AFL Fixture 2025

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Ned Ryerson]

People can have their own opinion no issue with that. But to think arbitrary decision-making can't be skewed or loaded, well...... Especially in an environment already so entrenched with targeted policies and handicapping measures.

the 12th AWAY game for GATHER ROUND, is another lever to be used to meet the targeted policies above. So judging by the first 3 years of Gather Round scheduling, if we don't get the following 4 teams making up the 2026 and 2027 fixturing, then it is a farce.

Richmond
Collingwood
St Kilda
North

North should not be excluded from this. They have volunteered a 13th and 14th AWAY game to WA

Gather Round - 12 AWAY games
				Season	Previous Year
			Last 4	Position	Position
2023​	Carl	Adel	St K (a)	6th	14th
			Melb (h)	4th	5th
			GC (a)	15th	12th
			GWS (h)	7th	16th
	WB	Port	Rich (h)	13th	8th
			St K (a)	6th	10th
			WC (h)	18th	17th
			Geel (a)	12th	1st
2024​	Melb	Adel	WB (a)	7th	9th
			Port (h)	4th	5th
			GC (a)	13th	15th
			Coll (h)	9th	1st
	Ess	Port	Frem (h)	10th	14th
			GC (h)	13th	15th
			Syd (h)	1st	8th
			Bris (a)	5th	2nd
2025​	Haw	Port	Adel (a)	top 2	15th
			Coll (h)	top 4	9th
			Melb (h)	12th	14th
			Bris (a)	top 4	1st
	Geel	Adel	Port (h)	11th	5th
			Ess (h)	Bottom 4	11th
			Syd (a)	10th	2nd
			Rich (a)	16th	18th

Conveniently ignoring Brisbane's 12 away games again I see?

Honestly, you should probably seek help if an AFL schedule gets you to this level of paranoia.

At the start of the year Geelong's last 4 games would have been against a perrenial top 4 side, an Essendon side predicted to play finals and the reigning minor premiers and grand finalist. Our draw consisted of Adelaide, who barely anyone suggested would be a flag contender, and Collingwood who were apparently dad's army. Are you suggesting that the AFL conspiracy against us now involves time travel?

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Brisbane have 12 away games, they travel every second week, their final month of play includes an away trip to Fremantle and having to play us, Collingwood and Sydney who at the end of last year were grand finalists and not tipped to slide as badly as they have. Honestly - just stop whining.

I would like finals also. But last week's game against Adelaide was a finals like game in every sense. This week's is also. The game at the Gabba could very likely be a do-or-die clash. We are playing 3 finals games effectively in the space of a month so losing an elimination final would mean not a great deal towards player development.

For someone who is very quick to discredit anything that you dont agree with, let me help you with some basic understanding. Everyone plays a 12th AWAY game in Adelaide. However, only two of them play a legitimate AWAY opponent in those games, WHO are playing HOME. This is not a hard concept to grasp.

Before asking others to stop whining, at least get the facts right.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

For someone who is very quick to discredit anything that you dont agree with, let me help you with some basic understanding. Everyone plays a 12th AWAY game in Adelaide. However, only two of them play a legitimate AWAY opponent in those games, WHO are playing HOME. This is not a hard concept to grasp.

Before asking others to stop whining, at least get the facts right.

You don't stop to consider any facts when clutching at your straws so I thought I would give it a go also.

You can goalpost shift all you want - your cries of conspiracy are just utter bullshit and pretty sad behaviour if you are an adult.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

You don't stop to consider any facts when clutching at your straws so I thought I would give it a go also.

You can goalpost shift all you want - your cries of conspiracy are just utter bullshit and pretty sad behaviour if you are an adult.

No goal post were changed. It was your inability to grasp a very simple concept in your rush to highlight a 'conspiracy'. Let me clarify it for you once again - the other 7 games in Gather Round - they are NEUTRAL, whether they are listed HOME or AWAY.

 

[RobHawk]

It’s a crowd number and money thing.
When we play Victorian clubs in Melbourne we typically get bigger crowd numbers from the away supporters attending and therefore ticket sales are up.

If we play Gold Coast, Freo, giants, port Adelaide etc at the G we are likely to get poxy crowd numbers and therefore the cost to the club is exacerbated that’s why those games are more often left to be played in Tassie - the whole reason we play down there is to minimise the financial impact to the club…

I mainly agree with you . But then why did we not play Port in Melbourne and West Coast in Tassie rather than the other way around ? Especially if gate receipts were the primary concern .

 

[pattymalone00]

I mainly agree with you . But then why did we not play Port in Melbourne and West Coast in Tassie rather than the other way around ? Especially if gate receipts were the primary concern .

I could be wrong but I think the afl are trying to avoid having WA teams play in Tassie now due to travel

 

[RobHawk]

I could be wrong but I think the afl are trying to avoid having WA teams play in Tassie now due to travel

That might get a bit tricky when the new Tassie team joins the league

 

[Ned Ryerson]

No goal post were changed. It was your inability to grasp a very simple concept in your rush to highlight a 'conspiracy'. Let me clarify it for you once again - the other 7 games in Gather Round - they are NEUTRAL, whether they are listed HOME or AWAY.

I don’t give a genuine **** about gather round. You were claiming Geelong was given an armchair fixture in the last month when at the start of the year the only easy game in that fixture looking forward was the game against Richmond. Port had finished top 4 multiple years running, Sydney had made a grand final and nobody could have predicted * falling away as badly as they did. Once again an example of letting the banjo players from Corio live rent free in your head.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

I don’t give a genuine **** about gather round. You were claiming Geelong was given an armchair fixture in the last month when at the start of the year the only easy game in that fixture looking forward was the game against Richmond. Port had finished top 4 multiple years running, Sydney had made a grand final and nobody could have predicted * falling away as badly as they did. Once again an example of letting the banjo players from Corio live rent free in your head.

Have you got your head around the 12 AWAY games yet?

 

[Elhawko]

I don’t give a genuine **** about gather round. You were claiming Geelong was given an armchair fixture in the last month when at the start of the year the only easy game in that fixture looking forward was the game against Richmond. Port had finished top 4 multiple years running, Sydney had made a grand final and nobody could have predicted * falling away as badly as they did. Once again an example of letting the banjo players from Corio live rent free

Firstly kudos for 'banjo players from corio'.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories either (although I'm pretty sure the AFL engineered the Suns seven home games against top teams to give them a little leg up over their likely competition for the 8 - why Geelong is the only team who did not have to go North to play them is something the AFL can explain to God). But the Cats did get lucky and we didnt with how things turned out, particularly with Adelaide and the Pies rising up the ladder. Because of that, we copped three double-ups against the top three teams; the Cats had one and only one against another top 8 side. And they only have 10 games against the other top 8 sides (Freo too) whereas we have 11. If we had drawn a double against Richmond instead of the Crows, like the Cats got, we would probably make the finals.

But the real issue for us is we have won 3 of 9 games against the better sides and two of those wins were in Launceston. We beat the Dogs at Marvel which was a good result, but they didnt have Darcy then. If we lose to the Pies and Lions over the last three games then it is our inability to beat good teams that is keeping us out of the finals, not the draw. But the draw did not do us any favours.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Firstly kudos for 'banjo players from corio'.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories either (although I'm pretty sure the AFL engineered the Suns seven home games against top teams to give them a little leg up over their likely competition for the 8 - why Geelong is the only team who did not have to go North to play them is something the AFL can explain to God). But the Cats did get lucky and we didnt with how things turned out, particularly with Adelaide and the Pies rising up the ladder. Because of that, we copped three double-ups against the top three teams; the Cats had one and only one against another top 8 side. And they only have 10 games against the other top 8 sides (Freo too) whereas we have 11. If we had drawn a double against Richmond instead of the Crows, like the Cats got, we would probably make the finals.

But the real issue for us is we have won 3 of 9 games against the better sides and two of those wins were in Launceston. We beat the Dogs at Marvel which was a good result, but they didnt have Darcy then. If we lose to the Pies and Lions over the last three games then it is our inability to beat good teams that is keeping us out of the finals, not the draw. But the draw did not do us any favours.

Kudos for using perspective and logic - they are dying arts.

Luck is what a lot of this comes down to. The Crows resurgence comes back to bite anyone who drew them twice this year. However that disadvantage we cop swings back around because we ended up getting Carlton twice when they weren't remotely as formidable as many thought they would be. It's swings and roundabouts.

Thinking the AFL can manipulate a 24 round competition as though they are some evil geniuses with a Minority Report style set up able to see what August will look like in November of the year prior - that's genuinely cooked.

I agree with you that there is likely some level of shit****ery going on with the Suns' draw. Their two games in a row in Darwin was also bizarrely advantageous as it allowed them to better climatise compared to teams staying there for a matter of days. The AFL is also incentivised to heavily aid the Suns' success much like GWS. They are trying to grow the game in NRL heartlands. I hate it but at least there's a clear motivation. People who want to go batshit crazy trying to prove there is some hellbent AFL plot against us and to advantage Geelong just honestly makes zero sense because Geelong is going to be an AFL heartland forever and a day and has zero competition in the area from other codes. It just so happens that Geelong is a well run club with annoyingly good player development - to me that is annoying but I begrudgingly respect. For some reason others decide to go full on Qanon over it.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Have you got your head around the 12 AWAY games yet?

Yes, and I really don't care mate. Spelling it in all caps doesn't make your case any more persuasive. We should have been able to beat Port that night - they are a shit side this year and they absolutely pantsed us. There is no conspiracy - we just haven't beaten enough top 8 sides this year. If we had we wouldn't be hand-wringing over this.

 

[A Diakos]

Simple

Geelong play 2 bottom 3 teams having finished in top 4

Why ?

Then they play essendon and saints twice who no one rightfully predicted them anywhere near top 8

They had the most favourable double ups of all the top 6 teams and that could be the difference between 1/2 wins

Play hawks pies lions twice instead like the rest of them

 

[A Diakos]

That’s not excusing hawthorn as we weren’t good enough …but Geelong have an advantage to the other top teams that’s also clear not sure how that can’t be acknowledged

 

[TONYC3163]

That’s not excusing hawthorn as we weren’t good enough …but Geelong have an advantage to the other top teams that’s also clear not sure how that can’t be acknowledged

You can acknowledge it (with hindsight) without resorting to conspiracy theories about the evil AFL having it in for the poor Hawks.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

 

[The hands of stone]

While its an 18 team comp the fixture will never be even .
Probably will be worse when its 19 when Tassie enters.

Its not even worth worrying about to be honest .
You just hope a few things fall your way - oppo with injury , out of form or short breaks when you play them .
If not , fingers crossed the next season .

The only thing I would do for now is no double up games for the previous season top 4 v bottom 4 . But even that wont really solve it

 

[Buckemenico]

Geelong play Richmond twice in last 7 weeks, last year round 24 played west coast at home . It is worth questioning

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Geelong play Richmond twice in last 7 weeks, last year round 24 played west coast at home . It is worth questioning

Essendon in Rd 14 and 22 LOL

 

[The hands of stone]

Geelong play Richmond twice in last 7 weeks, last year round 24 played west coast at home . It is worth questioning

IM not sure its a great prep for finals.
They barely have had a competitive game for over a month.

Looks great % wise and gets Cameron a ton though .

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Essendon in Rd 14 and 22 LOL

Clearly Essendon’s catastrophic injury list was concocted just to help Geelong too. This goes so deep!

 

[A Diakos]

You can acknowledge it (with hindsight) without resorting to conspiracy theories about the evil AFL having it in for the poor Hawks.

u called it a "conspiracy theory " not me.....I highlighted a basic fact ...they where favoured with fixture

i'm all ears as to why, because I don't have the answer

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Geelong play Richmond twice in last 7 weeks, last year round 24 played west coast at home . It is worth questioning

Was it worth questioning when we played Carlton (that season’s spooners) twice in 7 weeks in 2015 despite being on our way to a 3peat. Didn’t think so.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

u called it a "conspiracy theory " not me.....I highlighted a basic fact ...they where favoured with fixture

i'm all ears as to why, because I don't have the answer

You can’t say they were ‘favoured’ as being a fact. It’s crybaby speculation. This kind of whining loser talk is what I’d expect from St Kilda supporters.

 

[A Diakos]

You can’t say they were ‘favoured’ as being a fact. It’s crybaby speculation. This kind of whining loser talk is what I’d expect from St Kilda supporters.

it is a fact not 'speculation"

Richmond
eagles
saints
bombers
giants
port

where their double ups ....2 bottom 3 and 2 outside the 8 for a top 4 team

compare that to the other top 6 teams ....don't shoot your mouth off over your keyboard "cry baby" and 'loser " comments

I said we weren't good enough regardless of their easier fixture