Fixture 2025 Fixture Discussion

[AFDogs]

Suns in Darwin really tough, especially after playing in Ballarat the week before.

Ballarat is a home game with a huge advantage for us nowadays.

 

[Ratdweller]

Sure, but not sure why they should be exempted in 2025?

Despite North selling 2 home games to WA and a further 2 home games to TAS in 2025, and despite North playing only 13 games in VIC to our 14, we will actually spend 10 additional minutes on airplanes this year compared to them*. Sure they have to make 3 additional trips to Tullamarine but is pretty much offset by our "travel" to Ballarat (twice) and Geelong (once) which they don't have to do.

* This doesn't hold if we go direct from Perth (Round 4) to Adelaide (Round 5, Gather Round) without coming back to Melbourne).

Ignoring the interstate "home games" and gather round, North play genuine interstate away games in Sydney, Canberra, Launceston and Adelaide (twice). We also have the Sydney and Canberra away trips but in place of Launceston and Adelaide (twice) we get Perth, Darwin and Brisbane. Its not the biggest fixture inequality, but they have managed to sell a bunch of games interstate without really incurring the travel impacts.

Why would we care what Norf are doing? They will finish in the bottom three regardless of what they're doing.

 

[Ratdweller]

Ballarat is a home game with a huge advantage for us nowadays.

This year we'll only be playing for points in the Rat. The ground will be half fenced off once construction of the new stands and development gets underway.

 

[AFDogs]

This year we'll only be playing for points in the Rat. The ground will be half fenced off once construction of the new stands and development gets underway.

I went once and don't plan on going back any time soon. Standing on a hill for 4 quarters wasn't for me.

 

[Ratdweller]

I went once and don't plan on going back any time soon. Standing on a hill for 4 quarters wasn't for me.

My point was that many ought not expect to get to see games in Ballarat this year in person because the ground capacity will be severely constrained. At least comfort levels, amenities and views will improve dramatically in 2026 once the new stands are up. It's been a bit hit and miss on the hill there in the past. Great on a sunny day, and torture when the weather isn't playing nice. The views of the ground will be outstanding. No question about that. But we will have to temper our expectations for 2025 and the first half of 2026 in the mean time. I read an online article in the Ballarat Courier on Monday which I noted the following extract:

New councillors decided - what changes will we see?​

Ballarat Courier: November 11 2024 - 5:35pm

Drone images above Ballarat Central, Delacombe Town Centre and Lake Wendouree. Pictures by Adam Spencer​

The new-look Ballarat council has been announced, with four fresh faces joining some old blood, but questions remain on what will be achieved in the first year. Despite campaigning on tighter spending, lower rates and - unsurprisingly - a focus on road infrastructure, most of the actions for the year are already set down in the previous council plan. These will tick along while new councillors work on the new council plan for 2026 to 2029.

What is supposed to happen this year?​

Most of the actions for 2024-25 are similar to last year or have already been put in motion.

What is happening to the major events precinct?​

Creating a master plan for the events precinct around Mars Stadium is expected to be part of the new council term after it was taken out of the actions for 2023/24.

Community wellbeing director Matthew Wilson said in a statement this was because a "significant number of objectives within the master planning process are now in delivery". This includes the new athletics track on the old showgrounds site. Works at the old John Valves site, which is not owned by council, also meant "several previously undetermined elements within the broader precinct are now clarified", Mr Wilson said.

"The City of Ballarat remains committed to a master plan for the precinct and will work with stakeholders to start planning forward for what is next," he said. Mr Wilson said this could include new car parking, traffic flow and connections between Mars Stadium and Creswick Road, as well as accommodating long-term extensions of Selkirk Stadium and improved access for informal recreation across the site.

In April this year the precinct hosted a four-day wrestling convention. Mr Wilson said the council was always working towards future events. "There is a large amount of scheduled work occurring in the precinct now, and over the next few years, to transform the precinct," he said.

 

[Pugz89]

Why would we care what Norf are doing? They will finish in the bottom three regardless of what they're doing.

Could be just me, but i'd expect North to push up a bit more next year. Bit more experience within the group. Darling will help Larkey out up front. Caleb can help their transition from defence. The lack of key defenders is a worry, but Xerri in the ruck can hold his own, and the midfield should really start coming into its own with guys like Simpkin, LDU, Wardlaw, McKercher all better for the run last year together.
I certainly don't expect them to play finals, but i'd be expecting 6 or so wins from them next year.

 

[doggiesin08]

Could be just me, but i'd expect North to push up a bit more next year. Bit more experience within the group. Darling will help Larkey out up front. Caleb can help their transition from defence. The lack of key defenders is a worry, but Xerri in the ruck can hold his own, and the midfield should really start coming into its own with guys like Simpkin, LDU, Wardlaw, McKercher all better for the run last year together.
I certainly don't expect them to play finals, but i'd be expecting 6 or so wins from them next year.

I just don’t like that North is electing to disadvantage themselves, but then get partial protection through the rest of the fixture when we don’t. It’d be like the AFL sparing us having to play in Geelong because we’re voluntarily travelling to Ballarat twice a year.

That we sell 2 games to Ballarat whole they sell 4 games interstate and somehow we still spend more time on planes doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[Pugz89]

I just don’t like that North is electing to disadvantage themselves, but then get partial protection through the rest of the fixture when we don’t. It’d be like the AFL sparing us having to play in Geelong because we’re voluntarily travelling to Ballarat twice a year.

That we sell 2 games to Ballarat whole they sell 4 games interstate and somehow we still spend more time on planes doesn’t make sense to me.

Maybe. I get your point, and agree to a certain point. But them playing back to back games in WA (albeit their choice) means they'll spend 8-9 days in WA. Any club that has to travel there for an away game would be there 2 days, 4 max if they play both Freo and Eagles away. So North are still spending twice as long as any other interstate team as it is.

 

[TBOW]

Why would we care what Norf are doing? They will finish in the bottom three regardless of what they're doing.

Norf are giving Freo and West Coast one extra home game and one less away game every year. And their home games count for a lot more than ours due to the one sided crowds and umpiring confirmation bias.
We should absolutely care about that.
It could result in Freo edging us out of finals next year or top 4.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Could be just me, but i'd expect North to push up a bit more next year. Bit more experience within the group. Darling will help Larkey out up front. Caleb can help their transition from defence. The lack of key defenders is a worry, but Xerri in the ruck can hold his own, and the midfield should really start coming into its own with guys like Simpkin, LDU, Wardlaw, McKercher all better for the run last year together.
I certainly don't expect them to play finals, but i'd be expecting 6 or so wins from them next year.

Darling will add nothing to North.

 

[Sentinel]

Norf are giving Freo and West Coast one extra home game and one less away game every year. And their home games count for a lot more than ours due to the one sided crowds and umpiring confirmation bias.
We should absolutely care about that.
It could result in Freo edging us out of finals next year or top 4.

One of the games is in Bunbury so don't think you can really count that as a true home game given it's at a neutral venue (they will obviously have crowd support though). The Optus Stadium match however is absolutely an extra home game.

 

[Ratdweller]

Could be just me, but i'd expect North to push up a bit more next year. Bit more experience within the group. Darling will help Larkey out up front. Caleb can help their transition from defence. The lack of key defenders is a worry, but Xerri in the ruck can hold his own, and the midfield should really start coming into its own with guys like Simpkin, LDU, Wardlaw, McKercher all better for the run last year together.
I certainly don't expect them to play finals, but i'd be expecting 6 or so wins from them next year.

Anything is possible, but no team will be sitting on their hands during the seasonal break. All will be working on improvement in their own ways to build upon their perceived weaknesses from this 2024 season.

 

[geoffjennings79]

One of the games is in Bunbury so don't think you can really count that as a true home game given it's at a neutral venue (they will obviously have crowd support though). The Optus Stadium match however is absolutely an extra home game.

Bunbury! That's smaller than Ballarat.

Anyway I asked AI what clubs in WA wear North colours, and got this reply:



Not sure AI is going to take over the planet just yet!

 

[bobs head soup]

Who has the toughest draw? We break down your club's fixture

Check out all you need to know about your club's fixture for the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

AFL has ranked our draw 10th hardest.

Libba Snr does a mildly amusing read of our draw. A couple of chuckles, a bit try hard but good on the club for trying something creative.

 

[cleveland]

I went once and don't plan on going back any time soon. Standing on a hill for 4 quarters wasn't for me.

Get a seat then

 

[Libbaaaa]

Who has the toughest draw? We break down your club's fixture

Check out all you need to know about your club's fixture for the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

AFL has ranked our draw 10th hardest.

Libba Snr does a mildly amusing read of our draw. A couple of chuckles, a bit try hard but good on the club for trying something creative.

If you believed the 7news report last night from Dweeb Cleary we are playing games in Angola, Barbados, Winnipeg and Vladivostok, that’s how hard our travel will be.

 

[Ratdweller]

If you believed the 7news report last night from Dweeb Cleary we are playing games in Angola, Barbados, Winnipeg and Vladivostok, that’s how hard our travel will be.

That's the standard of football commentary these days. They like to sensationalize everything.

 

[fred cook]

Who has the toughest draw? We break down your club's fixture

Check out all you need to know about your club's fixture for the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

www.afl.com.au

AFL has ranked our draw 10th hardest.

Libba Snr does a mildly amusing read of our draw. A couple of chuckles, a bit try hard but good on the club for trying something creative.

and how do they decide that everyone had the Hawks finishing on the bottom part of the ladder before the 2024 season started We all know how that ended up

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Melbourne has a very favourable draw, I expect them to bounce back, Collingwood should rebound, I don’t know about Carlton, I think they will drop. I agree with the sentiment that Norf will win more games. Richmond will finish last again, and the Doggies, I hope that EF capitulation where we played so poorly, spurs them on, but who knows.

 

[geoffjennings79]

If you believed the 7news report last night from Dweeb Cleary we are playing games in Angola, Barbados, Winnipeg and Vladivostok, that’s how hard our travel will be.

I hate that ground at Vladivostok, those narrow wings and square pockets. Worse than Pork Barrel Park.

Barbados (Kensington Oval) on the other hand, calypso music, the new 3Ws stand, great surface. We should do a Port and host games there... as the away team!