Opinion Fixture

[The Falcon Strike]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149718/default.aspx

Derby round 1 followed by a break.

Bit lame if you ask me, the derby doesn't need to a stand alone game to be showcased, we're not NSW

It's not about the AFL showcasing the game - it is about the AFL monopolising as much media, for as long as they can throughout the year.

Having a week without footy is an opportunity for the media to talk about cricket, soccer, rugby etc. It is why the draft period has been extended for most of October, the draft will monopolise most of November and early October, then we start the NAB cup in February. It leaves only Januay without any footy news.

Many of the venues around the country are unavailable for use until the following week. And the AFL will want the first game in Melbourne to attract 70,000+ so that rules out etihad.

So they pretend they are showcasing SA and WA when in reality they are just filling gaps.

 

[Smeg Head]

Many of the venues around the country are unavailable for use until the following week. And the AFL will want the first game in Melbourne to attract 70,000+ so that rules out etihad.

So they pretend they are showcasing SA and WA when in reality they are just filling gaps.

Was just thinking this, Isn't the cricket still booked in for MCG/SCG/Gabba depending on who hosts the finals at that time of year.

 

[smashing]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149718/default.aspx

Derby round 1 followed by a break.

Bit lame if you ask me, the derby doesn't need to a stand alone game to be showcased, we're not NSW

didn't like it at first but after thinking about it at least we're getting a week off after what we know will be a tough game. beats having to fly over to victoria straight after a derby.

it says on that page it's a freo home game so hopefully we get someone like sydney or hawthorn at home a fortnight later with an weeks extra rest. would be great to start off the season by knocking off two other challengers. on the other hand i guess we could start 0-2.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Was just thinking this, Isn't the cricket still booked in for MCG/SCG/Gabba depending on who hosts the finals at that time of year.

Yep - the AFL would have had a 24 round season this year, which would meet the players goal of two byes - however it was shelved due to not having access to all the grounds in time.

In reality - they could have easily accommodated 9 games across Etihad, Subi, Adelaide, Hobart, Metricon, Canberra, Geelong - however it would have meant starting the season without the big blockbusters - which the AFL wouldn't have wanted to do.

 

[Smeg Head]

Although calling Carl v Rich a blockbuster is a bit rich. Massive snorefest would suit better.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Although calling Carl v Rich a blockbuster is a bit rich. Massive snorefest would suit better.

It still attracts 70,000+ most years though

 

[Smeg Head]

It still attracts 70,000+ most years though

True, but any decent Vic v Vic game first up at the MCG should net a good crowd with people looking forward to the season kicking off.

 

[unbelievacow]

With the Eagles playing in the first week of a split opening round, there are now a few more possibilites wrt fixturing/travelling schedule.

Week Rd  Fixture1   Fixture2   Fixture3   Fixture4
---------------------------------------------------
1    1   Away1(FR)  Away1(FR)  Away1      Away1
2    1     -          -          -          -
3    2   Home1      Away2      Away2      Away2
4    3   Away2      Home1      Home1      Home1
5    4   Home2      Away3      Away3      Away3
6    5   Away3      Home2      Home2      Home2
7    6   Home3      Away4      Away4      Away4
8    7   Away4      Home3      Home3      Home3
9    8   Home4      Away5      Away5      Away5
10   9   Away5      Home4      Home4      Home4
11   10  Home5      Away6      Away6      Away6
12   11  Away6        -          -          -
13   12    -        Home5      Home5      Away7
14   13  Home6      Away7      Away7      Home5
15   14  Away7      Home6      Home6      Away8
16   15  Home7      Away8      Away8      Home6
17   16  Away8      Home7      Home7      Away9
18   17  Home8      Away9      Away9      Home7
19   18  Away9      Home8      Home8      Away10
20   19  Home9      Away10     Away10     Home8
21   20  Away10     Home9      Home9      Home9
22   21  Home10     Away11     Away11(FR) Away11 (FR)
23   22  Away11     Home10     Home10     Home10
24   23  Home11     Home11     Home11     Home11

• All fixtures ensure that Eagles never travel in consecutive weeks
• The fixtures assume there are 3 multi-bye rounds (10,11,12) like last season.
• Fixture 1 is the likely travel schedule knowing that we start with an away game against Freo.
• Fixture 2 also starts with Away game against Freo, however the first home game is in Round 3, not 2. This allows 3 of the last 4 rounds to be home games.
• Fixtures 3 and 4 show how the fixtures could be set up so that the Eagles finish with a flurry of games in WA.
• Fixture 3: Eagles play last 4 rounds at home
• Fixture 4: Eagles play last 5 rounds at home, or 6 of the last 7 at home.
• Fixture 4: Would the benefit of not travelling in the last 5 weeks outweigh the cost of travelling every 2nd week for the first 19 weeks?

 

[unbelievacow]

Doh, just had a thought. The AFL or WAFC want 1 game a week at Subi don't they? Would they be willing to have weekends with 2 games and some with none? Probably not, so that makes Fixtures 3 and 4 unrealistic because Freo would have to travel in consecutive weeks.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Rd 14 is a Thursday night game in Perth.

I'm hoping tha is assigned to us on the back of an away Sunday game in Rd 12, followed by the bye in Rd 13.

 

[Chris_6678]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane
The top 4 from 2012 (Syd, Haw, Coll, Crows) will all only play bottom 4 (GWS, GC, Melb, WB) once in 2013, except 2x Swans/GWS meetings.

Will be good for us, i can see us playing Melbourne twice and getting the Bullies twice too. I really do not see us playing GC or GWS twice. Hope we have GWS at home and we play GC away as we have no played there yet. A bigger flight over compared too to Sydney but also could be a bigger % booster playing GWS at home then GC at home.

 

[WCE_Phill]

unbelievacow Fixture would be awesome....no way would the AFL let this happen.

 

[smashing]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane
The top 4 from 2012 (Syd, Haw, Coll, Crows) will all only play bottom 4 (GWS, GC, Melb, WB) once in 2013, except 2x Swans/GWS meetings.

Finishing 5th just paid itself off.

Stating the obvious but one of us or freo will get the monday before our bye and the other the thursday after. I hope we get the thursday again, it worked well last year.

Although it looks like it might not effect us, I think its ridiculous that they are intentionally giving the top 4 a tough draw and giving the bottom 4 an easy ride. They should be doing what they can to give everyone as close to an even split of top 4 and bottom 4 teams as possible.

 

[Chris_6678]

Finishing 5th just paid itself off.

Stating the obvious but one of us or freo will get the monday before our bye and the other the thursday after. I hope we get the thursday again, it worked well last year.

Although it looks like it might not effect us, I think its ridiculous that they are intentionally giving the top 4 a tough draw and giving the bottom 4 an easy ride. They should be doing what they can to give everyone as close to an even split of top 4 and bottom 4 teams as possible.

It was also said that the top 8 will get a maximum of two return meetings with the bottom 10 sides from 2012.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

It was also said that the top 8 will get a maximum of two return meetings with the bottom 10 sides from 2012.

* that comment was marked with a "where possible"

 

[smashing]

It was also said that the top 8 will get a maximum of two return meetings with the bottom 10 sides from 2012.

To be fair, theres only 5 return games. We've already got one guaranteed against freo. If we do get 2 bottom 10 teams I don't think thats the worst result.
Sydney look likely since we haven't doubled up with them in a while. Hopefully the other one is Collingwood with the lynch/wellingham factor. I'd be pretty confident going into that and theres the bonus of an extra game at the MCG.
Brisbane and Richmond are probably the non-top 8 teams to avoid. Apart from them we really should beat anyone.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Looking through those fixtures - fixture 1 looks the most logical giving us a monday game in round 10 and a bye in round 11

 

[WCE_Phill]

smashing Add Carlton to that.

Would be great to get Fremantle, North Melbourne, Hawks, Western Bulldogs and Port

 

[Chris_6678]

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=149806

Says we v Tigers at home round 10 Monday night
Then v Bombers on a Thursday at home round 14 Thursday night

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/the-afl-have-announced-more-information-about-next-years-fixture/story-e6frepex-1226497271691?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: TheCourierMailAfl (The Courier Mail | AFL)

And that link says we play at home in round 23!

So far looking good!

 

[The Falcon Strike]

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=149806

Says we v Tigers at home round 10 Monday night
Then v Bombers on a Thursday at home round 14 Thursday night

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/the-afl-have-announced-more-information-about-next-years-fixture/story-e6frepex-1226497271691?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: TheCourierMailAfl (The Courier Mail | AFL)

And that link says we play at home in round 23!

So far looking good!

The bye will be interesting - it means we have it following the monday game in rd 11, or before the thurs game in rd 13.

 

[QS]

The bye will be interesting - it means we have it following the monday game in rd 11, or before the thurs game in rd 13.

Hopefully DT handles the MBR better in 2013...

 

[smashing]

Thats great news about being home in the last round. I like everything I've seen so far from this fixture. No doubt there will be a lot of hate for the Monday and Thursday games but for a uni student with no commitments they work out alright.

You'd think that if we're already getting those two prime-time games at home, our round 2 game will probably be Saturday rather than Friday.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Hmm the Monday night game in Round 10 won't please the WAFL too much. Our club wouldn't have deliberately requested would they, just to make a point?

 

[new breed]

The Monday night game will be WA Day , so a holiday for all and should be a hoot after the WAFL Derbies .

 

[mad_eagle]

The Monday night public holiday game will be interesting.

The only reason I follow the WAFL is to keep track of how our players are going. I came into being at around the same time as our wonderful club, and have only ever really known the AFL. Putting this game up against the Monday WAFL Derbies doesn't bother me at all.

Not so keen on the Thursday night game...again! Hopefully the AFL won't start the game at 5:40pm this time and only have 25,000 people in their seats for bouncedown. Although I highly doubt that as they will want to broadcast live and prime time into Victoria.