A-League bosses are kicking off the season with a round of blockbusters to start with a bang including a grand final rematch between Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners while old rivalries are renewed with Melbourne Victory hosting Sydney FC.

Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Heart are first off the block at Ausgrid Stadium on Saturday October 8, just 24 hours after a Socceroos match.

Heart, who opened last season with home match against the Mariners, will travel to Newcastle to meet the Jets at 4:30pm in the first of an opening day triple-header before Victory meet Sydney at 6.30pm then Roar and Mariners at Suncorp Stadium at 8:45pm.

Gold Coast host Wellington and Perth host Adelaide in the other two Round 1 games.

But the round raising the most eyebrows is the massive midweek marathon with five games non-stop from 1pm on Wednesday, January 4.

The FFA are targeting schoolkids on holiday with the extravaganza, with three of the games in business hours on a day that's not a public holiday.

Football chiefs have opted for the Wednesday date despite the Monday two days earlier being a public holiday because of New Year's Eve falling on a weekend this year.

There are also five standalone matches to be held in regional centres, which are yet to be confirmed.

Each team will play 27 matches, with the home and away season to finish on March 25.

There will be three Melbourne derbies, the first at Etihad Stadium on Saturday October 22, the second on December 23 at AAMI Park and the third on Saturday February 4, also at AAMI Park.

The full draw is:

Week 1 
Saturday, 8 October 2011 Newcastle Jets Melbourne Heart Ausgrid Stadium 4:30pm
Saturday, 8 October 2011 Melbourne Victory Sydney FC Etihad Stadium 6:30pm
Saturday, 8 October 2011 Brisbane Roar Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium 7:45pm
Sunday, 9 October 2011 Gold Coast United Wellington Phoenix Skilled Park 4:00pm
Sunday, 9 October 2011 Perth Glory Adelaide United nib Stadium 4:30pm

Week 2 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 14 October 2011 Adelaide United Melbourne Victory Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 15 October 2011 Central Coast Mariners Gold Coast United Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 15 October 2011 Sydney FC Brisbane Roar Sydney Football Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 16 October 2011 Wellington Phoenix Newcastle Jets Westpac Stadium 4:30pm 2:30pm
Sunday, 16 October 2011 Melbourne Heart Perth Glory AAMI Park 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 3 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 21 October 2011 Brisbane Roar Gold Coast United Suncorp Stadium 7:30pm 8:30pm
Saturday, 22 October 2011 Adelaide United Sydney FC Hindmarsh Stadium 5:00pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 22 October 2011 Melbourne Victory Melbourne Heart Etihad Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 23 October 2011 Newcastle Jets Central Coast Mariners Ausgrid Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm
Sunday, 23 October 2011 Perth Glory Wellington Phoenix nib Stadium 4:30pm 7:30pm

Week 4 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 28 October 2011 Brisbane Roar Adelaide United Suncorp Stadium 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 29 October 2011 Central Coast Mariners Perth Glory Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 29 October 2011 Melbourne Heart Sydney FC AAMI Park 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 30 October 2011 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne Victory Westpac Stadium 4:30pm 2:30pm
Sunday, 30 October 2011 Gold Coast United Newcastle Jets Skilled Park 4:00pm 5:00pm

Week 5 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 4 November 2011 Wellington Phoenix Central Coast Mariners Westpac Stadium 7:30pm 5:30pm
Friday, 4 November 2011 Adelaide United Melbourne Heart Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 5 November 2011 Newcastle Jets Perth Glory Ausgrid Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 5 November 2011 Melbourne Victory Brisbane Roar Etihad Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 6 November 2011 Sydney FC Gold Coast United Sydney Football Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 6 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 11 November 2011 Gold Coast United Adelaide United Skilled Park 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 12 November 2011 Melbourne Heart Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 12 November 2011 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne Victory Bluetongue Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Saturday, 12 November 2011 Perth Glory Sydney FC nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Sunday, 13 November 2011 Brisbane Roar Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium 4:00pm 5:00pm

Week 7 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 18 November 2011 Gold Coast United Melbourne Heart Skilled Park 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 19 November 2011 Wellington Phoenix Adelaide United TBC 5:00pm 3:00pm
Saturday, 19 November 2011 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar Ausgrid Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 19 November 2011 Sydney FC Central Coast Mariners Sydney Football Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 20 November 2011 Melbourne Victory Perth Glory Etihad Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 8 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 25 November 2011 Adelaide United Newcastle Jets Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 26 November 2011 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne Heart Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 26 November 2011 Brisbane Roar Perth Glory Suncorp Stadium 6:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 27 November 2011 Wellington Phoenix Sydney FC Westpac Stadium 4:30pm 2:30pm
Sunday, 27 November 2011 Melbourne Victory Gold Coast United AAMI Park 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 9 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 2 December 2011 Adelaide United Central Coast Mariners Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 3 December 2011 Newcastle Jets Melbourne Victory Ausgrid Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Saturday, 3 December 2011 Perth Glory Gold Coast United nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Sunday, 4 December 2011 Melbourne Heart Wellington Phoenix TBC 3:00pm 3:00pm
Sunday, 4 December 2011 Sydney FC Brisbane Roar Sydney Football Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm
Wednesday, 7 December 2011 Sydney FC Perth Glory TBC - Regional TBC TBC

Week 10 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 9 December 2011 Brisbane Roar Melbourne Heart Suncorp Stadium 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 10 December 2011 Wellington Phoenix Perth Glory Westpac Stadium 5:00pm 3:00pm
Saturday, 10 December 2011 Central Coast Mariners Newcastle Jets Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 10 December 2011 Melbourne Victory Adelaide United Etihad Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 11 December 2011 Gold Coast United Sydney FC TBC - Regional 5:00pm 5:00pm
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 Wellington Phoenix Brisbane Roar TBC - Regional TBC TBC

Week 11 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 16 December 2011 Adelaide United Gold Coast United Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 17 December 2011 Newcastle Jets Sydney FC Ausgrid Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 17 December 2011 Brisbane Roar Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium 6:45pm 7:45pm
Saturday, 17 December 2011 Perth Glory Melbourne Heart nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Sunday, 18 December 2011 Melbourne Victory Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 12 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Thursday, 22 December 2011 Sydney FC Adelaide United Sydney Football Stadium 7:30pm 7:30pm
Friday, 23 December 2011 Wellington Phoenix Newcastle Jets Westpac Stadium 7:30pm 5:30pm
Friday, 23 December 2011 Melbourne Heart Melbourne Victory AAMI Park 8:00pm 8:00pm
Friday, 23 December 2011 Perth Glory Central Coast Mariners nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Monday, 26 December 2011 Gold Coast United Brisbane Roar Skilled Park 6:30pm 7:30pm

Week 13 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Thursday, 29 December 2011 Sydney FC Melbourne Heart Sydney Football Stadium 7:30pm 7:30pm
Friday, 30 December 2011 Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 31 December 2011 Newcastle Jets Perth Glory Ausgrid Stadium 4:00pm 4:00pm
Saturday, 31 December 2011 Central Coast Mariners Gold Coast United Bluetongue Stadium 6:15pm 6:15pm
Saturday, 31 December 2011 Brisbane Roar Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium 7:30pm 8:30pm

Midweek Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Wellington Phoenix Sydney FC Westpac Stadium 3:00pm 1:00pm
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Melbourne Heart Adelaide United AAMI Park 3:15pm 3:15pm
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Newcastle Jets Gold Coast United Ausgrid Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne Victory Bluetongue Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 Perth Glory Brisbane Roar nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm

Week 14 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Saturday, 7 January 2012 Adelaide United Brisbane Roar Hindmarsh Stadium 5:00pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 7 January 2012 Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 8 January 2012 Wellington Phoenix Perth Glory Westpac Stadium 4:00pm 2:00pm
Sunday, 8 January 2012 Sydney FC Central Coast Mariners Sydney Football Stadium 4:00pm 4:00pm
Sunday, 8 January 2012 Gold Coast United Melbourne Heart Skilled Park 5:30pm 6:30pm

Week 15 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 13 January 2012 Melbourne Victory Adelaide United AAMI Park 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 14 January 2012 Central Coast Mariners Newcastle Jets Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 14 January 2012 Brisbane Roar Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium 6:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 15 January 2012 Melbourne Heart Perth Glory AAMI Park 4:00pm 4:00pm
Sunday, 15 January 2012 Gold Coast United Wellington Phoenix Skilled Park 5:30pm 6:30pm
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 Melbourne Heart Central Coast Mariners TBC - Regional TBC TBC

Week 16 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 20 January 2012 Newcastle Jets Wellington Phoenix Ausgrid Stadium 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 21 January 2012 Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 21 January 2012 Melbourne Heart Brisbane Roar TBC 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 22 January 2012 Sydney FC Gold Coast United Sydney Football Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm
Sunday, 22 January 2012 Perth Glory Melbourne Victory nib Stadium 4:30pm 7:30pm
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 Adelaide United Newcastle Jets TBC - Regional TBC TBC

Week 17 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Thursday, 26 January 2012 Melbourne Victory Sydney FC AAMI Park 4:00pm 4:00pm
Friday, 27 January 2012 Gold Coast United Central Coast Mariners Skilled Park 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 28 January 2012 Brisbane Roar Newcastle Jets Suncorp Stadium 6:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 29 January 2012 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne Heart Westpac Stadium 4:30pm 2:30pm
Sunday, 29 January 2012 Adelaide United Perth Glory Hindmarsh Stadium 4:30pm 5:00pm
Wednesday, 1 February 2012 Gold Coast United Melbourne Victory Skilled Park 7:00pm 8:00pm

Week 18 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 3 February 2012 Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 4 February 2012 Central Coast Mariners Brisbane Roar Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 4 February 2012 Melbourne Heart Melbourne Victory AAMI Park 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 5 February 2012 Sydney FC Newcastle Jets Sydney Football Stadium 5:00pm 5:00pm
Monday, 6 February 2012 Perth Glory Gold Coast United nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm

Week 19 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 10 February 2012 Melbourne Victory Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 11 February 2012 Newcastle Jets Melbourne Heart Ausgrid Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 11 February 2012 Sydney FC Perth Glory Sydney Football Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 12 February 2012 Wellington Phoenix Brisbane Roar Westpac Stadium 5:00pm 3:00pm
Sunday, 12 February 2012 Gold Coast United Adelaide United Skilled Park 4:30pm 5:30pm

Week 20 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 17 February 2012 Melbourne Heart Gold Coast United AAMI Park 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 18 February 2012 Central Coast Mariners Wellington Phoenix Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 18 February 2012 Brisbane Roar Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium 6:45pm 7:45pm
Saturday, 18 February 2012 Perth Glory Newcastle Jets nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Sunday, 19 February 2012 Adelaide United Sydney FC Hindmarsh Stadium 4:30pm 5:00pm

Week 21 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 24 February 2012 Newcastle Jets Adelaide United Ausgrid Stadium 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 25 February 2012 Sydney FC Wellington Phoenix Sydney Football Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 25 February 2012 Gold Coast United Melbourne Victory Skilled Park 6:45pm 7:45pm
Saturday, 25 February 2012 Perth Glory Brisbane Roar nib Stadium 7:00pm 10:00pm
Sunday, 26 February 2012 Melbourne Heart Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park 5:00pm 5:00pm

Week 22 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 2 March 2012 Brisbane Roar Melbourne Heart Suncorp Stadium 7:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 3 March 2012 Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 3 March 2012 Central Coast Mariners Sydney FC Bluetongue Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 4 March 2012 Wellington Phoenix Gold Coast United Westpac Stadium 4:30pm 2:30pm
Sunday, 4 March 2012 Adelaide United Perth Glory Hindmarsh Stadium 4:30pm 5:00pm

Week 23 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 9 March 2012 Newcastle Jets Gold Coast United Ausgrid Stadium 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 10 March 2012 Melbourne Heart Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 10 March 2012 Sydney FC Melbourne Victory Sydney Football Stadium 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 11 March 2012 Brisbane Roar Adelaide United Suncorp Stadium 4:00pm 5:00pm
Sunday, 11 March 2012 Perth Glory Central Coast Mariners nib Stadium 4:30pm 7:30pm

Week 24 Fixture Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 16 March 2012 Melbourne Victory Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 8:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 17 March 2012 Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Bluetongue Stadium 5:30pm 5:30pm
Saturday, 17 March 2012 Melbourne Heart Sydney FC AAMI Park 7:45pm 7:45pm
Sunday, 18 March 2012 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar Ausgrid Stadium 4:00pm 4:00pm
Sunday, 18 March 2012 Gold Coast United Perth Glory Skilled Park 5:30pm 6:30pm

Week 25 Home Away Venue Local AEDT
Friday, 23 March 2012 Adelaide United Melbourne Heart Hindmarsh Stadium 7:30pm 8:00pm
Saturday, 24 March 2012 Perth Glory Melbourne Victory nib Stadium 6:30pm 9:30pm
Sunday, 25 March 2012 Wellington Phoenix Central Coast Mariners Westpac Stadium 4:00pm 2:00pm
Sunday, 25 March 2012 Sydney FC Newcastle Jets Sydney Football Stadium 4:00pm 4:00pm
Sunday, 25 March 2012 Gold Coast United Brisbane Roar Skilled Park 5:30pm 6:30pm