2026 fixture wishlist/discussion

[____]

Haven't seen a thread up so may as well start it.

My three wishes for the fixture:

• Our game in fake magic round to be at Adelaide Oval. We're reigning back-to-back premiers FFS.
• A game against Carlton at the MCG. This matchup hasn't occured since 2000 (and that was a finals match).
• Demons away game at Alice Springs just so I get the opportunity to say I've been to every state and territory (plus NZ) to watch the Lions play live. Also obviously another ground to tick off. I actually had this trip booked in 2021 but it didn't happen for obvious reasons.

 

[Elixuh]

We will almost certainly get Adelaide Oval this year, but I’d much prefer to go out to the hills have eyes stadium in woop woop to avoid playing Adelaide in a genuine home game for them. I don’t care so much about playing Port.

I just want a fairer fixture tbh. This year was horrendous. The year prior was also 3x SA and 2x WA. Just a normal fixture will do. One where we don’t have to be ‘up’ for 90% of the season like this year.

 

[Mr Ripper]

No Thursday night games (bar Easter). No early season day games at the Gabba. All away games against Melb teams to be played in Melb.

 

[Tom14]

Haven't seen a thread up so may as well start it.

My three wishes for the fixture:

• Our game in fake magic round to be at Adelaide Oval. We're reigning back-to-back premiers FFS.
• A game against Carlton at the MCG. This matchup hasn't occured since 2000 (and that was a finals match).
• Demons away game at Alice Springs just so I get the opportunity to say I've been to every state and territory (plus NZ) to watch the Lions play live. Also obviously another ground to tick off. I actually had this trip booked in 2021 but it didn't happen for obvious reasons.

Fake magic round game at the Adelaide Oval would mean that we play a big Vic club there - won't be crom or pear because they will get big vic teams for both attendance and tv audience reasons.

So leaves us with a big vic club that they think can fill out the stadium (maybe carlton?) and I'd rather have the away game in Victoria.

Give us Flagmantle in the Barossa pls. Much better to avoid the double trip to Perth and I get to do winery tours.

 

[Tom14]

We will almost certainly get Adelaide Oval this year, but I’d much prefer to go out to the hills have eyes stadium in woop woop to avoid playing Adelaide in a genuine home game for them. I don’t care so much about playing Port.

I just want a fairer fixture tbh. This year was horrendous. The year prior was also 3x SA and 2x WA. Just a normal fixture will do. One where we don’t have to be ‘up’ for 90% of the season like this year.

Now we've won I'm glad the Cats made the grand final, because we were 100% getting them as a double up because of Cam (The Flopper) Rayner anyway.

Cats, Suns and sleepy old Pies would be fine as top 6 double ups for me.

No trip to Adelaide Oval pls, I can't stand their fans whinging when an obvious free is paid against them.

 

[Tom14]

Fake magic round game at the Adelaide Oval would mean that we play a big Vic club there - won't be crom or pear because they will get big vic teams for both attendance and tv audience reasons.

So leaves us with a big vic club that they think can fill out the stadium (maybe carlton?) and I'd rather have the away game in Victoria.

Give us Flagmantle in the Barossa pls. Much better to avoid the double trip to Perth and I get to do winery tours.

I'm also happy to return to our live kill of Sleepy Clarko's Norf in fake magic round.

Was much less stressful than the dogs and we won't be sent to Tassie where X*rr* and L*U magically turned into decent footballers for 2 hours before returning to pumpkin status.

 

[Elixuh]

Fake magic round game at the Adelaide Oval would mean that we play a big Vic club there - won't be crom or pear because they will get big vic teams for both attendance and tv audience reasons.

So leaves us with a big vic club that they think can fill out the stadium (maybe carlton?) and I'd rather have the away game in Victoria.

Give us Flagmantle in the Barossa pls. Much better to avoid the double trip to Perth and I get to do winery tours.

I retract my earlier statement about who we would play at AO and replace it with Tom’s, which is much more sensible and reasoned.

Because we get to finally play a spud team twice next year, I wonder if one of them will be gather round.

 

[Elixuh]

I'm also happy to return to our live kill of Sleepy Clarko's Norf in fake magic round.

Was much less stressful than the dogs and we won't be sent to Tassie where X*rr* and L*U magically turned into decent footballers for 2 hours before returning to pumpkin status.

An early season Norf beat down would get my juices flowing.

 

[Tom14]

I retract my earlier statement about who we would play at AO and replace it with Tom’s, which is much more sensible and reasoned.

Because we get to finally play a spud team twice next year, I wonder if one of them will be gather round.

Gotta play up a 'rivalry' with West Coast in the media in the next few weeks so the AFL is tricked into thinking its a good iteam to fixture a double up match.

 

[rye]

i think our bottom 6 double up will be melbourne. afl have loved that fixture previously.

 

[Tom14]

An early season Norf beat down would get my juices flowing.

The Mount Barker game in 2023 ruled so much. Boutique novelty stadium, Norf fans spending all their time talking up LDU being > Cam as they lost by 100 points.

Convenient access to german beer in Hahndorf afterwards. Perfect afternoon.

 

[Tom14]

i think our bottom 6 double up will be melbourne. afl have loved that fixture previously.

Unless Gawn falls off a cliff that'd be the only one I'd be unhappy with I think. I don't think they'll be much good next year but they've consistently been a tough opponent.

 

[Elixuh]

Gotta play up a 'rivalry' with West Coast in the media in the next few weeks so the AFL is tricked into thinking its a good iteam to fixture a double up match.

Sell a home game to wce on the proviso we get them twice

 

[Elixuh]

Unless Gawn falls off a cliff that'd be the only one I'd be unhappy with I think. I don't think they'll be much good next year but they've consistently been a tough opponent.

Petracca gone.
Defence nowhere near what it’s been.
Forward line still as bad as it’s been for a decade.

I think Melbourne has a disappointing year next year.

 

[rye]

Unless Gawn falls off a cliff that'd be the only one I'd be unhappy with I think. I don't think they'll be much good next year but they've consistently been a tough opponent.

partly why i think we will get it - realistically all the other bottom 6 teams would be two easy victories for us whereas melbourne are capable of winning on their day.

 

[M Malice]

Easter Thursday is a couple of weeks earlier in 2026(April 2nd) than it was this season(April 17th).

Would be good to unfurl the Premiership flag in front of Fly's dads army.

 

[rye]

Petracca gone.
Defence nowhere near what it’s been.
Forward line still as bad as it’s been for a decade.

I think Melbourne has a disappointing year next year.

no degenerate goody outweighs all of these as a reason for them to improve

 

[Elixuh]

no degenerate goody outweighs all of these as a reason for them to improve

I forgot they sacked that guy. We need the suns to take Petracca so that the AFL does a double up with the Suns.

 

[____]

Easter Thursday is a couple of weeks earlier in 2026(April 2nd) than it was this season(April 17th).

Would be good to unfurl the Premiership flag in front of Fly's dads army.

Speaking of Easter Thursday, seeing that if will be during daylight saving I hope it doesn't start at 6.30pm, that was ridiculous.

 

[mighty_lions]

Adelaide oval gather round or we are going on strike
Mt barker
Norwood
Norwood
wtf is that?

 

[mighty_lions]

We will almost certainly get Adelaide Oval this year, but I’d much prefer to go out to the hills have eyes stadium in woop woop to avoid playing Adelaide in a genuine home game for them. I don’t care so much about playing Port.

I just want a fairer fixture tbh. This year was horrendous. The year prior was also 3x SA and 2x WA. Just a normal fixture will do. One where we don’t have to be ‘up’ for 90% of the season like this year.

Gold Coast finishing 6th helps they will be one of the 1-6 bracket double ups

 

[braddsey]

My fixture wish: no bloody round zero. We’ve played the last game of the season the past 3 years. We can do without a reduced pre-season.

 

[Tom14]

Adelaide oval gather round or we are going on strike
Mt barker
Norwood
Norwood
wtf is that?

Call me a scab then.

Barossa Park

 

[whizkizz]

I'm also happy to return to our live kill of Sleepy Clarko's Norf in fake magic round.

Was much less stressful than the dogs and we won't be sent to Tassie where X*rr* and L*U magically turned into decent footballers for 2 hours before returning to pumpkin status.

Pretty sure I read that North's deal in Tassie has ended and they're not playing games down there anymore.

Might mean we play North in Melbourne for the first time since 2019.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Port in Adelaide would be good for me. Planning on a trip witha mate over there.