and moving onto 2018 _ Fixture news

[saintbrat]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-03/p ... -blast-off\
THE AFL has revealed the 2018 season will blast off on Thursday, March 22, and also confirmed key structural details of next year's fixture.

The League has written to all clubs to begin work on the 2018 fixture, which it hopes to complete and announce by late October this year.

A launch on March 22 will lead to the Grand Final being staged on Saturday, September 29, with the AFL still working on the structure of the season.

Key dates the AFL was working within include:
• Round one starting Thursday, March 22
• The Grand Final on Saturday, September 29
• Easter round from Thursday, March 29 to Monday, April 2
• Anzac Day round from Friday, April 20 to Wednesday, April 25
• Queens Birthday match on Monday, June 11

The League also confirmed a standard round would continue to include:
• One Friday night match
• Two Saturday afternoon matches
• One Saturday twilight match
• Two Saturday night matches
• One early Sunday match
• One Sunday afternoon match One Sunday twilight match

The number of Thursday night matches was likely to be similar to the number played in 2017, with eight staged this year, including five consecutive between rounds 10 and 14.

The matches were a ratings winner for broadcaster Channel Seven, which averaged 731,000 free-to-air viewers during its seven games in the timeslot this season.

The popular timeslot requires teams to play on a six-day break, however, limiting the AFL's ability to work more into the fixture.

AFL general manager of clubs, Travis Auld, said the League had written to clubs and key stakeholders, including the AFL Players Association, broadcasters, government and stadia partners to seek their input and outline the League's primary considerations. Balancing the number of matches between top and bottom-placed clubs would continue to be a consideration for the AFL.

Other considerations for the League include:
• AFL and club contractual obligations with stadia
• Player welfare issues
• Travel considerations for clubs
• Maximising attendances
• Continuation of "blockbuster" and "themed" matches
• Expansion market objectives

More By Nathan Schmook

[stevie]

Maybe this time they can have the times and days for Rd 23 on that fixture released in Oct. surely they won't remain that stupid

[saintspremiers]

Maybe this time they can have the times and days for Rd 23 on that fixture released in Oct. surely they won't remain that stupid

stevie there is an expression "you can't fix stupid"

[saintbrat]

Any word on what Saints requests would have been as we inch to the end of 2017
Was NZ mooted for 2018 or 2019?

I note Essendon are asking for an 8th home game at the G - obviously their stranglehold on Etihad contract changed weith AFL takeover

[Yorkeys]

About time for a season where we don't go to Adelaide. Under normal circumstances that would be enough to be able to make the 8.

[noddy04]

About time for a season where we don't go to Adelaide. Under normal circumstances that would be enough to be able to make the 8.

We never won in Perth or Sydney so why not stay and play all our games at Etihad. F*** all the interstate members that fork out their hard earned membership money.

[Proph3t of egan]

About time for a season where we don't go to Adelaide. Under normal circumstances that would be enough to be able to make the 8.

We never won in Perth or Sydney so why not stay and play all our games at Etihad. F*** all the interstate members that fork out their hard earned membership money.

we havent played an adelaide team in melbourne since like 2014, surely its time for them to come to melbourne.

wouldnt mind having the Queensland teams over there, good excuse to get into the warmth for a weekend in the middle of winter

[saintsRrising]

The AFL will meet all the other clubs requests and then we will as usual get what is left over.

[St Lenny]

PLEASE give us a game, preferably 2 next season

[St Lenny]

PLEASE give us a game, preferably 2 next season

[saintbrat]

Fixture released October30th
With Saints Roos and Dogs in ongoing discussion with AFL over Stadium inequities

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... z5e40.html

[saintspremiers]

Fixture released October30th
With Saints Roos and Dogs in ongoing discussion with AFL over Stadium inequities

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... z5e40.html

I've decided Gil is almost as big an arsehole as Dimwit.
WHY are they still shafting us??

[saintbrat]

snippetts keep coming out-

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/m ... f4aacc82d4

The AFL has confirmed next year’s season will start on Thursday, March 22 and conclude with the Grand Final on Saturday, September 29

.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/m ... 6f01320119

NORTH Melbourne will open its 2018 season in Cairns with a clash against the Gold Coast Suns at Cazaly Stadium.

The Suns and Roos will square off under lights with a 6.25pm AEST start on March 24 after the AFL dropped its first fixturing news for next season.

[saintsRrising]

Fixture released October30th

I'm tipping we get shafted yet again.

Richmond deservedly will get a lot more Friday nights.

But AFL will also look after the Dons. Just watch them get an attractive draw in 2018 in terms of when they get to play.

Pies despite finishing below us, will get a better deal than us. As will Carlton.

[Beno88]

About time for a season where we don't go to Adelaide. Under normal circumstances that would be enough to be able to make the 8.

We never won in Perth or Sydney so why not stay and play all our games at Etihad. F*** all the interstate members that fork out their hard earned membership money.

We are the only team who has played at the Adelaide Oval twice every year since it was introduced (8 times in 4 years). Adelaide hasn't played us in Melbourne since 2014, Port since 2013. Yorkeys has a very valid point.

And we did win in Perth this year.

[parkeysainter]

I will be happy with the fixture if we just don't play in Adelaide at all this year. How about they come to Etihad for a change.

[quirky84]

I will be happy with the fixture if we just don't play in Adelaide at all this year. How about they come to Etihad for a change.

Bloody oath.

We have played Adelaide in Adelaide 8 of the last 10 meetings between the 2 clubs, exactly the same with Port Adelaide.

So combined that's 4 out of a possible 20 of those games have been in Melbourne

[saintbrat]

Fixture put 31st

China and Anzac eve announced

[tony74]

Starting to filter out. Lions first at home. Pretty good fixture for us.

[Selhurst Saint]

Starting to filter out. Lions first at home. Pretty good fixture for us.

Probably couldn't have hoped for a better start.

[Selhurst Saint]

The JLT Series Fixture has been released.

Carlton and Melbourne both in Melbourne.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-26/a ... jlt-series

[kosifantutti]

The JLT Series Fixture has been released.

Carlton and Melbourne both in Melbourne.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-26/a ... jlt-series

124 more sleeps.

[noddy04]

Where is Ikon Park?

[kosifantutti]

Where is Ikon Park?

Princes Park Carlton

[noddy04]

Thanks Kosi