Fixture 2025 draw any news or leaks? (Fixture released today)

[Giant YoYo]

Fair enough. There's no doubt the Queensland teams have benefitted greatly from the post-COVID migration from Victoria (plus SA, WA & TAS to a lesser degree). I don't see that changing any time soon and it looks like both QLD teams will be highly competitive on field in the short to medium, so the game is just going to keep growing here. It's all about building on momentum that's already been established and that's partly why it's important to retain opening round.

I'm not sure how GWS can get the momentum going in a similar fashion. The Giants have been highly competitive for close to a decade now with 7 finals appearances in their last 9 seasons. I guess all you can do is just stick to it and hope it eventually turns like it eventually did for the Swans. I still think it's a good look for the Giants to pull a sell out crowd in opening round and Collingwood guarantees that.

The Giants have next to no fields near the stadium.

If you look to where all the fields are it's far from the stadium.

 

[TimothyJ23]

So are we just going to ignore that Engie Stadium is hosting Green Day on Mon 3 Mar?

FIVE day turnaround for what's already among the poorest playing surfaces in the comp after a concert?

No.

 

[mikey127]

I can find something to like about most teams because I like footy in general.

People who boo opposition teams should boo themselves.

You can find good and bad fans from any club but I honestly reckon Pies are the worst.

 

[GC2015]

The Giants have next to no fields near the stadium.

If you look to where all the fields are it's far from the stadium.

Lack of ovals has been one of the issues up here as well. Fortunately, the AFL struck a deal with the Queensland government to build more ovals throughout south east Queensland when they agreed to let us host the 2020 AFL Grand Final. We're now starting to see some of those ovals popping up and junior participation is growing accordingly.

Not sure how you guys can fix that situation. Maybe try to create affiliations with cricket clubs in west Sydney? That's probably your best bet.

 

[Boyohboywowwee]

So are we just going to ignore that Engie Stadium is hosting Green Day on Mon 3 Mar?

FIVE day turnaround for what's already among the poorest playing surfaces in the comp after a concert?

No.

Surely SCG gets both round 0 games

 

[SC_Power]

The AFL making money out of an act that was deemed a $20k fine at the time, by scheduling Port Adelaide v Hawthorn in Gather Round.

Andrew Dillon saying that the AFL isn’t going to highlight the obvious, but “other interests” might do what they want.

Andrew Dillon when the inevitable melee occurs, and $100k in fines are handed out.

 

[Baggers]

(Think this is what was said, very noisy where I am )
Ch 7 news confirming BL v Cats on the Thursday night to kick off Opening Round, Swans v Hawks on the Friday night.
Opening Round & Round 1 to be released tomorrow, full fixture release on Thursday.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

The cats have a hard start. Lions at Gabba, Crows AO and hawks on Easter Monday in the first 5 or 6 rounds

 

[Saints4ever]

The cats have a hard start. Lions at Gabba, Crows AO and hawks on Easter Monday in the first 5 or 6 rounds

Hope we get them at Marvel.
Saints vs Cats at Marvel easy W for the Saints.
Cats vs Saints at alphabet stadium scrappy win for the Cats.
A good fixture is crucial for a team like the Saints.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

Hope we get them at Marvel.
Saints vs Cats at Marvel easy W for the Saints.
Cats vs Saints at alphabet stadium scrappy win for the Cats.
A good fixture is crucial for a team like the Saints.

We will beat them at Geelong again one day and no game is an easy win for us even at marvel!

 

[____]

I'd go a step further and say, as of right now, Collingwood are likely the only team that can guarantee a sell out in western Sydney and you're probably limited to a few Vic teams + Brisbane in terms of opposition that can pull a sell out on the Gold Coast. The Suns sold out games against Richmond, Essendon, Collingwood and Brisbane this year. This is why I think they've chosen Essendon for the Suns in opening round. Ultimately, the AFL wants every opening round game to sell out and have a presence in those northern markets at the same time the NRL gets going. Even Brisbane playing Geelong in opening round is a good idea because it should guarantee a sell out after their epic prelim from a few months ago.

Other Vic teams like St Kilda and North are unlikely to draw sell out crowds in any of the northern markets. So you can view them in a similar way to the SA & WA teams.


You have to consider what the AFL is actually trying to achieve with opening round and the fact that it appears to be working for the most part. The reason opening round exists is because the AFL has data that suggests the NRL gains too much momentum / gains too many casual sports fans by having a week or two head start on the AFL in the northern markets and it affects the northern teams later in the season. They want to be in all the northern markets on the same weekend that the NRL begins playing games in those markets. That happened this year with the NRL games in NSW & QLD starting on the March 7-10 weekend, just like the AFL's opening round games.

Did it work? Well, the Lions sold out 8 of 11 Gabba games this year (not including the finals sell out against Carlton) and the Suns sold out 4 of 9 Carrara games this year. That's the best result we've ever seen in Queensland so it's clearly it's working in the sunshine state. The Swans pulled great crowds this year too with an average of 38k showing up to SCG games. GWS need more time before they start showing similar positive results, but the AFL know that and are in it for the long haul. That's why Collingwood are heading to western Sydney again so they can guarantee at least one sell out next year.

This is still possible with having another 5 games that weekend, calling it round 1 and giving every team either an extra bye or extra game during the season. FWIW that weekend is a public holiday in Vic, SA and Tas as well. Could and should easily have a full round.

 

[parano1a]

So are we just going to ignore that Engie Stadium is hosting Green Day on Mon 3 Mar?

I thought they drowned in the polluted waters of Lake Springfield?

 

[blueiris]

Surely SCG gets both round 0 games

Manuka Stadium

 

[hawkman]

The cats have a hard start. Lions at Gabba, Crows AO and hawks on Easter Monday in the first 5 or 6 rounds

Think we have them covered with Sydney at the SCG, Port at AO and Geelong. Throw in early season Essendon before their usual July collapse

 

[Libbaaaa]

Any game but the Dees at the G for round 1 please.

 

[LuckyBounce!]

Think we have them covered with Sydney at the SCG, Port at AO and Geelong. Throw in early season Essendon before their usual July collapse

Yeah that will be challenging

 

[daniel_4tw]

OA is the most ridiculous thing. Can’t believe they’re going with it again.

But for the love of god, if they’re going to do it, make the teams that played R0 play each other R1.

Having teams that played R0 play teams playing their first game in R1 is peak AFL taking something unequal they designed, and doubling down.

 

[Libbaaaa]

OA is the most ridiculous thing. Can’t believe they’re going with it again.

But for the love of god, if they’re going to do it, make the teams that played R0 play each other R1.

Having teams that played R0 play teams playing their first game in R1 is peak AFL taking something unequal they designed, and doubling down.

It’s so easy, Hawks/Bombers already locked away for their now supposedly annual round 1 game, have the Swans play the Giants, Suns play the Lions and Cats/Pies. Done.

 

[Saints4ever]

It’s so easy, Hawks/Bombers already locked away for their now supposedly annual round 1 game, have the Swans play the Giants, Suns play the Lions and Cats/Pies. Done.

Easy, simple, fair, so no way it happens

 

[Shueygod]

Surely the biggest club in the land should open our season with a bang in front of 80k at the G.

Silly to force 20k Collingwood fans to drive up to that dump in Western Sydney,

The eagles are starting their campaign in round 1 mate.

 

[theprospector]

The eagles are starting their campaign in round 1 mate.

The biggest club that’s won more than 10 games since 2020 then

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Two 50/50 games for Essendon in first two weeks.

Could set themselves up beautifully.

Or be in serious trouble by round 2.

 

[STPer18]

Confirmation the AFL are bringing out the big guns with Geelong opening both Gather and flOpening Round. The obvious choice to get these initiatives off the ground.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Does this mean Hawks are the hottest hype side since Carlton 2024?