season with a flurry of Friday night blockbusters after being handed the prime time slot for round 23.

The AFL released the fixture of the final round on Tuesday, with the Demons scheduled to face Brisbane at the Gabba on Friday, August 19.

The match is set to have huge ramifications for the top-four hopes of both clubs.

It also represents another prime time slot for the Demons, who take on Fremantle in Perth this Friday night, and then Collingwood in a blockbuster at the MCG next Friday night.

Another feature of round 23 will be the encounter between Carlton and Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday, August 21.

Both teams are pushing hard for a top-four berth, and a huge crowd is expected to attend.

The Showdown between Port Adelaide and Adelaide will be played on Saturday, August 20, with Geelong hosting West Coast at GMHBA Stadium earlier in the day.

Essendon face off against Richmond at the MCG on the Saturday night, and it remains to be seen if the Tigers will still be in finals contention by then.

Fremantle may need to beat GWS at Manuka Oval on Saturday, August 20 to snare a top-four berth or a home final.

The final match of the home-and-away season is a Sunday fixture between St Kilda and Sydney at Marvel Stadium.

ROUND 23 FIXTURE (all times AEST):

FRIDAY, August 19

Brisbane Lions v Melbourne at the Gabba, 7.50pm

SATURDAY, August 20

GWS v Fremantle at Manuka Oval, 1.45pm

North Melbourne v Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium, 2.10pm

Geelong v West Coast at GMHBA Stadium, 4.35pm

Essendon v Richmond at MCG, 7.25pm

Port Adelaide v Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, 7.30pm

SUNDAY, August 21

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at University of Tasmania Stadium, 1.10pm

Carlton v Collingwood at MCG, Mantap168 3.20pm

St Kilda v Sydney at Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm