The Sunday Age's draw prediction

[BonBon]

Round 1, 2006:
Essendon vs Sydney
Saturday night
Telstra Dome.

[Charlie]

How about Sydney vs West Coast, Stadium Australia?

[dawson]

Premiers should commence the defence of their title at home.

[tantrum]

Yeah yeah. Home game round 1 in 2006 please!

I'm coming back to Australia for 2 weeks next year, timed for round 1 - will fly wherever the Swannies are playing and a premiership flag unfurling would be very pleasant indeed.

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Charlie
How about Sydney vs West Coast, Stadium Australia?

The only reason I can see for not playing a GF replay in round one at the winner's home ground is that its a bit harsh to make the losers of the previous season's GF be there when the winners unfurl the flag (we've already had to watch your lot get their medals after all).

The Grand Final replay should be on Anzac Day, rather than this bollocks about some tradition that excludes pretty much everyone that doesn't support the Pies or Bombers.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Mr Q
The only reason I can see for not playing a GF replay in round one at the winner's home ground is that its a bit harsh to make the losers of the previous season's GF be there when the winners unfurl the flag (we've already had to watch your lot get their medals after all).

Perhaps... but at the same time, they've done it the last three or four years (and wasn't it sweet seeing the looks on those Dons and Pies faces ) and I can't for the life of me see why not this time. It would be a guaranteed 70,000 crowd out at Homebush.

Disappointing.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Charlie
Perhaps... but at the same time, they've done it the last three or four years (and wasn't it sweet seeing the looks on those Dons and Pies faces ) and I can't for the life of me see why not this time. It would be a guaranteed 70,000 crowd out at Homebush.

Disappointing.

At least you'll be getting a match before Round 10 down there mate. So I wouldn't be complaining too much there Charlie.

Would be better to have it at the MCG I reckon. Would draw 60000+. With an INVASION of rossobianchi coming south of the border (including new Swans convert Norris Lurker LOL)

JF

[Glenn]

As I see it the Flag should be unfurled at the SCG NOT Telstra Stadium, so for my 1st home game (please let it be round 1) Sydney vs Geelong or St Kilda

[Charlie]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
At least you'll be getting a match before Round 10 down there mate. So I wouldn't be complaining too much there Charlie.

Would be better to have it at the MCG I reckon. Would draw 60000+. With an INVASION of rossobianchi coming south of the border (including new Swans convert Norris Lurker LOL)

JF

Oh, playing early in Melbourne suits me fine. I don't see the need for round one though.

I presume that I'm not being criticised for 'complaining' about Melbourne getting a game, though? That would be one for the books...

[anne]

Is the Age's draw likely to be correct or is it just a guess?

[Ganjaman]

The most important thing of all is for the Premiership flag to be flying over the S.C.G. The club has built its Sydney history there, so thats where it must fly. Olympic stadium is good but it has'nt seen enough blood to justify the raising of the flag there.

For me, Round 1 - Sydney v anyone.

As long as its at the S.C.G

[BonBon]

Originally posted by anne
Is the Age's draw likely to be correct or is it just a guess?

That's what I want to know. The prediction was in another paper yesterday, so if more than 1 paper have the same guess, it must be right? No?

The Age even had odds for the flag next year. I couldn't believe what I was reading. St Kilda to win, with Sydney and WCE equal 2nd. How the hell can you jot down odds for a season that hasn't even started yet? It could all be irrelevant next year. St Kilda may be the bottom of the ladder!

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
Would be better to have (a round 1 game) at the MCG I reckon.

There are no games at the MCG until round 5 or round 6 due to the Commonwealth games.

Originally posted by Glenn
As I see it the Flag should be unfurled at the SCG NOT Telstra Stadium, so for my 1st home game (please let it be round 1) Sydney vs Geelong or St Kilda

I agree with the unfurling being at the SCG because it's our home ground. A good idea would be for our first home game to be against an opponent that normally doesn't draw a large crowd so we can squeeze in more Swans fans and converts.

Originally posted by anne
Is the Age's draw likely to be correct or is it just a guess?

It is just a guess, on page 3 of the sports liftout they call it a "predicted draw". Here's the full draw for round 1 as predicted by the Sunday Age:

Thursday March 30: West Coast v St Kilda (Subiaco, night)
Friday March 31: Western Bulldogs v Richmond (Telstra Dome, night)
Saturday April 1: Geelong v Brisbane (Skilled Stadium)
Saturday April 1: Port Adelaide v Kangaroos (AAMI, night)
Saturday April 1: Essendon v Sydney (Telstra Dome, night)
Sunday April 2: Hawthorn v Fremantle (Aurora Stadium)
Sunday April 2: Melbourne v Carlton (Telstra Dome, night)
Monday April 3: Collingwood v Adelaide (Telstra Dome, night)

[hammo]

Would love to see the flag unfurled at the SCG against St Kilda, just to rub it in just a little bit more.

[Thunder Shaker]

How about against Fremantle? Far from rubbing it in, it would give them a taste of premiership success and may inspire them.