2014 Fixture

[DrMike]

It’s probably a bit early but as the 2013 Home and Away ladder is now set in stone, this gives us the opportunity to look at what our 2014 fixture might look like next year. The fixture itself will probably be out the end of October again but there are some key features that need to be taken into consideration.

• The first round starts on Thursday, March 13 with games split between this weekend and the following ending March 23
• There will be two bye rounds, between rounds 8-10 (6 games per round) and between rounds 18 and 19 (one week 5 games, the next 4)
• The H&A season will remain at 22 games
• Double match ups will be weighted based on ladder position as per the following table

So what does that mean for us? Given that we finished 5th we have to play a minimum of two top 6 teams twice (but up to three), a minimum of one middle team twice (but up to two) and no minimum on the bottom 6 (but a max of one).

Top 6: Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle, Sydney, Richmond, Collingwood
Middle 6: Port Adelaide, Carlton, Essendon, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane
Bottom 6: West Coast, Gold Coast, Bulldogs, St Kilda, Melbourne, GWS
(Bolded are the teams we’ve played twice this year)

You would assume that we’ll play Carlton and Essendon twice so the middle 6 is probably set. We’ve played Freo twice in 3 of the past 4 years so the question will be if they keep that rivalry going or if they swap it with West Coast (which then sets our bottom 6 opposition). So who will be our top 6 teams? Collingwood have been pushing for a piece of the pie (pardon the pun) and Hawthorn are fast becoming a strong rival candidate, with both games potentially drawing massive crowds (and benefiting he AFL’s bottom line).

So this is how it could end up:
Top 6: Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle, Sydney, Richmond, Collingwood
Middle 6: Port Adelaide, Carlton, Essendon, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane
Bottom 6: West Coast, Gold Coast, Bulldogs, St Kilda, Melbourne, GWS


A lot will probably depend on finals results, for example Hawthorn playing Sydney twice this year, but I would be interesting in all of your thoughts.

 

[Mr Magic]

one of the most relevant posts yet

still wait for our position after finals though, but obviously the draw has an influence on our chances to do this and that

 

[_DBF_]

2 double ups v top 6 (Frem, Coll)
2 double ups v middle 6 (Ess, Carl)
1 double up v bottom 6 (Gold Coast - we have to get a Melbourne game v an expansion club, but Gold Coast also have to get a 'home' game against us)

 

[tigs2010]

I think Melbourne, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn would be a good result. We used to double up against Melbourne all the time. Should try build a rivalry out of it.

 

[Mr Magic]

we deserve to play Pies twice next year. Good for revenue of both clubs and, with our progression, matches we will have a decent chance to win to.

it will be harder for us to make the 8 next year with a tougher draw but we should be better next year to make up for it. Some teams like North will have an easier draw possibly and be tougher to get over into the 8 but other teams like Hawks will be a bit older so we should still be in with a shot. West Coasts stars will be older to. will be a interesting season for us and apart from new recruits looking forward to seeing McIntosh, McBean amongst the others help develop our teams performance.

I am still not against GC away home game like before because I am confident we should take them anyway from our anticipated improvement despite theirs but I know it isn't going to happen now I would play GWS away to and we should still get a win there. GWS biggest crowd a maybe play the Swans twice, WC twice for interstate matches

I still think we should play the blues twice next year as well including the first round particularly after this elimination final encounter Go Tigers

 

[Underarm]

^one of the games is bound to be a Interstate team, And I doub't we would get all of Pies/Dons/Blues/Hawks.

Essendon got GWS and West Coast
Carlton got Saints and Port Adelaide
Collingwood got North Melbourne and Sydney (and hawks instead of Richmond)

 

[Madtiger2006]

I say let us play coll, carl, ess, haw twice at the G. We'll average 75,000 for those 8 matches alone
Should get over 80k for the first games against coll, carl and ess and maybe 75k against hawks. Return games will get close to 70k with the tigers in the top 4.
Interstate games against adel, west coast, frem, bris and sydney averaging 40,000.
Would like to finally play gold coast and west sydney at the G and Port at the G would be nice for once too.
No home game at Etihad please.
I'm happy to play north, footscray, cats and saints at etihad as away games

 

[Truetiger]

Port at the G would be nice for once too.

Did last round 2012? Dont you remember lol

 

[Harmichael]

Why we don't play the Filth twice every year is beyond me. The only time it hasn't been a drawcard was in the early 90's when we were utter shit and crowds were piss poor all round.

 

[RichoLedio]

Can't we just play Hawthorn 6 times?

 

[tigs2010]

Can't play GWS or WC twice as their once match against top 6 will be locked into Syd and Freo respectively.

 

[_RT_]

My wishlist:
Round 1 vs Carlton (h) MCG
Round 2 vs Hawthorn (h) MCG
Round 3 vs Melbourne (a) MCG
Round 4 vs GWS (h) Etihad
Round 5 vs Fremantle (a) Pattersons
Round 6 vs Bulldogs (h) MCG
Round 7 vs West Coast (h) MCG
Round 8 vs Essendon (a) MCG
Round 9 vs Collingwood (a) MCG
Round 10 vs Brisbane MCG
Round 11 vs Gold Coast (a) Metricon
Round 12 v Saints (a) Etihad
Round 13 v Sydney (a) SCG
Round 14 v Geelong (h) MCG
Round 15 v Port Adelaide (h) MCG
Round 16 v Adelaide (a) Adelaide Oval
Round 17 vs North (h) MCG
Round 18 v Carlton (a) MCG
Round 19 v Hawthorn (a) MCG
Round 20 v Collingwood (h) MCG
Round 21 v Sydney (h) MCG
Round 22 v Brisbane (a) Gabba

Top 6: Hawthorn x 2, Sydney x 2, Collingwood x 2, Geelong, Fremantle
Middle 6: Carlton x 2, Brisbane x 2, Essendon, Port, North, Adelaide
Bottom 6: Bulldogs, GWS, Gold Coast, West Coast, Saints, Melbourne.

Interstate trips: QLD x 2, SA WA NSW 1 each
Home Games: 10 MCG 1 Etihad
15 Total games at MCG

A tough draw some would say but one that would set us up nicely for finals if we were to win enough games given the quality of opposition we'd be playing against.

 

[Feraligatr]

^ next year would be our home game against Carlton Round 1.

 

[TigermanM2]

My wishlist:
Round 1 vs Carlton (a) MCG
Round 2 vs Hawthorn (h) MCG
Round 3 vs Melbourne (a) MCG
Round 4 vs GWS (h) Etihad
Round 5 vs Fremantle (a) Pattersons
Round 6 vs Bulldogs (h) MCG
Round 7 vs West Coast (h) MCG
Round 8 vs Essendon (a) MCG
Round 9 vs Collingwood (a) MCG
Round 10 vs Brisbane MCG
Round 11 vs Gold Coast (a) Metricon
Round 12 v Saints (a) Etihad
Round 13 v Sydney (a) SCG
Round 14 v Geelong (h) MCG
Round 15 v Port Adelaide (h) MCG
Round 16 v Adelaide (a) Adelaide Oval
Round 17 vs North (h) MCG
Round 18 v Carlton (h) MCG
Round 19 v Hawthorn (a) MCG
Round 20 v Collingwood (h) MCG
Round 21 v Sydney (h) MCG
Round 22 v Brisbane (a) Gabba.

Don't fancy the last 7 games.

 

[_RT_]

Don't fancy the last 7 games.

Price you pay for being a good side. If we're good enough we'll win enough games to make the 8 regardless and those final 7 games would be a good lead into the finals.

 

[City Search]

This tier shit is bullshit. Just make the bloody comp fair.

 

[Frank Grimes]

There is not much point in making finals if you only beat the weaker teams. You would only be making up the numbers. To have a realistic chance of the flag you need to be a top 3 or 4 team (I'm not talking about ladder position but the quality of the list). I expect us to make massive leaps next year by natural improvement alone with our list getting another year experience.

I think finishing 3rd~5th next year is a realistic aim even with the weighted fixture.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

This tier shit is bullshit. Just make the bloody comp fair.

My thoughts exactly.

I'm sick of seeing teams like North (2012), Adelaide (2012), Fremantle (2013) and Port (2013) win undeserved top 4 or top 8 spots off the back of smashing minnows and then seeing deserving teams like Geelong (2012) and North (2013) get robbed of a top 4 or top 8 spot because they have to double up against 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th.


Why should 7th get a significantly easier draw than 6th? Or 13th get an easier draw than 12th?

 

[Toadvine]

We haven't played GWS or GC twice in a season since they've joined the comp so surely next year will be the the year? All other teams I think have played at least one of them twice in a single season IIRC.

 

[_RT_]

We haven't played GWS or GC twice in a season since they've joined the comp so surely next year will be the the year? All other teams I think have played at least one of them twice in a single season IIRC.

Due to the weighting issue it's going to be tough to get either twice in a year now. Sydney will get GWS twice so that rules out anyone else in the top 6 getting them and given we've played Gold Coast as the home team each year the last 3 I don't see us getting them at home again for a while.

 

[City Search]

Gold Coast will be strong next year too, would rather have St Kilda or Melbourne twice

 

[DrMike]

IMO it should be weighted off the average position over the previous three years, gives a better picture of where your club is at. Take West Coast for example, they were riddled with injuries this year but were top 4 last year, next year they're going to get bottom 6 teams.

Adjusted ladder (GWS were given 18th for 2011):
3 1 1 1.67 Hawthorn
2 6 2 3.33 Geelong
1 4 6 3.67 Collingwood
7 3 4 4.67 Sydney
11 7 3 7.00 Fremantle
4 5 13 7.33 West Coast

5 10 8 7.67 Carlton
9 8 10 9.00 North Melbourne
14 2 11 9.00 Adelaide
8 11 9 9.33 Essendon
12 12 5 9.67 Richmond
6 9 16 10.33 St Kilda

16 14 7 12.33 Port Adelaide
15 13 12 13.33 Brisbane Lions
10 15 15 13.33 Western Bulldogs
13 16 17 15.33 Melbourne
17 17 14 16.00 Gold Coast
18 18 18 18.00 Greater Western Sydney

Only teams I'd probably change in that are Port and St Kilda

 

[RichoLedio]

We haven't played GWS or GC twice in a season since they've joined the comp so surely next year will be the the year? All other teams I think have played at least one of them twice in a single season IIRC.

Oh I'm sure we will get them twice once they peak

 

[Frank Grimes]

Just a question about the weighted fixture. Is the weighted fixture based on the ladder of the home and away season or the teams position after the final series? If we lose to Carlton on Sunday we would have bee considered to have finished 7th according to which ever draft pick we will get.

 

[Infamy]

Just a question about the weighted fixture. Is the weighted fixture based on the ladder of the home and away season or after the teams after the final series? If we lose to Carlton on Sunday we would have bee considered to have finished 7th according to which ever draft pick we will get.

I was wondering the same thing