Fixture 2026 Fixture

[fl4gd0n5]

so it's just a rule that discriminates against 3 sides, at best, those 3 clubs get a neutral final. even in 09/10 we played more times at the MCG in finals then we do during the H/A season. Stop hiding behind some stupid AFL policy that sees them benefit at the expense of specifically 3 clubs; those clubs should get access to the MCG at least 4 times every year, at a minimum

"Stop hiding behind some stupid AFL policy" What do you think this is? War?

The AFL isn't some dictatorship. ALL Clubs signed agreements for their home match venues. Every club is trying to get less games at Docklands, including Essendon and Carlton, who made it viable to run the stadium. St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs have all sold, or currently sell home matches. Don't cry about not playing at the MCG. Those clubs would've died if not for the AFL giving them money. Which, is generated by playing high-drawing matches at the MCG.

Do you really think it's the AFL benefiting at the small clubs expense? Or are they actually just making sure they survive?

 

[Mat Mann]

"Stop hiding behind some stupid AFL policy" What do you think this is? War?

The AFL isn't some dictatorship. ALL Clubs signed agreements for their home match venues. Every club is trying to get less games at Docklands, including Essendon and Carlton, who made it viable to run the stadium. St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs have all sold, or currently sell home matches. Don't cry about not playing at the MCG. Those clubs would've died if not for the AFL giving them money. Which, is generated by playing high-drawing matches at the MCG.

Do you really think it's the AFL benefiting at the small clubs expense? Or are they actually just making sure they survive?

So Essendon specifically getting % $'s from St Kilda WB and North games at Docklands, where do you think that money comes from?

Those clubs have been practically playing for free for over 10 years because the AFL and the former docklands owners colluded to do so!

of the worst returning stadium in the country, those 3 tenants have got the rough end of the stick by a country mile, and you want us to be grateful that the organisation that did so, also gave us fractional compensation and you want to call it benevolence. pull your head out of the sand

As for signing agreements, we weren't given an agreement to sign, beyond the initial one, the AFL and Docklands signed an agreement that specifically screwed those clubs, It wasn't until the year AFTER the AFL bought the stadium, did those clubs and the stadium sign new agreements, You think it's coincidenece all 3 clubs sold/sell home games, when 1 sold game nets you more money than a whole season does at Docklands.

there is some real arrogance in your post, Essendon and Carlton made it viable.......... fmd

 

[Bulldog1954]

I'm shocked that the Dogs play at Geelong and Geelong doesn't play the Dogs at Marvel.

 

[timokane]

Whe do we think that footy is just around the corner for mine its just after the draft and players start to come back for training like in the pre xmas training period and when 2026 gear comes in at the merchandise shop.
Anyway i think collingwoods draws better then this year.

Should shore up top 4 again.

Smokey for the flag as well in 2026 Pies.

 

[fl4gd0n5]

So Essendon specifically getting % $'s from St Kilda WB and North games at Docklands, where do you think that money comes from?

Those clubs have been practically playing for free for over 10 years because the AFL and the former docklands owners colluded to do so!

of the worst returning stadium in the country, those 3 tenants have got the rough end of the stick by a country mile, and you want us to be grateful that the organisation that did so, also gave us fractional compensation and you want to call it benevolence. pull your head out of the sand

As for signing agreements, we weren't given an agreement to sign, beyond the initial one, the AFL and Docklands signed an agreement that specifically screwed those clubs, It wasn't until the year AFTER the AFL bought the stadium, did those clubs and the stadium sign new agreements, You think it's coincidenece all 3 clubs sold/sell home games, when 1 sold game nets you more money than a whole season does at Docklands.

there is some real arrogance in your post, Essendon and Carlton made it viable.......... fmd

What would they have done without Essendon and Carlton? Docklands wouldn't be doing well, it isn't already! Hard for them to grow the game without Docklands, considering only Geelong play in Geelong, and Waverley was going. They can't play four games a week at the MCG.

Should clubs have gotten whatever revenue they generated themselves? Wouldn't be sustainable. The AFL would take a good % of the revenue too, and considering big clubs bring in more revenue, that makes the AFL % go up, and the AFL gives $15m+ per year in funding to Docklands only tenants. It all boils down to attendance though. If St Kilda and North Melbourne drew big crowds, they would've gotten the Docklands deal, but they don't. Sponsors don't want to sponsor a stadium, or put a food shop/bar there if there if the stadium is only more than half full when Collingwood comes to play. Remember the AFL is a business, they can't run a stadium at a loss.

I think 30k is the breakeven for the AFL hosting a match. If only St Kilda, North and the Bulldogs play there, they'd run it at a loss. So yes, unfortunately Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn have made Docklands viable. I don't disagree that it's a bad situation, but there isn't really a better alternative, and it certainly isn't having those teams host more games at the MCG. If it was simple as trying to balance the competition, and there wasn't a fiscal consequence, they'd obviously put all the Victorian teams on at the MCG. The AFL isn't out to get your club.

 

[Mat Mann]

What would they have done without Essendon and Carlton? Docklands wouldn't be doing well, it isn't already! Hard for them to grow the game without Docklands, considering only Geelong play in Geelong, and Waverley was going. They can't play four games a week at the MCG.

Should clubs have gotten whatever revenue they generated themselves? Wouldn't be sustainable. The AFL would take a good % of the revenue too, and considering big clubs bring in more revenue, that makes the AFL % go up, and the AFL gives $15m+ per year in funding to Docklands only tenants. It all boils down to attendance though. If St Kilda and North Melbourne drew big crowds, they would've gotten the Docklands deal, but they don't. Sponsors don't want to sponsor a stadium, or put a food shop/bar there if there if the stadium is only more than half full when Collingwood comes to play. Remember the AFL is a business, they can't run a stadium at a loss.

I think 30k is the breakeven for the AFL hosting a match. If only St Kilda, North and the Bulldogs play there, they'd run it at a loss. So yes, unfortunately Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn have made Docklands viable. I don't disagree that it's a bad situation, but there isn't really a better alternative, and it certainly isn't having those teams host more games at the MCG. If it was simple as trying to balance the competition, and there wasn't a fiscal consequence, they'd obviously put all the Victorian teams on at the MCG. The AFL isn't out to get your club.

Saints avg 31k over 240 games, also have the 1st and 5th highest attendencaes
Essendon 37k(173) Carlton 34k(122 games) how many Sunday 4.40pm games do you think these clubs got for 15 years?

Thanks to the big clubs for propping us up

or or we get the same deal as Essendon and Carlton at the venue and we don't need the competition's gracious benevolence

Pies have played 62(37K avg) games, Tigers (sub 31k avg) 50. Hawks(27k avg) and Melbourne(21k avg) a whopping 18 Games, yep sure, it's them making the venue profitable.

 

[fl4gd0n5]

Saints avg 31k over 240 games, also have the 1st and 5th highest attendencaes
Essendon 37k(173) Carlton 34k(122 games) how many Sunday 4.40pm games do you think these clubs got for 15 years?

Thanks to the big clubs for propping us up

or or we get the same deal as Essendon and Carlton at the venue and we don't need the competition's gracious benevolence

Pies have played 62(37K avg) games, Tigers (sub 31k avg) 50. Hawks(27k avg) and Melbourne(21k avg) a whopping 18 Games, yep sure, it's them making the venue profitable.

What sort of teams do you think Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Melbourne play against at Docklands? The big drawing ones where they get 70k at the MCG, or the interstate ones where they get 25-30k? Richmond and Collingwood fans also refuse to go to Docklands which would hurt their numbers. St Kilda play everyone there, so their numbers get boosted by a 40k crowd v Richmond, but Collingwood get 70k against them at the MCG. It’s not comparing apples with apples and they still have a higher average.

I don’t know how many Sunday 4:40 games every team gets, I can only check since 2012 on the AFL app. I believe St Kilda has played 19 Sunday 4:40 (I think there was one 4:00 match that I included) games at Docklands, Essendon 13. Not a big difference considering how many more games St Kilda play there.

Good on St Kilda for having the highest crowd at the stadium, I remind you that it’s 54k. I’m not sure if they changed the venue, but there’s only been one 50k+ crowd since 2013 (WB v Ess 2024) so not sure what the capacity is now. Looking at records, excluding games in 2021 for obvious reasons, St Kilda also have the fourth and sixth lowest crowds!

 

[Hawkk]

Saints avg 31k over 240 games, also have the 1st and 5th highest attendencaes
Essendon 37k(173) Carlton 34k(122 games) how many Sunday 4.40pm games do you think these clubs got for 15 years?

Thanks to the big clubs for propping us up

or or we get the same deal as Essendon and Carlton at the venue and we don't need the competition's gracious benevolence

Pies have played 62(37K avg) games, Tigers (sub 31k avg) 50. Hawks(27k avg) and Melbourne(21k avg) a whopping 18 Games, yep sure, it's them making the venue profitable.

Where did you get these numbers from? Because they are wrong.



Home games is very deceptive because St Kilda, W Bulldogs and North all play Coll, Ess, Carl, Rich, Haw and Geel at Marvel (which prop up those numbers) whilst Ess and Carl mostly play those games at the MCG. It’s actually worse for the MCG clubs who exclusively play GWS, GC and WCE at Marvel.

Essendon, Carlton (and Collingwood) do prop up Marvel. Those are the clubs that sell the Medallion packages and draw the biggest crowds for the Marvel tenants (as evidenced by the away attendances). Richmond, Hawthorn and Geelong also help with that too.

 

[Hawkk]

What sort of teams do you think Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Melbourne play against at Docklands? The big drawing ones where they get 70k at the MCG, or the interstate ones where they get 25-30k? Richmond and Collingwood fans also refuse to go to Docklands which would hurt their numbers. St Kilda play everyone there, so their numbers get boosted by a 40k crowd v Richmond, but Collingwood get 70k against them at the MCG. It’s not comparing apples with apples and they still have a higher average.

I don’t know how many Sunday 4:40 games every team gets, I can only check since 2012 on the AFL app. I believe St Kilda has played 19 Sunday 4:40 (I think there was one 4:00 match that I included) games at Docklands, Essendon 13. Not a big difference considering how many more games St Kilda play there.

Good on St Kilda for having the highest crowd at the stadium, I remind you that it’s 54k. I’m not sure if they changed the venue, but there’s only been one 50k+ crowd since 2013 (WB v Ess 2024) so not sure what the capacity is now. Looking at records, excluding games in 2021 for obvious reasons, St Kilda also have the fourth and sixth lowest crowds!

Beat me to it. Look at the away attendance rather than the home attendance. Added to that Coll, Rich, Haw and Melb fans absolutely despise the stadium (although our crowds are getting better at the stadium now)

 

[Purple Suit]

Where did you get these numbers from? Because they are wrong.

View attachment 2476738

Home games is very deceptive because St Kilda, W Bulldogs and North all play Coll, Ess, Carl, Rich, Haw and Geel at Marvel (which prop up those numbers) whilst Ess and Carl mostly play those games at the MCG. It’s actually worse for the MCG clubs who exclusively play GWS, GC and WCE at Marvel.

Essendon, Carlton (and Collingwood) do prop up Marvel. Those are the clubs that sell the Medallion packages and draw the biggest crowds for the Marvel tenants (as evidenced by the away attendances). Richmond, Hawthorn and Geelong also help with that too.

Every team except for Geelong has higher away attendances than home attendances as these obviously involve 2 vic teams when a lot of the home games are going to involve an interstate club and only 1 supporter base.

 

[Roobs321]

North don’t seem to play in QLD anymore. Last time was 2023 R6. Showground is also a once every five years thing. This year they play SCG final round (i.e. no return trip).

 

[LeBronco]

not even close to being correct.
but I wouldn't expect you with your little club to understand how finances work or why Richmond are doing it.

Collingwood play home games at Marvel Stadium and don't complain about the gate takings so I don't understand why it's a problem for Richmond. Another thing I noticed in the fixture is Richmond being fixtured to play at Kardinia Park again while Collingwood haven't played there since 1999 and Carlton haven't played there since 2020. I thought Richmond were too big to play at Kardinia Park?

 

[Roobs321]

FIFA World Cup R14-19

12 clubs have a handy bye during the group stage, the other 6 clubs a round or two beforehand

 

[hawkman]

FIFA World Cup R14-19

12 clubs have a handy bye during the group stage, the other 6 clubs a round or two beforehand

Teams who cop afternoon games during that period may see a drop especially if it is up against an Australian match

 

[Outtatym]

North don’t seem to play in QLD anymore. Last time was 2023 R6. Showground is also a once every five years thing. This year they play SCG final round (i.e. no return trip).

We just get one of them at gather round every year of late.

 

[Hawkk]

Collingwood play home games at Marvel Stadium and don't complain about the gate takings so I don't understand why it's a problem for Richmond. Another thing I noticed in the fixture is Richmond being fixtured to play at Kardinia Park again while Collingwood haven't played there since 1999 and Carlton haven't played there since 2020. I thought Richmond were too big to play at Kardinia Park?

Collingwood is a far bigger club than Richmond. That’s probably why

 

[Hawkk]

Every team except for Geelong has higher away attendances than home attendances as these obviously involve 2 vic teams when a lot of the home games are going to involve an interstate club and only 1 supporter base.

Of course. My point is away attendance explains why Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and to a lesser extent Richmond, Hawthorn and Geelong are hugely important to Marvel. Essendon especially was and is far more important than the Saints

 

[Libbaaaa]

Considering the AFL own Marvel can’t they be more flexible with fixturing? Dogs play Bombers at the G on Easter and the return Carlton match at the G as well? Both games get 50k plus.

 

[Prince Imperial]

Considering the AFL own Marvel can’t they be more flexible with fixturing? Dogs play Bombers at the G on Easter and the return Carlton match at the G as well? Both games get 50k plus.

Well there are other AFL matches at the MCG on those same days but even if there wasn't it would the reduce the profitability of their own venue which is their central concern.

That our club would probably make more money from the first game and that our players in both would get valuable experience in playing at a ground they would later play on if we qualify for a "home" final are not things that they give a stuff about.

In their overall fixturing they much prefer that other clubs get such benefits.

 

[LeBronco]

Collingwood is a far bigger club than Richmond. That’s probably why

I've seen Richmond supporters claim their club to be bigger than Collingwood especially after Richmond got to 100k members before Collingwood.

 

[Hawkk]

I've seen Richmond supporters claim their club to be bigger than Collingwood especially after Richmond got to 100k members before Collingwood.

That’s cool - I was saying crack pot things like Hawthorn passing Richmond in 2008/12 too. It doesn’t make it right though.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

Because the league don't trust St Kilda fans to turn up.

Unfortunately they have good reason as we don’t turn up but you can only take so much sometimes!

 

[HairyO]

Only one team has 3 x 5 day breaks. And its not the back to back premiers. They only get one. And a mid level difficulty draw.

The AFL are angling for a Collingwood v Brisbane grand final.

 

[PhatBoy]

I'm shocked that the Dogs play at Geelong and Geelong doesn't play the Dogs at Marvel.

You last played us at Docklands in 2023 and you’ve beaten us twice at Kardinia Park since. Have a cry, but.

 

[Lunchtime]

I'm shocked that the Dogs play at Geelong and Geelong doesn't play the Dogs at Marvel.

From 2015 onwards, Geelong has played the Western Bulldogs 16 times, five of those games have been at Marvel Stadium.