Draw Ruffles Crows Feathers

[jo172]

Draw ruffles Crows' Feathers
MICHELANGELO RUCCI, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER
October 13, 2008 06:30pm
ADELAIDE has been handed a tough draw for next year's AFL premiership season.

The Crows, who ranked fifth at the end of this year's home-and-away series, will play grand finalists Hawthorn and Geelong twice, preliminary finalist St Kilda twice and its elimination final conqueror Collingwood twice.

The Crows will open the 22-round home-and-away series at the MCG against Collingwood.

Adelaide has, as revealed in The Advertiser this morning, been called to play a game on the Gold Coast where the AFL will place its 17th team in 2011.

The match will be against Richmond.

Adelaide's 11 home games at AAMI Stadium will be spread as one Friday night fixture, three on Saturday nights, four on Sundays and three on Saturday afternoon.
Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg was presented a draft of the program today. His only comment tonight was: "It is a demanding fixture for the team, but a great one for the fans."

Port Adelaide is expected to open the season against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on a Sunday.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24490035-5006301,00.html

Typical AFL BS!

How long is it going to be till they work out that Saturday afternoon crowds in Adelaide do not occur!

 

[Cap]

yeah but they still rate

 

[macca23]

Hell, that is genuinely a tough draw opponent wise.

In theory that could be up to 8 losses without taking into account our visit/s to the West.

Add to that tough games against improving sides such as Carlton and it's going to be a bit of a tough year IMO.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

I thought we always alternated with Port in Rounds 1 and 22.

Theoretically, we should be playing Round 1 at home and Round 22 away.

Also it has been rumoured for quite some time that the Gold Coast game was to be against Carlton not Richmond.

I think I'll wait until the official draw comes out before worrying too much.

 

[James23]

I can realistically see us winning 2/8 out of those games.

That leaves us needing to win 10/14 or thereabouts to make the finals

Very tough.

 

[Stinger...]

Hell, that is genuinely a tough draw opponent wise.

In theory that could be up to 8 losses without taking into account our visit/s to the West.

Add to that tough games against improving sides such as Carlton and it's going to be a bit of a tough year IMO.

Without sounding like a smarty pants (im not), if you want to be the best, you gotta beat the best...

The AFC needs to improve along with everyone else, or they'll get left behind.

What annoys me is the AFL are continuing to be stubborn with Saturday arvo games. No one will convince me otherwise that it isn't on purpose (to hurt the SANFL).

 

[jo172]

What annoys me is the AFL are continuing to be stubborn with Saturday arvo games. No one will convince me otherwise that it isn't on purpose (to hurt the SANFL).

Nah, as far as the AFL is concerned football was first played in South Australia in 1991. They wouldn't realise there is a SANFL.

 

[The Crows Truth]

Hell, that is genuinely a tough draw opponent wise.

In theory that could be up to 8 losses without taking into account our visit/s to the West.

Add to that tough games against improving sides such as Carlton and it's going to be a bit of a tough year IMO.

**** me. the best possible result of that is 2-6. we will be lucky to make the finals with that draw and if we do its likely to be just scraping in.

sorry crows fan but another 1st week finals loss could be on the way

 

[dplggr47]

so what's new...Crows have never got good draws (except this year - 1 in a million). next year is no exception; they've gone particularly tough on the crows, especially after seeing how well they did this year with an easy draw.

 

[The Crows Truth]

the odds for the top 5 teams next year

HAWTHORN 3.30
GEELONG 3.35
WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.00
COLLINGWOOD 15.00
ST KILDA 15.00

if the article is correct and we play 4 of them twice plus 1-2 Perth trips plus Power twice then finals is looking very very dodgy

 

[Malibu#27]

I thought we always alternated with Port in Rounds 1 and 22.

So did I.

 

[-CG-]

I thought we alternated with Port too, oh well if we get Round 22 at home thats alright then

Starting away at the G against Collingwood sounds good. At least at Round 1 you don't really have too many expectations so will be look for a first up win

 

[RoosterLad]

We will be top after Round 1.

 

[kirky]

If that is who we play twice, what a great challenge for the boys. Looking forward to it.

 

[jumpman5]

do u think our tough draw is in response to the arm-chair ride we had this year....

 

[raikkonen]

do u think our tough draw is in response to the arm-chair ride we had this year....

I dont think they would take that into account, but as soon as I saw the teams were were supposedly playing twice, that was my first thought!

 

[Cap]

do u think our tough draw is in response to the arm-chair ride we had this year....

its not really the crows fault the teams they played most were shit.

 

[Dogga79]

Typical AFL BS!

How long is it going to be till they work out that Saturday afternoon crowds in Adelaide do not occur!

I would rather a Saturday afternoon than a Sunday. Cant stand Sunday games. If its on a Saturday or a Friday I can wander back to the shed and relax with a beer and take my time. On Sunday arvo all I can think about after the game is work.

But I guess for the country folk, I can understand why Sunday would be better.

 

[Eastern Crow]

If you strive to be the best you have to beat the best

I have no issue with the draw other than we should be playing round 1 at home

Adelaide fans should be excited, they get to see Adel play Hawks, Cats, Pies and Saints at AAMI

For those already predicting win / loss ration, FFS so many factors can come in to play from now to the 2009 season

Bottom line, Hawks and Cats are standouts, however I do not fear any other side including Collingwood or the Saints

Bring them on

 

[NTRabbit]

I would rather a Saturday afternoon than a Sunday. Cant stand Sunday games. If its on a Saturday or a Friday I can wander back to the shed and relax with a beer and take my time. On Sunday arvo all I can think about after the game is work.

But I guess for the country folk, I can understand why Sunday would be better.

Good for anyone playing kids and amateur leagues really, Saturday afternoon is the single worst timeslot for crowds, but hey, whatever gives the AFL their tv ratings jollies

 

[The Crows Truth]

If you strive to be the best you have to beat the best

I have no issue with the draw other than we should be playing round 1 at home

Adelaide fans should be excited, they get to see Adel play Hawks, Cats, Pies and Saints at AAMI

For those already predicting win / loss ration, FFS so many factors can come in to play from now to the 2009 season

Bottom line, Hawks and Cats are standouts, however I do not fear any other side including Collingwood or the Saints

Bring them on

as Trigg said its a demanding draw for the team but good for the fans. will be interesting to bump this one sometime next year to see how the teams are travelling

 

[RoosterLad]

Good for anyone playing kids and amateur leagues really, Saturday afternoon is the single worst timeslot for crowds, but hey, whatever gives the AFL their tv ratings jollies

So no footy should be played on Saturday arvo which is the traditional time for footy? If people want to play ammo footy/sport then bad luck, they miss out on a few games.. there are plenty which don't fall in this time slot.

Saturday arvo is the best time for footy. Sunday arvo is by far the worst for the reasons Dogga stated. It's good to have a relaxing beer after the game, you can get on it hard to celebrate a win or to forget a loss.

 

[Cap]

So no footy should be played on Saturday arvo which is the traditional time for footy? If people want to play ammo footy/sport then bad luck, they miss out on a few games.. there are plenty which don't fall in this time slot.

Saturday arvo is the best time for footy. Sunday arvo is by far the worst for the reasons Dogga stated. It's good to have a relaxing beer after the game, you can get on it hard to celebrate a win or to forget a loss.

I would like to see AFL not played on Saturday arvos anywhere to allow time for local (and by local I mean SANFL down to the local A grade) football to be played and people back to grass roots football

 

[Johnson#26]

Nah, as far as the AFL is concerned football was first played in South Australia in 1991. They wouldn't realise there is a SANFL.

They don't fixture in accordance with the VFL fixture, either.

 

[Dogga79]

I would like to see AFL not played on Saturday arvos anywhere to allow time for local (and by local I mean SANFL down to the local A grade) football to be played and people back to grass roots football

In relation to the clash of SANFL games with Crows matches why doesn't Leigh Whicker be pro- active with the scheduling.

There are several ways that the states two AFL based teams and the SANFL can exist. Why doesn't the SANFL get a copy of the AFL draw when it comes out and try to work in around it. Have a Friday night game every week that can be swapped to a Saturday night if need be. Or why not both. I love night footy and am envious of all the night games Norwood get (and the beer). To be honest I might attend a bit more local footy if this was the case. Adelaide oval sits there looking all heritagey with its big shinny lights doing nothing. And work the other local games around the AFL ones. Obviously there will be clashes but why not try maximise attendances anyway you can.

As far as amateur footy goes it is an issue. But its an issue for every club in the AFL so we are not alone. I played amateur footy for years and occasionally it clashed, but that's how it goes. Or if you are a super desperate Crows fan grab your hammy at training and have the weekend off to go to the game.

The AFL aren't going to change their minds on this so we should all try to get used to it. And as RL said Saturday arvo has always had footy played in that time slot so someone has to miss out.