Preview Official 2013 Fixture Thread

[mufassa]

Good to see the negativity crew in full swing.

This is an unreal draw. Three Friday night games.

Back on the big stage where we belong baby!

Looks a tough draw, but it really isn't. We have three bogey teams - Hawthorn, Sydney, WCE - and only play Hawthorn twice. We should have zero fears in facing Collingwood, Geelong, and Adelaide twice. If we're good enough, we'll make finals. To be the best you gotta beat the best. Etc etc.

Would've loved a return fixture against Essendon but you can't win them all.

Great post - we took massive steps in the 2nd half of last year and should not fear a tough draw.

 

[Carey4life]

I love the added publicity we will get from the draw, and the fact that we a back up with the big boys.

The aspect that annoys me though is that the AFL persist with their bullshit rationalisations for the reason why some teams have tough draws and others have easy draws and claim that it is somehow fair. The fact is the 8th position team has one of the toughest draws. Collingwood, and Hawthorn have it tough but with far less traveling (4 of the hawks trips are of their own choice), and then Sydneys is a bit soft, and adelaides is softer again. Essendon have it pretty easy too.

At least we know when we make it it will be of our own accord.

There is a reason all roos supporters have a chip on their shoulders.

 

[scooby1279]

CLUB REACTION​

"On balance, we are overall happy with our fixture for next season. The AFL has provided most of our requests from the 'wish list' we submitted. Unfortunately three of our home matches are scheduled for Sunday twilight which raises a significant challenge for the club commercially, but we will work hard to make it a positive outcome for the club. Overall it's a good draw however it definitely presents a strong challenge football-wise. The only bottom four side we play twice is Brisbane but we play teams like Geelong, Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn twice. But after making finals this season we have to be ready to step up and compete against opposition like that." - North Melbourne interim CEO Cam Vale.​

​

HIGHLIGHTS​

• Home match against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium to open the season on Easter Sunday.
• Will again play two home matches at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, against reigning premiers the Sydney Swans in round three and Port Adelaide in round six.
• Seven matches to be played outside Victoria, but with no consecutive travel at any stage of the season (excluding rounds 11 and 13, having enjoyed the bye in round 12).
• To host two Friday night matches at Etihad Stadium, in round 17 against Carlton and round 19 against the Geelong Cats.
• Must face four of the 2012 finalists twice - Hawthorn, Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong.
• Will play final round of the season in Melbourne, with a match against Collingwood at the MCG, after travelling interstate for round 23, 2012.

​

​

 

[soyouthink10]

It is a very very tough draw. Was always going to happen with the whinging mob that 2012 was a soft draw. Anyway, if you want to be a good team shouldnt matter who you play. I am excited for 2013. Serious chance we could be 0-5 after 5 rounds lol.

 

[Tas]

This draw is good. We need to beat the quality teams. While it will be harder to make the bottom half of the top 8 if we are making up the numbers, it gives us more of an opportunity to make the top 4 if we are good enough as we can knock the teams competing for these positions down, much like we did against the middle of the road sides to make the 8 last year.

If we are not ready then I want the trial of fire for the guys to know what the standard is going to be in order to have success.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

It is a very very tough draw. Was always going to happen with the whinging mob that 2012 was a soft draw.

Not necessarily - I hear Adelaide has an easy draw again. But I'm not fussed about the comparisons between clubs. We have young, fit players and they should cope fine with the shorter breaks and the travel - the ability to beat top sides is now established too. Great draw to test and prove themselves and be noticed.

 

[soyouthink10]

Not necessarily - I hear Adelaide has an easy draw again. But I'm not fussed about the comparisons between clubs. We have young, fit players and they should cope fine with the shorter breaks and the travel - the ability to beat top sides is now established too. Great draw to test and prove themselves and be noticed.

Crows wont be part of 2013 if the AFL are serious about integrity they will start the season -20 premiership points.

 

[Husk]

This draw is good. We need to beat the quality teams. While it will be harder to make the bottom half of the top 8 if we are making up the numbers, it gives us more of an opportunity to make the top 4 if we are good enough as we can knock the teams competing for these positions down, much like we did against the middle of the road sides to make the 8 last year.

If we are not ready then I want the trial of fire for the guys to know what the standard is going to be in order to have success.

Pretty much how I feel as well.

We will find out a lot about the players next year.

 

[Reginald0]

The Woods are not as good as they were
The Cats are not as good as they were
Sydney arent as good as they are
Hawks arent as good as they think they are
Crows had 1st yr coach out performance phenomenon, not to be repeated
Ess not that good Blues not that good Sts and Tiggers same
thats 9 Bris?
d's syd2 GC Dogs port hopeless
WA teams look difficult

we shld do alrite

Will gysberts play Rnd 1?
I think so

 

[chrissy]

Bring it on

Lets really see where we are at , if you want to be the best you have to beat the best . 8 home games we will turn a profit on , if we fail in 2013 we will probably benefit in 2014 when we will be even better .
IMO
Geelong - we go past them
Richmond - soft draw
Carlton - soft draw
StKilda - gone
Adelaide - soft draw ( again )
Essendon - if fit will climb

If we fail to play finals in 2013 will people be calling for the coaches head ? I won't be

 

[Jay-Z]

I was kind of expecting a draw like this to be honest (except 3 Fri night games is a nice surprise!). The AFL seem to alternate between favoring commercial aspects or footy aspects when it comes to North. 2011 (if i remember correctly) was decent commercially, hard from a football perspective, 2012 was the opposite, and in 2013, we're back to good commercial fixture, tough football fixture.

The FIXture is heavily comprised and we will never get a draw that is both strong financially and 'easy' - the AFL saves that draw for the Collingwood's and Essendon's. But it doesn't matter, we are North Melbourne, we thrive as the underdogs!!!

 

[SnowRoo]

ok so

= highest opponent winning ratio at 53%
= highest Kms travelled for a melb club
= highest 6 day breaks
most games vs top 4 of any club
= fewest games vs bottom 4
2 trips to WA

Football wise this is a VERY tough draw. We will have to improve a lot to maintain 8th. Upside is we have that improvement in us and are provided with the opportunity to play with the big boys. Downside if we dont step up it could be a long season.

Time for our boys to become men.

 

[scooby1279]

ok so

= highest opponent winning ratio at 53%
= highest Kms travelled for a melb club
= highest 6 day breaks
most games vs top 4 of any club
= fewest games vs bottom 4
2 trips to WA

Football wise this is a VERY tough draw. We will have to improve a lot to maintain 8th. Upside is we have that improvement in us and are provided with the opportunity to play with the big boys. Downside if we dont step up it could be a long season.

Time for our boys to become men.

Its not only we need to step up, but considering Carlton, Richmond and Essendon have an easier draw these teams will/should step up so we need to make sure we step again.

 

[SnowRoo]

Going to be a great year for H2B and a tough year for Brad. Significant improvement will see us hold 8th, stagnation for H2B, a result outside of finals will be judged as a failure by many.

Personally i think this draw(really should call it formula) is a year ahead of our development, either way it will either make us push to develop a little quicker or set us up for a nice 2014.

Excited but nervous at the same time.

 

[royals1922]

My we're a moaning lot.

No travelling in the first 11 games except Blundstone, WCE and Gold Coast. 5 games (not including Blundstone) outside Victoria. 14 games at Etihad, 2 at the MCG. Playing Sydney at home. 9 Saturday games and 3 Friday night games, 2 of which are home games.

Stop b---hing. We're in the big league and we got games against tougher teams because of our record last year.

Be proud, the AFL are giving us the challenge and we should grasp it instead of whining.

 

[RoyalBlue]

probably means we need to revise down to playing finals rather than top 6, etc, but if we play finals off that, we're properly ****ing arriving.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Rohan C on SEN has said that North has
the second hardest draw - the highest number of 6 days breaks. Essendon have another soft draw like 2010.

LOL what?

In 2010 we played the following teams twice...

Geelong
St Kilda
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Carlton
Western Bulldogs
West Coast

That was brutal draw.

This years draw ain't exactly easy either.

 

[SnowRoo]

probably means we need to revise down to playing finals rather than top 6, etc, but if we play finals off that, we're properly ******* arriving.

Agreed approach the year with realistic expectations and your less open to disappointment.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Pretty much how I feel as well.

We will find out a lot about the players next year.

Agreed.

 

[utility]

Only disappointment is lack of Saturday night home games... I think we have less night home games than last year...

Otherwise it is as good as we could hope for. Tough but the tough get going...

 

[marklovesbeer]

Agreed approach the year with realistic expectations and your less open to disappointment.

I expect us to go close to winning a prelim.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I love it. Relevant teams play other relevant teams in high profile time slots. Bring on the challenge I say. If we aspire to knock off the higher ranked teams I reckon our improvement will come from facing them more often.

Time for a few of the boys to become hardened men!

 

[shintemaster]

Good draw in particular for Melbourne supporters and assuming reasonable performances for the commercial side of the club. It's on the hard side no doubt based on this year's placings and in particular when you look at the travel components. Great to finally have (2!) games in Melbourne against Hawthorn. Still no idea whatsoever why they couldn't manage to find one between those teams in Melbourne over the last few years.

 

[mufassa]

LOL what?

In 2010 we played the following teams twice...

Geelong
St Kilda
Hawthorn
Collingwood
Carlton
Western Bulldogs
West Coast

That was brutal draw.

This years draw ain't exactly easy either.

You clearly had the easiest first 10 weeks - was over rated and then came crashing down in the 2nd half of the year. Your last 7 games was a true reflection and you were embarrassing. Lucky you have GWS 7 round out next year as you will only lose your last 6. Hawks, Pies, WCE, Roos, Blues and Tigers will again put you in your box.

 

[roo beleaver]

Love it.