Fixture AFL 2025 Fixture

[Chief]

2025 AFL FIXTURE

Times AEDT until Saturday April 5
Times AEST from Sunday April 6

OPENING ROUND

Thursday March 6

Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats, The Gabba (7.50pm)

Friday March 7

Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, SCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 8

Gold Coast Suns v Essendon, People First Stadium (5.15pm)

Sunday March 9

GWS Giants v Collingwood, ENGIE Stadium (3.20pm)

Bye: Adelaide Crows, Carlton, Fremantle, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast Eagles, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 1

Thursday March 13

Richmond v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday March 14

Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 15

Geelong Cats v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium (1.20pm)

Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions, SCG (4.15pm)

Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG (7.35pm)

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 16

Adelaide Crows v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (12.35pm)

Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

ROUND 2

Thursday March 20

Carlton v Hawthorn, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday March 21

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday March 22

Essendon v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

St Kilda v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 23

Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles, The Gabba (1.10pm)

North Melbourne v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Gold Coast Suns, GWS Giants

ROUND 3

Thursday March 27

Essendon v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday March 28

Carlton v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday March 29

Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (1.20pm)

St Kilda v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Hawthorn v GWS Giants, UTAS Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday March 30

Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Brisbane Lions, Collingwood, Geelong Cats, Sydney Swans

ROUND 4

Thursday April 3

Collingwood v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday April 4

Geelong Cats v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday April 5

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

Richmond v Brisbane Lions, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday April 6

GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles, ENGIE Stadium (1.10pm)

Port Adelaide v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium (5.10pm)

Bye: Essendon, Hawthorn

ROUND 5 (Gather Round)

Thursday April 10

Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Friday April 11

Collingwood v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Saturday April 12

North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, Barossa (12.35pm)

Carlton v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (1.20pm)

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Norwood Oval (4.15pm)

Melbourne v Essendon, Adelaide Oval (7.35pm)

Sunday April 13

Richmond v Fremantle, Barossa (12.35pm)

St Kilda v GWS Giants, Norwood Oval (3.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (7.20pm)

ROUND 6

Thursday April 17 (Easter Thursday)

Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba (7.30pm)

Friday April 18 (Good Friday)

North Melbourne v Carlton, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Essendon, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Saturday April 19

Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (1.20pm)

Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

Richmond v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday April 20 (Easter Sunday)

Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide, SCG (3.20pm)

Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.20pm)

Monday April 21 (Easter Monday)

Geelong Cats v Hawthorn, MCG (3.20pm)

ROUND 7

Thursday April 24

Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday April 25 (Anzac Day)

Collingwood v Essendon, MCG (3.20pm)

Fremantle v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Saturday April 26

St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, Manuka (7.35pm)

Sunday April 27

Gold Coast Suns v Sydney Swans, People First Stadium (1.10pm)

Carlton v Geelong Cats, MCG (3.20pm)

Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 8

Thursday May 1

Essendon v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday May 2

St Kilda v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday May 3

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide, Mars Stadium (1.20pm)

Adelaide Crows v Carlton, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (7.35pm)

Collingwood v Geelong Cats, MCG (7.35pm)

Sunday May 4

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, SCG (1.10pm)

Hawthorn v Richmond, MCG (3.20pm)

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns, The Gabba (7.20pm)

ROUND 9

Thursday May 8

Fremantle v Collingwood, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Friday May 9

St Kilda v Carlton, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 10

Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG (1.20pm)

Essendon v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs, TIO Darwin (7.35pm)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)

Sunday May 11

Richmond v West Coast Eagles, MCG (1.10pm)

Geelong Cats v GWS Giants, GMHBA Stadium (3.20pm)

North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Ninja Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Thursday May 15

Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, TIO Darwin (7.30pm)

Friday May 16

Sydney Swans v Carlton, SCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 17

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows, MCG (1.20pm)

GWS Giants v Fremantle, ENGIE Stadium (4.15pm)

Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Marvel Stadium (4.15pm)

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, Adelaide Oval (7.35pm)

Sunday May 18

Richmond v North Melbourne, MCG (1.10pm)

Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, The Gabba (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v St Kilda, Optus Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round)

Thursday May 22

Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday May 23

Essendon v Richmond, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 24

Carlton v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium (1.20pm)

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Fremantle v Port Adelaide, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Sunday May 25

Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval (1.10pm)

Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG (3.20pm)

St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium (4.40pm)

ROUND 12

Thursday May 29

Brisbane Lions v Essendon, The Gabba (7.30pm)

Friday May 30

Collingwood v Hawthorn, MCG (7.40pm)

Saturday May 31

Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

GWS Giants v Richmond, ENGIE Stadium (4.15pm)

Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows, SCG (7.35pm)

Sunday June 1

Melbourne v St Kilda, TIO Traeger (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Geelong Cats, Optus Stadium (7.20pm)

Bye: Carlton, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs

ROUND 13

Thursday June 5

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday June 6

Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (7.40pm)

Saturday June 7

Richmond v Sydney Swans, MCG (1.20pm)

Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns, GMHBA Stadium (4.15pm)

GWS Giants v Port Adelaide, Manuka (7.35pm)

Sunday June 8

North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Hands Oval – South Bunbury (3.20pm)

Carlton v Essendon, MCG (7.15pm)

Monday June 9 (King’s Birthday)

Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG (3.20pm)

Bye: Fremantle, St Kilda

ROUND 14

Thursday June 12

St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.30pm)

Friday June 13

Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, UTAS Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday June 14

Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, The Gabba (1.20pm)

Essendon v Geelong Cats, MCG (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Fremantle, Optus Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday June 15

Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (3.20pm)

West Coast Eagles v Carlton, Optus Stadium (6.10pm)

Bye: Collingwood, Gold Coast Suns, Richmond, Sydney Swans

ROUND 15

Thursday June 19

Fremantle v Essendon, Optus Stadium (8.10pm)

Friday June 20

Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions, GMHBA Stadium (7.40pm)

Saturday June 21

Carlton v North Melbourne, MCG (1.20pm)

Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans, Adelaide Oval (4.15pm)

Collingwood v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Sunday June 22

GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, ENGIE Stadium (1.10pm)

Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)

Bye: Adelaide Crows, Hawthorn, Melbourne, West Coast Eagles

ROUND 16 (days and times TBC)

Thursday June 26 – Sunday June 29

Collingwood v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, People First Stadium

Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS Stadium

Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Adelaide Crows, MCG

Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs, SCG

Bye: Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Geelong Cats, GWS Giants

ROUND 17 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 3 – Sunday July 6

Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval

Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, The Gabba

Carlton v Collingwood, MCG

Essendon v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v Richmond, GMHBA Stadium

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium

St Kilda v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium

Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG

West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants, Optus Stadium

ROUND 18 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 10 – Sunday July 13

Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v Hawthorn, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood, People First Stadium

GWS Giants v Geelong Cats, ENGIE Stadium

Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG

Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Essendon, MCG

St Kilda v Sydney Swans, Marvel Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows, Mars Stadium

ROUND 19 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 17 – Sunday July 20

Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval

Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, The Gabba

Carlton v Melbourne, MCG

Collingwood v Fremantle, MCG

Essendon v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, UTAS Stadium

Sydney Swans v North Melbourne, SCG

West Coast Eagles v Richmond, Optus Stadium

ROUND 20 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 24 – Sunday July 27

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval

Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, People First Stadium

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, ENGIE Stadium

Hawthorn v Carlton, MCG

North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium

Richmond v Collingwood, MCG

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 21 (days and times TBC)

Thursday July 31 – Sunday August 3

Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, MCG

Fremantle v Carlton, Optus Stadium

Geelong Cats v Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v Richmond, People First Stadium

Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

Sydney Swans v Essendon, SCG

Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 22 (days and times TBC)

Thursday August 7 – Sunday August 10

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans, The Gabba

Carlton v Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium

Geelong Cats v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium

GWS Giants v North Melbourne, ENGIE Stadium

Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v St Kilda, MCG

West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium

ROUND 23 (days and times TBC)

Friday August 15 – Sunday August 17

Adelaide Crows v Collingwood, Adelaide Oval

Carlton v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium

Essendon v St Kilda, Marvel Stadium

Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Optus Stadium

Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants, People First Stadium

Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG

North Melbourne v Richmond, Ninja Stadium

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats, SCG

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 24 (days and times TBC)

Friday August 22 – Sunday August 24

Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn, The Gabba

Collingwood v Melbourne, MCG

Essendon v Carlton, MCG

GWS Giants v St Kilda, ENGIE Stadium

North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows, Marvel Stadium

Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns, Adelaide Oval

Richmond v Geelong Cats, MCG

West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium

 

[blueiris]

No home Saturday night games for Brisbane is pretty wild. I suspect we'll have a few in the last 8 weeks in the TBD section though.

Agreed we seem have been treated like the guinepig of the new fixture system we basically play a fair few Sunday night games

 

[Underarm]

Agreed we seem have been treated like the guinepig of the new fixture system we basically play a fair few Sunday night games

Brisbane play 2, and one is the Derby the night before a public holiday.

 

[SC_Power]

Pies fixure is good i would much prefer not to feature in round zip and start the season round 1 at the MCG tho.
Apart from round zero the rest is good.

AFL wants you in Round 0 for TV ratings into Melbourne, and for maximum exposure in northern market.
You get one of six interstate trips out of the way early days
You get to keep your bye until later in the year when byes actually help, not burn it before having played a game
You get to play Round 1 with a match under your belt against a team that hasn’t started their season yet.

You might not prefer it, but your club and the AFL love it.

 

[SC_Power]

Be fair though Hawks made the finals and Carlton were top 4 a lot of the year. Port have a decent draw anyway plus you get Gather Round or whatever that thing is called

The four teams combined all finished outside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have got TWENTY NINE Thu/Fri games between them.
Port Adelaide and GWS both finished inside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have ONE Thu/Fri game.
But yeah, let’s be fair. Yet somehow people will still complain about some teams ability to generate revenue and lower their funding from the AFL.

Not sure what you mean by decent fixture, we deservedly get a hard draw because we keep stumping up at the top end of the ladder without seriously challenging for a flag.Hawthorn, Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong, Carlton, Fremantle as double ups would be as hard as it gets. Gather Round is a benefit no doubt, a half a game advantage over a fair 23 round season.

 

[PCORF]

Adelaide's draw. It's good, now it's up to us to take our chances. Win the close ones and we're a finals chance.

One of the surprises is Essendon playing in Geelong. Still Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton don't play in Launceston and they probably never will as maybe the AFL is afraid of overflowing crowds, venue too small. Collingwood will probably never play in Geelong again.

Hawthorn should play against Essendon or Carlton at Launceston, not Port. GWS and Port will not draw crowds and no wonder York Park is only half full the last 10 years. Adelaide no problems, gives me a game to possibly go to even though we'll probably be on the receiving end of another butt kicking. Tassie based Adelaide fan originally from Adelaide.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Two years in a row the AFL absolutely take the piss with Carlton's fixture. Could not possibly be trying any harder to get them a flag.

If the Dees don't make the finals with their fixture, wrap the joint up.

Bulldogs also have zero excuses. A very kind run.

Freo fans on the other hand should be burning AFL House to the ground. Reducing the travel inequity shouldn't be used as a smokescreen to screw them on difficulty.

 

[eth-dog]

Two years in a row the AFL absolutely take the piss with Carlton's fixture.

Could not possibly be trying any harder to get them a flag.

Freo fans on the other hand should be burning AFL House to the ground.

They went 5-4 against the sides they play twice this year. People are acting as if they went at an 80%+ rate against these guys.

I'm not saying they'll go 6-6 or worse but thinking it'll be fait accompli that they'll get 9/10 wins from this group is bizarre.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

The four teams combined all finished outside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have got TWENTY NINE Thu/Fri games between them.
Port Adelaide and GWS both finished inside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have ONE Thu/Fri game.
But yeah, let’s be fair. Yet somehow people will still complain about some teams ability to generate revenue and lower their funding from the AFL.

Not sure what you mean by decent fixture, we deservedly get a hard draw because we keep stumping up at the top end of the ladder without seriously challenging for a flag.Hawthorn, Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong, Carlton, Fremantle as double ups would be as hard as it gets. Gather Round is a benefit no doubt, a half a game advantage over a fair 23 round season.

Half game advantage? It’s an extra home game and you don’t have to travel every other side bar the Adelaide side does and some are put on some dump grounds least we lucked out getting AO but some didn’t.

The draw is never going to be perfect Hawks were always getting more games in prime

 

[Hollow Knight]

They went 5-4 against the sides they play twice this year. People are acting as if they went at an 80%+ rate against these guys.

I'm not saying they'll go 6-6 or worse but thinking it'll be fait accompli that they'll get 9/10 wins from this group is bizarre.

I don't think its fait accompli at all. I'm simply talking about what the AFL has given them on paper.

 

[eth-dog]

I don't think its fait accompli at all. I'm simply talking about what the AFL has given them on paper.

On paper they have a prelim finalist, the side they barely beat in the semi, an arch rival they've beaten once in the last 6 times they've played and only twice since 2018, another arch rival where they've gone 50/50 through the past 4/5 years and two sides they should be beating twice

It's certainly not a difficult set but it's not the cakewalk many are predicting

 

[SC_Power]

Half game advantage? It’s an extra home game and you don’t have to travel every other side bar the Adelaide side does and some are put on some dump grounds least we lucked out getting AO but some didn’t.

The draw is never going to be perfect Hawks were always getting more games in prime

Half game.

23 rounds means 11.5 home equivalent
We get 12.

Sorry to quote facts.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Half game.

23 rounds means 11.5 home equivalent
We get 12.

Sorry to quote facts.

It’s still more than every other side. Hardly can complain. Bet every other side would like to travel less and stay at home

 

[apollo_creed]

They can hardly complain both SA sides get a free home game every year

They’re also getting teams like Hawthorn, GWS and the Western Bulldogs on neutral grounds… teams they’re likely to lose to in genuine away games.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

They’re also getting teams like Hawthorn, GWS and the Western Bulldogs on neutral grounds… teams they’re likely to lose to in genuine away games.

Yep honestly draws are draws who gives a flying best side always wins

 

[Purple Suit]

They went 5-4 against the sides they play twice this year. People are acting as if they went at an 80%+ rate against these guys.

I'm not saying they'll go 6-6 or worse but thinking it'll be fait accompli that they'll get 9/10 wins from this group is bizarre.

Without looking at the results, how can they get 5-4? Shouldn’t there be 12 games against double ups in total?

If they didn’t have one of the easiest draws last year after making a prelim, they wouldn’t have played finals as their record would be worse.

 

[eth-dog]

Without looking at the results, how can they get 5-4? Shouldn’t there be 12 games against double ups in total?

If they didn’t have one of the easiest draws last year after making a prelim, they wouldn’t have played finals as their record would be worse.

Because they didn't play all six of these teams twice last season.

They played Essendon, West Coast and Hawthorn once.

 

[hawkman]

The four teams combined all finished outside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have got TWENTY NINE Thu/Fri games between them.
Port Adelaide and GWS both finished inside top 4, combined won 1 final, and have ONE Thu/Fri game.
But yeah, let’s be fair. Yet somehow people will still complain about some teams ability to generate revenue and lower their funding from the AFL.

Not sure what you mean by decent fixture, we deservedly get a hard draw because we keep stumping up at the top end of the ladder without seriously challenging for a flag.Hawthorn, Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong, Carlton, Fremantle as double ups would be as hard as it gets. Gather Round is a benefit no doubt, a half a game advantage over a fair 23 round season.

We aren't like Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon who still get prime time games when they are terrible. The last 2 years our night games have amounted to 0 Thu/Fri games and just 2 Saturday night games.

The AFL have slightly over compensated for missing our rise this year

 

[kranky al]

You know are home ground is the MCG right ? And we are playing away games against MCG tenants among those 11 ? How many do you expect us to play at the mcg given those conditions ? Brisbane get to play all their home games at the gabba, a luxury we are not afforded at the mcg

Fo mate - you play geelong, Essendon and Carlton at the g - not Etihad you get home finals against Etihad teams and geelong no matter how much higher you finish than them.

You get a home grand final every time you make it

Your mob are kissed on the dick by a fairy - shut ya hole and quit your jibber jabber

 

[SC_Power]

It’s still more than every other side. Hardly can complain. Bet every other side would like to travel less and stay at home

I didn’t complain. I actually said it was a benefit.

 

[SC_Power]

We aren't like Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon who still get prime time games when they are terrible. The last 2 years our night games have amounted to 0 Thu/Fri games and just 2 Saturday night games.

The AFL have slightly over compensated for missing our rise this year

I agree and understand why the AFL schedules like they do.

I wish they wouldn’t stop pretending it’s about performance, that the rules change depending on which team it is. Port are still waiting for the AFL to recognise our rise from 2012.

 

[Hawkk]

Adelaide's draw. It's good, now it's up to us to take our chances. Win the close ones and we're a finals chance.

One of the surprises is Essendon playing in Geelong. Still Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton don't play in Launceston and they probably never will as maybe the AFL is afraid of overflowing crowds, venue too small. Collingwood will probably never play in Geelong again.

Hawthorn should play against Essendon or Carlton at Launceston, not Port. GWS and Port will not draw crowds and no wonder York Park is only half full the last 10 years. Adelaide no problems, gives me a game to possibly go to even though we'll probably be on the receiving end of another butt kicking. Tassie based Adelaide fan originally from Adelaide.

Why would Hawthorn do that?

The last 10 MCG Carl v Haw and Ess v Haw both clubs have averaged 70,000 plus

 

[brutus76]

Carlton (again) and the Dogs got NOTHING to complain about

Softest of softc*ck fixtures - Blues have to make Top 4

 

[Grasshopper17]

Why would Hawthorn do that?

The last 10 MCG Carl v Haw and Ess v Haw both clubs have averaged 70,000 plus

Hawthorn shouldn't get the choice. If clubs want to take their home games to Bumfúck Idaho, all 18 clubs should share the load equally as to who fills the "away" slot in those fixtures. And if you get Essendon at York Park instead of at the MCG, well that's the bed you made for yourself.

 

[Obeanie1]

Yep honestly draws are draws who gives a flying best side always wins

The fittest team who is reasonably fresh coming into finals is normally the best team.

The fixture has a massive influence on fitness, rehab from injury and keeping players fresh.

 

[PhatBoy]

The fittest team who is reasonably fresh coming into finals is normally the best team.

The fixture has a massive influence on fitness, rehab from injury and keeping players fresh.

You have to go all the way back to 2024 to find a side winning the premiership with a handful of regulars out for the season either from early or latter stages courtesy of injuries, and 5 interstate trips in the last 8 weeks of the comp.

What made them the best team was that they were playing the best football, which is usually the case.