Geelong Cats full 2018 fixture and analysis

GEELONG fans will have lots of chances to see Gary Ablett up close in 2018 with nine games scheduled for the Cattery. EVERY GAME + PROS AND CONS

GEELONG fans will have lots of chances to see Gary Ablett up close in 2018 with nine games scheduled for the Cattery.

Under the new fixture, Ablett is scheduled make his first appearance in Geelong colours in eight years against Melbourne at the MCG in Round 1.

His first appearance in front of a home crowd is in Round 4 when the Cats tackle St Kilda on Sunday, April 15.

It is one of nine home games, including the first clash against Carlton in Geelong since 1997.

JON RALPH: AFL’S TWO BIG FIXTURE BLUNDERS

WHAT THE? NINE WEIRD QUIRKS OF 2018 FIXTURE

KEY DATES: WHEN IS THE 2018 GRAND FINAL?

PROS AND CONS

TICK: Nine games at its home fortress, including hosting Carlton for the first time since 1997 and St Kilda for the first time since 2014.

TICK: Traditional Easter Monday MCG clash against Hawthorn is a home game.

TICK: Seven games at the MCG, including five away games.

CROSS: Three Friday night and two Thursday night blockbusters, but only one is a home game.

CROSS: Two interstate trips in the first five rounds, to play West Coast and Port Adelaide.

CLUB SAYS: “Playing nine games at our home ground for the first time in many years will have a huge benefit to all stakeholders, and we think this also makes the fixture fairer from an integrity point of view.” — Chief executive Brian Cook

Gary Ablett will be back in action at Geelong nine times next season.

FULL GEELONG FIXTURE

1 Sunday, Mar 25 — Melbourne, MCG (Away) 3:20pm, Seven

2 Monday, Apr. 2 — Hawthorn, MCG (Home) 3:20pm, Seven

3 Sunday, Apr. 8 — West Coast, Perth Stadium (Away) 2:40pm, Foxtel

4 Sunday, Apr. 15 — St Kilda, GMHBA (Home) 4:40pm, Foxtel

5 Saturday, Apr. 21 — Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (Away) 7:10pm, Seven

6 Saturday, Apr. 28 — Sydney Swans, GMHBA (Home) 1:45pm, Foxtel

7 Friday, May 4 — GWS Giants, GMHBA (Home) 7:50pm, Seven

8 Sunday, May 13 — Collingwood, MCG (Away) 3:20pm, Seven

9 Saturday, May 19 — Essendon, MCG (Away) 4:35pm, Foxtel

10 Saturday, May 26 — Carlton, GMHBA (Home) 7:25pm, Foxtel

11 Saturday, Jun. 2 — Gold Coast, Metricon Stadium (Away) 4:35pm, Foxtel

12 Saturday, Jun. 9 — North Melbourne, GMHBA (Home) 1:45pm, Foxtel

13 Sunday, Jun. 17 — Richmond, MCG (Home) 3:20pm, Foxtel

14 Bye

15 Friday, Jun. 29 — Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium (Away) 7:50pm, Seven

16 Thursday, Jul. 5 — Sydney Swans, SCG (Away) 7:20pm, Seven

17 Thursday, Jul. 12 — Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval (Away) 7:20pm, Seven

18 Saturday, Jul. 21 — Melbourne, GMHBA (Home) 7:25pm, Seven

19 Saturday, Jul. 28 — Brisbane Lions, GMHBA (Home) 2:10pm, Foxtel

20 Friday, Aug. 3 — Richmond, MCG (Away) 7:50pm, Seven

21 Saturday, Aug. 11 — Hawthorn, MCG (Away) 1:45pm, Foxtel

22 Saturday, Aug. 18 — Fremantle, GMHBA (Home) 2:10pm, Foxtel

23 TBC Gold Coast, GMHBA (Home), TBC