AFL 2017 fixture: Pros and cons for every club plus what your chiefs have to say
THE winner of the Richmond v Carlton season-opener could get off to a flyer next year while Collingwood has been booted from prime time. Our experts assess the 2017 AFL fixture.
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THE winner of the Richmond v Carlton season-opener could get off to a flyer next year while Collingwood has been booted from prime time. Our experts name the pros and cons for every club.
EVERY GAME: FULL 2017 AFL FIXTURE
TOUGH START: HEAT ON BUCKLEY FROM ROUND 1
SAVE THE DATE: 12 GAMES YOU CAN’T MISS
ADELAIDE
TICK: Five prime time Friday night matches, including four under the bright lights of Adelaide Oval against St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Sydney.
TICK: A Thursday night blockbuster against perennial powerhouse Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval in Round 14.
TICK: Plays just three of last season’s finalists in the opening 10 rounds, improving its chances of starting with a bang.
TICK: Three matches at the home of football, the MCG, against Hawthorn (Round 2), Carlton (Round 15) and Collingwood (Round 19).
CROSS: Seven six-day breaks between games isn’t ideal and will challenge the Crows’ fitness department.
CROSS: Tough finish to the season, with three of their last five games on the road and the final two against grand finalist Sydney at Adelaide Oval and West Coast in Perth.
CLUB SAYS: “We are absolutely rapt and feel this fixture reflects the success we have enjoyed both on and off the field in recent times.” — CEO Andrew Fagan
- Andrew Capel
BRISBANE LIONS
TICK: Single interstate trips to Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Tasmania.
TICK: Soft run to start the season. Plays only one 2016 finalist in the first six rounds.
TICK: The only team the Lions play twice from last season’s top nine is the Bulldogs.
CROSS: No Thursday or Friday night games and five Saturday twilight games.
CLUB SAYS: “There are six games in Melbourne — including two in the opening five rounds — which reward our loyal Victorian fans.” — CEO Greg Swann
- Jay Clark
2017 FIXTURE
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) October 27, 2016
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CARLTON
TICK: A great opening five weeks taking on Richmond, Melbourne, Essendon, Gold Coast and the Power, none of which played 2016 finals
TICK: Double-up clashes include bottom-six clubs Richmond, Gold Coast and Essendon, taking on only Sydney of the top-six teams.
CROSS: Just one Thursday and one Friday night clash, with the AFL predicting another tough year for the Blues.
CROSS: Another nine Sunday games and only 11 free-to-air games, not ideal to help push sponsor messages.
CROSS: Missed out on Good Friday, with the season-opener against Richmond their only “marquee” game.
CLUB SAYS: “Pleasingly, we have 10 matches at the MCG, with six of those being home games. Our supporter base, extending to young families, will also welcome the increase in afternoon matches.” — CEO Steven Trigg
- Jon Ralph
COLLINGWOOD
TICK: Chance for Nathan Buckley to get breathing space with Richmond, St Kilda and Essendon in their first five clashes.
TICK: They own Anzac Day again as a stand-alone game, taking on Essendon in an away clash.
CROSS: Double-up games include Geelong and Hawthorn, the improving Melbourne and Essendon and unknown quantity Port Adelaide
CROSS: Off broadway with a trio of Thursday and Friday night games in the first three rounds, then no more for the rest of the year.
CROSS: Plenty of Sunday games and clashes away from free to air, with at least eight Sunday clashes.
CLUB SAYS: “This year’s theme is all about families. We’ve listened to the feedback from our supporters … we’ve worked with the AFL and 16 of our games are either during the day or twilight.” — CEO Gary Pert
- Jon Ralph
ESSENDON
TICK: Only travel once in final nine rounds — to Gold Coast.
TICK: Plays four non-finalists twice, equal-most of any club.
TICK: Soft first seven games with no top-four opponents.
CROSS: No home Friday night games and only two in total.
CLUB SAYS: “Of course we would like to be playing more Friday night football, but we welcome the increase in games on Saturday afternoons and evenings.”
CEO Xavier Campbell
- Sam Landsberger
Excited for 2017 fixture. Traditional time slots and prime time games. https://t.co/VaiqVDsVFE
— Xavier Campbell (@XCampbell79) October 27, 2016
FREMANTLE
TICK: Will have just four six-day breaks to contend with, a huge bonus for a travelling club.
TICK: Doesn’t have to travel to Tasmania, Darwin or the Gold Coast, after making all three difficult trips from Perth in 2016.
TICK: Launches the season with a home blockbuster against Geelong which will pit the last two Brownlow medallists Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield head-to-head in Fyfe’s comeback from injury.
CROSS: Banished from the marquee Thursday and Friday night slots altogether after their disastrous collapse to 16th.
CROSS: Had their request to host a special celebration game at Subiaco Oval in Round 23 denied, as AFL footy farewells the ageing venue before moving to Perth Stadium.
CLUB SAYS: “It’s probably one of the best fixtures we’ve ever had by being scheduled to play all the big Victorian clubs at home in the one season.” — CEO Steve Rosich
- Braden Quartermaine
GEELONG
TICK: Three consecutive prime time night games to launch redeveloped Simonds Stadium (Rounds 9-11).
TICK: Two theme games — Hawthorn on Easter Monday and the other against Essendon in the second “Country Game” in Round 8 on a Saturday night.
TICK: Hosts Richmond (and former Cat Josh Caddy) at Simonds Stadium in Round 21 for the first time since 2012.
CROSS: Has an equal-high eight six-day breaks including back-to-back short trips in Rounds 9 and 10.
CLUB SAYS: “With the redevelopment of the Brownlow Stand due for completion in mid-May, we understand why the AFL has scheduled only seven games here in 2017.” — CEO Brian Cook
- Jay Clark
GOLD COAST
TICK: Only two six-day breaks, two fewer than any other club.
TICK: Hosts big-drawing clubs Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond and Essendon at Metricon Stadium.
TICK: Faces premier Western Bulldogs only once — an away game in Cairns.
CROSS: Plays five finalists in the first eight games before the bye.
CLUB SAYS: “To have the core group of traditional Melbourne clubs playing on the coast is not only great for us, but will be extremely beneficial for the broader Gold Coast.” — CEO Andrew Travis
- Sam Landsberger
GWS
TICK: The Giants will get more exposure than ever before with three Friday night matches and three Saturday night matches. Two of the Friday night games are against the reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs with the first coming at Manuka Oval in Round 6, the first ever Friday night match in Canberra.
TICK: Eight games at Spotless Stadium will help build the club’s profile especially when they are against big Victorian teams like Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and Geelong.
TICK: Playing the Swans twice every year makes life tough, but the 60,000-plus that turned out for this year’s qualifying final at ANZ Stadium proved the Sydney derby has arrived as a showpiece event. The Round 5 match at the SCG and Round 17 encounter at Spotless will both be sellouts.
CROSS: One game at the MCG (Round 18 v Richmond) all season is hardly ideal for a team which is out to win it’s first premiership and has only played 10 games at the venue in it’s first five seasons.
CROSS: The Giants have arguably the toughest draw of any team in the competition playing the three other top-four teams from last year twice (Western Bulldogs, Sydney Swans and Geelong). They also face West Coast twice. Richmond is the only non-finals team GWS will double up against.
CLUB SAYS: “This is an exciting fixture and sees the Giants with more prime time and free-to-air games than ever before.” — CEO David Matthews
- Neil Cordy
HAWTHORN
TICK: A “Tasmanian derby” against North Melbourne in Launceston.
TICK: Just one trip to each of Perth and Sydney.
TICK: Just three games against 2016 finalists in the first nine rounds.
CROSS: Eight six-day breaks, the equal most of any club.
CROSS: Forced to play a home game at Etihad Stadium, against tenant Western Bulldogs, in Round 23.
CLUB SAYS: “We have drawn some terrific home games at the MCG, with big match-ups against Geelong, Collingwood and Sydney that are certain to attract big crowds.” — CEO Stuart Fox
- Sam Landsberger
MELBOURNE
TICK: Bold start beckons with its first seven games in Victoria.
TICK: Last three rounds at the MCG against non-finalists from 2016.
CROSS: Only one Friday night game, against Sydney at the MCG in Round 15, and three Saturday night games.
CROSS: Eight six-day breaks including back-to-back short recoveries in Round 13 (Western Bulldogs), Round 14 (West Coast in Perth) and Round 15 (Sydney).
CLUB SAYS: “We hoped for a long time that we would play all of our Victorian home games at the MCG. The MCG is our home and we are pleased that our Victorian home games will be played at the ground.” — CEO Peter Jackson
- Jay Clark
NORTH MELBOURNE
TICK: Evenly balanced schedule against double-up opponents, taking on only the Dogs of the top-eight sides twice.
TICK: Take on some of their toughest opponent at Tassie fortress, including GWS, Adelaide and Melbourne.
TICK: Play on Good Friday after decades of lobbying and if they get a sellout crowd they might keep the fixture.
CROSS: Tough early going, taking on finalists West Cost, Geelong, GWS and the Dogs before potential improvers Fremantle.
CROSS: Only two Friday night encounters despite again making the finals, showing the AFL believes they will slump.
CLUB SAYS: “With 13 matches at our home ground Etihad Stadium, our 45,000 strong membership will have plenty of chances to watch a different looking, but extremely exciting, North side.” — CEO Carl Dilena
- Jon Ralph
PORT ADELAIDE
TICK: China is on — and there is no travel game the week before the May 14 adventure in Shanghai and no game at all the week after playing Gold Coast in the history-making Chinese adventure.
TICK: Friday night football to open the Anzac round with a new opponent at Adelaide Oval: Carlton, a fierce rival in recent seasons and big drawcard in SA.
TICK: No consecutive travel — and no double-up games against last year’s top-four teams.
TICK: Plays big-drawing Victorian clubs — Carlton, Hawthorn, Richmond and Collingwood — at Adelaide Oval with three games in prime timeslots.
CROSS: Tough start against Sydney at the SCG, where the Power has not won since 2006, followed by two other finalists (Adelaide and GWS) in the first month.
CROSS: Tough return from China — resume 11 days later against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on a Thursday night. The Power’s last win at the Cattery was in 2007.
CLUB SAYS: “We are delighted to be playing the majority of our 11 home games at night ... it is easier for our people to attend games in the late afternoon or evening.” — CEO Keith Thomas
- Michelangelo Rucci
RICHMOND
TICK: Early winnable matches against Carlton, Collingwood and the Lions in the first month as well as West Coast at the MCG.
TICK: Get a home Anzac Day eve clash against Melbourne on Monday, April 24.
TICK: Their double-up clashes are against only one top-six club (GWS), one mid-tier club (St Kilda) and bottom-sixers Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane.
CROSS: Shut out of many prime-time slots with only two Thursday night games and no Friday nighters.
CROSS: Tough last month if hoping to play finals, taking on Hawthorn, Geelong (Simonds), Fremantle (Subi) then St Kilda.
CLUB SAYS: “Naturally we are disappointed not to get one Friday night game next season. We are a big club, with the third-biggest membership in the league, and our games always rate well in that timeslot.” — CEO Brendon Gale
- Jon Ralph
ST KILDA
TICK: Prime time exposure with four Friday night games, after none last year. Also three Saturday night games.
TICK: Kicks off season looking for a 15th-straight win against Melbourne.
CROSS: Challenging draw. No double-up games against any of the bottom-five sides of 2016.
CROSS: Travels interstate to Perth and Adelaide twice each. Back-to-back late-season road trips in Round 18 (Sydney) and Round 19 (Port Adelaide).
CLUB SAYS: “We’re particularly pleased to have secured four Friday night matches, which is a reflection of the exciting brand of football our team played in 2016.” — CEO Matt Finnis
- Jay Clark
SYDNEY
TICK: The Swans already have the biggest major sponsorship deals in the country and those numbers are set to jump on the back of unprecedented TV exposure. Sydney has been handed a massive eight Friday night matches and two Thursday night games.
TICK: The South Melbourne faithfull have been rewarded for their loyalty with the Swans to play eight games in Melbourne next year including four at the MCG.
TICK: The Swans great indigenous heritage of Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin will be celebrated again with the SCG to host the Marn Grook match for the fourth straight year. The fixture couldn’t be bigger with great rivals Hawthorn travelling for the Round 10 clash on Friday May 26. Sydney will also host the Pride Match against St Kilda in Round 18.
CROSS: All the Thursday and Friday night games come at a cost with the Swans facing seven matches coming off a six-day break and most of those against tough opposition interstate.
The first comes in Round 2 for the Grand Final rematch against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
CLUB SAYS: “With so many big matches at home and away, including eight Victorian matches, the 2017 fixture is a win for Swans members, supporters and corporate partners.” — CEO Andrew Ireland
- Neil Cordy
WEST COAST EAGLES
TICK: One Friday night and two Thursday night marquee fixtures, with all three at Subiaco Oval.
TICK: Seven of the club’s 10 interstate games are at either Etihad Stadium or the MCG.
TICK: The chance to play the last home-and-away fixture ever at Subiaco Oval in Round 23 ahead of the move to the new Perth Stadium.
CROSS: A horror five-day break between Richmond (away) and Sydney (home) in Rounds 3-4.
CROSS: Two fixtures each against flag favourites Western Bulldogs and GWS, as well as predicted risers St Kilda and Fremantle.
CLUB SAYS: “We’ve agreed to play off a five-day break in one game, but it’s a marquee game — it’s the Thursday night before Easter against Sydney (at Subiaco).” — CEO Trevor Nisbett
- Chris Robinson
WESTERN BULLDOGS
TICK: Seven Friday nights, one Thursday night blockbuster and the first ever Good Friday match.
TICK: The reigning premier plays only two of the top-six teams from 2016 twice, while the other top four teams — Sydney, Geelong and GWS — play three of the top six twice. But have to double-up against an extra middle-six side, facing both the Eagles and Kangaroos twice.
CROSS: Only two of those nine prime time timeslots are home games.
CROSS: Plays four finalists twice and has eight six-day breaks, the equal most of any club.
CROSS: Two trips to Western Australia and Queensland.
CLUB SAYS: “We will play in Ballarat, we return to Cairns for the fourth consecutive year, feature on Good Friday and will play in more Friday night games in a season (seven), than we have previously.” — CEO Gary Kent
- Sam Landsberger
Blockbusters aplenty for Dogs ... almost all in white shorts. Coll, WC, Ade, GWS, Good Fri, Gee, Syd away.
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) October 26, 2016
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