The 2018 Fixture Thread

[Jaded No More 68,974]

Just now, drdrake said:

The Bulldogs get us after both Darwin and Alice springs trips

I passionately hate that we sell those games, and for as long as we do it, we really can't complain of who/when/how we play the week after.

It is our choice to sell those games, which was good while we were garbage and needed money, but it is now costing us on the field, which is the only thing we should care about at this stage. 

[picket fence 17,500]

You reap what you sow and we have been shizen for a long time. We deserve this draw.

Defining year next year for a lot of people at the club and unless we finish in top 8, The unemployment queue will get bigger, starting with the coach! IMV

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

The interstate away Saturday night games (Brisbane and Adelaide) do not get FTA into Melbourne usually so yet again we are dudded from a sponsorship aspect.

The other is at Geelong which will of course be almost impossible to attend from an MFC supporter viewpoint. I assume this one will get FTA at least.

[dees189227 12,398]

Essenscum are complaining about the lack of mcg games. Suck it up.

Disappointed we have 2 games in a row at etihad. Another year where essenscum get a home game against us.

[Sir Why You Little 37,127]

Shafted again

The NT Deal is going to hurt again. 

Is the money worth the absolute compromise?

The NT money means NOTHING if we miss September

[Zoiikgarden 134]

Just hope the boys have a winning mindset - whenever, wherever, without fading in quarters and keep firing until Round 23!!

All fired up!!

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

Is eleven games at the MCG normal? It seems abnormally low to me. My recollection is that we usually pay somewhere between 12-14 at the G. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

[The Chazz 4,077]

LOLsies at those saying we are "shafted", etc.  We are such a delicate, mentally fragile community, aren't we?

I don't think any player on our list will be sooking about the draw.  If they just turn up with the mindset of winning any game, then we will make finals easily.

[What 18,810]

9 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Shafted again

The NT Deal is going to hurt again. 

Is the money worth the absolute compromise?

The NT money means NOTHING if we miss September

Exactly.

And making September would mean more merchandise sales, more members, and a better draw financially .next season.   We would do much better $$ wise.

The NT games are ridiculous.

[DemonOX 8,800]

5 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Exactly.

And making September would mean more merchandise sales, more members, and a better draw financially .next season.   We would do much better $$ wise.

The NT games are ridiculous.

I think next season is our last yr of our two yr contract to play up there. 

Will be interesting to c if the MFC renew for another two yrs. Hopefully not. 

[Rogue 585]

42 minutes ago, McQueen said:

I watch and support the club at any stage of a round. Whilst one Friday night game is paltry compared to other undeserved clubs, it’s hardly worth getting your knickers in a twist over.

 

That's great (I'll attend the games whatever time they're scheduled, too), but Friday night games bring in revenue.

I've always disliked the idea of selling games and always said that once we were on the rise we should stop. I'm hoping we don't renew the arrangement - or reduce it to one game per year.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Rogue

[Demon17 5,203]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-10-31/melbournes-2018-fixture-announced

2018 Melbourne fixture

Round 3, Saturday, April 7, North Melbourne, MCG, Home, 2:10pm, Foxtel

 

 

Round 21, Sunday, August 12, Sydney Swans, MCG, Home, 3:20pm, Seven

 

Round 23, TBC, GWS Giants, MCG, Home, TBC, TBC

No Hobart and no Sydney - Swans and GWS both in Melb.

That balances some of the other bad news well IMO. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

20 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Is eleven games at the MCG normal? It seems abnormally low to me. My recollection is that we usually pay somewhere between 12-14 at the G. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

You're right, 11 is low. We usually have 12 at the MCG.

However the problem next year is that we are hosting Richmond on Anzac Day (only play them once every year) which means one less away game at the G. And this is the first time since 2014 that we are not playing Collingwood 'away' at the MCG.

[jnrmac 20,185]

How is it that we have played once as the home side against Essendon since 2005 ? Who TF does these fixtures?

Carlton hasn't played at Geelong since 2007??

Since 2008 Carlton have been the away side against melbourne twice??

Since 2009 Melbourne have been the away team against Geelong all but once

Seriously, people complain about melbourne receiving equalisation money. Its a joke. We get shafted by having to play interstate sides at the G and a severe lack of games against the big pulling teams when we are at home.

 

Edited October 31, 2017 by jnrmac

[The Chazz 4,077]

I swear, we could play 22 games at the MCG, 11 of them on Friday night and the other 11 on a Saturday afternoon, and people will still find reason to complain.

We have been given a draw that gives us a great opportunity to win enough games to make finals.  We have been given a draw that gives us, the supporters, an opportunity to go to a lot of the games.  Given our status, our draws over the past few years has been quite favourable, it's just we haven't been able to make the most of it.

It's time for supporters to stop pointing and whinging.  This whole mindset of "poor us" has to cease. We need to demand more from our players, and the club should bloody well demand more from us.  We are no longer "insignificant".  We are more "neutral" now.  But between us supporters, the playing group and the club, we are entering an era that could see us become something special.  Pizzing and moaning about the draw just continually allows that negative cloud to hang over our heads. 

[praha 11,240]

Our final game of the year and inability to make finals again has cost us.

[dl4e 5,851]

15 minutes ago, praha said:

Our final game of the year and inability to make finals again has cost us.

Well next season we want to be firmly in the 8 before the last round.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,510]

It is what it is and no amount of complaining will change that.  Truth be told, I don't care about when we play as long as we win and I'd much rather be a team that flies under the radar, so to speak, than one in the glaring spotlight.

On a positive side, whilst we don't get a lot of Friday night matches, we do get the two marque matches that we really wanted.  Both these games should pull 80K plus to the MCG.  In addition, the short turn around following the ANZAC match against Essendon actually work significantly in our favour.  Plenty of matches at our home ground and a few 'away' matches at our home ground is a plus and hopefully we can win at least 3 of the first 4 and use that as a springboard into the year.

As some have already said, if we're good enough, we'll win.  

[McQueen 17,867]

1 hour ago, Rogue said:

That's great (I'll attend the games whatever time they're scheduled, too), but Friday night games bring in revenue.

I've always disliked the idea of selling games and always said that once we were on the rise we should stop. I'm hoping we don't renew the arrangement - or reduce it to one game per year.

I'm sure we're approaching that tipping point where that decision needs to be made but I'm also remaining pragmatic - particularly in the knowledge that the AFL would've crunched the numbers and looked at our Friday nights earning ability at the MCG and thought another year won't hurt the Dee's as much as it'd hurt us from a revenue perspective.

However, even another away Friday night game would've been nice.

[rjay 25,088]

1 hour ago, The Chazz said:

I swear, we could play 22 games at the MCG, 11 of them on Friday night and the other 11 on a Saturday afternoon, and people will still find reason to complain.

No, I think that would be a reasonable outcome....just concerned about the other game, that's all.

[Dees_In_October 3,495]

Does anyone know which games will be the compensation 'home' ones for the NT games?

[hardtack 10,626]

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

No Hobart and no Sydney - Swans and GWS both in Melb.

That balances some of the other bad news well IMO. 

I think you'll find that it balances absolutely nothing for us Sydney or Hobart based members who are essentially paying a lot of money to watch the games on TV.

[DaveyDee 421]

From a football perspective this is a very tough draw.

However, if we make the finals with a draw like this we can win the whole f' lot - premiership and all.  

[DubDee 26,117]

1 hour ago, The Chazz said:

I swear, we could play 22 games at the MCG, 11 of them on Friday night and the other 11 on a Saturday afternoon, and people will still find reason to complain.

We have been given a draw that gives us a great opportunity to win enough games to make finals.  We have been given a draw that gives us, the supporters, an opportunity to go to a lot of the games.  Given our status, our draws over the past few years has been quite favourable, it's just we haven't been able to make the most of it.

It's time for supporters to stop pointing and whinging.  This whole mindset of "poor us" has to cease. We need to demand more from our players, and the club should bloody well demand more from us.  We are no longer "insignificant".  We are more "neutral" now.  But between us supporters, the playing group and the club, we are entering an era that could see us become something special.  Pizzing and moaning about the draw just continually allows that negative cloud to hang over our heads. 

Ahhh the veil of negativity!   the whinging supporters are stopping the players from winning again

you're hilarious Chazz

[In Harmes Way 7,823]

The draw does us no favours.

Negatives:

-  One Friday night game, in Adelaide

- Playing 11 games against teams that have had more rest than us (7 games + 1 day, 3 games + 2 days and 1 game +6 days). Adelaide in Traeger park with 2 extra days rest will be tough. To balance that up, we only play 4 games where we’ve had additional rest over our opponents (3x +1 day, 1x +3 days)

- Last 6 rounds include 5 against teams in this yrs top 8. Three of those road trips, and two of those three against teams with home team having extra rest (Geelong +2 days, WCE +1 day)

- A lot of Sunday 3:20pm games (6). Not good for crowds, it’s an effing school night AFL. We’ve got 4 traditional Saturday/Sunday early afternoon games (2 home, 2 away). Timing of games not terrific for people wanting to take smaller kids along. Might pair back the membership level given I’m not going to get to a lot of these games.

Positives:

- Only 3 road trips in the 13 rounds before the bye

- Playing 8 teams that finished 10^th or lower,  in the 12 rounds before the bye

- If we make the finals, we’ll have earnt it.