Fixture 2026 Fixture Discussion

[Doggy]

They are playing some crap teams and the Saints at home who could be anything.

They might be, but they are crap themselves

 

[Dale4captain]

we were shit against the top 8 last year. We will know quickly if we are gonna be shit against the top 8 next year. No big deal.

Also the whinging about GMHBA is funny. We are a western corridor club. The rationale is that for a majority of our regional western members the drive there is shorter or easier than going to the city. It would be nice for competitive balance to play them at marvel every second year but it’s not that bad playing down there.

 

[Libbaaaa]

we were shit against the top 8 last year. We will know quickly if we are gonna be shit against the top 8 next year. No big deal.

Also the whinging about GMHBA is funny. We are a western corridor club. The rationale is that for a majority of our regional western members the drive there is shorter or easier than going to the city. It would be nice for competitive balance to play them at marvel every second year but it’s not that bad playing down there.

Agreed, but it just mind boggling that in this world of compromised fixtures where the AFL tries to drum up any sort of marquee or grudge match that they wouldn't have us host the Cats/Sniff last year or this year. Don't know how they defend that.

 

[Dogs Rule]

we were shit against the top 8 last year. We will know quickly if we are gonna be shit against the top 8 next year. No big deal.

Also the whinging about GMHBA is funny. We are a western corridor club. The rationale is that for a majority of our regional western members the drive there is shorter or easier than going to the city. It would be nice for competitive balance to play them at marvel every second year but it’s not that bad playing down there.

It comes down to fairness. How many years in a row have we played down there?

Sorry, fairness and the AFL...I just realised the joke there.

 

[CarnTheScray]

we were shit against the top 8 last year. We will know quickly if we are gonna be shit against the top 8 next year. No big deal.

Also the whinging about GMHBA is funny. We are a western corridor club. The rationale is that for a majority of our regional western members the drive there is shorter or easier than going to the city. It would be nice for competitive balance to play them at marvel every second year but it’s not that bad playing down there.

I wouldn’t say the drive is that short. Would take me 1hr 15 minutes to get to KP, and I’m closer to Geelong than someone living in the inner west like Sunshine. Takes me about the same if not shorter to get to Marvel by car + public transport.

It’s not the reason anyway. No teams supporters travel there in the masses anyway due to their insane pricing and limited availability. They schedule us there because Geelong need their games down there and the other clubs would cry if they had to be sent there during a period where they are performing well.

 

[Turtleman3]

Pleased we got the Easter Sunday night home game again. Pity it's against Essendon. Good to have this game as on free to air, holiday the day, and will have a big viewing audience. Has potential to be a great marquee game, a better option than Good Friday I believe.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Ouch, tough draw. Even the lower double ups like the Swans are dangerous

 

[Doggy]

Ouch, tough draw. Even the lower double ups like the Swans are dangerous

Wouldn't call them lower, they are significantly more favoured than us to win the flag

 

[glenashley]

Not sure about the rational they use but anyway....

 

[Martyn_30_]

The fixture melts are always fun.

Supporters from a few clubs would've been pretty satisfied drawing Gold Coast or Adelaide twice for the 2025 season - one finished on top of the ladder and the other plays a few games in Darwin where they're a cheat code, teams always fall off. Melbourne and Carlton should be rubbish next year, Sydney and Fremantle should be around us and Geelong and Hawthorn will go in to the season ahead of us. For a mid-table team that's fine.

The gripe I have is that we play a few MCG tenants at Marvel when these are perfectly good examples of games I'd give up a Marvel appearance for to play extra games at the MCG.

Yet somehow every year people think they know what the ladders going to be for the next season. Also good teams have bad periods of form and injuries and bad teams often have good patches of form at some stage.

 

[Bulldog rick]

Two games in Qld. I'm happy.

 

[hutchy31]

As some have said, it’s shitty how this fixture is done. The Geelong crap is ridiculous, AFL just sticking the middle finger at our club now.

But as others have said, who gives a shit. If we’re any good then go 7-3 or 8-2 in the first ten games and set up a top four position. History under Bevo will say that won’t happen, but if this is a serious contender then our team defense will be better and our offense not affected too much and we’ll be a match for anyone.

There will also be a team (like Sydney this year) who we all expect will be good but they’re shit. Crows are my bet for that one, double ups against them might be pretty good. I’m also not convinced the hawks will be as great as everyone thinks.

Bottom line, regardless of fixture this team should be finishing top six unless there are long term injuries to significant players.

 

[Eastdog]

A tough draw but it will be a good challenge for us and if you want to be the best you need to beat the best.

I'm hoping with a longer pre season compared to the Lions in Opening Round we give it a red hot crack up there. We nearly did it last season just fell short.

 

[Bont the Lord]

Apologies if this has been answered already. Keen to go to Gather Round this year. What's the situation if I'm a home game member?
Thanks

 

[Proffessor]

Interesting anomaly in the 2026 fixture is the fact that we play two away games against Hawthorn.

 

[Proffessor]

Apologies if this has been answered already. Keen to go to Gather Round this year. What's the situation if I'm a home game member?
Thanks

We aren't the home team.

Hawthorn are listed as the home team in Gather Round and then again when we play them later in the year at the MCG.

 

[Bont the Lord]

We aren't the home team.

Hawthorn are listed as the home team in Gather Round and then again when we play them later in the year at the MCG.

Sounds fair

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Interesting anomaly in the 2026 fixture is the fact that we play two away games against Hawthorn.

Yes, my beef as well.

 

[Dogs Rule]

We aren't the home team.

Hawthorn are listed as the home team in Gather Round and then again when we play them later in the year at the MCG.

Yeah that's the AFL's level of competence.

Remember the good old days? Play everyone once then a bit of a jumble or back to playing Rounds 1-6 in reverse in the final half a dozen rounds. Simple. Predictable.

Now the fixture is comprised and complicated beyond belief and it's a complete cluster**** engineered by morons.

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

Interesting anomaly in the 2026 fixture is the fact that we play two away games against Hawthorn.

Was the same v Brisbane last year. The AFL really haven’t figured out how to fixture around gather round. Carlton playing against the crows three times is horribly unfair.

I was gonna go to gather round, but not with the fixture they’ve got. Dogs v Hawks and Pies v Freo the only games worth seeing. The Sunday in particular is horrible, you’d think cats v gws and tigers v eagles would be much better.

 

[grassman75]

Side Notes, only two games at the G per usual. vs Hawks and Demons

Play the Suns on the Gold Coast for once.

At least one of them is on the eve of finals

 

[grassman75]

Far out. Finish 9th and still don't get one of tigers, norf or eagles twice.

Lets see what Bevo can conjure up here. Nowhere to hide.

Can’t have us flogging them all….it looks bad for the afl

 

[grassman75]

Yeah that's the AFL's level of competence.

Remember the good old days? Play everyone once then a bit of a jumble or back to playing Rounds 1-6 in reverse in the final half a dozen rounds. Simple. Predictable.

Not the fixture is comprised and complicated beyond belief and it's a complete cluster**** engineered by morons.

Predictable doesn’t make money

 

[grassman75]

5 of our first 6 games against top 7 sides from 2025. 3 of those away.

Double ups against Hawks (4th), Crows (5th), Fremantle (7th), Swans (10th), Blues (11th) & Demons (14th). The first 4 are all genuine top 4 contenders.

That's just absolutely brutal. Far out. Utterly ridiculous in my opinion.

But if we beat them no one can say we can’t beat top sides

 

[grassman75]

Great chance to make finals, easiest draw you could ask for, new coach bounce as well. 6 wins banked minimum by beating Dons, Roos and Eagles twice. The add tigers, Dees, gets you to 8. Through a saints, blues win, 10 already.

They will be the big bounce for sure, guaranteed top 10 (finals) due to an easy draw.

You are forgetting one thing…
Port suck