Fixture 2026 Fixture Discussion

[Testekill]

Hmm I guess if you cop Brisbane in Brisbane at any time, opening round might be the best time? Coming off a premiership so will have shorter off-season and maybe still have guys coming back from surgery or getting fit over the end of pre-season.

They lost Opening Round to Carlton of all teams last year and got belted in round 1 2023 to Port. Have a pretty bad round 1 history going back a few years and seem to improve over the course of the season rather than start hot.

Lions do have a tendency to be slowish starters. A game in the opening three or so rounds is probably the best time to draw them.

 

[grassman75]

Away to Brisbane in opening round

Can’t get a tougher start than that for 2026

Maybe we will get 2 Qld games this year….or it’s gonna be a long time between drinks again

Gonna be a tough lead in….wonder if they will still do the Mooololaba camp, then likely send 6-8 players for the shit of origin in Perth in the middle of Feb before back to Qld in the heat for that game….we don’t really get a good run do we

 

[grassman75]

Thinking it’s probably Saturday night or Sunday arvo based on the order of games if Swans V Blues is the opener.

Will be too hot for a Sunday arvo

 

[Doggy]

Well ... this is a yuck fixture to start the year..

 

[CarnTheScray]

 

[Bulldog Brent]

Bring it on.

Golden opportunity to turn the tables and win against quality opponents. I’m excited!

 

[Optimistic Dog]

We start season with a loss no doubt, hopefully a honourable one. I think the lions are that good they will only lose a maybe 2 to 3 games for the season. Hope we only play them once.

All other teams are playing for second. Won 2025 flag with a stack injuries 2 half fit guns in Neale and Dunkley on Grand Final Day. Plus they get two restricted agents and one of the best in the draft under the academy rules. They are a juggernaut and could win the next 2 which will make 4 in a row.

There is no way you should win 2 in row and access to a top academy player.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Does anyone actually like opening round?

Can't believe they are doing it again, it's just such a dampener on the season. Half the teams don't get to play and the half that do end up having a stupid bye in the first three weeks. A waste of everybody's time

 

[WAbulldog]

Does anyone actually like opening round?

Can't believe they are doing it again, it's just such a dampener on the season. Half the teams don't get to play and the half that do end up having a stupid bye in the first three weeks. A waste of everybody's time

And now having a game in Melbourne makes the round pointless.

 

[Doggy]

And now having a game in Melbourne makes the round pointless.

Collingwood had a whinge about having to travel last year is why. They said they don't want to travel for the first round this year

 

[MaxiBont]

We start season with a loss no doubt, hopefully a honourable one. I think the lions are that good they will only lose a maybe 2 to 3 games for the season. Hope we only play them once.

All other teams are playing for second. Won 2025 flag with a stack injuries 2 half fit guns in Neale and Dunkley on Grand Final Day. Plus they get two restricted agents and one of the best in the draft under the academy rules. They are a juggernaut and could win the next 2 which will make 4 in a row.

There is no way you should win 2 in row and access to a top academy player.

Man you really need to change your username

 

[Mr. Walker]

My hope for next year’s “Gather round” fixture is that we are not the “home” team drawn to play against Port or Crows. But you know the AFL …..

 

[Here we go dogs]

So now we are the only vic club without a marquee fixture.

Since opening round commenced I wanted the bulldogs to push for a Labour Day fixture. I am hardly ever critical of the club, but without a insiders perspective we never seem to be pushing innovation to create our own marquee slot. This was a no brainer.

St Kilda vs Collingwood will get a huge crowd. Should push into the 90’s

 

[Doggy]

So now we are the only vic club without a marquee fixture.

Since opening round commenced I wanted the bulldogs to push for a Labour Day fixture. I am hardly ever critical of the club, but without a insiders perspective we never seem to be pushing innovation to create our own marquee slot. This was a no brainer.

St Kilda vs Collingwood will get a huge crowd. Should push into the 90’s

With all the cocky saints supporters expecting finals (and some top 4, lol)you could be right.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

So now we are the only vic club without a marquee fixture.

Since opening round commenced I wanted the bulldogs to push for a Labour Day fixture. I am hardly ever critical of the club, but without a insiders perspective we never seem to be pushing innovation to create our own marquee slot. This was a no brainer.

St Kilda vs Collingwood will get a huge crowd. Should push into the 90’s

Dogs tried Sunday Night on Easter instead. It had a higher to normal Dogs/Saints crowd and wasn't badly rating given the Dogs stomped.

But it needs a better opponent. The issue is they are mostly unavailable due to other marquee games nearby.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Man you really need to change your usernam

Not downgrading the dogs it is just the lions are easily the best team in the competition in 26.

 

[Here we go dogs]

Dogs tried Sunday Night on Easter instead. It had a higher to normal Dogs/Saints crowd and wasn't badly rating given the Dogs stomped.

But it needs a better opponent. The issue is they are mostly unavailable due to other marquee games nearby.

Sunday night to me isn’t a marquee slot. Easter Sunday is a pretty ordinary spot for a game as people are away over Easter.

Easter works for Good Friday or Easter Monday as you build your holiday around it.

And right the only viable vic club to play regularly is the saints. Its the only game that makes sense but they have been garbage for years and there supporters don’t go when they are the away team (and vice versa). It’s really not a very exciting fixture for the mutual either.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Sunday night to me isn’t a marquee slot. Easter Sunday is a pretty ordinary spot for a game as people are away over Easter.

Easter works for Good Friday or Easter Monday as you build your holiday around it.

And right the only viable vic club to play regularly is the saints. Its the only game that makes sense but they have been garbage for years and there supporters don’t go when they are the away team (and vice versa). It’s really not a very exciting fixture for the mutual either.

Easter Sunday night absolutely could be a marquee. It’s a holiday the next day and religious individuals go during the day. Not everyone is away. Enough evidence of it through the ratings and crowd.

But this should have been explored years ago.

The only reason saints and Pies were picked as they already sold a mcg game to them yearly. They just moved the location.

The Dogs choose Ballarat instead of the G.

 

[grassman75]

And now having a game in Melbourne makes the round pointless.

What do you mean “makes” - it already was

 

[Martyn_30_]

Why would you fear a team that you were 39 points up on and down by 4 points with a minute to go in the two games last year? Brisbane next year might not even make the 8 given everything resets, something the media can never wrap their head around.

 

[grassman75]

Why would you fear a team that you were 39 points up on and down by 4 points with a minute to go in the two games last year? Brisbane next year might not even make the 8 given everything resets, something the media can never wrap they're head around.

Absolutely - we could have easily beaten them twice with;some luck

 

[_Cerberus_]

Absolutely - we could have easily beaten them twice with;some luck

I don't fear them, we actually match up on them well. Hawlks and Crows are the two I'd like to avoid twice, as their styles just counter us so well. But everyone else I'd be confident come the opening bounce that we are a decent chance.

 

[grassman75]

I don't fear them, we actually match up on them well. Hawlks and Crows are the two I'd like to avoid twice, as their styles just counter us so well. But everyone else I'd be confident come the opening bounce that we are a decent chance.

Agree

 

[Bulldog Brent]

Omg. Wildcard weekend definitely in for next year.

 

[WAbulldog]

Omg. Wildcard weekend definitely in for next year.

Yuck no thank you, please the leave the game alone Dillion.