Fixture 2025 draw any news or leaks? (Fixture Link in OP)

[eth-dog]

Speak for yourself. Many of us think it's a good idea.

Many? I'd say few.

 

[mikey127]

I thought the reason for Opening Round last year was because NRL was in Vegas?

In 2025 the AFL's Opening Round will go head to head with NRL Round 1 in the northern states.

Seems a bit stupid.. but so does every other thing the AFL seems to do at the moment.

Because of Vegas there were only 6 games of NRL on that week including games in Melbourne, New Zealand and Newcastle so not as many games in Sydney and Brisbane

 

[STPer18]

AFL hoping Geelong can save flOpening Round by having them open it next season.

 

[mikey127]

Many? I'd say few.

Quite a lot actually it's just those against it make more noise

 

[eth-dog]

Quite a lot actually it's just those against it make more noise

Not really. I can understand why the Northern clubs like it but that's about 10% of the AFL fan base. I have yet to meet someone who supports the other 14 clubs who is in favour of it.

 

[Underarm]

I thought the reason for Opening Round last year was because NRL was in Vegas?

In 2025 the AFL's Opening Round will go head to head with NRL Round 1 in the northern states.

Seems a bit stupid.. but so does everything the AFL seems to do at the moment.

NRL round 1 won't include the teams travelling to Vegas. At most there will be 1 NRL game in Sydney, which makes it easier for Swans and Giants to get coverage.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Richmond win the wooden spoon but still get to open Round 1 vs Carlton on Thursday night. Is the 1% chance they send Carlton into meltdown worth the likely dross that's served up? Actually maybe it is.

 

[mikey127]

Not really. I can understand why the Northern clubs like it but that's about 10% of the AFL fan base. I have yet to meet someone who supports the other 14 clubs who is in favour of it.

Yea but you are always looking to expand your fan base. The crowds last year speak for themselves.

To put the shoe on the other foot Melbourne Storm request to play at home during gather round is that a bad idea too?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Not really. I can understand why the Northern clubs like it but that's about 10% of the AFL fan base. I have yet to meet someone who supports the other 14 clubs who is in favour of it.

Broadcasters like it. That's all that matter$.

 

[eth-dog]

Yea but you are always looking to expand your fan base. The crowds last year speak for themselves.

To put the shoe on the other foot Melbourne Storm request to play at home during gather round is that a bad idea too?

See, that's the paradox. They're sending the "big clubs" up there to get the crowds. If it were about teams expanding their fan bases they'd send St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, North instead of Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong etc.

And you know that's completely different, right? Because the teams aren't actually in Melbourne. Last year there were games in Queensland and NSW during OR.

Broadcasters like it. That's all that matter$.

Unfortunately true. That's why I feel it's inevitable that the GF will be twilight or night because that's what the media want despite all the other stakeholders overwhelmingly wanting the afternoon

 

[Hawkk]

I can't believe Collingwood are involved in this garbage again.

I firmly believe opening round derailed our 2024 season and was the primary reason we didn't make finals. Finished 1 game out of finals, but lost the first 3 games. Even winning just 1 of those first 3 games would have got us into the top 8.

Yes, Brisbane won the Grand Final, but they also started 0.3, and what stopped our resurgence was the amount of injuries we had throughout the season. Brisbane were lucky to have a good run with minimal injuries.

Opening round does no favors for teams going deep into finals, and is clearly manipulation of the draw to boost the NSW/QLD teams and give them momentum to start the season. 3 of them made the top 8, and Gold Coast had one of their best seasons to date. Also.. Sydney/GWS/Gold Coast all had very strong starts to the season.

AFL = WWE.

I’d hazard a guess that Collingwood winning the flag with the oldest ever team perhaps had something to do with the major drop off last year

 

[Sentinel]

Richmond win the wooden spoon but still get to open Round 1 vs Carlton on Thursday night. Is the 1% chance they send Carlton into meltdown worth the likely dross that's served up? Actually maybe it is.

Opening a round isn't a thing. The opening game of the season is Geelong vs Brisbane.

 

[PhatBoy]

Speak for yourself. Many of us think it's a good idea.

Well if the five teams who’ve had it both seasons so far continue to get it every year, of course you will. It will mean that every year you get two proper byes throughout the season.

If the other 13 teams are to alternate then they’re never going to really agree with that are they

 

[PhatBoy]

Chris Scott bitched and moaned about it all year and now Geelong are part of it so I’m sure he’ll be sooking about something else soon enough!

I’m quite certain he’s intelligent enough that if he was quizzed on it again his stance would be the same and he would simply point out that this time around we are one of the 8 clubs to benefit from it, which we are

 

[TimothyJ23]

Oooh, Engie gets 6 days instead of 5 to recover from a concert. Superb stuff.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Richmond win the wooden spoon but still get to open Round 1 vs Carlton on Thursday night. Is the 1% chance they send Carlton into meltdown worth the likely dross that's served up? Actually maybe it is.

If we lose to Richmond in Round 1 consider me a Tasmania supporter.

 

[chaddy22]

Not really. I can understand why the Northern clubs like it but that's about 10% of the AFL fan base. I have yet to meet someone who supports the other 14 clubs who is in favour of it.

The Afl have got opening round wrong.
Really needed to have both the Eagles and dockers playing and maybe playing the following week in sydney, brisbane or melbourne. It would cut down the travel of both W.A. teams and they would get a extra bye somewhere in rounds 5,6 or 7 as well as the mid season bye.
A missed opportunity to help solve a problem.

 

[Underarm]

Broadcasters like it. That's all that matter$.

And why do you suppose that is?

 

[mattpolo8]

Noise is round 9 Geelong v pies....in Geelong. First time since 1999.

 

[Whiskers]

Noise is round 9 Geelong v pies....in Geelong. First time since 1999.

Where’s this noise coming from? I’ve had a sneaky suspicion this might happen.

 

[BomberManU]

I'm not sure you could come up with a more anti-climatic way to start the season, than this Opening Round nonsense. Give us a full round of matches, please.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Noise is round 9 Geelong v pies....in Geelong. First time since 1999.

About bloody time.

With Geelong's only home game at the G being against Hawthorn next year, I guess the Pies could actually draw the short straw.

I suspect Pies supporters will be outraged.

 

[Walshawk]

Once Tassie come in and we move to 24 games, I would play all nine games outside of Victoria in Opening Round (we can also revert to calling it Rnd 1) over the Labour Day weekend. Then have all 10 Vic clubs playing in Melbourne Rnd 2.

 

[smasha]

Richmond play a home game interstate.
FFS CFL.

 

[PhatBoy]

Richmond play a home game interstate.
FFS CFL.

Hope you’re ok. It sucks that you also play 3-4 away games a year at your home ground.

Thoughts and prayers
#dicksoutforSmasha