You obviously want a fair fixture to start with. And I don’t envy the AFL in trying to get that balance with competing interests etc. But let’s face it, you can start off with a great draw and then injuries/poor form can hit so you and your best players could be out when easy games are played and then they are back for the tougher games and the opposition teams may have the opposite.
You can plan as much as you like (and you have to of course) but it’s such a fluid situation that all bets are off and you adjust as required. The better you can the better you’ll do.
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Fixture asterisk: Round nine games could swap for soccer
IN AN unprecedented move, the AFL has flagged a potential fixture swap to accommodate a rival code.
Releasing the official 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Fixture on Thursday, the League indicated round nine games at Adelaide Oval and Marvel Stadium could be swapped for the AFL-owned venue to host the A-League Grand Final.
While the League took control at the Docklands stadium in 2017, a contract for Melbourne Victory to play games there remains in place.
If Victory earn the right to host the 2019 domestic soccer decider, the AFL will swap a scheduled Saturday night match between Essendon and Fremantle on May 18 to Sunday afternoon in the early timeslot on May 19.
To accommodate the swap, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast would be forced to change their game to Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
Neither the Power or Suns would be disadvantaged by a short break, as both will still have a minimum seven days between matches even if the timeslot swap goes ahead.
“What we have done, which is a little unusual for us, we’ll make a decision closer to the start of the season, late March, before the season starts,” fixture executive Travis Auld said.
"It’s a better game on a Saturday night, Essendon-Fremantle on a Saturday night, it’s the right slot for it, but we value our partnership with the Victorian government, and it’s a venue for all sports.
“You shouldn’t see that as a leader for what we might do in other slots, it’s a very unique situation, it’s a long-standing commitment we’ve had and one we plan to continue.”
The AFL has again gone with a flexible fixture for all nine round 23 games, allowing it to maximise attendances and television audiences for the final round of the season.
However Auld revealed having ‘flex’ fixtures for rounds 21 and 22 was also considered.
“There’s an opportunity I suppose on paper to float the last two or three rounds similar to what we do in round 23,” Auld said.
"We constructed the fixture on the basis that we wouldn’t do that, and then we went and looked at the those last few rounds and said what opportunity is there to move some around.
“The upside you might get in moving one game isn’t outweighed by the opportunity to have certainty for fans who like to book their flights come this afternoon to go and watch their team play outside their home state.”
The AFL has again scheduled a bye weekend from August 30 to September 1 ahead of the first weekend of the finals series, which again could include a Thursday night final on September 5.
Playing the eagles in WA and swans and GWS in Sydney and Adelaide at AO is a pretty tough aspect of our draw.
All those games we would swing to favorites at home. (return legs against the Syd teams is OK)
Couldn’t they just play the A-League GF at half time.
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Even money chance to beat Sydney in Sydney I’d have thought. GWS, we beat them this year when they weren’t going great. Would be a chance.
We did very well playing interstate this season.
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Interstate sides do it year in year out, Us Vics need to stop complaining so much.
Shouldn’t be complaining about playing GC any at any time. Our VFL side would beat them.
BFC and Gabba businesses will miss the 25,000 or so Bomber supporters that usually turn up every year.
Hosting Brisbane at the G??
The AFL are so vindictive. This is clearly a shot at the MCC as retribution for the scuffle that occurred with the redevelopment negotiations earlier in the year.
Usually you all look forward to your 2x QLD getaway… O well then.
Yes but the offsetting factor is that they get to play every home game except 1 against an interstate team that is travelling.
Huge disadvantage counterbalanced by a huge advantage.
I believe this is standard canon law in the final year of a millenium and in years ending 984, 985, 993 (Kevinian Calendar) and 019.
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Last time Essendon played Brisbane at the G was 2009.
Result: DRAW.
The previous match to that one was… the 2001 Grand Final.
RESULT:…
Two other matches:
1998, Essendon won by 14 pts
1997, Essendon won by 31 pts
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Too concise to be Robbo. Needs more waffle.
AFL site:
PROS: The Bombers gain a third marquee game as North Melbourne’s opponent on Good Friday, and by virtue of their expected rise up the ladder they have been returned to prime-time with a slew of Thursday and Friday night games. They have six road trips, which are generally well spread.
CONS: Dons coach John Worsfold will need to have his team hardened for a challenging opening with six-day breaks leading into rounds two (St Kilda), three (Melbourne) and five (North Melbourne), along with the round six Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood, with the Pies to have an extra day’s break. They then have a five-day break before their round eight clash with Sydney at the SCG.
PLAY TWICE: Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne, Sydney
BYE: Round 12
FIRST FOUR WEEKS: Greater Western Sydney (a), St Kilda (h), Melbourne (a), Brisbane (h)
MAKE OR BREAK: If the Dons are to be a force next year it seems they will need to capitalise on a chance to build momentum from round 19 to 22 with games against Gold Coast (away), Port Adelaide (home), Western Bulldogs (home) and Fremantle (away).
NO SHIELDING SHIEL: Essendon’s boom recruit Dylan Shiel will face his Giants mates in round one.
WE SAY: All roads point to a big season for the Bombers and this is reflected in the AFL’s decision to schedule them in three Thursday night games and five on Fridays. The Dons have happily received another big game in the form of the Good Friday game in round five to go with Anzac Day against Collingwood in round six, the Country Game against Geelong in round seven and the Dreamtime at the 'G against Richmond in round 10. Their bottom line will be boosted by home games at the MCG against Collingwood and Carlton and another at Marvel Stadium against Hawthorn after their mid-season bye. - Ben Collins
Trying to predict how hard the fixture is for different teams is almost inpossible this year. We don’t know what the rule changes will do
On face value that draw doesn’t look horrendous but not easy either.
Shouldn’t really matter though, as I expect next season the AFL will give us an armchair ride with the umps in order to get us at the pointy end of the ladder.
Richmond has shown that significant gains in membership and crowd figures can be made from being successful and the AFL will look at that as an opportunity for us.
Money is money at the end of the day.
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Mainly home game/attendance venting for me:
Two Saturday twilight games including the first home game of the season is balls, would rather early Sunday games.
Thursday night is just ■■■■■ in general.
And why wouldn’t they just schedule to avoid the soccer GF clash from the start instead of keeping everyone guessing.
Fark the AFL.
Not to fussed on who we play as a team, mantra should be anywhere, anyplace, anytime from a playing perspective.
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