opening match next year...

[stinger]

don't know if this has already been posted...but i understand our first match next year will be against sydney at the dome on easter saturday night...nice to start off with a home game for a change......

[Enrico_Misso]

Reminiscent of our first ever game at Docklands in 2000 when we played Sydney in Round 1.

But this time we will win.

[stinger]

Reminiscent of our first ever game at Docklands in 2000 when we played Sydney in Round 1.

But this time we will win.

hope so mate, hope so....

[midas_touch]

Heard this rumour too, when is the fixture due to come out?

[stinger]

Heard this rumour too, when is the fixture due to come out?

more than just a rumour ...have a look at this article....

Bulldogs face road trip
19 October 2007 Herald Sun
Mark Stevens and Michael Horan

THE Western Bulldogs are facing an unprecedented tour of duty in next year's fixture, but Essendon will have more chance to stay at home.

It is believed a draft version of the AFL schedule has the Dogs playing games in seven different states and territories.

Canberra, Darwin, Launceston, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are on the agenda for the Dogs under a fixture being floated.

However the Bombers are likely to earn far fewer frequent flyer points. Essendon copped five interstate trips last season. It is believed that will be reduced to four in 2008.

Collingwood, which made only four trips in the home-and-away season, is in line to play more next year.

There is speculation the Magpies could hit the road as many as six times under the draw, to be released next week.

The good news for the Dogs is they don't play at any of the seven venues twice, meaning the club's travelling road show is restricted to seven outings.

If the proposed draw is rubber-stamped, the Dogs will play Sydney twice -- in their sold "home" game in Canberra and in an away game at the SCG.

In recent years, the Dogs have not had to play Sydney twice in return for selling a home game against the Swans.

The Dogs were always bound to play a game in Darwin and Canberra next year, but if the trip to Launceston goes ahead, it will be the first time they have played the Hawks in Tasmania.

The high-profile Dreamtime at the 'G game between Essendon and Richmond will be on Saturday night, May 24.

And in other draw news, the Cats may decide to unfurl their premiership flag twice if the proposed Round 1 fixture remains the same.

"It depends. At the moment we're set down to play our first home game at Telstra Dome and if that remains the case we'll do it twice," Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said yesterday.

"We'll have it at Telstra Dome and then again at our first game back at Skilled Stadium."

As it stands, the season will start with a Thursday night game at the MCG, with Chris Judd making his Carlton debut against host team Richmond in a twilight clash on March 20, Good Friday eve.

Cook warned "things may change" but the latest draft has the Cats pencilled in for a Grand Final re-match with Port Adelaide in a night match at AAMI Stadium, also on Good Friday eve.

The Round 1 draft has Collingwood down to play Fremantle on Saturday afternoon, but whether it is at the MCG or not is problematical because of the possibility of cricket commitments.

St Kilda is proposed to play at Telstra Dome that night against Sydney.

On Easter Sunday the Western Bulldogs are set to meet Adelaide, also at Telstra Dome, followed by an MCG twilight match between Hawthorn and Melbourne.

Round 1 is set to end on Easter Monday with the Kangaroos playing Essendon at Telstra Dome.

[nicko016]

It'll be the first time in three years we haven't been in the opening game. But apart from this season they haven't been very good for us anyway.

[Riewoldting]

It is believed a draft version of the AFL schedule has the Dogs playing games in seven different states and territories.

Canberra, Darwin, Launceston, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are on the agenda for the Dogs under a fixture being floated.

Wow, no games in Melbourne for the Bulldogs in 2008, according to this draft fixture. That's unprecedented!

I'm sure their fans are thrilled about that.

[karnaby]

In the version of the draw that I saw we're scheduled to play at the same time as the eaglepoofters which will probably mean that there is no live(ish) telecast of the match in wa as foxtel will probably screen the wc match concurrently with FTA as has been the case this year.

If that eventuated I wouldn't be at all happy, although a win would heal the pain.