2016 Fixture

[stevie]

Whenever the finals system changes, it has a note explaining it in record books and stuff.

For example 1999 was the last use of the 1 v 8 ( can't recall what that system was called? Was it McIntyre or is that the current one? Anyway...)

So in afl histories there would a note explaining the change to the new system etc. woulda been the same for the intro of the final 5 and 6. Everytime there is a change in the way it operates there is a notation, possibly asterixes.

Same for when dual byes were introduced. So with this new variable - and I consider it just that as it could mean more chance of a lower team making it to a gf or winning it even - all future histories or year books or afl records and stats, there will be a note explaining that there was a general bye before the finals for the first time in the modern era.

I'm a super organised persons plug, and like to see all options covered and trivia attended to. As it will be

[Enrico_Misso]

Only last month the club was talking up NZ.
What happened?
Why?
Who?

Where will the lost $400k come from?

[repta]

Brilliant Draw. Shame No Friday night games.

HUGE Wins with only having 4 games in the reject Sunday twilight game.
Best draw ever with only
1 trip to Perth
2 to Adelaide
1 to Queensland
1 to Tasmania

Unfortunate that we have to play the Hawks in Tas as I 'enjoy' going to that game (well catching up with mates more than getting slaughtered).

Back on board with no SELLING GAMES AWAY.

Lets hope that idea is dead and buried, as it sells the sole of the club. Tasmania - FAIL (1 win?), NZ - FAIL (0 wins)
How many lost supporters?

Great chance to move up the ladder with that draw.

[St Chris]

Finnis saying Round 2 is set to be Maddie's match.....

ST KILDA

“Saints fans will definitely be happy that we only have one Sunday twilight home game compared to four last season. From a pure football perspective, we welcome no back-to-back six-day breaks or interstate travel and think this fixture provides our young team with every opportunity to continue developing and hopefully win more games.

“All going well, the Round 2 clash will serve both as a 300-game celebration for Nick Riewoldt and as the selected game to raise awareness and funds for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.

“The following week we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our 1966 Premiership win against Collingwood with a Saturday afternoon clash at the MCG. I know a huge crowd will be there, including players from that historic win and hopefully we can record another one-point victory against the Pies.”

— CEO Matt Finnis

[saintspremiers]

The week break before the finals is the smartest thing the AFL has done in years.

Yeah I agree, like the idea. It gives all teams a chance to place their best footy, which makes for better entertainment, and a last chance for players to get over niggles and small injuries.
Fairer for all

Now here's for a radical idea. They could have the Brownlow on the Monday of the bye week, just after the H&A season finishes and well before any finals begin!

[saintbrat]

The week break before the finals is the smartest thing the AFL has done in years.

Yeah I agree, like the idea. It gives all teams a chance to place their best footy, which makes for better entertainment, and a last chance for players to get over niggles and small injuries.
Fairer for all

Now here's for a radical idea. They could have the Brownlow on the Monday of the bye week, just after the H&A season finishes and well before any finals begin!

Gill stated today that other awards may occur on the break weekend but NOT the Browlow

[remboy]

The week break before the finals is the smartest thing the AFL has done in years.

Yeah I agree, like the idea. It gives all teams a chance to place their best footy, which makes for better entertainment, and a last chance for players to get over niggles and small injuries.
Fairer for all

Now here's for a radical idea. They could have the Brownlow on the Monday of the bye week, just after the H&A season finishes and well before any finals begin!

I was thinking the same thing. I'm sure it must be a distraction for the winner if they're playing in the GF in five days.

[saintbrat]

I'd love this as a hard copy
http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Te ... read-2.pdf

[ripplug66]

Whenever the finals system changes, it has a note explaining it in record books and stuff.

For example 1999 was the last use of the 1 v 8 ( can't recall what that system was called? Was it McIntyre or is that the current one? Anyway...)

So in afl histories there would a note explaining the change to the new system etc. woulda been the same for the intro of the final 5 and 6. Everytime there is a change in the way it operates there is a notation, possibly asterixes.

Same for when dual byes were introduced. So with this new variable - and I consider it just that as it could mean more chance of a lower team making it to a gf or winning it even - all future histories or year books or afl records and stats, there will be a note explaining that there was a general bye before the finals for the first time in the modern era.

I'm a super organised persons plug, and like to see all options covered and trivia attended to. As it will be

Fair enough. The only problem is there is no change at all to the finals system. And I have no idea why a lower side could make it higher with a bye. I would have thought if better players are rested there is more likelyhood of the better sides winning. And there will be no mention of the bye before the finals apart from maybe mentiontioning when the byes were which I doubt would happen anyway. It doesn't matter at all.

[Devilhead]

That 2nd bye week will enable us to get our guys primed for the Qualifying Final

[Bluthy]

I could see the pre-finals bye as eroding some of the benefits of finishing top 4. Team that wins the qualifying final will have played one game in three weeks going into the prelim. Having one week off is a nice refresher but one game in three weeks leaves you the risk of being not 100% match fit and out of the zone a bit.

[stevie]

I could see the pre-finals bye as eroding some of the benefits of finishing top 4. Team that wins the qualifying final will have played one game in three weeks going into the prelim. Having one week off is a nice refresher but one game in three weeks leaves you the risk of being not 100% match fit and out of the zone a bit.

Yeah this is what I was alluding too. The bye could stop a team thats on a roll. And it could cause staleness too.

Because its a first in the modern era it creates a new variable to be factored in.

[ripplug66]

I could see the pre-finals bye as eroding some of the benefits of finishing top 4. Team that wins the qualifying final will have played one game in three weeks going into the prelim. Having one week off is a nice refresher but one game in three weeks leaves you the risk of being not 100% match fit and out of the zone a bit.

Funny that coaches rested players based on that theory. And players are completely match fit by that time of the year. Can only help and will help the better sides the most.

[Bluthy]

I could see the pre-finals bye as eroding some of the benefits of finishing top 4. Team that wins the qualifying final will have played one game in three weeks going into the prelim. Having one week off is a nice refresher but one game in three weeks leaves you the risk of being not 100% match fit and out of the zone a bit.

Yeah this is what I was alluding too. The bye could stop a team thats on a roll. And it could cause staleness too.

Because its a first in the modern era it creates a new variable to be factored in.

I think its just going to be such a frustrating week for footy fans. There is way too much waffle in the paper as it is and it will be two weeks of it before the action starts. That first week is great but then there are only two games each weekend and it feels pretty drawn out already. I still don't see the issue of teams resting players in the last round. Good luck to them if they can manage it so and want to go down that road. Hawks chose not to, preferring to have their players playing together. They played every week and won the flag. Maybe Freo would choose not to rest players again. Seems classic AFL over reaction to a media beat up.

[Wrote for Luck]

Couldn't agree more with the breaking before finals dragging the whole thing out.
That time of year everyone just wants to get on with it, especially fans not in finals.
It will feel like the cricket world cup. Takes bloody forever.
It will lose momentum.

[stevie]

A few years back the NFL introduced this so there was a 2 week break after the conference championships (the prelims) until the Super Bowl.

Even though it would still be a manic 2 weeks in the US, for me here when the Niners got there 3 seasons back, the wait was endless lol.

[Johnny Favier]

I'm very happy with this draw - best we've had for a long time IMO.

Me and my old man were umming and aahing about upgrading to a premium membership next year - this draw has swung the deal as far as we're concerned.
We get better seats and easier-to-attend games, and in turn the club gets more money.

Win win!

[saintbrat]

if the media around the fixture is anything to go by

and it's headlines that can count

then the fact that Round 21 St Kilda vs Sydney lead most news items last night is a positive.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-pre ... 7588096008

[matrix]

That's a pretty good draw imo

[samuraisaint]

Happy with more games on Saturdays - and love the fact that a lot of our games are earlier in the afternoon when we do play on Sunday at Etihad.

Weird anomaly that we play Melbourne 3 times in 2016 at Docklands.
Interestingly, should we win both of our games against the Dees next season it will be 14 in a row, bettering the Richmond record of 13 in a row plus a draw, Fitzroy 13 wins in a row, and Carlton 12 in a row.