Draw is out....

[anniswan]

From the Melbourne Office

Please find below a copy of the newly released Swans 2005 Fixture. Throughout the year we are continually lobbying to the AFL for at least 6 six games in Melbourne evenly spread throughout the season. Whilst we are disappointed that our first game in Melbourne isn't until Round 10, we are happy to be able to see the team 6 times in Melbourne in 2005. We believe the following positives far out weigh this negative.

* Six games in Melbourne (last season it was 4 games if we take out Geelong)
* 4 games at Telstra Dome and 2 games at the MCG
* One of only 2 interstate teams to have 6 games in Melbourne (Port are only in Melbourne 4 times including 1 in Geelong)
* In terms of team success we have 6 of the first 9 at home, which hopefully the team will capitalise on and make a strong start to the season.
* Our Full Victorian & Premiership Club members will be entitled to general admission entry into 3 games in Sydney.


1 Sunday, 27th March (Early Start) Hawthorn S.C.G. Home
2 Saturday, 2nd April Kangaroos Manuka Oval Away
3 Saturday, 9th April (Night) Brisbane Lions Gabba Away
4 Sunday, 17th April (Early Start) Adelaide S.C.G. Home
5 Saturday, 23rd April (Night) Melbourne S.C.G. Home
6 Saturday, 30th April (Night) West Coast Subiaco Away
7 Saturday, 7th May (Night) Essendon Telstra Stadium Home
8 Sunday, 15th May (Early Start) Port Adelaide S.C.G. Home
9 Sunday, 22nd May (Early Start) Western Bulldogs S.C.G. Away
10 Saturday, 28th May (Night) St. Kilda Telstra Dome Away
11 Saturday, 4th June Carlton Telstra Dome Away
12 Sunday, 12th June (Early Start) Fremantle S.C.G. Home
13 Saturday, 25th June (Night) Collingwood Telstra Stadium Home
14 Saturday, 2nd July Richmond M.C.G. Away
15 Saturday, 9th July (Night) Geelong S.C.G. Home
16 Saturday, 16th July (Night) Melbourne Telstra Dome Away
17 Sunday, 24th July (Early Start) West Coast S.C.G. Home
18 Saturday, 30th July (Night) Adelaide AAMI Stadium Away
19 Saturday, 6th August (Night) Essendon Telstra Dome Away
20 Saturday, 13th August (Night) Brisbane Lions Telstra Stadium Home
21 Sunday, 21st August (Early Start) Kangaroos S.C.G. Home
22 Saturday, 27th August Hawthorn M.C.G. Away

2005 Membership Information will be sent out in early November and will include some exciting new initiatives!

[Norris Lurker]

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.

It's an Essendon home game, so it's being played on Essendon's home ground. I've got no idea why this year's one was played at the MCG, but playing this one at Docklands would have been an Essendon request.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Mike_B
The draw looks pretty good to me, as already pointed out, only 1 trip to each of Perth and Adelaide which can't be a bad thing.



It's strange on this one - The Dogs play the Eagles at the G that afternoon....the only suggestion I have is that looking at the draw....through the middle of the year and into early August, they have very few night games at the G (Friday nights seem to be the only ones), possibly because of weather -related concerns...so play the day games at the G, night games at the Dome?

Few reasons;

1. Dogs V. Eagles won't break even. Turning the knife into the MCC Trust

2. It's warmer at the Dome so perhaps the thinking is more people/families will go to night games at the Dome.

3. AFL staying in the pocket of the Dome given it will own it not too far in the distant future.

It is a strange one though, because if we and the Bombers are firing you would expect they would want a bumper crowd. Seems to contradict the blockbuster theory of drawing big crowds.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Red
Tony Morwell was just on SEN saying that because of the late Melbourne showing, they're looking at including entry to a couple of Sydney games on the Melbourne-based membership.

If that happens, i'll be <i>really</i> happy with the outcome of this draw.

Hey Red, Morwell is down in Gippsland.

[CureTheSane]

Originally posted by Bart
CtS is the president

haha,

Bart, can I steal your avatar?

Thanks for the copy & paste as

[Red]

Originally posted by Nico
Hey Red, Morwell is down in Gippsland.

Ha! Right you are Nico -- good spot. I was hoping that one might slip through to the keeper

[Nico]

Originally posted by Red
Ha! Right you are Nico -- good spot. I was hoping that one might slip through to the keeper

Nice to see you enjoy a bit of humour Red.

[Matt79]

Great draw!!

Cannot wait for round three to head north to beat the Lions!!

My only gripe it that I love Saturday night games at the SCG and would have liked a couple more but hey, to only travel to Perth and Adelaide once is fine with me!

GO SWANNIES IN 2005!

[port1978]

Looks like I'm off to Sydney in round 8...... Lookout people!

[SWANSBEST]

Swans positive on 2005 draw.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/30/1096527869000.html

[Doctor J.]

Originally posted by Red
Ha! Right you are Nico -- good spot. I was hoping that one might slip through to the keeper

I spotted it earlier, and just assumed it was your strange Kiwi accent.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Red
Tony Morwell was just on SEN saying that because of the late Melbourne showing, they're looking at including entry to a couple of Sydney games on the Melbourne-based membership.

If that happens, i'll be <i>really</i> happy with the outcome of this draw.

Greg B did the right thing and took out a Melbourne membership this. I'm going to buy a Victorian membership next year as well. And I urge all the Sydney travellers who travel around to do so as well.

Let's try and get our Melbourne membership numbers up to the 8-9000 mark. This is highly attainable.

Robbie, start bugging Mum and Dad to see if they want to be Members next year. It is these kind of dormant Swans fans in Melbourne who we should be tapping on the shoulder asking whether they want to join up in 2005.

JF

[gossipcom]

I have to say if there's one thing I'm happy with next year is that there's a split between the day and night games in Sydney - since this year we had all the Sunday arvo games used by halfway through the season.