Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Section 5]

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.

Strange that the Lions have played more games (total 83) than any other club at Marvel
We were crap for a long time so had to play a Melbourne based team somewhere

 

[Libbaaaa]

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

More that it’ll 3 years minimum before that twat Smith had to front up in front of Dogs fans at Marvel.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

back to back Adelaide games AGAIN, GC in Dawin then Tiger(melb) into 5 day break against Freo in Perth into a 6 day game back in melb

play every interstate side bar WC and Brisbane on their home deck again
rnd 2 GWS Giants
5 Port
6 Adelaide - again for like 7 of the last 9 games
9 GC in darwin
11 Freo
13 Sydney

who else should we play away? We play only 5 vic opponents (rnd 1,2, 8 10 and 12) during that 13 game period, once again could well be a disaster if things don't go right to begin the season.
on top of that have 1 home game between rnds 4 and 9 and cop 3 double away games (rnds 1&2 5&6 8&9)

all by rnd 13
That's a brutal fixture (AGAIN) for the club to draw members and launch into the season

So youre upset the afl gave you a fixture that maximises attendances in melbourne (giving your fans bang for their buck)?

 

[dave10]

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.

The Essendon average is almost certainly held down by the clubs inability (the clubs fault for going there btw) to fill the thousands of member reserved seats that are empty every week. Essendon can’t actually get more than 45,000 into the stadium as a result. This is why the club is introducing member reserved seating bays, to unlock more matchday seating. This is why the Saints (and Digs too) have the highest stadium attendances, they have less reserved seats empty on game day so can sell them at the gate and get a higher day attendance.

Reality is, Essendon and Carlton should be playing at least 7 of their home games at the MCG. Marvel isn’t big enough for these clubs if they’re anything like successful on field. These clubs made, in hindsight, poor decisions wedding themselves to Docklands. At least Essendon secured a grand stadium deal for it though.

 

[blueiris]

This has to be the last gather round in South Australia that has to be the worst fixtured round in next years draw

 

[VicBased]

Nobody is forgetting about geography.

AFL fixture is such that is has a negligible impact - usually weeks between games - teams only travel what 6-10 times across a six month period - except for Gold Coast, who also choose to travel the most of all clubs.

If post game travel impacted recovery and subsequent performance, WA teams would have a shit record at home (they don't) and teams like Hawthorn would not choose to play in Tassie.

Travel is just one small component of home ground advantage / away ground disadvantage.

But in typical WA fan style, they only focus on the small component they believe they are disadvantaged by.

WC spend 79 hours in the air/Collingwood 20, yep no advantage at all.
You pretend to know,,,but don't.

 

[fl4gd0n5]

This has to be the last gather round in South Australia that has to be the worst fixtured round in next years draw

I’m pretty sure 2026 is the last year of the agreement. Because the season starts late in 2026, they should have it in Queensland during the July school holidays.

Few games at the Gabba, a few at Gold Coast, could have one at Southport or Brisbane’s training ground where they play AFLW/VFL at. Maybe even a one off game in Cairns or something.

 

[VicBased]

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.

There is no way Collingwood are playing in the GF 2026.

 

[Rail King]

WC spend 79 hours in the air/Collingwood 20, yep no advantage at all.
You pretend to know,,,but don't.

What is wrong with you?

 

[doppleganger]

What is wrong with you?

Too much time on an airplane?

 

[VicBased]

What is wrong with you?

Nothing, why, what's up with you?
I am replying to DG not you.

 

[doppleganger]

WC spend 79 hours in the air/Collingwood 20, yep no advantage at all.
You pretend to know,,,but don't.

Where is any link between number of hours in the air and losses for a domestic sports tournament?

It is geography.

West Coast teams in America also spend more time in the air, as they are also from more isolated cities.

Yet you continue to bleat about geography, if you don't want to travel campaign to relocate WC.

 

[timokane]

I know its off topic but what our favourite era of footy.

Please move this post if you need to.

Always liked to know what era you loved.

Mine was always the old school days myself of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Was real footy.

Was in a way peak footy times.

When VFL became AFL.

Best times to be alive in this era.

It had everything thats why i loved it.

Say 1987-1996

All of Carlton Collingwood Essendon the big top 3 were in their prime.

Carlton flags 1987 and 1995
Collingwood 1990
Essendon 1993
hawks 88,89 and 91
west coast 92,94
north 1996

In and amongst the great hawthorn era.

The rise of the interstate raider in the West coast eagles.

Early kids days of Wayne Carey at North.

A grand final at Waverley.

Last of the old southern stand and the new great southern stand shane warne.

MCG old nostalgia still attached.

Introduction of the eagles and bears.

Fitzroy still going as well.

Cheaper and done well as well.

The game just did the job.

Wow what a time.

Also the economy was starting to kick as well.

 

[VicBased]

Where is any link between number of hours in the air and losses for a domestic sports tournament?

It is geography.

West Coast teams in America also spend more time in the air, as they are also from more isolated cities.

Yet you continue to bleat about geography, if you don't want to travel campaign to relocate WC.

Of course we have to travel DG stop stating the obvious.
A little less would be nice and acknowledgment from the AFL that it is a large disadvantage and take the foot of the throat with some compensation in t h e order of salary cap etc.

 

[Giant YoYo]

This has to be the last gather round in South Australia that has to be the worst fixtured round in next years draw

Agree

I am attending next year as the matches I'm attending next year I haven't attended this year, if they do the same year after can't say I'll be attending.

 

[LeBronco]

Of course we have to travel DG stop stating the obvious.
A little less would be nice and acknowledgment from the AFL that it is a large disadvantage and take the foot of the throat with some compensation in t h e order of salary cap etc.

If anyone deserves salary cap/soft cap compensation it's the Swans/Giants due to the cost of living in Sydney being much higher than everywhere else, then there's the fact Sydney is a city dominated by NRL making it a tough market for AFL clubs.

 

[jwikked]

WC spend 79 hours in the air/Collingwood 20, yep no advantage at all.
You pretend to know,,,but don't.

West Coast are on the other side of the country, Collingwood aren't. It's that simple.

 

[hawkman]

More that it’ll 3 years minimum before that twat Smith had to front up in front of Dogs fans at Marvel.

Have to protect his mental health! Same with JHF not playing North in Melbourne until next season. Also Oliver v Melbourne in Alice Springs and JUH v Dogs on the Gold Coast

 

[hawkman]

Where is any link between number of hours in the air and losses for a domestic sports tournament?

It is geography.

West Coast teams in America also spend more time in the air, as they are also from more isolated cities.

Yet you continue to bleat about geography, if you don't want to travel campaign to relocate WC.

We can't use logic like that. It is much better to blame Vicbias

 

[VicBased]

If anyone deserves salary cap/soft cap compensation it's the Swans/Giants due to the cost of living in Sydney being much higher than everywhere else, then there's the fact Sydney is a city dominated by NRL making it a tough market for AFL clubs.

They still don't have to deal with travel and it’s ongoing issues. You mainly travel the east coast

 

[VicBased]

West Coast are on the other side of the country, Collingwood aren't. It's that simple.

It really isn't that simple and I suggest you give it some more thought.

 

[DazalenkoUBewty]

The opening round bye has got to be one of the most ****ed up things the AFL have ever come up with. I hate it. Biggest load of BS ever!

Also, the following week (round one ) both SA teams are playing away. Not one game at AO. So ****ing stupid.

 

[blueiris]

The opening round bye has got to be one of the most ****ed up things the AFL have ever come up with. I hate it. Biggest load of BS ever!

Also, the following week (round one ) both SA teams are playing away. Not one game at AO. So ****ing stupid.

You get an extra game at your home ground not sure it's worth complaining about really

 

[Saints4ever]

You get an extra game at your home ground not sure it's worth complaining about really

That’s why Adelaide vs Port should be in gather round

 

[Mat Mann]

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.

I tried to use chatGPT to get the data I wanted but it's flaky as buggery, but we are more likely to host Pies at the MCG than at Docklands, Dons host us more than the other way around and both are teams we rarely ever play twice in a season.

So youre upset the afl gave you a fixture that maximises attendances in melbourne (giving your fans bang for their buck)?

I'm not upset at all. Some were scoffing at our supposed easy draw and the fact that we don't leave Melbourne later in the season. That's balanced out by what I said. as for maximising attendances beyond Pies rnd 0 we don't host another Vic side until Tigers rnd 10 and only host 5 Vic sides all year.

nothing screams maximizing attendance like 3 blocks of double away games in the 1st 10 rounds

but it's on us to get more crowds to games, hopwfully we can draw more out this year