The Draw

[lgarth80]

To end the the year we play 8-9 Saturday games (depending on floating round 23 fixture).

Guaranteed the floater will be either Friday or Saturday night given the teams that are playing.

I'd suggest more likely the Hawks-Eagles will be Friday if based on ladder positions, but the Pies-Dons if based on the $

I am fairly sure if we play to our potential we will get the better lead in to the first week of the finals.

My tip is 16-6 but hitting the top 4 and finals with a head of steam for the finals. As Geelong have shown, best needs only to be in September as long as you get yourself into a rails run.

I'd be happy with anywhere in the top 4 so long as week 1 wasn't outside Victoria.

 

[lgarth80]

Club rankings from easiest to hardest. Nice little analysis from The Age

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/2012-afl-fixture-live-blog-20111028-1mmsj.html

Hahaha get stuffed to all the whingers who complain Pies get an easy draw.
Surprised about Hawthorn, people have already crowned them premiers for 2012, but appears they will have to earn it.

Go the Pies, hardest draw in 2010, flag.
Hardest draw in 2012, flag.

 

[TradeDraft]

We bloody Travel late in the Season A Lot

 

[lgarth80]

We bloody Travel late in the Season A Lot

Giants - Will be a midfield of Sidebottom-Wellingham-Beams. Rest the top shelf.

Swans - Probably get the team ready and solidified for finals action. Will be the last chance to make major positional changes you would think.

Eagles - Perfect lead-in to the warmer weather and harder grounds in September. A top opponent, you can smell finals in the air. A perfect time to test the setups for finals.

Then you can rest half the top players again vs Essendon and probably still win by a few goals.

Personally I reckon we need to do some hard work early in the year (win at least 4 of first 6) then work hard before and after the bye. Do that and the late interstate games take less significance.

 

[Ant85]

We were given a nightmare draw in 2010, and it seems we have it again.

Screw the AFL milking us for our blockbuster status.

And why the hell have they bunched our interstate games at the end of the season AGAIN?

All of our return games are against finalists, 4 of which finished 2-5!

Meanwhile, Geelong only have return games against 3 finalists, and Carlton likewise (against Essendon and St.Kilda).

There's no fairness with this money hungry AFL.

 

[Ron]

Gee how ****ing easy do North have it.

Is the AFL trying to prop them up to stop their inevitable death or something?

 

[TradeDraft]

Club rankings from easiest to hardest. Nice little analysis from The Age

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/2012-afl-fixture-live-blog-20111028-1mmsj.html

Going by that we have the Toughest Draw - Though we had close to that in 2010 and we won the lot

 

[Adz]

Not a good fixture. Far too many night games. When was the last time we played Geelong during day in H&A?

 

[Ed D]

It's really no different to 2010. IMO it's good to have a tough and testing draw, and I can't see how anyone can complain about it. Oh wait we still play games at the MCG, my mistake.

If we win most of our games wait for people to say our draw was easy.

 

[TradeDraft]

Not a good fixture. Far too many night games. When was the last time we played Geelong during day in H&A?

Pretty sure it was 2007

 

[Thommo 42]

It's really no different to 2010. IMO it's good to have a tough and testing draw, and I can't see how anyone can complain about it.

In 2010, we did all our travel prior to Round 14, then played 8 straight and 3 finals at the MCG. We hit the finals in tip top chape and dominated.

In 2011, we did all our travel AFTER Round 14, limped into the finals with injury concernes, suspensions and weary players. We all know what happened.

I don't care who we play, in fact I prefer a tough draw in terms of opposition. But again in 2012, our travel is clustered at the end of the year including 3 trips in final 6 weeks and as trip to Perth in penultimate round (just like 2011).

Not happy about it at all, but hopefully Buttifant and Bucks learnt some lessons from the late season fadeout in 2011, which couldn't be entirely blamed on travel, but certainly didn't help.

 

[Swooop]

Tough draw.

Just like 2010.

Bring it on.

 

[iGNITER]

Glad we have a tough draw.

Prefer to earn a place in the top 1-4.

To be the best you have to beat the best.

No excuses. Bring on 2012.

 

[Thommo 42]

Tough draw.

Just like 2010.

Bring it on.

Nothing like 2010

But bring it on anyway

 

[JonoNash]

If you go through it, it's not as bad as you think.

Just 1 example, both play on the same day before Anzac Day however we get Port in Melbourne, Essendon get Carlton.

We've won 14 out of 15 games since 10' against 4 of the clubs we play twice against.

 

[Thommo 42]

not concerne by who we play, concerned by the timing of our travel all at the end of the year again.

 

[Shellz]

not concerne by who we play, concerned by the timing of our travel all at the end of the year again.

Have to admit that I'm questioning why everyone is saying it's like 2010?

2010 we finished the season with a ridiculous amount of games at the MCG. It was eight if I recall correctly? We didn't leave our homeground for the rest of the season.

This draw has us travelling a lot in the last eight games of the home and away season.

It's nothing like 2010.

 

[Shellz]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

We're tough - we will shit this draw in and we will be Premiers in 2012. Who cares who we play?

 

[mattys123]

The 2012 fixture wallpapers are up.

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/wallpaper/tabid/8214/default.aspx



I have the Dawes one.

 

[HFF]

In 2010 we had the toughest draw of any side too and we prevailed.

We play the hand we are dealt.

 

[HereComes16]

It's not that bad really

Least amount of six day breaks of any club and least amount of road trips as well

 

[SuperSub17]

Have to admit that I'm questioning why everyone is saying it's like 2010?

2010 we finished the season with a ridiculous amount of games at the MCG. It was eight if I recall correctly? We didn't leave our homeground for the rest of the season.

This draw has us travelling a lot in the last eight games of the home and away season.

It's nothing like 2010.

Maybe not, but it's very similar to how we played all the good teams twice.
If you take a look at the 2010 ladder and see how many times and where we played the top 8 teams:

1. Collingwood
2. Geelong (played them twice)
3. St. kilda (twice)
4. Bulldogs (twice)
5. Sydney (once - in Sydney)
6. Freo (once - in Perth)
7. Hawthorn (twice)
8. Carlton (twice)

From that perespective that's pretty difficult.

 

[biggiemediums]

Fixture incase you havent seen it yet.

Collingwood's 2012 Fixture

1 Friday, March 30 Hawthorn @ MCG 7:50pm
2 Saturday, April 7 Richmond @ MCG 7:40pm
3 Friday, April 13 Carlton @ MCG 7:50pm
4 Saturday, April 21 Port Adelaide @ Etihad Stadium 2:10pm
5 Wednesday, April 25 Essendon @ MCG 2:40pm
6 Friday, May 4 Western Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium 7:50pm
7 Saturday, May 12 Brisbane Lions @ Gabba 7:40pm
8 Friday, May 18 Geelong Cats @ MCG 7:50pm
9 Saturday, May 26 Adelaide Crows @ AAMI Stadium 7:10pm
10 Sunday, June 3 Gold Coast SUNS @ MCG 4:40pm
11 Monday, June 11 Melbourne @ MCG 3:15pm
12 Bye
13 Saturday, June 23 West Coast Eagles @ MCG 4:40pm
14 Saturday, June 30 Fremantle @ MCG 1:45pm
15 Friday, July 6 Carlton @ MCG 7:50pm
16 Saturday, July 14 Geelong Cats @ MCG 7:40pm
17 Saturday, July 21 Hawthorn @ MCG 1:45pm
18 Saturday, July 28 GWS GIANTS @ Skoda Stadium 4:40pm
19 Saturday, August 4 St. Kilda @ MCG 7:40pm
20 Saturday, August 11 Sydney Swans @ ANZ Stadium 7:40pm
21 Saturday, August 18 North Melbourne @ Etihad Stadium 7:40pm
22 Saturday, August 25 West Coast Eagles @ Patersons Stadium 5:40pm
23 TBC Essendon @ MCG 7:50pm

 

[biggiemediums]

Re: Fixture incase you havent seen it yet.

And for the record, there is already whining that:

A) We have a dream draw
B) We dont travel enough
C) We dont play enough from last seasons top 8.

 

[rose jam]

Re: Fixture incase you havent seen it yet.

we have twice;

Geelong
Hawks
Carlton
West Coast


play in every state

looks liek the normal game against the Swans isn't there after the bye weekend.

How easy is carlton's draw, we're the only team in the top 8 they play twice. Unbelievable. What'll be good is that they'll get an inflated ladder position then get crushed in the finals. nice