Prediction 2018 Fixture

[Nightrain]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-27/melbourne-to-again-play-home-games-in-the-nt-in-2018

The Dockers will travel north to take on the Demons at Darwin's TIO Stadium in round 16 in a night clash.
MELBOURNE will again play two 'home' games in the Northern Territory during the home and away season next year, hosting Adelaide in Alice Springs and Fremantle in Darwin.

It shits me that this is allowed.

The GF has to be played at the G so if you are an MCG tenant the rule should be you must play all allocated home games at the G in the interest of giving other teams experience on the G. If you can't then you should be moved to Etihad.

Failing this, if a G tenant must sell a home game in order to survive then play one of the other home selling teams. Eg Hawks take Dees to Launceston, Dees take Hawks to Darwin. Roos take Hawks to Hobart. Hawks take Roos to Launceston. Dees take Roos to Alice, Roos take Dees to Hobart.

If there is a big whinge from Vics because they won't get to watch those rivalries live then use the welfare Northern clubs as fill ins. It wouldn't hurt to expose them to new markets, potentially increase supporter bases and go towards getting them off the AFL teet.

Failing all this then the club deals with local/state governments should be scrapped and the deals should be done between the AFL and the governments. The AFL can then offer the remote game to clubs with cash incentives for both teams.

Right now, we have to assist these pathetic clubs to raise revenue for themselves whilst disadvantaging ourselves by not getting the max experience at the G and receiving no financial compensation. There is no incentive for these teams to try and get their fans to turn up at games against the lesser lights because they stand to make more by selling the game. It doesn't hurt the fan experience as they will get make-up games in Melb or moved games to the G (eg Hawks v Geelong is always played at the G even if it's a Cats home game).

Rant over.

 

[Nightrain]

I can't believe how much of a fuss is being made in the media about who plays first at the new stadium.

Do people actually care which AFL team plays first or even which sport gets to play first at the new stadium?

 

[Nightrain]

The light show will be spectacular since they'll probably be aiming to show off the stadium on the national stage

Best training facility ✓
Best stadium ✓
Best coach ✓
Best captain ✓

Best Logo with an anchor ✓
Best player surname - Davies-Uniacke ✓ - Ooops. Too early?

 

[Harry Reems]

Harry - word is that we play the Eagles in Round 6 with it being a Freo Home Derby... how would that work if the Len Hall game is Round 5 with Anzac Day?

That is true and was confirmed by Michael Thompson on 882 this morning. Fremantle play 4 of the first 6 games at the new stadium. The trade off was playing one game interstate during the JLT series, not playing round 1 at the new stadium and playing Melbourne in Darwin.

I loved hearing the angry and elitist Eagles fans calling in to complain.

 

[Unique Name]

West Coast seemed so worried about getting the first game at the new stadium that they obviously didn't push hard enough for a weak opponent. Going to be cringeworthy and embarrassing when the media blows the game out of proportion only to have WC lose the first game at the stadium.

I'm hoping for a repeat of a few years ago when Sydney ended Collingwood's season in Rnd 1. Absolutely pantzed them and Collingwood never recovered.

West Coast finishing bottom 6 with no 1st round pick in the super draft would be gold.

 

[RL Lieutenant]

That is true and was confirmed by Michael Thompson on 882 this morning. Fremantle play 4 of the first 6 games at the new stadium. The trade off was playing one game interstate during the JLT series, not playing round 1 at the new stadium and playing Melbourne in Darwin.

I loved hearing the angry and elitist Eagles fans calling in to complain.

yeah but how will a home game in round 5 for the Len Hall Game and the Freo derby in round 6 work?

 

[Lach72]

Rosich has said the GC game is yet to be decided how to be handled.
Probably Feb or so

 

[Tonga Bob]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-27/dockers-to-get-bonus-home-game-against-suns

"What it does mean in the longer term is that on that basis we are due to play the round one season opener at Perth Stadium in 2019," Rosich said on the club's website.

what I read from this is that not only do we get the first night game at the new stadium in round 2 and an extra home game this year versus Gold Coast, we also get the opening game of the season at home in 2019 (not just at home in the opening round, the first game of of 2019 is us at home). the last time we were in the opening game of the season was 2014 vs Collingwood at Etihad. we beat them by lots.

 

[88mph]

Legendary stuff with the Suns deal. Great precedent.
Freo for the 8 in 2018

 

[more_of_bito]

Freo Double up games:

Top6 [x1 - West Coast ]
Mid 6 [x 2 essendon , Port Adelaide]
Bottom 6 [x 2 Carlton, Pies]

Bombers, Pies, Carlton big clubs. Might get a few more games at the G this year.

 

[mike91]

Freo Double up games:

Top6 [x1 - West Coast ]
Mid 6 [x 2 essendon , Port Adelaide]
Bottom 6 [x 2 Carlton, Pies]

Bombers, Pies, Carlton big clubs. Might get a few more games at the G this year.

Essendon will be at Etihad. Can easily see AFL having our game against at Carlton at Etihad too.

 

[mightymouse75]

The dons will be strong next year. With or without injections.

 

[danstar]

Freo Double up games:

Top6 [x1 - West Coast ]
Mid 6 [x 2 essendon , Port Adelaide]
Bottom 6 [x 2 Carlton, Pies]

Bombers, Pies, Carlton big clubs. Might get a few more games at the G this year.

we always get essendon and carlton at etihad, being here living in melbourne 6 years and havent seen freo v carlton at the mcg or freo v essendon at the mcg. Wont happen.

 

[Harry Reems]

yeah but how will a home game in round 5 for the Len Hall Game and the Freo derby in round 6 work?

The same as it does currently when both Fremantle and the Eagles get back to back home games each season.

 

[DaveLister]

Not a fan of of those double ups, if they are true.
Not only do we miss out on 3x bottom 6 but our 2x middle 6 are the strongest in that group and both had huge trade and FA periods.
They've just about managed to give us the hardest possible double ups.

 

[mike91]

Could Collingwood be more looked after?

 

[RL Lieutenant]

The same as it does currently when both Fremantle and the Eagles get back to back home games each season.

Lastly, Freo get the round 5 ANZAC day game at the new stadium, as per our tradition with the Len Hall game.

This is what you said... how can we possibly get Round 5 game at New Stadium with the Len Hall game in Round 5 for Anzac Tradition and get a Home Game in Round 6 for the derby.

 

[meima]

Not a fan of of those double ups, if they are true.
Not only do we miss out on 3x bottom 6 but our 2x middle 6 are the strongest in that group and both had huge trade and FA periods.
They've just about managed to give us the hardest possible double ups.

I am not too worried , only the strong will survive , having easy game not going to help long term .

 

[TheMcManusNose]

Not a fan of of those double ups, if they are true.
Not only do we miss out on 3x bottom 6 but our 2x middle 6 are the strongest in that group and both had huge trade and FA periods.
They've just about managed to give us the hardest possible double ups.

Yep just about the toughest possible in our group. Still, silver lining if we go down in a couple of those is a nice draft next year. I'd still like to see a definitive upswing though.

 

[DaveLister]

I am not too worried , only the strong will survive , having easy game not going to help long term .

Yep just about the toughest possible in our group. Still, silver lining if we go down in a couple of those is a nice draft next year. I'd still like to see a definitive upswing though.

You guys are probably right but it feels like we're being given the shaft. What's the point of a equalising draw if 2 years in a row a bottom 6 team (us) can get arguably top 3 hardest draws

 

[wild side]

Could Collingwood be more looked after?

Money honey, just like Tigers will be now they have the bandwaggoners

 

[Bender571]

Lastly, Freo get the round 5 ANZAC day game at the new stadium, as per our tradition with the Len Hall game.

This is what you said... how can we possibly get Round 5 game at New Stadium with the Len Hall game in Round 5 for Anzac Tradition and get a Home Game in Round 6 for the derby.

We've had back to back home games before. Last year we had a home derby in round 17 and then played Hawks at home in round 18.

West Coast were away in round 17 and 18 (derby, pies), but the AFL allows it if one of the away game is in Perth (usually an away derby).

 

[Spirit Level]

Wonder if GC will request to use the stadium lighting to shine red?

They can GAGF if they do

 

[ep2018]

Wonder if GC will request to use the stadium lighting to shine red?

They can GAGF if they do

Why? It's their home game...

 

[Spirit Level]

Why? It's their home game...

Was more a tongue in cheek, get your grubby hands off our shiny new stadium comment.

Of course they can do what they want for their home game