Fixture 2020 (COVID Edition)

[CHF 2,768]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

That's true but given the nature of the rolling fixture you can make requests for the next run to be kinder based off the way we have been pretty screwed over.

True. I understand that but what ha been published is what it is. I am sure the footy department will try to make the best of it.

[Docs Demons 1,792]

17 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

Anyone, anytime, anywhere

With you here mate. Most have a cry but as the old saying goes "when the going gets tough the tough get going". It's up to us to play good footy to watch, win games and the AFL will then start gifting us prime time games and just maybe look at us like the Magpies, Bombers etc.  I have no issues at all with the fixture and I'm sure the Coaching staff and players will take it in their stride. Beat Brisbane Sunday on the GC and then Port also up here in Qld the following week and our season is set up nicely. No use whinging about it. GET ON WITH IT.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,305]

2 hours ago, Satan said:

And we play essendon down the track when the season might be on the line

Whats the best it comes down to that game as to whether we play finals or not? Standalone game at the end of the season, defacto wildcard game?

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,708]

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

? Look at Ess:

• Round 9 - Friday, Gabba
• Round 10 - Friday, Metricon
• Round 11 - Wednesday, Metricon
• Round 12 - Sunday, Gabba

Nice spread of dates and don't leave Qld where they have been based for about a month (and travelled once in round 8 to SA).

How on earth do they get special treatment like that!!!!

This is where the postponed game will hurt us.  Freo, WCE, Hawthorn and Carlton have a bye after round 10.  GWS and Sydney get a bye in Round 11.  Other teams will get byes between Rounds 13 - 16. 

We don't get a bye nor do Essendon but look at the advantage they have in well spaced games and no travel.

I'm not usually someone to complain about the fixture but we have been dealt a poor hand especially if we end up playing in Alice and have a catch up game without a bye.

With the amount of travel we have basing in Maroochydore may not be such a good idea for total travel time to/from airports etc.  Lets hope there are flights from there directly to Adelaide and Hobart otherwise it will be quite painful, especially if we have to adopt FIFO travel.

Can only hope the AFL even it up in rounds 13 - 16!

Don't worry their turn will come.

Hopefully they play us off a 4 day break in the catch up game.

Edited July 21, 2020 by Win4theAges

[1964nowMORE 492]

Pretty happy with this fixture. We get to test ourselves against the best (Lions and Power) while in good form with a healthy deep list.

We get the SA clubs how we’d prefer, Crows in Adelaide, Port in Qld.

We get to play in Tassie again. We know this ground well, play this game every year, and North are struggling. We both come off 4 day breaks; seems fair.

We get the Pies amid their, and our, travel bonanza! And without De Goey! 

Then I read that Melbourne Storm has just played 7 games in 7 different venues across 4 states while fully relocating to Qld - no complaints and once again they ease back into the top 4 in dominant form. Guess where the Storm are staying in Qld? Maybe Goody can buy Bellamy a few lattes.....

And we have Burgess - have no doubt the players will get confidence from that, call it our X Factor.

Carn Demons

Edited July 21, 2020 by 1964nowMORE

[Dr. Gonzo 24,305]

1 hour ago, ChaserJ said:

I wonder if we could arrange to head to Tassie direct from Adelaide? Might give us some sort of leg up on North as far as the travel goes.

I wonder how the players families who are relocating to the Queensland hub would feel about that? They'd be thinking why did I even bother coming up here?

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,708]

If we can manage a win Sunday it sets us up for Thursday night, whilst challenging its essentially with carefully management a free swing at Port.

Easier to back up after a win than a loss as well.

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

14 minutes ago, 1964nowMORE said:

Then I read that Melbourne Storm has just played 7 games in 7 different venues across 4 states while fully relocating to Qld - no complaints and once again they ease back into the top 4 in dominant form. Guess where the Storm are staying in Qld? Maybe Goody can buy Bellamy a few lattes.....

 

Yes need to have the attitude that’s it’s all green grass no matter where and when 

[DubDee 26,124]

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

? Look at Ess:

• Round 9 - Friday, Gabba
• Round 10 - Friday, Metricon
• Round 11 - Wednesday, Metricon
• Round 12 - Sunday, Gabba

Nice spread of dates and don't leave Qld where they have been based for about a month (and travelled once in round 8 to SA).

How on earth do they get special treatment like that!!!!

This is where the postponed game will hurt us.  Freo, WCE, Hawthorn and Carlton have a bye after round 10.  GWS and Sydney get a bye in Round 11.  Other teams will get byes between Rounds 13 - 16. 

We don't get a bye nor do Essendon but look at the advantage they have in well spaced games and no travel.

I'm not usually someone to complain about the fixture but we have been dealt a poor hand especially if we end up playing in Alice and have a catch up game without a bye.

With the amount of travel we have basing in Maroochydore may not be such a good idea for total travel time to/from airports etc.  Lets hope there are flights from there directly to Adelaide and Hobart otherwise it will be quite painful, especially if we have to adopt FIFO travel.

Can only hope the AFL even it up in rounds 13 - 16!

Fair post. But they are in Adelaide this week and they have one 4 day break. 
hope they [censored] over later in the fixture

[Cards13 9,117]

The issues I see are travelling to bloody Tassie (for both teams) from QLD but for us as well it’s playing a game then having to travel back to Maroochydore from Adelaide and Tassie. 
It’s not like it’s just the one hour-ish flight. Also as someone said above, the families moving to QLD and having partners travelling so often in the next period is going to be tough. 
 

There is zero asterisk on this season for the winner for mine.

[CHF 2,768]

I think that this fixture is ok for us. We now have clarity for the next 5 rounds and it will be interesting to see how we strategically program ourselves to get the best results.

Between Round 8, Brisbane at Metricon and Round 9, Port at Gabba We have a 4 day turnaround and while Port have an extra day to recover, they have to travel in from Adelaide but have an extra day. Selection this week with a 4 day turnaround will be critical to giving us the best chance of success. We have only a few injuries and some good depth. My opinion is that we play a strong team this week (same as last week if posible with few changes) and look to freshen up the team with a couple of changes in all three areas of the team. Rivers, Josh Wagner and Smith to rotate in defence. There are a lot that could rotate through the midfield. Tomlinson, Sparrow, Jordan, Baker ANB, Hunt, Corey Wagner and Dunkley. In the forward we are suddenly looking stronger with the showing of Wiedeman and Jackson. TMac and Brown as talls to have a run when required with Chandler, Jones, Hunt, Bedford and possibly Sparrow.

So, My strategy for the nest few weeks is to go in with a settled strong team in Round 8. 4 day break to Round 9 so assess who pulls up well and who needs a rest. For me look at at least 1 change in each area of the ground. Two if required. 6 Day break and travel to Adelaide for Round 10. Adelaide have two day less rest and will travel from Brisbane a well. Not too bad. Look to the future as we have travel to Tassie and a 4 day break before North. North have a ame rest as we do and will travel in to tassie from Brisbane.Manage players as required with bumps and bruises. we have a 6 day break so we should not be too bad. If we settle on a squad well before the Adelaide game I think we should look at getting the rest of the players into Tassie as soon as possible so they can rest and train in Tassie. It may not be possible but I would look at some going straight from Brisbane to Tassie after the Port game.

4 Days and travel between Round 10 in Adelaide and Round 11 in Tassie. Same strategy. Players not required in Tassie straight back to QLD to rest and prepare for Round 12.

For Round 12 we have two days extra rest than Collingwood and we both travel between games.

All in all, not too bad.

[deanox 9,989]

I don't understand when it is suggested this year has an astrix. In fact, this year is potentially the fairest year ever. You play everyone once. Everyone is travelling, moving, on notice. Interstate teams aren't disadvantaged with travel and advantaged with big home crowds. Vic clubs aren't getting cushy rides based on the crowds they draw to the G. The fixture is being drawn a few weeks in advance, so yes some clubs will have it better but it will largely be by chance not by design. All clubs will come up against it at some point. Winning this year proves you're the best in the comp over the season. 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

43 minutes ago, 1964nowMORE said:

 

We get the Pies amid their, and our, travel bonanza! And without De Goey! 

 

Why no De Goey?   Don't think hes been locked up just yet

[whatwhat say what 22,949]

3 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Why no De Goey?   Don't think hes been locked up just yet

out for two months with a torn tendon in his digit

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

1 minute ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

out for two months with a torn tendon in his digit

Oh nice.   Hope that screws the Pies season.

[Cards13 9,117]

All you can say is the likes of Burgess and Mahns are earning their coin planning away into the wee hours tonight and moving forward. 

[Go the Biff 3,442]

Not keen on the trip to Tassie. I like Max's suggestion on RSN this morning. Given we're sharing accommodation with Norf, we could play them on the local oval & phone in the results & best players to the AFL

[binman 43,816]

22 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Also as someone said above, the families moving to QLD and having partners travelling so often in the next period is going to be tough. 

I'm not so sure about that. In some ways the mum's and kids might enjoy the club and their partners going away for a few days here and there.

I don't mean tbat as a joke  more that with two footy clubs staying at twin  towers it must be packed. And full of young bucks, footy heads full of testosterone. The report will he nice and quiet and they won't be on top of each other.

And the players and their partners are used to teams going away every couple of weeks.

And some players might like the idea of getting out of maroocydore and playing in front of a big crowd at Adelaide oval.

I've got no positives a about playing in Tassie. We better get a game at the alice. Maybe two. Bombers and freo I hope.

On the bombers that bye might be a bonus for us. We were playing rubbish then. Every chance they would have won that game. 

I like our chances better now.

[deelusions from afar 1,861]

47 minutes ago, CHF said:

I think that this fixture is ok for us. We now have clarity for the next 5 rounds and it will be interesting to see how we strategically program ourselves to get the best results.

Between Round 8, Brisbane at Metricon and Round 9, Port at Gabba We have a 4 day turnaround and while Port have an extra day to recover, they have to travel in from Adelaide but have an extra day. Selection this week with a 4 day turnaround will be critical to giving us the best chance of success. We have only a few injuries and some good depth. My opinion is that we play a strong team this week (same as last week if posible with few changes) and look to freshen up the team with a couple of changes in all three areas of the team. Rivers, Josh Wagner and Smith to rotate in defence. There are a lot that could rotate through the midfield. Tomlinson, Sparrow, Jordan, Baker ANB, Hunt, Corey Wagner and Dunkley. In the forward we are suddenly looking stronger with the showing of Wiedeman and Jackson. TMac and Brown as talls to have a run when required with Chandler, Jones, Hunt, Bedford and possibly Sparrow.

So, My strategy for the nest few weeks is to go in with a settled strong team in Round 8. 4 day break to Round 9 so assess who pulls up well and who needs a rest. For me look at at least 1 change in each area of the ground. Two if required. 6 Day break and travel to Adelaide for Round 10. Adelaide have two day less rest and will travel from Brisbane a well. Not too bad. Look to the future as we have travel to Tassie and a 4 day break before North. North have a ame rest as we do and will travel in to tassie from Brisbane.Manage players as required with bumps and bruises. we have a 6 day break so we should not be too bad. If we settle on a squad well before the Adelaide game I think we should look at getting the rest of the players into Tassie as soon as possible so they can rest and train in Tassie. It may not be possible but I would look at some going straight from Brisbane to Tassie after the Port game.

4 Days and travel between Round 10 in Adelaide and Round 11 in Tassie. Same strategy. Players not required in Tassie straight back to QLD to rest and prepare for Round 12.

For Round 12 we have two days extra rest than Collingwood and we both travel between games.

All in all, not too bad.

Makes sense.  I'm sure they won't do it, but to me it might make sense to play our second string midfield eg Sparrow, Jordan, Jones, Tomlinson, Baker, Wagner, Dunkley etc as a complete substitution to our 1st because they would have spent more time together and training together.  Potentially you could do this in the Adelaide game.

 

But I think it is more likely that they will rest half the midfield against Adelaide and the other half against the Roos and hope that these teams will be good enough to get the job done in both cases.

I guess it will also depend on how important the various sides see a win against us. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

1 hour ago, 1964nowMORE said:

Then I read that Melbourne Storm has just played 7 games in 7 different venues across 4 states while fully relocating to Qld - no complaints and once again they ease back into the top 4 in dominant form. Guess where the Storm are staying in Qld? Maybe Goody can buy Bellamy a few lattes.....

MFC aren't the Storm and never will be.

The fixture does us little favour.

Let's see what the next two weeks bring... we are as usual on the precipice.

PS:The unnecessary trip to Tasmania is nothing more than money for North... guess who is the bunny

Edited July 21, 2020 by Diamond_Jim

[DubDee 26,124]

Good fixture. Prime time on thurs and then Wednesday. If we were bottom 4 no way we get Thursday night against the top team. 

two top 4 teams two bottom 4 teams. We play away regardless so a bit of travel is no big deal. Good thing we don’t have to go Perth and back. 
 

enough whinging. We are in good form and have a fit list. Lets smash the bears and port!

[Pates 9,660]

I have just though about one annoying factor with the next games having shortened breaks, I suspect Harley will have to be rest for at least one of them to ensure his recovery is on track. 

Unless the AFL announce an extended bench which I would be up for given our headache of how to fit TMac in!

But assuming not I’d say play him vs Brisbane and have him miss the Port match. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

12 minutes ago, Pates said:

I have just though about one annoying factor with the next games having shortened breaks, I suspect Harley will have to be rest for at least one of them to ensure his recovery is on track. 

Unless the AFL announce an extended bench which I would be up for given our headache of how to fit TMac in!

But assuming not I’d say play him vs Brisbane and have him miss the Port match. 

Lose to Brisbane and Port= season probably over... we would need to win 6/7 out of the next nine

Norf is now a 50/50 game at best. Adelaide will throw everything at us to avoid a winless season.

Loss to Geelong screwed our season

[deanox 9,989]

We're going to need to rotate, but I'd do it as little as possible.

Rivers, Hibberd, Jetta, Lockhart, Salem to all miss one game each in the next 4.

Out of Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Langdon, Tomlinson, and Jones, 2 miss each week. 

Out of Melksham, AVB, Bennell, Fritsch, Hannan, Pickett, ANB, and Bedford, 2 miss each week.

If we keep Jackson in, we won't need to rest the rucks. It's unlikely we'll be to rest any of the KPPs but TMac would come in the mix for any except Lever, who Smith should cover. 

 

So that's only 5 and maybe up to 7 players rotating through over the 4 weeks as needed to cover, while letting every player miss a single game. Keep the core team as stable as possible, and try to only have 2 of the "rotating" players in at any one time, for consistency. 

[Pates 9,660]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Lose to Brisbane and Port= season probably over... we would need to win 6/7 out of the next nine

Norf is now a 50/50 game at best. Adelaide will throw everything at us to avoid a winless season.

Loss to Geelong screwed our season

It’s not quite season over but it will make it difficult. We probably needed to win either one of them to make finals anyway but there’s something about losing two on the trot that hurts the confidence. 

That Geelong loss could well come back to haunt us, lost it at selection and had our chances at the end.