Fremantle Dockers: What the 2014 draw means

FREMANTLE has been dealt a distinctly more imposing fixture roster for next season than this year. Full Dockers fixture and analysis

FREMANTLE has been dealt a distinctly more imposing fixture roster for next season than the path the Dockers blazed into a historic first ever grand final this year.

The Dockers' first three away games are all daunting, against Collingwood, reigning champions Hawthorn in Round 3 and then Sydney at the SCG in Round 5.

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Fremantle also must host North Melbourne in Round 6, with the Roos widely tipped to continue a rise as genuine final eight candidates in 2014 after as many as 10 losses this year by less than three goals.

The Dockers then clash with bitter rivals West Coast in Round 7 in a confronting opening couple of months to their new campaign and bid for a third straight finals series under head coach Ross Lyon.

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Fremantle has 10 engagements with other finalists from this year.

They start with a stand-alone blockbuster against the Pies to officially launch the new AFL premiership campaign at Etihad Stadium on the huge Friday night national stage on March 14.

The most apparent toughest phase for Fremantle is the opening two months, as well as potentially a three-week block against serious finals contenders Carlton in Perth, Geelong in Round 20 under lights at Simonds Stadium in Geelong, and then the Hawks again at home.

Freo round out their home-and-away qualifying campaign with a trip to Brisbane for a second clash of the season with the Lions and then host Port ahead of the finals.
 
Fremantle heads into its bye in Round 10 with a road trip to take on Port Adelaide and host recent finals nemesis Geelong at Patersons Stadium.

Despite requests from Dockers management for more MCG exposure in hopes for further exposure on the hallowed turf ahead of more anticipated finals at the game’s Mecca, Fremantle only has two engagements at the famous stadium.

Fremantle’s only other MCG outing is against Richmond in Round 13 on June 14.

The Dockers confront the Cats and Hawks twice, as well as local rival West Coast, Brisbane at Port.

Fremantle will travel to the tropics in the first weekend of July for a clash with Melbourne and only take on Lyon’s old club St Kilda late into the campaign in Round 18 at Etihad Stadium.

Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich welcomed scheduling for Friday blockbusters early into the new season.

The Dockers will play three nationally televised stand-alone Friday night games in the first six weeks, culminating in ANZAC Day in Perth against North Melbourne in Fremantle’s annual Len Hall Tribute clash.

“We are really pleased that for the first time - in what will be our 20th year in the AFL - to have the opportunity to launch the AFL’s 2014 season in a standalone Friday night clash with Collingwood,” Rosich said.

“We are anticipating high levels of interest in our home fixtures at Patersons Stadium in 2014, particularly early in the season with the annual Starlight Purple Haze Game in round two, a Friday night clash with North Melbourne on Anzac Day plus blockbuster games with Essendon in round four and Geelong in round nine.

“On balance, and given the challenge the AFL faces in meeting the competing demands of all 18 clubs, we believe Fremantle’s 2014 fixture is fair reflection of our improved on field performance and our appeal with TV audiences, which is highlighted by three Friday night blockbusters, a string of Saturday night and twilight games plus one of only six Thursday night games.”

Meanwhile, Fremantle and West Coast will clash in a pre-season derby at Arena Joondalup as part of the revamped NAB Cup competition next February.

The sides will meet on February 18, among 18 games in 18 days of the pre-season tournament.

Full fixture (all times local; games against last season's finalists in bold):

Round 1: Friday, March 14
Collingwood v Fremantle
Etihad Stadium, 7:50PM    

Round 2: Saturday, March 29
Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns
Patersons Stadium, 4:40PM    

Round 3: Friday, April 4
Hawthorn v Fremantle
MCG, 7:50PM    

Round 4: Sunday, April 13
Fremantle v Essendon
Patersons Stadium, 2:40PM    

Round 5: Saturday, April 19
Sydney Swans v Fremantle
SCG, 4:40PM    

Round 6: Friday, April 25
Fremantle v North Melbourne
Patersons Stadium, 6:40PM    

Round 7: Sunday, May 4
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle
Patersons Stadium, 2:40PM    

Round 8: Saturday, May 10
Port Adelaide v Fremantle
Adelaide Oval, 1:10PM    

Round 9: Saturday, May 17
Fremantle v Geelong Cats
Patersons Stadium, 5:40PM    

Round 10: BYE

Round 11: Sunday, June 1
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
Etihad Stadium, 3:20PM    

Round 12: Sunday, June 8
Fremantle v Adelaide Crows
Patersons Stadium, 2:10PM    

Round 13: Saturday, June 14
Richmond v Fremantle
MCG, 1:45PM    

Round 14: Saturday, June 21
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions
Patersons Stadium, 5:40PM    

Round 15: Saturday, June 28
Fremantle v West Coast Eagles
Patersons Stadium, 2:40PM    

Round 16: Saturday, July 5
Melbourne v Fremantle
TIO Stadium, Darwin, 7:10PM    

Round 17: Sunday, July 13
Fremantle v GWS Giants
Patersons Stadium, 2:40PM    

Round 18: Saturday, July 19
St Kilda v Fremantle
Etihad Stadium, 4:40PM    

Round 19: Thursday, July 31
Fremantle v Carlton
Patersons Stadium, 6:10PM    

Round 20: Saturday, August 9
Geelong Cats v Fremantle
Simonds Stadium, 7:40PM    

Round 21: Sunday, August 17
Fremantle v Hawthorn
Patersons Stadium, 2:40PM    

Round 22: Sunday, August 24
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle
Gabba, 1:10PM    

Round 23: Friday, August 29 - Sunday, August 31 (TBC)
Fremantle v Port Adelaide
Patersons Stadium, TBC