The 2012 MFC Fixture

[Whispering_Jack 29,828]

The 2012 Draw

RD DATE OPPONENT VENUE H/A LOCAL TIME

1 Saturday, March 31 Brisbane Lions MCG Home 1:40pm

2 Saturday, April 7 West Coast Eagles Patersons Stadium Away 2:40pm

3 Saturday, April 14 Richmond MCG Away 1:45pm

4 Sunday, April 22 Western Bulldogs MCG Home 4:40pm

5 Saturday, April 28 St. Kilda MCG Home 7:40pm

6 Saturday, May 5 Geelong Cats Simonds Stadium Away 1:45pm

7 Friday, May 11 Hawthorn MCG Home 7:50pm

8 Saturday, May 19 Sydney Swans SCG Away 4:40pm

9 Sunday, May 27 Carlton MCG Away 3:15pm

10 Saturday, June 2 Essendon MCG Away 7:40pm

11 Monday, June 11 Collingwood MCG Home 3:15pm

12 Bye  

13 Sunday, June 24 GWS GIANTS MCG Home 3:15pm

14 Sunday, July 1 Brisbane Lions Gabba Away 3:15pm

15 Saturday, July 7 Richmond MCG Home 2:10pm

16 Saturday, July 14 Fremantle Etihad Stadium Home 1:45pm

17 Saturday, July 21 Port Adelaide TIO Stadium Home 7:10pm

18 Saturday, July 28 North Melbourne Etihad Stadium Away 2:10pm

19 Sunday, August 5 Gold Coast SUNS MCG Home 1:10pm

20 Saturday, August 11 St. Kilda MCG Away 1:45pm

21 Saturday, August 18 GWS GIANTS Manuka Oval Away 2:10pm

22 Sunday, August 26 Adelaide Crows MCG Home 4:40pm

23 TBC Fremantle Patersons Stadium Away TBC

What it means for your club by Ashley Browne - afl.com.au

MELBOURNE

Football: Should be pleased, particularly with the opening half of the season where it has eight of 11 games at the MCG. Will only play two games at Etihad Stadium, where the Demons have a terrible record, but do cop another trip to Geelong, the scene of former coach Dean Bailey's undoing in 2011. Including their home game in Darwin, the Demons have six matches outside Victoria, two of those in Perth. Of the 2011 top eight they play only St Kilda twice. Other return clashes are against Greater Western Sydney, Richmond, Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions. Only five six-day breaks is another good result.

Business: Eight of 11 MCG games to start the year should delight fans, and the club's bottom line. They've also got eight family-friendly Saturday afternoon matches, and 11 games on free to air TV. They've retained their traditional Queen's Birthday home game against Collingwood, and have a Friday night at home against Hawthorn. That is the Demons' only match in that sought-after timeslot though. The home game against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium won't have the accountants celebrating, but it's offset by clashes against the Magpies and Hawks, plus a home game against Richmond and the profitable excursion to Darwin.

Big game: Both rebuilding from the bottom up and laden with talented youngsters, Melbourne and Richmond have used each other as somewhat of a yardstick in recent seasons. They'll have an early chance to do that again in 2012, with a round three MCG clash set to sort out which of the two is on the faster track to the top.

[H_T 3,043]

Fremantle last round.....

Is this the 3rd or 4th time in a row now we'll be facing Essendon only once in a season - away ?!

I would love to see the AFL let us play Essendon in a home game - not only to tear the Bombers a new one - but just to see what guernsey they wear as an away strip !

No break after the Darwin game will upset a few here. We play North the following week at Etihad.

Rounds 1, 4 & 5 are home games against the Lions, Dogs and Saints respectively. These are the games that the club will be relying on to boost membership numbers in season. Not overly big drawing games - I don't think the club will be overly pleased, but they'll just have to make do in promoting in the off-season to have most signed up early. Then cross their fingers many turn up. So performance becomes critical in terms of numbers.

Round 7 is a big friday night fixture against the Hawks and we may gain more numbers then, but most will have decided by round 7. Look forward to this game, this and Collingwood are our two big games of the year from a bottom line perspective (and the Darwin game).

Then there's the 186 re-match in Round 6 at Simonds...

Edited October 27, 2011 by H_T

[rpfc 28,273]

It should be noted that the AFL wrote those paras at the end. I'm sure Cameron will have a different view on the Business side.

We have home games against BL, WB (Sunday Twilight), GWS, Freo (Etihad), GCS, and Adel (Sunday Twilight).

That is 6 games of awfulness from a business stand point.

St Kilda (Sat Night), Haw (Friday night), PA (Darwin), Rich (Sat Afternoon) and Pies (QB) better be huge winners for our bottom line...

[Jaded No More 68,867]

Average draw at first glance, although we play all the top teams once, so that's good.

WHY THE F' DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO PLAY GEELONG IN GEELONG?!

[hardtack 10,520]

I am just copying and pasting/paraphrase my comments in the Draw Snippets thread:

With this draw imho, it's hard know how we will be faring at the mid-way point because we will be going into the season with a new coaching set-up, a new forward structure, some fitter players and hopefully a new mind-set. Anything could happen.

Positives I see are that we have a great run of games at the MCG, we meet West Coast at Pattersons early in the season, so it could be anybodies game really, the Saints and Bullies are in some disarray and there is no reason we could not be 5-0 (yes we could just as easily be 2-3) early on - and yes, it may depend on how much momentum we can take into it from the NAB Cup. If we can take some good results in the first half, we may have the momentum to win us a few of the less likely games in the second half.

I for one, will not write us off just yet.

My only comment on the draw is that I finally get to see us play in Sydney for the first time in a few years, but am a bit disappointed I will have to travel 300km down the road to see us vs Scullys.

[Jack son 5 162]

Title change (2012).

Good draw in terms of footy (top 5 once each). Waiting for opposition supporters to see our draw. ahhh, the Demons again...

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Now all we have to do is figure out which away game to go to and book flights. All have their good points

[Bates Mate 4,469]

Tough first half of the year.

I have us down for 3 wins 7 losses coming up to the bye

 

3 wins being Brisbane (confident) and Richmond & Bulldogs (not so confident).

 

Second half gets better. 

I have us down for 7 wins 3 losses

 

wins GWS x2 , GC, Brisbane, Adelaide, Port, one of Rich/Stkilda

 

So 11 wins 11 losses give or take an upset loss /upset win. a 50% season and vying for 7-10 spot would be a good outcome with new coach.

 

http://www.heraldsun...fl/fixture-2012  

Oh and someone needs to tell Stevo at the HUN that Bails won't be popping corks for obvious reasons.

Edited October 28, 2011 by Whispering_Jack

[pantaloons 2,019]

My thoughts:

Home games: 13 games at the G, 9 of which are home games (away games against Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and St. Kilda). Score: 8/10. Loses points for the Etihad game against Freo and having fewer games at our ground than Collingwood, but overall a very good result. Play GWS at the G which is huge.

Interstate games: 6. Score: 4/10. We sell one of these to Darwin against Port so we can't complain about that, but we make two trips to Perth to play likely the two best interstate sides. Play GWS at Manuka instead of Sydney. No trips to Adelaide is a bonus.

Timeslots: The times are all over the shop with 9 games a week, but we play 8 Saturday arvo games, 1 Friday night home game against the Hawks, and only 6 Sunday games, of which one is at 1.10 and another at 1.45. Great result with the Saturdays. Score: 9/10

Ease of draw: We play St. Kilda, Richmond, Freo, GWS and Brisbane twice. St. Kilda would be the shakiest finals team from last year and they're the only finalist we play twice, and both times at the G! We only play at Etihad twice, but once again travel to Kardinia Park, and we play in Perth in the final round. Score: 8.5/10.

I think we've done very well here. I thought after receiving such a cream puff draw last year we'd be given a much tougher one this year, but we've done well again. Let's start performing on the field and then the business side of the draw will take care of itself. It's a very good draw for the team, hopefully we can make the most of it and make the 8.

[Samsara 65]

Tough first half of the year.

I have us down for 3 wins 7 losses coming up to the bye

 

3 wins being Brisbane (confident) and Richmond & Bulldogs (not so confident).

 

Second half gets better. 

I have us down for 7 wins 3 losses

 

wins GWS x2 , GC, Brisbane, Adelaide, Port, one of Rich/Stkilda

 

So 11 wins 11 losses give or take an upset loss /upset win. a 50% season and vying for 7-10 spot would be a good outcome with new coach.

 

http://www.heraldsun...fl/fixture-2012  

Oh and someone needs to tell Stevo at the HUN that Bails won't be popping corks for obvious reasons.

Didn't we learn anything from this season about penciling us in for wins? Anything could happen with this bloody club.

 

That said, four out of the last five games are very winnable coming into the finals. Gold Coast, GWS, Adelaide (home), and Saints (MCG) before Fremantle away in final round. 

 

I really don't know what to expect from the club in 2012, so we will just wait and see.

[PaulRB 6,352]

Even draw with a tough first half season followed by a easier second half season. We play with 8 of the top 8 (2011) teams in the in first 11 games followed by 1 of the top 8 (2011) teams in final 11 games. We also play freo twice in the second half of the season who would be looking to re-enter the top 8 in 2012.

The tough patch from Round 4 - 11 will reveal alot about how the team is travelling in 2012 relative to the tough patch we had in 2011 (i.e. leading up to 186)..

[robbo24 66]

No break after the Darwin game will upset a few here. We play North the following week at Etihad.

It's at Etihad so we'd probably lose regardless.

Average draw at first glance, although we play all the top teams once, so that's good.

Thats what its all about. From a pure footballing term that is an outstanding result!

Tough first half of the year

I have us down for 3 wins 7 losses coming up to the bye

If we can escape with 2-3 wins from round 5-11 then we are on track. Very hard run that hopefully doesn't demoralize the players like it did this year.

All in all it would be good to have a few extra Friday night games but at least our 1 will be a blockbuster (please don't rain!!!)

Only 2 Etihad games with 1 against Freo is a big win. Our final 10 rounds are also phenominal. No excuses next year

[beelzebub 23,313]

Well..its not too bad.. quite good in some respects. Good to see so many games at home ( our real home ) . We lucked out with 2 trips to the west and one to the Abyss aka Geelong !!. I find this a two edged sword really. If we can put on spiritied performanaces or even snag a win or two at these venues then we have arrrived. Collingwood wont do this, we can grumble but its our lot for the moment.

I still has many misgivings about this game in Darwin.. July !!! hmmm.. thats the 'sweaty' season folks.. I think its foolhardy , but its the clubs decision. Two bites of the GWS pie is marvellous

Only 2 games at Wastelands... a great outcome.

Its ok...no one ( unless youre that other club ) gets a dream draw. We can make a good fist of this one.

A bit of a shame going west before coming home for the finals !!

Go Dees

[Jack7 528]

Very happy playing the top 5 once.

[Demondeb 8]

From a corporate perspective, it could be better but from a footy fan - and an interstate one, I dont mind it too much.

From a Qld standpoint, we get he Lions and GC in NAB cup which we could reasonably expect to win both - of course we all know that anything can happen with this group. Then mid season we get the Lions again up at the Gabba on a Sunday afternoon which should be pretty good for crowds.. we aim to have a function after this game . I shall be negotiatiing with the heirachy to ensure we dont have a repeat of last season.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

.....

My thoughts:

Home games: 13 games at the G, 9 of which are home games (away games against Richmond, Carlton, Essendon and St. Kilda). Score: 8/10. Loses points for the Etihad game against Freo and having fewer games at our ground than Collingwood, but overall a very good result. Play GWS at the G which is huge.

Interstate games: 6. Score: 4/10. We sell one of these to Darwin against Port so we can't complain about that, but we make two trips to Perth to play likely the two best interstate sides. Play GWS at Manuka instead of Sydney. No trips to Adelaide is a bonus.

Timeslots: The times are all over the shop with 9 games a week, but we play 8 Saturday arvo games, 1 Friday night home game against the Hawks, and only 6 Sunday games, of which one is at 1.10 and another at 1.45. Great result with the Saturdays. Score: 9/10

Ease of draw: We play St. Kilda, Richmond, Freo, GWS and Brisbane twice. St. Kilda would be the shakiest finals team from last year and they're the only finalist we play twice, and both times at the G! We only play at Etihad twice, but once again travel to Kardinia Park, and we play in Perth in the final round. Score: 8.5/10.

I think we've done very well here. I thought after receiving such a cream puff draw last year we'd be given a much tougher one this year, but we've done well again. Let's start performing on the field and then the business side of the draw will take care of itself. It's a very good draw for the team, hopefully we can make the most of it and make the 8.

.....Unbelievable!!....No games at AAMI? WTF? At least we wont be adding to that little record!

[pantaloons 2,019]

.....

.....Unbelievable!!....No games at AAMI? WTF? At least we wont be adding to that little record!

For the second year running no less!

[beelzebub 23,313]

Just noticed the earlier starts on many sats.. Hope it doesnt catch too many out..

[hardtack 10,520]

Just noticed the earlier starts on many sats.. Hope it doesnt catch too many out..

Yeah that's a surprise... only three 2:10 start Saturday games.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Yeah whats with the 3.15pm starts?? Did they forget about daylight savings??

[rpfc 28,273]

Yeah whats with the 3.15pm starts?? Did they forget about daylight savings??

Channel Seven want the footy to lead straight into the news.

Say goodbye to 2.10 games.

[drdrake 3,163]

Yeah whats with the 3.15pm starts?? Did they forget about daylight savings??

Live footy, Seven wants 3.15 starts to lead into their news

[Grapeviney 9,713]

Got a tough six-game streak between rounds 5-11 - not unlike what we faced this year - witrh games against the Saints, the Cats, Hawks, Swans, Blues, Dons and Pies...

Other than that I reckon we're OK

Looking forward to the years ahead when we can snare a few more Friday night games

[Grapeviney 9,713]

Looking forward to the years ahead when we can snare a few more Friday night games

And we can practice for those Fri night games this year by playing under lights in the last quarters of those 3.15pm games...

[beelzebub 23,313]

And we can practice for those Fri night games this year by playing under lights in the last quarters of those 3.15pm games...

I dont understand why the QBD game needs to start late. ..Nothing else on that day !!!