Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Elixuh]

Maybe Clarkson will feel the pressure if North dont get a good start after first 6 rounds?

Port
WCE
Ess
Carl
Bris
Rich

They should be winning or losing by a small margin 5 out of 6 of those matches.

The 6 matches after this are brutal and I can’t see them winning any of those matches. So if they’re 1 and 6 or 2 and 6 I could see them being 2 and 12.

 

[JZTIME!]

Port - could spike under new coach and get back to finals. Last year an outlier on recent seasons
WCE - We should win
Ess - Top 4 last few years early in seasons. Last year injuries killed them. Expect them to be in the mix now with avialability, lost to them last year with all the outs they had
Carl - Save for one game last year tend to bully us with solid bodies. Anyones guess
Bris - Draw last year was a surprise. Is that a level we can play or was it an off game for the lions
Rich - We should win

They should be winning or losing by a small margin 5 out of 6 of those matches.

The 6 matches after this are brutal and I can’t see them winning any of those matches. So if they’re 1 and 6 or 2 and 6 I could see them being 2 and 12.

You just don't know whats an easy draw until everyone has played each other. 3-3 would be a great start with where we have come from. Would be a great spot to launch into the rest of the year from where we have been in past seasons.

 

[Elixuh]

You just don't know whats an easy draw until everyone has played each other. 3-3 would be a great start with where we have come from. Would be a great spot to launch into the rest of the year from where we have been in past seasons.

Port, ess and Carlton should all be 50/50 games for North. Bris prob a loss. The other 2 should be easy wins.

Otherwise north just aren’t progressing at all. You should be competing with at least the bottom of the middle ladder teams now.

I believe in north.

 

[JZTIME!]

Port, ess and Carlton should all be 50/50 games for North. Bris prob a loss. The other 2 should be easy wins.

Otherwise north just aren’t progressing at all. You should be competing with at least the bottom of the middle ladder teams now.

I believe in north.

Thats why i think 3-3 is a good result. Shows we have improved and gives them some belief moving into the rest of the season. Any more i think we are all over the moon

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

North are going to be a watch in the first 6 or so rounds. Have a dream fixture to start the year.

If they’re not in the 8 after 6 rounds then I’m not sure what hope there is for them.

Might start favourites in two, and not by much in those. It is an easy start, but North are still very much an easybeat team.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

They're as good a chance of being 4-2 after six games as 2-4 in my estimation. Should be aiming for the former.

 

[Elixuh]

Might start favourites in two, and not by much in those. It is an easy start, but North are still very much an easybeat team.

How many years away from making mid-table for North, do you think?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

How many years away from making mid-table for North, do you think?

What are you calling mid-table? Barely 50-50 of playing finals (even with the Pointless Finals) in the 2020s, certainly not competitive in actual finals.
Melbourne and/or Essendon might drop below North this year, but North aren't going ahead of anyone this year or next. Defensively total trash, not just defenders but the defensive capability of the midfield as well. Might escape bottom six (well, bottom seven with Tas) in 2028 but even that would take something has happened perhaps once since Michael Firitto; a defender to actually come through the ranks and sometimes defend; and some midfielders adding defence to their game.

 

[Elixuh]

What are you calling mid-table? Barely 50-50 of playing finals (even with the Pointless Finals) in the 2020s, certainly not competitive in actual finals.
Melbourne and/or Essendon might drop below North this year, but North aren't going ahead of anyone this year or next. Defensively total trash, not just defenders but the defensive capability of the midfield as well. Might escape bottom six (well, bottom seven with Tas) in 2028 but even that would take something has happened perhaps once since Michael Firitto; a defender to actually come through the ranks and sometimes defend; and some midfielders adding defence to their game.

14th to 9th

 

[Choppers]

Another piece of AFL scheduling brilliance.....doesn't get much better...NOT!

23rd May...
1.15pm Marvel...... North v Suns AFL
2.05pm Arden St... North v Suns VFL

 

[Bay53]

Another piece of AFL scheduling brilliance.....doesn't get much better...NOT!

23rd May...
1.15pm Marvel...... North v Suns AFL
2.05pm Arden St... North v Suns VFL

This seems to be pretty common and seems to be on request from the clubs to have the same length of break for their whole list. The practicalities are the Suns VFL team probably has to fly up and back on the day, so playing the game at say 9am at Arden St is not feasible and starting at 5pm is not feasibile either due to a) Arden St not having lights and b) the Suns players unable to fly back to GC that night.

What is probably does is allow the 24th player to warm up at Marvel in case there is an injury to a senior player in the warm up and then once the game starts, make the short dash to Arden St and play VFL.

 

[Choppers]

This seems to be pretty common and seems to be on request from the clubs to have the same length of break for their whole list. The practicalities are the Suns VFL team probably has to fly up and back on the day, so playing the game at say 9am at Arden St is not feasible and starting at 5pm is not feasibile either due to a) Arden St not having lights and b) the Suns players unable to fly back to GC that night.

What is probably does is allow the 24th player to warm up at Marvel in case there is an injury to a senior player in the warm up and then once the game starts, make the short dash to Arden St and play VFL.

All fair points but what about the Norths supporters. Pretty tough for them having to choose which team they want to watch that day.

 

[koshjjennedy723]

The problem with that arrangement was that the schedule of the 'marquee' or set-in-stone games meant that certain combinations were never possible.

e.g. Collingwood v Melbourne on Queens Birthday was after the first 6-7 rounds, so there could never be a double up fixtured for them. Even if both teams were contenders and an end-of-season match between them would be a massive deal, it could never happen.

Or someone like Richmond v Carlton opening the season, being Round 1 meant there HAD to be a double up, even if both teams were expected to be cellar-dwellars and nobody wanted a second 'bad' game between them.

At least the new way opens up far more options for double-ups and flexibility in schedules.

Tbh why do there need to be set in stone games. I understand the romance of the sport, Yada Yada, but why not share around the marquee games, it's not like the holiday is getting moved. Good Friday was a North marquee game and that clearly wasn't sacred enough to be protected.

 

[Bay53]

All fair points but what about the Norths supporters. Pretty tough for them having to choose which team they want to watch that day.

I totally agree, but that is the way it is done. I am not sure there is a lot of care for fans in the VFL schedule to be honest. it is more about what suits the clubs.

I think if you went through the whole fixture you would find quite a lot of these double ups.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Dees have a solid to hard first 6 weeks.

1) St Kilda at the G
2) Freo at Optus
3) Carlton at the G
4) GC at the G
5) Essendon at Adelaide Oval
6) Brisbane at the G.

Be interested to hear the neutrals projected MFC win/loss after round 6.

 

[royboy2]

Dees have a solid to hard first 6 weeks.

1) St Kilda at the G
2) Freo at Optus
3) Carlton at the G
4) GC at the G
5) Essendon at Adelaide Oval
6) Brisbane at the G.

Be interested to hear the neutrals projected MFC win/loss after round 6.

1/5 maybe 2/4, 3/3 or above would be a massive success imo

 

[deck]

Thats why i think 3-3 is a good result.

Anything less is a fail IMO. If you ain't in contention for a wildcard spot late in the year that is a big fail.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Dees have a solid to hard first 6 weeks.

1) St Kilda at the G
2) Freo at Optus
3) Carlton at the G
4) GC at the G
5) Essendon at Adelaide Oval
6) Brisbane at the G.

Be interested to hear the neutrals projected MFC win/loss after round 6.

Gold Coast didn;t show the same away vulnerability in 2025 as 2024, so that probably leaves three winnable. None of which I would have Melbourne favourites in, but I do think Melbourne are one the sides who could drop into the crapfight of trying to avoid bottom three.
Early season St Kilda could be vulnerable imo, and the best chance of an upset. Anything from 1-5 to 3-3 depending how bad Essendon are - they could well be ubershit competing for bottom five spots; or the injury run might have made them seem worse than they could be.

 

[shintemaster]

I totally agree, but that is the way it is done. I am not sure there is a lot of care for fans in the VFL schedule to be honest. it is more about what suits the clubs.

I think if you went through the whole fixture you would find quite a lot of these double ups.

No issue with this stuff personally - the AFL is the main game. Bigger concern is the shambles related to byes - they need to get to team parity ASAP. We should be maximising the chances of AFL quality players getting AFL games. They shouldn't be missing an extra 2-3 weeks because of multiple AFL & VFL byes close together.

 

[Reservoir tiger]

Dees have a solid to hard first 6 weeks.

1) St Kilda at the G
2) Freo at Optus
3) Carlton at the G
4) GC at the G
5) Essendon at Adelaide Oval
6) Brisbane at the G.

Be interested to hear the neutrals projected MFC win/loss after round 6.

1-5 or 0-6 the only
Options

 

[Seattle Mariners]

1-5 or 0-6 the only
Options

1-5 or 0-6 would be an appalling start to the year for the Dees but I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.

How will Richmond go:
Carlton -MCG
GC - MCG
Freo - Optus
Port - MCG
GWS - Barossa
North - Marvel

2-4 or 3-3. GC, Freo and GWS are clearly losses for Richmond.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

1-5 or 0-6 would be an appalling start to the year for the Dees but I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.

How will Richmond go:
Carlton -MCG
GC - MCG
Freo - Optus
Port - MCG
GWS - Barossa
North - Marvel

2-4 or 3-3. GC, Freo and GWS are clearly losses for Richmond.

Richmond wouldn't start favourites in any of those, but maybe only GC and Freo is toally unwinnable as well - and even Freo might have one of those matches where they decide scoring isn't necessary and throw away total dominance.
1-5 or 2-4 probably. North by far the most likely win. Others would be considerable upsets, depending on whether Carlton start by giving fans false hope or turn out just to be bad (I'm guessing the former).

 

[royboy2]

1-5 or 0-6 would be an appalling start to the year for the Dees but I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.

How will Richmond go:
Carlton -MCG
GC - MCG
Freo - Optus
Port - MCG
GWS - Barossa
North - Marvel

2-4 or 3-3. GC, Freo and GWS are clearly losses for Richmond.

If Richmond start 3-3 or better they would be doing backflips down punt rd

 

[Reservoir tiger]

1-5 or 0-6 would be an appalling start to the year for the Dees but I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.

How will Richmond go:
Carlton -MCG
GC - MCG
Freo - Optus
Port - MCG
GWS - Barossa
North - Marvel

2-4 or 3-3. GC, Freo and GWS are clearly losses for Richmond.

1-5 most likely
2-4 wouldn’t surprise me
I’m hopeful for 3-3

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

How many years away from making mid-table for North, do you think?

14th to 9th

14th is possible this year, but requires others to fall away.
If we can recruit, or someone develops, actual defenders who can regularly take to the field and teach/find midfielders who have a defensive side to their game 2027 or 2028 could see a climb in actual regular competitiveness against mid-table sides. And maybe a small ladder jump.
I just struggle to see that happening, it is very hard to get good free agents to small clubs who have had severe problems without massively overpaying in St Kilda fashion.
I didn't expect North to play finals in Clarkson's contract, too much had been going wrong. And then the Clarkson-Hawthorn and Thomas things derailed the whole football department twice again. It is a bit more likely now there is a ten, but not an expectation.