Ned Ryerson
Future Captain
So the full 2017 fixture is released on Thursday. We already know we have the Bombers in round 1 at the MCG as an away game.
So what are your hopes and predictions out of the fixture this year? These are mine.
With the AFL now owning Etihad - I hope it means there isn't as much pressure to play big drawing games at Etihad as much. With this in mind, I would hope that any game against Carlton or Essendon, and now that they are premiers even the Doggies would be played at the MCG.
I would even be happy enough to maybe sacrifice one home game against an interstate side at Etihad in lieu of maybe getting another 2-3 away games at the G compared to previous seasons.
In terms of double ups, I am hoping that we draw Geelong once more as only one home and away game last year wasn't befitting of our rivalry. I don't think we'll get Essendon twice based on their ladder position last year. I think we'll only get both of the WA teams once - hopefully with a home game at the MCG for the West Coast game. I think our other double ups will be against Adelaide (due to ladder position and the fact that we'll likely play a Thursday game against them for ratings), Sydney for the same reasons as Adelaide, Collingwood because the AFL likes making money and possibly the Bulldogs. Possibly an outside chance of us playing against the Giants twice instead of the Bulldogs.
In all - last year we only had 12 games at the MCG - if we can get that closer to 14-15 this year I will be pretty happy.
So what are your hopes and predictions out of the fixture this year? These are mine.
With the AFL now owning Etihad - I hope it means there isn't as much pressure to play big drawing games at Etihad as much. With this in mind, I would hope that any game against Carlton or Essendon, and now that they are premiers even the Doggies would be played at the MCG.
I would even be happy enough to maybe sacrifice one home game against an interstate side at Etihad in lieu of maybe getting another 2-3 away games at the G compared to previous seasons.
In terms of double ups, I am hoping that we draw Geelong once more as only one home and away game last year wasn't befitting of our rivalry. I don't think we'll get Essendon twice based on their ladder position last year. I think we'll only get both of the WA teams once - hopefully with a home game at the MCG for the West Coast game. I think our other double ups will be against Adelaide (due to ladder position and the fact that we'll likely play a Thursday game against them for ratings), Sydney for the same reasons as Adelaide, Collingwood because the AFL likes making money and possibly the Bulldogs. Possibly an outside chance of us playing against the Giants twice instead of the Bulldogs.
In all - last year we only had 12 games at the MCG - if we can get that closer to 14-15 this year I will be pretty happy.