2019 Fixture

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,819]

1 hour ago, Jibroni said:

Guarantee a Friday night game about Freo before Round 5

Yep, the AFL and broadcasters just love to play these things up, don't they.

I can just imagine the tacky over dramatized pre game narated video now:

"He was the child prodigy that Melbourne thought they would build their forwardline around for a generation.  But family tragedy and a personal near death experience have brought him back home to the WESST.  Now as Fremantle stuggle to win their first game of the season, Melbourne sits undefeated on top of the ladder, Jessy must be considering what might have been as tonight he faces his former DEEMONS and meet the man that was his replacement head on.  Buckle up, folks, this is going to get ugly".

Edited October 18, 2018 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[beelzebub 23,351]

8 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Who cares about the TV ratings, I'd have thought the club would get more from a good gate. What's this notion that Collingwood always get to start the season?

It helps pay the bills...

Sponsors like it

[Jibroni 5,003]

29 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Yep, the AFL and broadcasters just love to play these things up, don't they.

I can just imagine the tacky over dramatized pre game narated video now:

"He was the child prodigy that Melbourne thought they would build their forwardline around for a generation.  But family tragedy and a personal near death experience have brought him back home to the WESST.  Now as Fremantle stuggle to win their first game of the season, Melbourne sits undefeated on top of the ladder, Jessy must be considering what might have been as tonight he faces his former DEEMONS and meet the man that was his replacement head on.  Buckle up, folks, this is going to get ugly".

Like the narrative RG.

Im sure May v Hogan will be sell tickets and ratings. Hope we play them at the G as well.

Edited October 18, 2018 by Jibroni

[DubDee 25,848]

I’d expect 4 Friday night games at least

anzac eve will cause some disruption but will be fine in the years after next

i guess we can expect a tougher draw after finishing 5th? Expect to play more finalists twice. Although the league is so tight playing north/port twice versus cats/Sydney May not be easier for example

Aside from that much the same as usual. Dons once away. Lots of Saturday’s in the first half of draw and Sunday’s in the second half. 

[deanox 9,914]

8 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Who cares about the TV ratings, I'd have thought the club would get more from a good gate. What's this notion that Collingwood always get to start the season?

A lot more money in TV rights than gates. What else explains GCS or GWS?

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,819]

50 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

It helps pay the bills...

Sponsors like it

Yeah, but we don't get a direct take from ratings and we do the gate for home games.  If it could be structured to maximize TV ratings for away games and the gate for home ones, I think that is the ideal for the MFC.  i.e. play WC and the Swans away in prime time TV and the big Collingwood, Geelong, Essendon games when it maximizes attendance.

Just thinking about it, I realize why Collingwood would claim Rd 1 as a home game for them, due to the somewhat of a gentleman's agreement we have that Queen's Birthday is our home game.  Still prefer a day game Vs Collingwood Rd as it would be good to get some momentum going with getting huge crowds and lots of MFC supporters going to games - winning will be most of it, but we also need to embed a mindset for our supporters to consistently turn up to games and create atmosphere and good commercial returns for the club.  If we can lift the average game day attendance for the lesser clubs, that will have just as much if not more benifit to us than getting one or two block busters.  Big crowds probably also helps gain the attention of TV audiences, broadcasters and sponsors as well, so it becomes a feedback loop.

Edited October 18, 2018 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Skin Deeamond 339]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

It certainly had been, but I have an inkling that last year we played no home games at Docklands.  I could look it up, but I'm in a lazy mood.  Since Docklands no longer represents the hoodoo to us that it once did, it would almost be worth us playing the eagles there just to deny them exposure to playing on the G, even if we no longer need to sacrifice home games to Docklands.

We have played the eagles only once a season and on their home deck on every occation for the past two years if I recall correctly.  About bloody time that we play them on the eastern side of the Nullabour.  Alternate to denying them the experience of the G (which they probably have covered by the GF anyway to be honest), I recon it would be great to play them at the G in about Rd 4 or 5, when hopefully we are really hitting our straps and pulverize them in front of a home crowd of 75,000 - 68,000 of them being Melbourne supporters.  The umpires can give us free kicks for tripping over our own feet then, just like they do the eagles in WA.

We were pretty good at tripping over our own feet in Perth in the final.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,819]

13 minutes ago, deanox said:

A lot more money in TV rights than gates. What else explains GCS or GWS?

The AFL has a long term expansion agenda with GC and GWS to tap into markets which have growing population and a huge established population respectively.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd say that both these clubs are still loss makers, being subsidised and propped up based on that long term vision.  Doesn't work that way for the MFC.

Our sponsors will still get something out of game day and further exposure through out the week if we are sucessful.  Just think of all those mid week press conferences with our players standing in front of a wall of their logo.  Sponsors also like to be associated with sucess, so that will increase our marketability and the premium we can put on our sponsorship as well.  The other intangible factor that could play into our hands nicely is popularity/likeability.  Durning finals, it seemed like every non supporter of our club was adopting the MFC as their second team and that will also generate interest and exposure.  That good will probably only have a limited life span, but it could last for a few years too.  I think Geelong and the Brisbane Lyons experienced something similar for a good number of years, before people thought ok, you have had your fair share of success now.

Edited October 18, 2018 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Pates 9,660]

A big round 1 match vs either the Pies or Geelong is definitely something the AFL needs to make happen. We’ve shown we can get the supporters through the gates and I’m predicting given we were the highest scoring team for the year channel seven will want more games fo us for the pure fact it gets the adverts out there. 

Speaking extremely selfishly I really want lots of night games purely because it’s so much better for me to watch overseas!

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,819]

5 minutes ago, Stormy Dee said:

We were pretty good at tripping over our own feet in Perth in the final.

Too true.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

8 hours ago, McQueen said:

 Assuming we’ll have one or two home games there. Been that way for a while hasn’t it?

We haven't had a home game at Docklands since 2016.

[Pennant St Dee 13,172]

Freo are home Round 1 so don't be surprised if we get them if the Collingwood request falls through 

[Dee Zephyr 19,267]

We should be in for a footy feast from the Thursday before Good Friday until the Sunday after Anzac Day.

An article a couple of months ago mentioned the Lions requested playing the Pies on the Thursday night before Good Friday. Blues, Dogs and Saints loom as North’s only possible Victorian opponent should North hold the rights for Good Friday due to the hectic schedule. 

If this was to go ahead, us and the Toiges should be two of the Saturday games for equal rest heading into Anzac eve. As far as Essendon is concerned, no one really cares how much rest they get going into Anzac Day. 

2019's festival of footy

Thursday 18 April: Thursday Night Footy
Friday 19 April: Good Friday game
Saturday 20 April: Four games
Sunday 21 April: Easter Sunday – two games
Monday 22 April: Geelong v Hawthorn
Tuesday 23 April: No footy
Wednesday 24 April: Richmond v Melbourne
Thursday 25 April: Anzac Day – Collingwood v Essendon
Friday 26 April: Friday Night Footy
Saturday 27 April: Four games
Sunday 28 April: Two games

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

5 hours ago, Pates said:

One thing I’ve wanted for a while but never seems to happen. Home game at the G vs Essendon, the ALWAYS seem to get the home game vs us. It’s actually getting ridiculous now. 

I read a few years ago that the MCC always requests that Melbourne play away games against Essendon and Carlton at the MCG. I have no idea why but it would explain why we haven't hosted Essendon since 2010 and hosted Carlton twice in 10 years.

[Deemania since 56 6,634]

15 hours ago, McQueen said:

I want the Geelong game to be a rd1 staple just like Carlton and Richmond.

GCS in Darwin so we can send our reserves team up there instead of the B22 (assuming the NTexperient is set to proceed as reported).

Good Friday night footy possibly before Anzac Eve on Thursday 25th. Maybe a Hawthorn for Good Friday??

Dockers at Optus - not WCE again.

We must be in the raffle to play more Friday nights this year - we just must be a Victorian pace-setter in that regard alongside the Toiges. We must also be relieved of interstate travel in which we are subject to continuous, incestuous abuse across the fence. Tiredness from travelling is also a concern. 

[dl4e 5,851]

We have to take in account the filths Eddie banging on about the QB game being a Mellbourne home game and how they want it rotated. From tjis I understand Melbourne agrees but want to play a home game if we play away to Richmond on ANZAC eve. Home to Richmond and away to the filth. Next year we play away to Richmond so will want home against the filth which will get Eddie screaming in his pants. The best solution to this is to play away to the filth in rd1 which should get a decent crowd. This may keep Eddie at bay for another year.

[drdrake 3,163]

I reckon we will get essendon easter Thursday.  Pies round 1

[Dr. Gonzo 24,209]

14 hours ago, McQueen said:

 Assuming we’ll have one or two home games there. Been that way for a while hasn’t it?

Pretty sure we no longer play home games at Docklands - we have 9 at the G and 2 in NT. If we stopped playing NT we would likely play those games at Docklands. As a trade off we seem to play the Bombers away at Docklands now (we used to play them away at the G).

I want to see us play Essendon the week before ANZAC Day on Thursday night (before Good Friday). Seems like we might get shafted with this and Coll/Rich goes on Thurs and we play Bombers Saturday meaning Tigers get a 6 day break while we get a 4 day break going into ANZAC Eve.

[Lucifers Hero 39,747]

Unfortunately, Essendon has already earmarked the Good Friday Eve game but against Carlton and to make it an annual event.  https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-proposes-good-friday-eve-blockbuster-against-carlton-for-2019-20180809-p4zwlb.html

It is yet to be ok'd by AFL but wouldn't be surprised if it happens - AFL is still trying to get Carlton 'successful again...'

As we will play Ess the week after Anzac Eve/Day - it gives them a big advantage by having a longer break before the Anzac games.  Hopefully we get Saturday afternoon to even it up a bit.  Will be filthy if we get Sunday twilight.

As an aside,  I just don't get this fixation of including Carlton in big games.   They do not deserve the permanent opening season fixture and certainly don't deserve the Good Friday Eve game.

Edited October 19, 2018 by Lucifer's Hero

[Jaded No More 68,906]

NO MORE GEELONG GAMES IN GEELONG.

Why are we the only Victorian team that is made to play there? Joke!

West Coast in Melbourne for a change would be nice.

Essendon home game at the G for once. 

[McQueen 17,864]

23 hours ago, McQueen said:

I want the Geelong game to be a rd1 staple just like Carlton and Richmond.

GCS in Darwin so we can send our reserves team up there instead of the B22 (assuming the NTexperient is set to proceed as reported).

Good Friday Thursday night footy possibly before Anzac Eve on Thursday 25th Wednesday 24th. Maybe a Hawthorn for Good Friday??

Dockers at Optus - not WCE again.

Ed: Thursday night footy on 18th April (my mistake thought Anzac eve was Thursday).

[DemonLad5 1,642]

- Suns twice 

- WA team in Melbourne 

- 4+ Friday night games

- Friday night round 1 vs Collingwood

 

[MT64 1,144]

9 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I read a few years ago that the MCC always requests that Melbourne play away games against Essendon and Carlton at the MCG. I have no idea why but it would explain why we haven't hosted Essendon since 2010 and hosted Carlton twice in 10 years.

Why would they have an input to the fixture?????

[grazman 7,432]

14 hours ago, DemonLad5 said:

- Suns twice 

- WA team in Melbourne 

- 4+ Friday night games

- Friday night round 1 vs Collingwood

 

Is that what you have heard or what you want?

[titan_uranus 25,014]

We haven't been interstate in Round 1 since the 90s, we've been incredibly fortunate on that front. Let's hope it continues with a big Round 1 game against Collingwood or Essendon or something like that.

If we maintain the two NT home games we shouldn't get a Marvel Stadium home game, but if we are able to get out of Darwin I expect that will just get sent to Marvel.

We should be seeing more Friday night games, including home Friday night game(s) against Victorian sides (i.e. not Sydney like 2017), and more Thursday/Saturday nights, too. But I still expect to see plenty of Sunday 1.10 and 3.20 games.

A home game against Essendon would be nice.

On 10/19/2018 at 12:34 AM, WERRIDEE said:

Who will be the 5 teams we play twice? My guess is the Pies, Dockers, Kangas, Suns and Cats

Our finishing position of 4th means we have to play a minimum of two repeat games against the top 6 (West Coast, Collingwood, Richmond, GWS, Hawthorn), and possibly three.

And we can only get a maximum of one repeat game against a bottom 6 side (Carlton, GC, St Kilda, Brisbane, Fremantle, Bulldogs), and possibly zero.

You'd like to think we'd get repeat games against at least one of Collingwood and Richmond, possibly both.