Mark Robinson: There’s a smell in the air about the Saints’ disgraceful 2025 fixture

After St Kilda president Andrew Bassat’s clips at the AFL Draft system, you’d have every right to be sceptical about their 2025 fixture compared to some other clubs, writes Mark Robinson.

You’d be sceptical if you’re a Saints person.

A draw from hell to start the season just so happens to come after repeated attacks by Saints president Andrew Bassat about the integrity of the AFL’s most cherished baby, the draft.

Would the AFL be so vindictive?

It would say not, but like a barbecue on a hot summer’s night, there’s a smell in the air.

The Saints will be reluctant to go public, but take it as read they are filthy about why the league delivered them a schedule that could have their finals aspirations done by the start of Round 10.

Not compared to Carlton anyhow. The Blues finished eighth and St Kilda 12th in 2024, yet the boys on Royal Parade have had the red carpet rolled out to begin their 2025 campaign.

In what is a dream start – although no guarantee of success – Carlton plays only one top-four opponent from 2024 in the first nine rounds – against Geelong at the MCG in Round 7.

Saints President Andrew Bassat has continued to attack the AFL Draft. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

In contrast, the Saints play three of the top-four clubs from 2024 in the first five rounds, and six finalists in the first nine weeks of the season. They are Geelong, Port Adelaide, GWS Giants, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions and Carlton.

Their other three matches, which round out their schedule in their first nine, are against Fremantle – who just missed finals – the improving Adelaide and Richmond.

The Blues also got allocated North Melbourne and West Coast twice throughout the season, while St Kilda only got the 2024 cellar dwellers once. Both clubs will play Richmond once.

The Saints have double-ups against three finalists from last year – Geelong, the Bulldogs and Giants – while the Blues have only two – against Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.

No matter from what angle you look at it, or how the AFL will try to explain it, the Saints have been mightily shafted.

Actually, it’s worse than that. It’s a disgraceful outcome.

Yes, if teams are good enough, they can and will win anywhere and anytime, but a better balanced schedule has to be the expectation.

Look at Melbourne. They finished 14th, two spots below the Saints, yet the Demons draw, arguably, is the easiest of the competition.

Unquestionably the best-list ever of a team that finished 14th, the Demons only play one 2024 finalist twice – Hawthorn – and get North Melbourne and West Coast twice.

The Saints could only dream of a schedule like that.

Instead, they are confronted by a nightmare.

The deep-thinking Bassat is worth listening to every time he speaks, and the next time he does might be his most memorable.

He shouldn’t hold back.