Draw is out....

[cruiser]

Originally posted by SimonH
One thing that pips me off is the fact that the AFL isn't even remotely trying to keep fixtures between the same teams 15 weeks apart (the starkest example being Sydney v Hawthorn in rounds 1 and 22). But maybe that's just my anal-retentive streak.

Here's your answer from the SMH online:

"In a nice fixturing twist, the teams that play in round one will also play in round 22."

I also find this of interest:

"Round three has been designated the rivalry round, with the Perth derby and Adelaide Showdown also scheduled."

We play Brisbane in Round 3 - are they trying to develop a NSW v Qld type rivalry? A bit artificial at this stage.

[peterh_oz]

Originally posted by Damien
Due to Brisbane's high AFL TV ratings this year - the Lions are to become the new night Specialists this year. They play a ***load of Saturday night matches both home and away!!

Wonder how they feel lol

AND Sat nights will be live or 30min delay for ALL 22 rounds in Brisbane - yes even the non-Lions games. Hope the game builds enough for us to have the same one day!

[Damien]

Originally posted by cruiser

We play Brisbane in Round 3 - are they trying to develop a NSW v Qld type rivalry? A bit artificial at this stage.

It is only natural that this rivalry should be explored and developed.

Traditional rivalries need to start somewhere!

[CureTheSane]

Looks good to me.

I will assume that it was my email that got us 6 games next year.

I take it there are none in Geelong?
I don't click on links since Big Brother took over the site... so I'll have to wait until I read the paper.

A couple of free entry games at the SCG would be awesome, and a great guide as to the importance of Vic based members.

And also well done to Tony Morwood - hopefully those who bagged him this year will think twice next time.

Changes are rarely instant people.

This board will be like a wasteland over the summer now that us down here have been taken care of :lol

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by cruiser
Looks good to me.

Pleased: that we play North in Canberra in Rd 2 before it gets too cold; that we play Essendon, C'wood and Brisbane at Telstra Stadium (Brisbane will pull a better crowd); that we dont play Port in Adelaide and only play once in Perth: that we dont play Geelong down in Antartica; that we play at the MCG in the last round again (we NEED the ground practice).

Wouldnt have minded a few more SCG night games when there are less kids/families and more "blokes", which does make a difference to the atmosphere (blokes on beer make more noise), but not a big deal.

Have to start planning my w'ends away now. Will definately make my first trip up to the Gabba next year.

I'm stoked with that draw. I reckon its a beauty. We get only one trip to SA and WA (less for me to organise, PHEW) and have more pizza-eating weekends in Melbourne (more chance to go off ).

Tony Morwood has been lobbying hard for that extra match in Melbourne. So I think it is high time he got the respect and congratulation for his toils here. Not ideal that you again don't have a match until Round 10, but you got the extra game your support deserves down there. Hopefully we can increase our membership in Victoria to something like 8000 in lieu of that.

Virgin will be releasing sale fares to Brisbane in the near future. Several of the Sydney gang got up there for as little as $70 last year. Will let you guys all know when they become available.

JF

[Charlie]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG


Tony Morwood has been lobbying hard for that extra match in Melbourne. So I think it is high time he got the respect and congratulation for his toils here.

JF

Originally posted by Charlie

If this happens - well done Tony Morwood.

I have always said that I will give him the respect and congratulations he deserves, once things started to happen. It seems they have, and I'm sticking to what I said. Well done to Tony Morwood for whatever role he had in getting the sixth game back. Well done if he can wrangle the Sydney games into the deal.

I'll call his tenure a complete success if down the track he can get a commitment for seven games. In the meantime, he has achieved what he set out to this year. Good on him.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by CureTheSane
I will assume that it was my email that got us 6 games next year.

And here I thought it was SSI's Melbourne faction that turned the decision for 6 games in Melbourne our way

Originally posted by CureTheSane
I take it there are none in Geelong?

Nope, we play the Cats in Sydney in Rd 15.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Mike_B
And here I thought it was SSI's Melbourne faction that turned the decision for 6 games in Melbourne our way

CtS is the president

[swansrule100]

SWANS TO PLAY AT YORK PARK round 2 pre season (fingers crossed)


ill assume that was my email :P

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by SimonH
One thing that pips me off is the fact that the AFL isn't even remotely trying to keep fixtures between the same teams 15 weeks apart (the starkest example being Sydney v Hawthorn in rounds 1 and 22). But maybe that's just my anal-retentive streak.

I wouldn't worry about it. Such anomalies with the draw are not unusual. The 1996 draw was even stranger - by round 15 some teams had already played each other twice and a few teams didn't play each other until about round 17.

It's also been going on a long time. In 1981, for example, when there were 12 teams and every team played every other team twice, the round 1 fixture was mirrored in round 22, and rounds 2 to 11 repeated as rounds 12 to 21.

I think the basic principle of the draw that they use nowadays is that matches in rounds 1 to 7 repeat in rounds 16 to 22, but not necessarily in the same order. This implies that after round 7, every team plays every other team once, and after round 15, each team has played each other team once.

[gossipcom]

Okay I see instead of doing the usual let's repeat the first half of the year teams again they're basically working their way backwards in teams we play.

aka We open and close the season with Hawks and Kangaroos.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Charlie
Is there a clash in round 19 that dictates that the Essendon game has to be at Docklands? Moving that to the MCG would probably be desirable for both teams, but if it can't happen, so be it. Two games at the MCG is probably more than some teams will get.

I believe the Bombers game at Docklands is because Docklands stadium agreed to waive their right to host a final this year in exchange for some choice fixtures next season. This looks like one of those games. The MCG cannot be used because it is hosting a game in the afternoon, but because it's WB vs WC, it could just as easily been at Docklands with Bombers-Swans at the MCG at night.

[Bleed Red Blood]

I like it.

[monopoly19]

Looks like a decent draw to me. I am very, very glad that we get to play round 1 at home (even though I think the Swans requested otherwise), for it is Mickey's 200th! Unless of course my calculations are out of whack....

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Thunder Shaker
I believe the Bombers game at Docklands is because Docklands stadium agreed to waive their right to host a final this year in exchange for some choice fixtures next season. This looks like one of those games. The MCG cannot be used because it is hosting a game in the afternoon, but because it's WB vs WC, it could just as easily been at Docklands with Bombers-Swans at the MCG at night.

Don't forget that the Dome is the home ground of the Bombers so its not like its that huge a surprise.