Fixture 2024 fixture - first game away to GWS?

[76woodenspooners]

The back to back QLD games is a great idea.

The Lions should have to play us at the G later in the year.

Sick of playing 'home' games at that roofed joint

We’ll be playing fewer home games at that ‘roofed joint’. And we’ll play more home games at MCG.

At what cost? We’ll be playing an interstate home game.

 

[Markfs]

Stuff it.
R1
Out Ginni, Murphy
In Schultz McStay
Sub: Lippa

some good work. I thought shultz would come in but we should see how he fits in.... murphy should certainly be thrown in the recycling..

 

[Prexm]

Robbo with the goss. Apparently it's our idea?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-fixture-2024-collingwood-propose-sydney-season-opener/news-story/9f41785088f382d3417d5e74a68ee9ba

Collingwood is proposing an interstate extravaganza in 2024, hoping for a round 1 fixture against Sydney in the Harbour City to kick off the season.

But it has also been floated that the Pies could play the Giants and the Swans play Melbourne in a stand-alone blockbuster weekend in Sydney before the rest of the season kicks off a week later.

A third marquee game in round 1 could see Richmond play the Suns on the Gold Coast in a bid to capitalise on the Suns’ luring of former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.

Collingwood is also exploring with the AFL the possibility of playing Brisbane in their now traditional Easter Thursday match at the Gabba and then staying in Queensland for a week to play Gold Coast.

The two proposed matches against Sydney and the Suns would reap the premiers a healthy financial windfall as well as help deliver NSW and Queensland two blockbuster matches.

The AFL is keen to deliver as many big games as it can to the non-Victorian markets, particularly to the north.

A proposed round 1 match featuring Collingwood in Sydney would be played a week after rugby league’s Las Vegas double-header between the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos, and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Pies have already had informal discussions with the AFL about the Lions-Suns quinella and it’s believed the AFL is warm to the proposal.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has spoken to clubs about the machinations of round 1 and an exact schedule is up in the air.

“We are currently working through club requests and in the infancy of constructing next season’s AFL fixture. The full fixture will be released in November,” an AFL spokesperson said.

Clubs were sent a fixture demands wishlist in mid September where clubs, for example, will ask not to play on Mother’s Day, or ask for a slot against a specific team if there is a celebration game.

It’s expected Carlton and Richmond will again ask to open the season on a Thursday night.

The premiers believe, however, they are the hottest ticket in the competition and want the prized opening-night slot.

The round 1 season-starter has traditionally been the domain of the Tigers and Blues.

Outside of the two Covid years when crowds were restricted, the past four round 1 attendances between those two teams have attracted 88,804, 72,179, 85,016 and 91,151 fans.

In 2022, the AFL opened the season with a rematch of the 2021 grand finalists Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, mainly because the ’21 premiership was won in Perth and the AFL rewarded the Demons with an MCG first-up blockbuster.

That game was played on a Wednesday night and the crowd – 58,002 – was their second biggest attendance between these two teams since their semi-final in 1994.

Last year it reverted back to Carlton-Richmond because, in part, the AFL was wary about fans from grand finalists Sydney and Geelong attending a game on a Wednesday night.

The AFL would also be mindful that Collingwood’s opening game of 2022 against Geelong at the MCG attracted 86,595 fans.

A Collingwood-Brisbane rematch in round 1 is out of the question because of their Easter Thursday match is a well established fixture.

Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly was contacted for comment.

I thought they had announced Gather Round the week after Easter so not sure how that would work unless we play GC first but that would be 4 of our first 5 interstate.

 

[Monco Matt]

If we're not playing Round 1 at the MCG against another Vic team I will shake my head in disbelief. Read the room Collingwood. We wait 6 months for our first game after a flag and you want to play it interstate. Mind boggling!

 

[parano1a]

If we're not playing Round 1 at the MCG against another Vic team I will shake my head in disbelief. Read the room Collingwood. We wait 6 months for our first game after a flag and you want to play it interstate. Mind boggling!

I think the idea is Round 1 will be a week earlier than usual so the MCG will not be available. The AFL want to play blockbuster games in NSW and QLD to compete with the start of the NRL season.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

The AFL would be absolute morons if they schedule us to play round 1 outside of Victoria. We could play another Victorian side at the G, say a Geelong or a St Kilda/Bulldogs, unfurl the premiership flag in front of a 80,000+ crowd.
Considering Richmond and Carlton open the season, that rules us out playing one of these two traditional rivals. Also Essendon we will play in round 5 or 6 Anzac day, probably rules them out too. Maybe Melbourne could be an option round one, but considering we play KB, probably not....

 

[nahnah]

Seems to me we are pushing to have all our interstate games early so we can have a tigers like run at the MCG heading into finals

 

[Doc1763]

The AFL would be absolute morons if they schedule us to play round 1 outside of Victoria. We could play another Victorian side at the G, say a Geelong or a St Kilda/Bulldogs, unfurl the premiership flag in front of a 80,000+ crowd.
Considering Richmond and Carlton open the season, that rules us out playing one of these two traditional rivals. Also Essendon we will play in round 5 or 6 Anzac day, probably rules them out too. Maybe Melbourne could be an option round one, but considering we play KB, probably not....

no, the AFL are going to use us as a marketing tool in a market that doesn't really give a feck.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

Great idea re: Brisbane then Gold Coast. Saves a flight, the lads get to spend some intensive spa time with Warwick Capper to help their forward craft and they get to sharpen their golf game. I see no downside.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Not sure how it would work. Season started on 15 March this year so that’d mean we’d play the w/e before a similar traditional start. Then Easter is early so Brisbane and the Suns b2b around 28 March & 4-5 April. That would be 3 interstate games in the 1st 5 rounds (assuming our adhoc bye doesn’t fall between the 2 events) with gather round not long after that. Needs to be 1 or the other imho.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Great idea re: Brisbane then Gold Coast. Saves a flight, the lads get to spend some intensive spa time with Warwick Capper to help their forward craft and they get to sharpen their golf game. I see no downside.

Won’t have Stevo or Grundy there lowering the tone either.

 

[Prexm]

Not sure how it would work. Season started on 15 March this year so that’d mean we’d play the w/e before a similar traditional start. Then Easter is early so Brisbane and the Suns b2b around 28 March & 4-5 April. That would be 3 interstate games in the 1st 5 rounds (assuming our adhoc bye doesn’t fall between the 2 events) with gather round not long after that. Needs to be 1 or the other imho.

Thought Gather Round had already been locked in from April 4.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Thought Gather Round had already been locked in from April 4.

Could be. If so, I guess they could schedule the Suns game the weekend prior to Easter. Still means a lot of interstate games in a short period of time.

 

[Prexm]

Could be. If so, I guess they could schedule the Suns game the weekend prior to Easter. Still means a lot of interstate games in a short period of time.

Would be first 4 interstate. Surely not. Though 3 big possibility with Easter Rd 3 and Gather Rd 4.

 

[Chrispiesssss]

 

[doppleganger]

The point is that they want the season to start earlier in NSW (and QLD) to not give the NRL such a head start!

So a couple of games in Syd the weekend before the "traditional" Rich v Carl Thursday MCG opener is what is proposed.

That would be great exposure for the Pies.

Then give us a Friday night (or Sat arvo game at the G against a team like Freo) to see 90k Pies fill the G an unveil the flag in the "normal" round 1 weekend..

Easter and Gather Round are back to back, so yes assume we go Easter Thursday v Lions and then perhaps Gather Round Thursday game against Adelaide or Port to kick it off with a bang...sucks for us as effectively an extra away game, but some club will cop it.

ANZAC Day is a Thursday this year, so if they then need to give us a week off to let other teams catch up, perhaps the weekend before ANZAC would be perfect.

 

[Chronz]

Starting the year off with three interstate games (with thursday night games ffs) would be ****ing putrid.

 

[collingwood23]

Almost a guarantee that we will start the season against giants at giants stadium. Shame it won’t be at Accor which holds 60k more people but it is what it is.

 

[GoldenMagpie16]

I can deal with playing 3 interstate games for the first four games, however Selling a home game to the Gold Coast at Metricon would be a disgrace.

 

[doppleganger]

I think an early Fixture something like below is what may happen.

Rd A1 - Sat 9th Mar, Away @ Syd v GWS
Rd 1 - Sat 16th Mar, Home @ MCG v Port
Rd 2 - Fri 22nd Mar, Away @ MCG v Carl
Rd 3 - Thu 26th Mar, Away @ GABBA v BL
Rd 4 - Thu 4th Apr, Gather @ AO v Adel
Rd 5 - Sun 14th Apr, Home @ MCG v Haw
Rd 6 - BYE
Rd 7 - Thu 25th Apr, Away @ MCG v Ess
Rd 8 - Fri 3rd May, Home @ MCG v Rich

We would then have another bye after Kings birthday as normal.

That enables the AFL to use us in Sydney when NRL is kicking off.
We get a home game at the G on Sat arvo in Rd1 against a non-vic team (Port) to do the premiership stuff in front of 90k+ Pies.
Early blockbuster against Carlton (or Melbourne as an alternate).
The GF rematch on Easter Thursday.
Pies get "shafted" with the premium gather round slot on Thursday against Adelaide.
A sunday 3:20 home MCG game for rd5 to finish school holidays.
Then a bye to make up for the early season extra game
Then our turn to be away on ANZAC and now back into the season proper.

 

[jmac70]

Almost a guarantee that we will start the season against giants at giants stadium. Shame it won’t be at Accor which holds 60k more people but it is what it is.

Disgusting if true.
We should be opening the season in front of a sold out MCG.

 

[Vicky Park]

We are getting shafted.

 

[doppleganger]

Disgusting if true.
We should be opening the season in front of a sold out MCG.

Hopefully we will get a Fri night or Sat arvo 1st weekend of games in Melbourne at the G to do the premeirship celebrations.

But if AFL wanting to kick the season off early in NSW and QLD to compete with NRL, then it will be great exposure for the Pies.

 

[jmac70]

Hopefully we will get a Fri night or Sat arvo 1st weekend of games in Melbourne at the G to do the premeirship celebrations.

But if AFL wanting to kick the season off early in NSW and QLD to compete with NRL, then it will be great exposure for the Pies.

Do we need exposure?

 

[doppleganger]

Do we need exposure?

Getting an away game out of the way early, and it being a stand alone game where extra eye balls are on the Pies is a pretty good scenario.

It would be the labour day weekend in Melbourne, so plenty of Pies might also travel for long weekend up to Sydney.

The fixture will give us 5-6 away fixtures (outside of Vic), not sure why people are up in arms about having a few out of the way early.